Name: using in vivo and tissue and cell explant approaches to study the morphogenesis and pathogenesis of the embryonic and perinatal aorta
Uploaded: 2017-09-12T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Using In Vivo and Tissue and Cell Explant Approaches to Study the Morphogenesis and Pathogenesis of the Embryonic and Perinatal Aorta at JoVE.com

We thank Dean Li for sharing his laboratory's protocol for aortic SMC isolation. Funding support was provided by the National Institutes of Health (R21NS088854, R01HL125815, and R01HL133016 to D.M.G), the American Heart Association (Grant-in-Aid 14GRNT19990019 to D.M.G.), and Yale University (Brown-Coxe Fellowship to A.M. and startup funds to D.M.G.).

All mouse protocols are approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Yale University.
1. In Vivo Embryonic Fate Mapping and Clonal Analysis
Note: We have used these approaches widely to evaluate the origins of cells and their clonal architecture in development and disease models7,8,9,10.
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	<li>Set up mating...

<ol>
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In contrast to the extensive investigations of the murine aorta and its major branches in adult pathological conditions, such as models of atherosclerosis, less is known regarding the morphogenesis and the pathogenesis of the embryonic and perinatal aorta. Here, we focus on the embryonic/perinatal aorta, specifically the SMCs, and provide protocols to study the aorta through in vivo, tissue explant, and SMC isolation approaches. These complimentary approaches provide the investigator with diverse approaches to s...

The circulatory systems of multicellular organisms function to deliver nutrients and oxygen to cells that are not in contact with the external environment and to remove waste products and carbon dioxide from these cells. In vertebrates, the primary circulatory system consists of the heart, which pumps blood through a series of blood vessels. The walls of large blood vessels, such as arteries and veins, consist of three layers: i) the intima, or inner layer of endothelial cells; ii) the media, or middle layer of alternating circumferentially elongated smooth muscle cells SMCs and elastic lamellae; and iii) the adventitia, or outer layer of connective tissue and fibroblasts. The vast majority of studies in vascular biology focus on endothelial cells, investigating the formation of new endothelial cell-lined tubes through angiogenesis. In comparison, SMCs receive relatively little attention. However, SMCs are a critical cell type in the construction of the normal arterial wall and in vascular pathologies.
The aorta is the largest-caliber artery in the body, receiving the cardiac output from the left ventricle of the heart. It is afflicted by diverse human diseases, including atherosclerosis, aneurysm, and dissection. In adult organisms, the aorta and its major branches are intensely studied in models of vascular disease. For instance, high fat diet fed mice that are null for the gene encoding the low-density lipoprotein receptor or apolipoprotein E, develop atherosclerosis, and recent fate mapping studies indicate that pre-existing SMCs give rise to multiple cell types in the atherosclerotic plaque1. In aortic aneurysms, pathological changes include SMC apoptosis and extracellular matrix remodeling2,3.
Substantially less is known regarding SMC morphogenesis and pathogenesis during the embryonic and perinatal periods. Here, we provide protocols for studying embryonic and perinatal aortic SMCs in vivo, in tissue explants and in isolated cells. For instance, the first section of the protocol delineates fate mapping and clonal analysis in embryonic mice. Cre recombinase expressed under the control of a cell-specific promoter facilitates the marking of specific cells and their progeny4,5,6; however, temporal control of cell-specific labeling can be challenging during embryonic development in mice. In this context, with embryos expressing the conditional CreER under a promoter active in SMCs (e.g.,Myh11 or Acta2) and a Cre reporter, we provide methods for injecting tamoxifen or its active metabolite 4-OH-tamoxifen in pregnant dams and for analyzing the labeled cells in embryos or postnatal offspring. Furthermore, in contrast to fate mapping studies, which predominately utilize Cre reporters with a single reporter fluorophore1,7, clonal analysis is substantially enhanced with multi-color Cre reporters.
The second and third sections of protocol describe methods for isolating and culturing embryonic aortic explants and aortic SMCs from neonates, respectively. These approaches allow for the manipulation of signaling pathways, specifically in aortic explants or SMCs, and for analyzing the direct effects of pharmacological agents. Thus, the role of specific genes in the tissue of interest can be screened in a far more rapid fashion than through traditional genetic manipulations in mice. In addition, the isolated SMC studies facilitate the analysis of cell migration and adhesion, which are technically limited in vivo.
Finally, the fourth protocol section delineates the placement of a subcutaneous osmotic mini-pump loaded with pharmacological agents in pregnant (or non-pregnant) mice. This method facilitates the analysis of the effect on embryonic development caused by agents that require continuous infusion because of rapid metabolism. The alternative of frequent injections is not practical for many agents and should be avoided, as it may cause significant discomfort in the pregnant dam.

<table width="1061">
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	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Tamoxifen</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">T5648</td>
			<td style="width:412px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Corn oil</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">C-8267</td>
			<td>Vehicle for tamoxifen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">4-OH-tamoxifen</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">H7904</td>
			<td>Active metabolite of tamoxifen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Progesterone</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">P8783-5G</td>
			<td>Use at half the concentration of tamoxifen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">OCT compound</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Sakura tissue tek</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">4583</td>
			<td>For making cryoblocks</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Cryomolds</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Polysciences inc</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">18986</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">DAPI</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">D9542</td>
			<td>IHC staining of nucleus, final concentration 5 mg/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cy3 directly conjugated anti-SMA antibody</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A2547</td>
			<td>IHC staining of SMA, final dilution 1:500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Anti-CD31 antibody</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">BD Pharmingen</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">550274</td>
			<td>IHC staining of GFP, final concentration 0.006 mg/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Anti-GFP antibody</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">A-11121</td>
			<td>IHC staining of CD31, final concentration 0.0016 mg/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Secondary antibody goat anti-rabbit, Alexa 647</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td>a21244</td>
			<td>IHC staining, final concentration 0.004 mg/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Secondary antibody goat anti-rabbit, Alexa 488</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td>a11008</td>
			<td>IHC staining, final concentration 0.004 mg/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">DMEM</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">10567-014</td>
			<td>For cell culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">FBS</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">10437028</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Anti-integrin beta3 blocking antibody</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">553343</td>
			<td>Clone 2C9.G2, final concentration 0.02 mg/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Collagenase</td>
			<td>Worthington Biochemical Corp</td>
			<td>44H14977A</td>
			<td>For digesting aorta</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Elastase</td>
			<td>Worthington Biochemical Corp</td>
			<td>34K15139</td>
			<td>For digesting aorta</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Antibiotic-antimycotic (100X)</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">15240062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Recombinant human FGF</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Promega</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">G5071</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Recombinant human EGF</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Promega</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">G5021</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Penicillin/streptomycin (10,000 U/ml)</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">15140122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Amphotericin B</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">15290026</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Tissue culture plates</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">CLS430165</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:323px;height:21px;">Alzet osmotic mini-pump</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Durect Corporation</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">2001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ECLIPSE 80i Upright Fluorescent Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Nikon </td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;"> TCS SP5</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Leica</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Branson Sonifier 450</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Myh11-CreERT2 mice</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">The Jackson Laboratory </td>
			<td>19079</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Acta2-CreERT2 mice</td>
			<td style="width:216px;"></td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td>Obtained from lab of Dr. Pierre Chambon and Daniel Metzger</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ROSA26R-CreERT2 mice</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">The Jackson Laboratory </td>
			<td style="width:111px;">8463</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ROSA26R(mTmG/mTmG) mice</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">The Jackson Laboratory </td>
			<td> 026862</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ROSA26R(EYFP/EYFP) mice</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">The Jackson Laboratory </td>
			<td> 006148 </td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ROSA26R(Confetti/Confetti) mice</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">The Jackson Laboratory </td>
			<td>13731</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ROSA26R(Rb/Rb) mice</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Lab of Dr. Irv Weissman</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td style="width:412px;">Obtained from lab of Dr. Irv Weissman</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

using in vivo and tissue and cell explant approaches to study the morphogenesis and pathogenesis of the embryonic and perinatal aorta

The aorta is the largest artery in the body. The aortic wall is composed of an inner layer of endothelial cells, a middle layer of alternating elastic lamellae and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and an outer layer of fibroblasts and extracellular matrix. In contrast to the widespread study of pathological models (e.g., atherosclerosis) in the adult aorta, much less is known about the embryonic and perinatal aorta. Here, we focus on SMCs and provide protocols for the analysis of the morphogenesis and pathogenesis of embryonic and perinatal aortic SMCs in normal development and disease. Specifically, the four protocols included are: i) in vivo embryonic fate mapping and clonal analysis; ii) explant embryonic aorta culture; iii) SMC isolation from the perinatal aorta; and iv) subcutaneous osmotic mini-pump placement in pregnant (or non-pregnant) mice. Thus, these approaches facilitate the investigation of the origin(s), fate, and clonal architecture of SMCs in the aorta in vivo. They allow for modulating embryonic aorta morphogenesis in utero by continuous exposure to pharmacological agents. In addition, isolated aortic tissue explants or aortic SMCs can be used to gain insights into the role of specific gene targets during fundamental processes such as muscularization, proliferation, and migration. These hypothesis-generating experiments on isolated SMCs and the explanted aorta can then be assessed in the in vivo context through pharmacological and genetic approaches.

In a representative clonal analysis of SMCs in embryos mutant for Eln (the gene encoding the extracellular matrix protein elastin), Eln(+/-), Acta2-CreERT2 mice were mated to Eln(+/-) mice also carrying the multi-color ROSA26R(Rb/Rb) reporter. As described in step 1, plugs were checked, pregnant dams were induced with a single tamoxifen injection (1.5 mg) at E12.5, and they were sacrificed at E18.5. Embryos were harves...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Using In Vivo and Tissue and Cell Explant Approaches to Study the Morphogenesis and Pathogenesis of the Embryonic and Perinatal Aorta at JoVE.com

Using In Vivo and Tissue and Cell Explant Approaches to Study the Morphogenesis and Pathogenesis of the Embryonic and Perinatal Aorta

Protocols for studying the embryonic and perinatal murine aorta using in vivo clonal analysis and fate mapping, aortic explants, and isolated smooth muscle cells are detailed here. These diverse approaches facilitate the investigation of the morphogenesis of the embryonic and perinatal aorta in normal development and the pathogenesis in disease.

Using In Vivo and Tissue and Cell Explant Approaches to Study the Morphogenesis and Pathogenesis of the Embryonic and Perinatal Aorta

The aorta is the largest artery in the body. The aortic wall is composed of an inner layer of endothelial cells, a middle layer of alternating elastic ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

Ex Vivo Culture of Pharyngeal Arches to Study Heart and Muscle Progenitors and Their Niche

Ex Vivo Culture of Pharyngeal Arches to Study Heart and Muscle Progenitors and Their Niche

The pharyngeal mesoderm of developing embryos contributes to broad regions of head and heart musculature. We have developed a novel method to study head ...

Stem cell-like Xenopus Embryonic Explants to Study Early Neural Developmental Features In Vitro and In Vivo

Stem cell-like Xenopus Embryonic Explants to Study Early Neural Developmental Features In Vitro and In Vivo

Understanding the genetic programs underlying neural development is an important goal of developmental and stem cell biology. In the amphibian blastula, ...

Isolation of Murine Embryonic Hemogenic Endothelial Cells

The specification of hemogenic endothelial cells from embryonic vascular endothelium occurs during brief developmental periods within distinct tissues, ...

Dissection and Immunofluorescent Staining of Mushroom Body and Photoreceptor Neurons in Adult Drosophila melanogaster Brains

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Nervous system development involves a sequential series of events that are coordinated by several signaling pathways and regulatory networks. Many of the ...

Ovarian Tissue Culture to Visualize Phenomena in Mouse Ovary

Mammalian females periodically ovulate an almost constant number of oocytes during each estrus cycle. To sustain such regularity and periodicity, ...

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 ...

Microinjection-based System for In Vivo Implantation of Embryonic Cardiomyocytes in the Avian Embryo

Interpreting the relative impact of cell autonomous patterning versus extrinsic microenvironmental influence on cell lineage determination represents a ...

Dissection and Live-Imaging of the Late Embryonic Drosophila Gonad

Dissection and Live-Imaging of the Late Embryonic Drosophila Gonad

The Drosophila melanogaster male embryonic gonad is an advantageous model to study various aspects of developmental biology including, but not limited to, ...

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Somitogenesis is a hallmark of vertebrate embryonic development. For years, researchers have been studying this process in a variety of organisms using a ...

Cell Dissociation from the Tongue Epithelium and Mesenchyme/Connective Tissue of Embryonic-Day 12.5 and 8-Week-Old Mice

Cell dissociation has been an essential procedure for studies at the individual-cell level and/or at a cell-population level (e.g.,&#160;single cell RNA ...