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Method Article
* These authors contributed equally
The combination of transmission electron microscopy and in utero transduction is a powerful approach for studying morphological changes in the fine ultrastructure of the nervous system during development. This combined method allows deep insights into changes in structural details underlying neuroplasticity with respect to their topographical representation.
The present study combines in utero transduction with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) aiming at a precise morphometrical analysis of ultrastructural parameters in unambiguously identified topographical structures, affected by a protein of interest that is introduced into the organism via viral transfer. This combined approach allows for a smooth transition from macrostructural to ultrastructural identification by following topographical navigation maps in a tissue atlas. High-resolution electron microscopy of the in-utero-transduced tissue reveals the fine ultrastructure of the neuropil and its plasticity parameters, such as cross-sectioned synaptic bouton areas, the number of synaptic vesicles and mitochondria within a bouton profile, the length of synaptic contacts, cross-sectioned axonal areas, the thickness of myelin sheaths, the number of myelin lamellae, and cross-sectioned areas of mitochondria profiles. The analysis of these parameters reveals essential insights into changes of ultrastructural plasticity in the areas of the nervous system that are affected by the viral transfer of the genetic construct. This combined method can not only be used for studying the direct effect of genetically engineered biomolecules and/or drugs on neuronal plasticity but also opens the possibility to study the in utero rescue of neuronal plasticity (e.g., in the context of neurodegenerative diseases).
No photon can penetrate an ultrathin tissue specimen in the depth grade of an electron. This attributes invaluable advantages to TEM in capturing nanometer resolution images of fine structures when compared to light microscopy techniques. For example, TEM allows for the visualization of intracellular organelles such as mitochondria, melanosomes, and various types of secretory granules, microtubules, microfilaments, cilia, microvilli, and intercellular junctions (cell surface specializations), in particular synapses in the nervous system1,2,3,4. The overall goal of the present methodological study is the ultrastructural recognition of changes in neural plasticity during development upon prenatal interference by combining the state-of-the-art techniques of in utero transduction and TEM. Virally encoded proteins of interest have been transduced in utero into the central nervous system5,6,7, including the spinal cord6. For instance, in utero transduction in combination with TEM has been used for studying the effect of the cell adhesion molecule L1 on motor learning plasticity in L1-deficient mice, in particular with regard to the interplay between L1 and nuclear receptor proteins in cerebellar neurons7.
The analysis of neuroplasticity parameters requires precise information about the localization of the smallest areas within the nervous system. Therefore, it is adequate to describe ultrastructural details and their exact topographical orientation with respect to other structures. In the present study, a specific preparatory method aiming at the detailed investigation of distinct morphological areas based on both light and electron microscopy is presented. This approach combines several techniques of tissue manipulation, starting with in utero transduction of the mouse brain and spinal cord and followed by perfusion fixation, mold-embedding, and processing the tissue for TEM. An essential step included between the embedding and the processing of the tissue for TEM is the documentation of the tissue, using the interference light reflection technique that allows for the precise microphotographic and low-magnification documentation of tissue specimens8,9,10. Incorporated into the present approach, this technique enables researchers to examine topographical and structural details of nervous tissue surfaces and of specimen slice profiles prior to their preparation for TEM.
A special frame for sectioning whole brains corresponds to stereotaxic coordinates. This frame benefits the morphological three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of areas in nervous tissue and can be used for morphometric analysis. The macrographs of the visualized sections are assigned topographical coordinates, and the serially numbered sections build maps in a tissue atlas.
After resin processing, the embedded tissue is sectioned into ultrathin sections (<70 nm) containing selected areas, according to the maps of the above-mentioned tissue atlas. The ultrathin sections are subjected to TEM to obtain high-resolution images of plasticity parameters (e.g., cross-section profile areas of synaptic boutons or axonal fibers) of their contents and of contacts to neighboring structures within the complex neuropil.
With the method described herein, the smooth transition from visualized macrostructures to micro- and nanostructures permits comparative in-depth studies of morphological neuronal plasticity after in utero transduction of the developing nervous system.
All procedures on animal subjects have been approved by the institutional animal ethics committees of the federal states of Hamburg and Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Use sterile instruments, protective gloves and aseptic coats throughout the entire surgical procedure.
1. In Utero Transduction
2. Telemacrophotography of Isolated Tissues
3. Preparation of the Isolated Tissue for Transmission Electron Microscopy
NOTE: Perform all further steps of incubation in glass dishes with tightly closable lids on a shaking platform under the hood.
4. Selection of Ultrastructural Neuroplasticity Parameters for Quantitative Analysis
For reliable and fast anesthesia of mice, numerous safety parameters were considered, and an optimized workspace of the anesthesia unit proved to be adequate (Figure 1A). The unit is designed to control the mixture of liquid isoflurane and ambient air with a precision required for successful surgery on small animals, such as mice and rats. Air and isoflurane are mixed in the vaporizer according to the desired settings and delivered into a box...
A crucial step of in utero transduction is the injection procedure. The precise injection into brain ventricles or into another area of interest requires experience and hands-on skill. The thinner the microcapillary tip, the less tissue damage may occur; however, this is at the cost of increasing injection pressure. In contrast to in utero electroporation19,20,21,22, the survival rate of the in...
The authors have nothing to disclose.
The authors thank the colleagues of the animal facility at the Medical Faculty, Ruhr-University Bochum, for their support and animal care.
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
2,4,6-Tris(dimethyl-aminomethyl)phenol | Serva | 36975 | |
26 G x 1'' needle | Henke-Sass, Wolf GmbH | ||
410 Anaesthesia Unit for air pump | Biomedical Instruments (Univentor) | 8323102 | |
Adeno-associated virus serotype 1 (AAV1) | UKE (Viral Core Facility) | - | For references and target areas of AAV1 see: https://www.addgene.org/viral-vectors/aav/aav-guide/ and also: Designer gene delivery vectors: molecular engineering and evolution of adeno-associated viral vectors for enhanced gene transfer. Kwon I, Schaffer DV. Pharm Res. 2008 Mar;25(3):489-99. Recombinant AAV viral vectors pseudotyped with viral capsids from serotypes 1, 2, and 5 display differential efficiency and cell tropism after delivery to different regions of the central nervous system. Burger C, Gorbatyuk OS, Velardo MJ, Peden CS, Williams P, Zolotukhin S, Reier PJ, Mandel RJ, Muzyczka N. Mol. Ther. 2004 Aug;10(2):302-17. Self-complementary recombinant adeno-associated virus (scAAV) vectors promote efficient transduction independently of DNA synthesis. McCarty DM, Monahan PE, Samulski RJ. Gene Ther. 2001 Aug;8(16):1248-54. |
Agarose | Sigma-Aldrich | A9414 | low gelling agarose |
Air Pump | Biomedical Instruments (Univentor) | Eheim 100 | |
Araldite | CIBA-GEIGY | 23857.9 | resin for embedding of tissue |
aspirator tune assemblies | Sigma-Aldrich | A5177-5EA | |
Breathing Mask Mouse Anodized Aluminium | Biomedical Instruments (Univentor) | - | |
buprenorphine | Temgesic | ampules | painkiller |
capillaries | Science-Products | GB100TF-10 | with fillament |
Dodecenylsuccinic anhydride | Fluka | 44160 | |
Dumont tweezers (#3, 12 cm, straight, 0.2 x 0.12 mm) | FST | 11203-23 | |
electric shaver | Phillips | - | |
Ethicon sutures (Ethilon, 6-0 and 3-0) | Ethicon | - | polyamide |
eye lubricant | Bepanthene | - | |
Fast Green | Sigma-Aldrich | F7252 | for visualization of injected liquids |
Gas Routing Switch 4/2 connectors | Biomedical Instruments (Univentor) | 8433020 | |
halsted Mosquito hemostatic forceps (12.5 cm, straight) | FST | 13011-12 | |
Heparin-Natrium | Ratiopharm | 25 000 I.E./5 mL | |
Induction box for mice with horizontally moving lid. Inner dimensions: LxBxH: 155 mm x 115 mm x 130 mm. Wall thickness: 6 mm | Biomedical Instruments (Univentor) | - | |
iris forceps (10 cm, curved, serrated) | FST | 14007-14 | |
iris scissors (11 cm, straight, tungsten carbide) | FST | 14501-14 | |
Isofluran OP Tisch, electrically heated, sm Outer dimensions: 257mm x110 mm x 18 mm. Heating area: 190 mm x 90 mm The removal of the isoflurane escaping the breathing mask is downwards in compliance with the regulations | Biomedical Instruments (Univentor) | - | |
isoflurane (Attane) | JD medical | inhalation anesthesia | |
LED RGB lights | Cameo | CLQS15RGBW | LEDs 2 x 15 W |
Light microscope Basic DM E | Leica | - | 4x (N.A. 0.1 ∞/-), 10x (N.A. 0.22 ∞/0.17), 40x (N.A. 0.65 ∞/0.17), 100x (N.A. 1.25 ∞/0.17) objectives |
micropipette puller | Science-Products | P-97 | |
Mosquito hemostatic forceps (12.5 cm, curved) | FST | 13010-12 | |
Nickel grids, 200 mesh | Ted Pella | 1GC200 | |
Osmium (VIII)-oxid | Degussa | 73219 | |
Propylene oxide | Fluka | 82320 | |
razor blades | Schick | 87-10489 | |
Sodium pentobarbital (Narcoren) | Merial GmbH | - | |
TC01mR 1-Channal temperature controller with feedback | Biomedical Instruments (Univentor) | - | |
Technovit 4004 two components glue | Kulzer | ||
Telemacrodevice | Canon | - | Canon Spiegelreflex Kamera EOS2000D, EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Objective, Extension below 150 mm, Manual Extension Tube 7 mm ring, 14 mm ring, 28 mm ring, Macro reverse ring (58 mm), Canon copy stand. |
Thermopuller P-97 | Sutter Instruments | - | |
thin vibrating razor blade device | Krup | - | with Szabo thin blades |
toluidine blue | Sigma-Aldrich | 89640 | |
Transmission electron microscope C20 | Phillips | - | up to 200 kV |
Tygon 6/4 Tubing material for connection of all parts Outer diameter: 6 mm Inner diameter: 4 mm Wa ll thickness: 1 mm | Biomedical Instruments (Univentor) | - | |
Ultracut E | Reichert-Jung | - | ultramicrotome |
Univentor Scavenger | Biomedical Instruments (Univentor) | 8338001 | |
Vannas scissors (8 cm, straight) | FST | 15009-08 |
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