Leukocyte Infiltration of Cremaster Muscle in Mice Assessed by Intravital Microscopy

Summary

Here, we show how to perform intravital microscopy on post-capillary venules of the mouse cremaster muscle. Commonly applied to different models of inflammation and sepsis, particularly those induced by chemokines and cytokines, we highlight its relevance in the study of muscolopathies involving exaggerated muscular leukocyte infiltration.

Abstract

Intravital microscopy (IVM) is widely used to monitor physiological and pathophysiological processes within the leukocyte recruitment cascade in vivo. The current protocol represents a practical and reproducible method to visualize the leukocyte endothelium interaction leading to leukocyte recruitment in skeletal muscle derived tissue within the intact organism of the mouse. The model is applicable to all fields of research that focus on granulocyte activation and their role in disease.

We provide a step by step protocol to guide through the method and to highlight potential pitfalls and technical difficulties. The protocol covers the following aspects: experimental settings and required material, anesthesia of the mouse, dissection of the cremaster muscle as well as tracheal and carotid cannulation, IVM recordings and offline analysis. Data formats like adherent leukocytes, rolling flux (RF) and rolling flux fraction (RFF) are explained in detail and appropriate applications are discussed. Representative results from dystrophin deficient mdx mice are provided in the results section.

IVM is a powerful tool to assess leukocyte recruitment in an in vivo setting; however, delineating for example endothelial and leukocyte function may require a combination with ex vivo setups like flow chamber experiments. Furthermore, the genetic background of animals of interest may greatly influence baseline recruitment, requiring individual fine tuning of the protocol provided. Despite its limitations, IVM may serve as a platform to readily translate in vitro findings into a living vertebrate organism.

Introduction

Intravital microscopy (IVM) is a commonly applied tool in the field of leukocyte biology. Leukocyte recruitment follows a cascade of well-defined events initiated by leukocyte capture, rolling and adhesion to the endothelial wall, and finally transmigration and extravasation of leukocytes to the actual site of inflammation¹. Each step is mediated and controlled by various chemokines (e.g., IL-8/CXCL8), receptors (e.g., LFA-1, Mac-1) and corresponding endothelial cell adhesion molecules (e.g., ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-Selectin)^2,3. The interaction of different regulatory sites, controlling f....

Protocol

Animals were housed under controlled and specific pathogen-free conditions at the IBF (Interfakultäre Biomedizinische Forschungseinrichtung), Heidelberg. All the procedures described here were approved by the local IRB and the Regierungspraesidium Karlsruhe, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.

1. Anesthesia administration

1. Anesthetize the mouse by intraperitoneal (i.p.) bolus injection of 125 mg/kg ketamine and 12.5 mg/kg xylazine.
2. Place and fix the mouse in a dorsal recumbent position on a heating pad to maintain body temperature of the mouse (36.5-38 °C). Use a non-absorbable sterile suture (6/0) to wind a simple l....

Results

IVM as per the provided protocol will yield unique insights into the cascade of leukocyte recruitment in skeletal muscle. The results section will focus on typical results obtained by IVM and highlight potential problems that may encounter.

The experimental setup for intravital microscopy is outlined in Figure 1. Preparation of the cremaster muscle and removal of connective tissue is crucial to obtain focused microscopic images with a uniform surface. Excess conne.......

Discussion

IVM as a method has been widely used to study different cell types in different organs and has been extensively described and discussed¹⁹. The main aim of this study is to provide an efficient approach to set up and perform IVM in the cremaster muscle. Practicing the method will produce reliable and reproducible results. Thus, planning and standardization are key factors to master the technique. Above all, the technique is very dependent on hemodynamic and microvascular parameters, which need to b.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Material
Ketanest S	Pfizer Pharma GmbH	PZN: 08509909	anesthesia. Generic / IUPAC Name: ketamine
Xylazine	CP-Pharma GmbH	Article-nr.: 1205	anesthesia. Generic / IUPAC Name: xylazine (as hidrochloride)
Saline Solution	B. Braun Melsungen	PZN 02737756	surgical preparation. Generic / IUPAC Name: sodium chloride
Syringe needle Omnican F	B. Braun Melsungen	REF 9161502	surgical preparation
Suture 6/0 USP	Resorba	REF 4217	surgical preparation
Polyethylene tube #10	BD GmbH	Supplier No. 427401	surgical preparation
Polyethylene tube #90	BD GmbH	Supplier No. 427421	surgical preparation
Rhodamine 6G	Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH	CAS Number 989-38-8	leukocyte staining. Generic / IUPAC Name: ethyl 2-[3-(ethylamino)-6-ethylimino-2,7-dimethylxanthen-9-yl]benzoate
Setup Equipment
Upright microscope	Olympus	BX51W1	microscopy
40-fold objective	Zeiss	Achroplan 40 × /0.80 W	microscopy
ImSpector software	Lavision Biotec GmbH	ver. 4.0.469	software
ImageJ	National Institute of Health, USA	ver. 1.51j8	software