Proplatelet Formation Dynamics of Mouse Fresh Bone Marrow Explants

Summary

Here, we detail the bone marrow explant method, from sample preparation to microscopic slide analysis, to evaluate the ability of megakaryocytes which have differentiated in their physiological environment to form proplatelets.

Abstract

The last stage of megakaryopoiesis leads to cytoplasmic extensions from mature megakaryocytes, the so-called proplatelets. Much has been learned about the proplatelet formation using in vitro-differentiated megakaryocytes; however, there is an increasing evidence that conventional culture systems do not faithfully recapitulate the differentiation/maturation process that takes places inside the bone marrow. In this manuscript, we present an explant method initially described in 1956 by Thiéry and Bessis to visualize megakaryocytes which have matured in their native environment, thus circumventing potential artifacts and misinterpretations. Fresh bone marrows are collected by flushing the femurs of mice, sliced into 0.5 mm cross sections, and placed in an incubation chamber at 37 °C containing a physiological buffer. Megakaryocytes become gradually visible at the explant periphery and are observed up to 6 hours under an inverted microscope coupled to a video camera. Over time, megakaryocytes change their shape, with some cells having a spherical form and others developing thick extensions or extending many thin proplatelets with extensive branching. Both qualitative and quantitative investigations are carried out. This method has the advantage of being simple, reproducible, and fast as numerous megakaryocytes are present, and classically half of them form proplatelets in 6 hours compared to 4 days for cultured mouse megakaryocytes. In addition to the study of mutant mice, an interesting application of this method is the straightforward evaluation of the pharmacological agents on the proplatelet extension process, without interfering with the differentiation process that may occur in cultures.

Introduction

The bone marrow explant technique was first developed by Thiéry and Bessis in 1956 to describe the formation of rat megakaryocyte cytoplasmic extensions as an initial event in platelet formation¹. Using phase contrast and cinematographic techniques, these authors characterized the transformation of mature round megakaryocytes into "squid-like" thrombocytogenic cells with cytoplasmic extensions showing dynamic movements of elongation and contraction. These arms become progressively thinner until they become filiform with small swellings along the arms and at the tips. These typical megakaryocyte elongations, obtained in vitro

Protocol

All animal experiments were performed in accordance with European standards 2010/63/EU and the CREMEAS Committee on the Ethics of Animal Experiments of the University of Strasbourg (Comité Régional d'Ethique en Matière d'Expérimentation Animale Strasbourg).

1. Preparation of reagents

1. Prepare reagents as described in Table 1.
   1. For the Stock I, dissolve each powder separately. Ensure that the osmolarity of the preparation is higher than 295 mOsm/L. This solution can be stored at 4 °C for one year.
   2. For the Tyrode's buffer preparation, make the solution as d....

Results

Qualitative results. At the beginning of the experiment, all cells are compacted in the bone marrow section. It takes 30 min for the cells to become clearly visible at the periphery of the explants. The megakaryocytes are then recognizable by their large size and their evolution can then be studied over time (size, shape, dynamic, proplatelet extension and platelet release) (Figure 2A). Small megakaryocytes have a diameter between 20 and 30 µm and their nuclei are polyl.......

Discussion

Here we describe a simple and low-cost in vitro method to evaluate the efficiency of megakaryocytes to extend proplatelets which have grown in the bone marrow. The bone marrow explant model for mouse has four main advantages. First, there are no advanced technical skills required. Second, the time needed to obtain megakaryocyte-extending proplatelets is quite short, only 6 hours for the explant method, compared to a minimum of 4 days for a conventional culture method starting from mouse progenitors. Third, given.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
5 mL syringes	Terumo	SS+05S1
21-gauge needles	BD Microlance	301155
CaCl2.6H2O	Sigma	21108
Coverwall Incubation Chambers	Electron Microscopy Sciences	70324-02	Depth : 0,2 mm
HEPES	Sigma	H-3375	pH adjusted to 7.5
Human serum albumin	VIALEBEX	authorized medication : n° 3400956446995	20% (200mg/mL -100mL)
KCl	Sigma	P9333
MgCl2.6H2O	Sigma	BVBW8448
Micro Cover Glass	Electron Microscopy Sciences	72200-40	22 mm x 55 mm
Microscope	Leica Microsystems SA, Westlar, Germany	DMI8 - 514341	air lens
microscope camera	Leica Microsystems SA, Westlar, Germany	K5 CMS GmbH -14401137	image resolution : 4.2 megapixel
Mouse serum	BioWest	S2160-010
NaCl	Sigma	S7653
NaH2PO4.H2O	Sigma	S9638
NaHCO3	Sigma	S5761
PSG 100x	Gibco, Life Technologies	1037-016	10,000 units/mL penicillin, 10,000 μg/mL streptomycin and 29.2 mg/mL glutamine
Razor blade	Electron Microscopy Sciences	72000
Sucrose D (+)	Sigma	G8270