Stabilized Longitudinal In Vivo Cellular-Level Visualization of the Pancreas in a Murine Model with a Pancreatic Intravital Imaging Window

Summary

In vivo high-resolution imaging of the pancreas was facilitated with the pancreatic intravital imaging window.

Abstract

Direct in vivo cellular-resolution imaging of the pancreas in a live small animal model has been technically challenging. A recent intravital imaging study, with an abdominal imaging window, enabled visualization of the cellular dynamics in abdominal organs in vivo. However, due to the soft sheet-like architecture of the mouse pancreas that can be easily influenced by physiologic movement (e.g., peristalsis and respiration), it was difficult to perform stabilized longitudinal in vivo imaging over several weeks at the cellular level to identify, track, and quantify islets or cancer cells in the mouse pancreas. Herein, we describe a method for implanting a novel supporting base, an integrated pancreatic intravital imaging window, that can spatially separate the pancreas from the bowel for longitudinal time-lapse intravital imaging of the pancreas microstructure. Longitudinal in vivo imaging with the imaging window enables stable visualization, allowing for the tracking of islets over a period of 3 weeks and high-resolution three-dimensional imaging of the microstructure, as evidenced here in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer model. With our method, further intravital imaging studies can elucidate the pathophysiology of various diseases involving the pancreas at the cellular level.

Introduction

The pancreas is an abdominal organ with an exocrine function in the digestive tract and an endocrine function of secreting hormones into the bloodstream. High-resolution cellular imaging of the pancreas could reveal the pathophysiology of various diseases involving the pancreas, including pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and diabetes mellitus¹. Conventional diagnostic imaging tools such as computed tomography, magnetic resolution imaging, and ultrasonography are widely available in the clinical field^1,2. However, these imaging modalities are restricted to visualizing only structural or ....

Protocol

All procedures described in this paper were conducted in accordance with the 8^th edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (2011)²⁶ and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH).

1. Preparation of the window and other materials

1. Custom design the pancreatic intravital imaging window to seclude the pancreas from the bowel in the abdominal cavity¹⁸ (Figure 1A,B). A deta....

Discussion

The protocol described here consists of intravital imaging of the pancreas using a novel supporting base integrated pancreatic intravital imaging window modified from an abdominal imaging window. Among the protocols described above, the first critical step is the implantation of the intravital pancreatic imaging window in the mouse. For the application of the glue in the window, it is important to apply the glue between the margin of the window and the cover glass, but not on the pancreatic tissue, as it may significantl.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Alexa Fluor 647 Succinimidyl Esters (NHS esters)	Invitrogen	A20006	Fluorescent probe for conjugate with antibody
BALB/C Nude	OrientBio	BALB/C Nude	BALB/C Nude
BD Intramedic polyethylene tubing	BD Biosciences	427401	PE10 catheter for connection with needle
C57BL/6N	OrientBio	C57BL/6N	C57BL/6N
Cover glasses circular	Marienfeld	0111520	Cover glass for pancreatic imaging window
FITC Dextran 2MDa	Merck (Former Sigma Aldrich)	FD200S	For vessel identification
IMARIS 8.1	Bitplane	IMARIS	Image processing
Intravital Microscopy	IVIM tech	IVM-C	Intravital Microscopy
IRIS Scissor	JEUNGDO BIO & PLANT CO, LTD	S-1107-10	This product can be replaced with the product from other company
Loctite 401	Henkel	401	N-butyl cyanoacrylate glue
Micro Needle holder	JEUNGDO BIO & PLANT CO, LTD	H-1126-10	This product can be replaced with the product from other company
Micro rectractor	JEUNGDO BIO & PLANT CO, LTD	17004-03	This product can be replaced with the product from other company
Microforceps	JEUNGDO BIO & PLANT CO, LTD	F-1034	This product can be replaced with the product from other company
MIP-GFP	The Jackson Laboratory	006864	B6.Cg-Tg(Ins1-EGFP)1Hara/J
Nylon 4-0	AILEE	NB434	Non-Absorbable Suture
Omnican N 100 30G	B BRAUN	FT9172220S	For Vascular Catheter, Use only Needle part
PANC-1 NucLightRed	Custom-made	Custom-made	Made in laboratory
Pancreatic imaging window	Geumto Engineering	Custom order	Pancreatic imaging window - custom order
Physiosuite	Kent Scientific	PS-02	Homeothermic temperature controller
Purified NA/LE Rat Anti-Mouse CD31	BD Biosciences	553708	Antibody for in vivo vessel labeling
Ring Forceps	JEUNGDO BIO & PLANT CO, LTD	F-1090-3	This product can be replaced with the product from other company
Rompun	Bayer	Rompun	Anesthetic agent
TMR Dextran 65-85kDa	Merck (Former Sigma Aldrich)	T1162	For vessel identification
Window holder	Geumto Engineering	Custom order	Window holder - custom order
Zoletil	Virbac	Zoletil 100	Anesthetic agent