Name: an ex vivo method for time-lapse imaging of cultured rat mesenteric microvascular networks
Uploaded: 2017-02-09T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about An Ex Vivo Method for Time-Lapse Imaging of Cultured Rat Mesenteric Microvascular Networks at JoVE.com

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant 5-P20GM103629 to WLM and the Tulane Center for Aging. We would like to thank Matthew Nice for his help with editing the protocol text.

All animal experiments and procedures were approved by the Tulane University&#39;s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
1. Surgical Procedure Setup
<ol>
	<li>Autoclave instruments, surgical supplies, and culture supplies prior to surgery. Surgical supplies for each rat include: 1 drape, 1 drape with pre-cut hole (0.5 in x 1.5 in) in the center, gauze pads, and 1 absorbent underpad. Surgical instruments include: 1 scalpel with a number 10 blade, 2 pairs of tweezers, and a pair...

<ol>
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S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+ex+vivo+model+for+anti-angiogenic+drug+testing+on+intact+microvascular+networks.">An ex vivo model for anti-angiogenic drug testing on intact microvascular networks.</a> PLoS One. 10 (3), e0119227 (2015).</li><li>Nicosia, R. F., Ottinetti, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Growth+of+microvessels+in+serum-free+matrix+culture+of+rat+aorta.+A+quantitative+assay+of+angiogenesis+in+vitro.">Growth of microvessels in serum-free matrix culture of rat aorta. A quantitative assay of angiogenesis in vitro.</a> Lab Invest. 63 (1), 115-122 (1990).</li><li>Hutter-Schmid, B., Kniewallner, K. M., Humpel, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Organotypic+brain+slice+cultures+as+a+model+to+study+angiogenesis+of+brain+vessels.">Organotypic brain slice cultures as a model to study angiogenesis of brain vessels.</a> Front Cell Dev Biol. 3, 52 (2015).</li><li>Sawamiphak, S., Ritter, M., Acker-Palmer, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preparation+of+retinal+explant+cultures+to+study+ex+vivo+tip+endothelial+cell+responses.">Preparation of retinal explant cultures to study ex vivo tip endothelial cell responses.</a> Nat Protoc. 5 (10), 1659-1665 (2010).</li><li>Unoki, N., Murakami, T., Ogino, K., Nukada, M., Yoshimura, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Time-lapse+imaging+of+retinal+angiogenesis+reveals+decreased+development+and+progression+of+neovascular+sprouting+by+anecortave+desacetate.">Time-lapse imaging of retinal angiogenesis reveals decreased development and progression of neovascular sprouting by anecortave desacetate.</a> Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 51 (5), 2347-2355 (2010).</li><li>Norrby, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+models+of+angiogenesis.">In vivo models of angiogenesis.</a> J Cell Mol Med. 10 (3), 588-612 (2006).</li><li>Kelly-Goss, M. R., Sweat, R. S., Azimi, M. S., Murfee, W. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vascular+islands+during+microvascular+regression+and+regrowth+in+adult+networks.">Vascular islands during microvascular regression and regrowth in adult networks.</a> Front Physiol. 4, 108 (2013).</li><li>Kelly-Goss, M. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+proliferation+along+vascular+islands+during+microvascular+network+growth.">Cell proliferation along vascular islands during microvascular network growth.</a> BMC Physiol. 12, 7 (2012).</li><li>Skalak, T. C., Price, R. 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This protocol documents a method for using the rat mesentery culture model as an ex vivo tool for time-lapse imaging of microvascular network growth. Previous work in our laboratory has established the use of our model for 1) angiogenesis8, 2) lymphangiogenesis8, 3) pericyte-endothelial cell interactions8, and 4) anti-angiogenic drug testing9. The ability for imaging cultured rat mesentery tissues at multiple time poi...

Microvascular network growth and remodeling are common denominators for tissue function, wound healing, and multiple pathologies and a key process&#160;is angiogenesis, defined as the growth of new blood vessels from existing ones1,2. For tissue engineering new vessels or designing angiogenic based therapies, understanding the importance of the cellular dynamics involved in angiogenesis is critical. However, this process is complex. It can vary at specific locations within a microvascular network and involves multiple cell types (i.e. endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, pericytes, macrophages, stem cells) and multiple systems (lymphatic networks and neural networks). Although in vitro models have contributed tremendously to examining the relationship between different cells involved in angiogenesis3, their physiological relevance can be undermined due to their limited complexity and the fact that they do not closely reflect an in vivo scenario. To overcome these limitations, three-dimensional culture systems3, ex vivo tissue models4, microfluidic systems5,6, and computational models7 have been developed and introduced in recent years. However, there is still a need for a model with time-lapse capability to investigate angiogenesis in intact microvascular networks ex vivo. The establishment of new time-lapse models for angiogenesis studies with that level of complexity will provide an invaluable tool to understand the underlying mechanisms regulating angiogenesis and to improve therapies.
A potential model that enables the ex vivo investigation of angiogenesis across an intact microvascular network is the rat mesentery culture model8. In recent work, we have demonstrated that blood and lymphatic microvascular networks remain viable after culture. More importantly, the rat mesentery culture model can be used to investigate functional pericyte-endothelial cell interactions, blood and lymphatic endothelial cell connections, and time-lapse imaging. The objective of this paper is to provide our protocol for the time-lapse imaging method. Our representative results document the multiple cell types that remain viable after the stimulation of angiogenesis with serum and offer examples of using this method for quantifying tissue specific angiogenic responses as well as endothelial cell tracking studies.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="679">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="34">
			<td height="34" style="height:34px;width:165px;">Drape</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Cardinal Health</td>
			<td style="width:132px;">4012</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">12&#8221;x12&#8221; Bio-Shield Regular Sterilization Wraps</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="34">
			<td height="34" style="height:34px;">Scalpel Handle</td>
			<td>Roboz Surgical Instrument</td>
			<td>RS-9843</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Scalpel Handle, #3; Solid; 4&#34; Length</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sterile Surgical Blade</td>
			<td>Cincinnati Surgical</td>
			<td>0110</td>
			<td>Stainless Steel; Size 10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Culture Dish (60mm)</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>130181</td>
			<td>10/Sleeve</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="51">
			<td height="51" style="height:51px;width:165px;">Graefe Forcep (curved tweezers)</td>
			<td>Roboz Surgical Instrument</td>
			<td>RS-5135</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Micro Dissecting Forceps; Serrated; Slight Curve; 0.8mm Tip Width; 4&#34; Length</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="52">
			<td height="52" style="height:52px;width:165px;">Graefe Forcep (straight tweezers)</td>
			<td>Roboz Surgical Instrument</td>
			<td>RS-5130</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Micro Dissecting Forceps; Serrated, Straight; 0.8mm Tip Width; 4&#34; Length</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="86">
			<td height="86" style="height:86px;width:165px;">Noyes Micro Scissor</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Roboz Surgical Instrument</td>
			<td style="width:132px;">RS-5677</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Noyes Micro Dissecting Spring Scissors; 
			Straight, Sharp-Blunt Points; 13mm Cutting Edge; 0.25mm Tip Width, 4 1/2&#34; Overall Length</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="35">
			<td height="35" style="height:35px;">Gauze Pads</td>
			<td>FisherBrand</td>
			<td>13-761-52</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Non-Sterile Cotton Gauze Sponges; 4&#34;x4&#34; 12-Ply</td>
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		<tr height="35">
			<td height="35" style="height:35px;">Cotton-Tippled Applicators</td>
			<td>FisherBrand</td>
			<td>23-400-124</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">6&#34; Length; Wooden Shaft; Single Use Only</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="52">
			<td height="52" style="height:52px;">6-Well Plate</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>08-772-49</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Flat Bottom with Low Evaporation Lid; Polystyrene; Non-Pyrogenic</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sterile Syring 5ml</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>14-829-45</td>
			<td>Luer-Lok Tip</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="35">
			<td height="35" style="height:35px;">Sterile Bowl</td>
			<td>Medical Action Industries Inc.</td>
			<td>01232</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">32 oz. Peel Pouch; Blue; Sterile Single Use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="35">
			<td height="35" style="height:35px;width:165px;">6-Well Plate Inserts (CellCrown Inserts)</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>Z681792-3EA</td>
			<td>6-Well Plate Inserts; Non-Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="52">
			<td height="52" style="height:52px;width:165px;">Polycarbonate Filter Membrane</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>TMTP04700</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Isopore Membrane Filter; Polycarbonate; Hydrophilic; 5.0&#160;&#181;m, 47&#160;mm, White Plain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="52">
			<td height="52" style="height:52px;">Beuthanasia</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Schering-Plough Animal Health Corp. Union (Ordered from MWI Veterinary Supply)</td>
			<td>MWI #: 011168</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Active Ingredient: Per 100mL, 390 mg pentobarbital sodium, 50mg phenytoin sodium&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="52">
			<td height="52" style="height:52px;">Ketamine</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Fort Dodge Animal Health (Ordered from MWI Veterinary Supply)</td>
			<td>MWI #: 000680</td>
			<td>Kateset 100 mg/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="35">
			<td height="35" style="height:35px;">Xylazine</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">LLOYD. Inc. (Ordered from MWI Veterinary Supply)</td>
			<td>MWI #: 000680</td>
			<td>Anased 100 mg/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Saline</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Baxter</td>
			<td>2F7122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PBS</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>14040-133</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">MEM</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>11095080</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PenStrep</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>15140-122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">FBS</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>16000-044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">BSA</td>
			<td>Jackson ImmunoResearch</td>
			<td>001-000-162</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:165px;">Saponin&#160;</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>S7900-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:165px;">Isopropyl Alcohol</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>S25372</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:165px;">Povidone-Iodine</td>
			<td>Operand</td>
			<td>82-226</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:165px;">Hydrochloric Acid</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>320331</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:165px;">Methanol</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>67-56-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:165px;">Glycerol</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>56-81-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:165px;">FITC-conjugated Lectin</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>L9381-2MG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="52">
			<td height="52" style="height:52px;width:165px;">Anti-NG2 Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan Antibody</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>AB5320</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PECAM (CD31) Antibody</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>555026</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">LYVE-1 Antibody</td>
			<td>AngioBio Co.</td>
			<td>11-034</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Goat Anti-Rabbit Cy2-conjugated Antibody</td>
			<td>Jackson ImmunoResearch</td>
			<td>111-585-144</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Goat Anti-Mouse Cy3-conjugated Antibody</td>
			<td>Jackson ImmunoResearch</td>
			<td>115-227-003</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Streptavidin Cy3-conjugated Antibody</td>
			<td>Jackson ImmunoResearch</td>
			<td>016-160-084</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Live/Dead Viability/Cytotoxicity Kit</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>L3224</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Normal Goat Serum&#160;</td>
			<td>Jackson ImmunoResearch</td>
			<td>005-000-121</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">5-Bromo-2&#39;-Deoxyuridine</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>B5002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="52">
			<td height="52" style="height:52px;width:165px;">Monoclonal Mouse Anti-Bromodeoxyuridine&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Clone Bu20a</td>
			<td>Dako</td>
			<td style="width:132px;">M074401-8</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Mouse Anti-Rat CD11b&#160;</td>
			<td>AbD Serotec</td>
			<td>MCA275R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

an ex vivo method for time-lapse imaging of cultured rat mesenteric microvascular networks

Angiogenesis, defined as the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, involves endothelial cells, pericytes, smooth muscle cells, immune cells, and the coordination with lymphatic vessels and nerves. The multi-cell, multi-system interactions necessitate the investigation of angiogenesis in a physiologically relevant environment. Thus, while the use of in vitro cell-culture models have provided mechanistic insights, a common critique is that they do not recapitulate the complexity associated with a microvascular network. The objective of this protocol is to demonstrate the ability to make time-lapse comparisons of intact microvascular networks before and after angiogenesis stimulation in cultured rat mesentery tissues. Cultured tissues contain microvascular networks that maintain their hierarchy. Immunohistochemical labeling confirms the presence of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, pericytes, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. In addition, labeling tissues with BSI-lectin enables time-lapse comparison of local network regions before and after serum or growth factor stimulation characterized by increased capillary sprouting and vessel density. In comparison to common cell culture models, this method provides a tool for endothelial cell lineage studies and tissue specific angiogenic drug evaluation in physiologically relevant microvascular networks.

After 3 days in culture, tissues were labeled with a live/dead viability/cytotoxicity kit to demonstrate the viability of the microvasculature in the rat mesentery culture model (Figure 2A). The majority of cells present in the mesentery remained viable in the culture where endothelial cells were identified based on their location in microvascular segments. Endothelial cell proliferation was also confirmed by lectin/BrdU labeling (Figure 2D). Smooth muscl...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about An Ex Vivo Method for Time-Lapse Imaging of Cultured Rat Mesenteric Microvascular Networks at JoVE.com

An Ex Vivo Method for Time-Lapse Imaging of Cultured Rat Mesenteric Microvascular Networks

Angiogenesis involves multi-cell, multi-system interactions that need to be investigated in a physiologically relevant environment. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the ability of the rat mesentery culture model to make time-lapse comparisons of intact microvascular networks during angiogenesis.

An Ex Vivo Method for Time-Lapse Imaging of Cultured Rat Mesenteric Microvascular Networks

Angiogenesis, defined as the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, involves endothelial cells, pericytes, smooth muscle cells, immune ...

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Analyzing In Vivo Cell Migration using Cell Transplantations and Time-lapse Imaging in Zebrafish Embryos

Analyzing In Vivo Cell Migration using Cell Transplantations and Time-lapse Imaging in Zebrafish Embryos

Cell migration is key to many physiological and pathological conditions, including cancer metastasis. The cellular and molecular bases of cell migration ...

Analysis of Zebrafish Kidney Development with Time-lapse Imaging Using a Dissecting Microscope Equipped for Optical Sectioning

In order to understand organogenesis, the spatial and temporal alterations that occur during development of tissues need to be recorded. The method ...

A Submerged Filter Paper Sandwich for Long-term Ex Ovo Time-lapse Imaging of Early Chick Embryos

A Submerged Filter Paper Sandwich for Long-term Ex Ovo Time-lapse Imaging of Early Chick Embryos

Due to its availability, low cost, flat geometry, and transparency, the ex ovo chick embryo has become a major vertebrate animal model for the study of ...

Multi-Photon Time Lapse Imaging to Visualize Development in Real-time: Visualization of Migrating Neural Crest Cells in Zebrafish Embryos

Congenital eye and craniofacial anomalies reflect disruptions in the neural crest, a transient population of migratory stem cells that give rise to ...

Culturing of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells on an Ex Vivo Model of Aged Human Bruch's Membrane

Culturing of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells on an Ex Vivo Model of Aged Human Bruch's Membrane

Aside from vitamins and antioxidants recommended by the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, there is no effective therapy for &#34;dry,&#34;&#160;or atrophic ...

An In Vivo Method to Study Mouse Blood-Testis Barrier Integrity

An In Vivo Method to Study Mouse Blood-Testis Barrier Integrity

Spermatogenesis is the development of spermatogonia into mature spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules of the testis. This process is supported by ...

Analysis of Actomyosin Dynamics at Local Cellular and Tissue Scales Using Time-lapse Movies of Cultured Drosophila Egg Chambers

Analysis of Actomyosin Dynamics at Local Cellular and Tissue Scales Using Time-lapse Movies of Cultured Drosophila Egg Chambers

Drosophila immature eggs are called egg chambers, and their structure resembles primitive organs that undergo morphological changes from a round to an ...

Ex Vivo Perfusion of the Rodent Placenta

The placenta is a key organ during pregnancy that serves as a barrier to fetal xenobiotic exposure and mediates the exchange of nutrients for waste. An ...

A Layered Mounting Method for Extended Time-Lapse Confocal Microscopy of Whole Zebrafish Embryos

Dynamics of development can be followed by confocal time-lapse microscopy of live transgenic zebrafish embryos expressing fluorescence in specific tissues ...