Name: dissection and coronal slice preparation of developing mouse pituitary gland
Uploaded: 2017-11-16T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Dissection and Coronal Slice Preparation of Developing Mouse Pituitary Gland at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (31201086, 31470759 and 31671219) and Shanghai Natural Science Foundation (12ZR1436900).

C57BL/6 mice are bred in specific pathogen-free conditions. All animal experimental methods are in compliance with the guidelines approved by the Animal Care and Ethics Committee at Second Military Medical University.
1. Dissection of Postnatal Developing Pituitary Gland
<ol>
	<li>Perform anesthesia: Place neonatal mice (P0 - P5) on crushed ice to induce hypothermia. For mice older than 5 days of age, inject 5% urethane (30 &#181;L/g of body weight) intraperitoneally to induce anesthesia. As...

<ol>
	<li>Fauquier, T., Lacampagne, A., Travo, P., Bauer, K., Mollard, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hidden+face+of+the+anterior+pituitary.">Hidden face of the anterior pituitary.</a> Trends Endocrinol Metab. 13 (7), 304-309 (2002).</li><li>Haedo, 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=Regulation+of+pituitary+function+by+cytokines.">Regulation of pituitary function by cytokines.</a> Horm Res. 72 (5), 266-274 (2009).</li><li>Zhu, X., Gleiberman, A. S., Rosenfeld, M. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+physiology+of+pituitary+development:+signaling+and+transcriptional+networks.">Molecular physiology of pituitary development: signaling and transcriptional networks.</a> Physiol Rev. 87 (3), 933-963 (2007).</li><li>Bancalari, R. E., Gregory, L. C., McCabe, M. J., Dattani, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pituitary+gland+development:+an+update.">Pituitary gland development: an update.</a> Endocr Dev. 23, 1-15 (2012).</li><li>Kelberman, D., Rizzoti, K., Lovell-Badge, R., Robinson, I. C., Dattani, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetic+regulation+of+pituitary+gland+development+in+human+and+mouse.">Genetic regulation of pituitary gland development in human and mouse.</a> Endocr Rev. 30 (7), 790-829 (2009).</li><li>Peker, S., Kurtkaya-Yapicier, O., Kilic, T., Pamir, M. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microsurgical+anatomy+of+the+lateral+walls+of+the+pituitary+fossa.">Microsurgical anatomy of the lateral walls of the pituitary fossa.</a> Acta Neurochir (Wien). 147 (6), 641-648 (2005).</li><li>Wolpert, S. M., Molitch, M. E., Goldman, J. A., Wood, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Size,+shape,+and+appearance+of+the+normal+female+pituitary+gland.">Size, shape, and appearance of the normal female pituitary gland.</a> AJR Am J Roentgenol. 143 (2), 377-381 (1984).</li><li>Carbajo-Perez, E., Watanabe, Y. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellular+proliferation+in+the+anterior+pituitary+of+the+rat+during+the+postnatal+period.">Cellular proliferation in the anterior pituitary of the rat during the postnatal period.</a> Cell Tissue Res. 261 (2), 333-338 (1990).</li><li>Nantie, L. B., Himes, A. D., Getz, D. R., Raetzman, L. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Notch+signaling+in+postnatal+pituitary+expansion:+proliferation,+progenitors,+and+cell+specification.">Notch signaling in postnatal pituitary expansion: proliferation, progenitors, and cell specification.</a> Mol Endocrinol. 28 (5), 731-744 (2014).</li><li>Tzou, S. C., Landek-Salgado, M. A., Kimura, H., Caturegli, P. <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+mouse+pituitary+immunogen+for+the+induction+of+experimental+autoimmune+hypophysitis.">Preparation of mouse pituitary immunogen for the induction of experimental autoimmune hypophysitis.</a> J Vis Exp. (46), (2010).</li><li>Budry, L., 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=Related+pituitary+cell+lineages+develop+into+interdigitated+3D+cell+networks.">Related pituitary cell lineages develop into interdigitated 3D cell networks.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 108 (30), 12515-12520 (2011).</li><li>Wilson, D. B., Wyatt, D. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Histopathology+of+the+pituitary+gland+in+neonatal+little+(lit)+mutant+mice.">Histopathology of the pituitary gland in neonatal little (lit) mutant mice.</a> Histol Histopathol. 7 (3), 451-455 (1992).</li><li>Jonkers, B. W., Sterk, J. C., Wouterlood, F. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transcardial+perfusion+fixation+of+the+CNS+by+means+of+a+compressed-air-driven+device.">Transcardial perfusion fixation of the CNS by means of a compressed-air-driven device.</a> J Neurosci Methods. 12 (2), 141-149 (1984).</li><li>Cao, D., 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=ZBTB20+is+required+for+anterior+pituitary+development+and+lactotrope+specification.">ZBTB20 is required for anterior pituitary development and lactotrope specification.</a> Nat Commun. 7, 11121 (2016).</li></ol>

For developing murine pituitaries, it has been technically difficult to obtain proper coronal sections due to their tiny and fragile features and unique anatomical characteristics6,8. Some research groups thus chose mid-sagittal sections to analyze the morphology of embryonic and neonatal pituitary11,12. Though the mid-sagittal section of pituitary is also capable of showing anterior, intermediate, and po...

The pituitary gland or hypophysis is an important endocrine organ secreting hormones essential for homeostasis1,2. Anatomically, the pituitary gland is a &#39;&#39;two-in-one&#39;&#39; structure consisting of the neurohypophysis and the adenohypophysis. These parts have different embryonic origins and function very differently. The neurohypophysis is derived from the neural ectoderm and secretes oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone. The adenohypophysis originates from Rathke&#39;s pouch and is responsible for the release of hormones including growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone3,4,5.
The pituitary gland rests on the dorsal surface of the sphenoid bone (sella turcica) of the mouse skull and is attached to the floor of the brain by a fragile stalk. It is surrounded laterally by trigeminal nerves and anteriorly by the optic chiasm6,7. The gland has an elongated oval shape with its long axis perpendicular to that of the head. On its dorsal surface, the neurohypophysis and the adenohypophysis can easily be demarcated, with the former occupying the dorsal medial region and the latter extending laterally and ventrally. During postnatal development, the size of pituitary increases rapidly in the first month after birth8,9. Nevertheless, the mouse pituitary is still very small in size with an average weight of 1.9 mg and a long-axis diameter of ~3 mm in adult10, a long-axis diameter of 2 - 2.5 mm at postnatal day 21 (P21), and only 1 - 1.5 mm at P0.
A coronal section is preferred to display both adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis in a single slice of the mouse pituitary. However, some technical skills are required to obtain satisfying coronal sections of pituitary glands from developing mice due to its exceptionally small size and distinct anatomy. In this video article, we demonstrate how to dissect mouse pituitary glands and prepare pituitary coronal sections at different development stages.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Tools/Equipment</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical scissors-straight</td>
			<td>JinZhong</td>
			<td>J21010</td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fine scissors-strainght</td>
			<td>JinZhong</td>
			<td>WA1010</td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Blunt forceps</td>
			<td>JinZhong</td>
			<td>JD1020</td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fine forceps</td>
			<td>Dumont</td>
			<td>RS-5015</td>
			<td>for isolation of the pituitary</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>26G (0.45mm) needle</td>
			<td>HongDa</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>for transcardial perfusion</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe (1 mL)</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>300841</td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe (10 mL)</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>35mm dish</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430165</td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lens cleaning paper</td>
			<td>ShuangQuan</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anatomical microscope</td>
			<td>OLYMPUS</td>
			<td>SZX-ILLB2-200</td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Embedding cassette</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>22-272423</td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue embedding console system</td>
			<td>KEDEE</td>
			<td>KD-BM11</td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microtome</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>HM315R</td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Superfrost-Plus slides</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>22-037-246</td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cover glass</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>12-543</td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescence microscope</td>
			<td>OLYMPUS</td>
			<td>BH2-RFCA</td>
			<td>can be purchased from other vendors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Reagents</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Urethane</td>
			<td>BBI</td>
			<td>EB0448</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S9625</td>
			<td>for PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P9541</td>
			<td>for PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Na2HPO4.12H2O</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>71650</td>
			<td>for PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>K2HPO4</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P2222</td>
			<td>for PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaNO2</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>237213</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heparin Sodium Injection</td>
			<td>SPH</td>
			<td>H31022051</td>
			<td>for perfusion saline</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde (PFA)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P6148</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol</td>
			<td>SCR</td>
			<td>10009218</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Xylene</td>
			<td>SCR</td>
			<td>10023418</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraffin</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>8330</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hematoxylin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>H9627</td>
			<td>for H&#38;E staining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Eosin Y</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>E4009</td>
			<td>for H&#38;E staining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>rabbit anti growth hormone (GH)</td>
			<td>National Hormone</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>for immunostaining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>antibody</td>
			<td>Pituitary Program</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rabbit anti-mouse GFAP antibody</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>G9269</td>
			<td>for immunostaining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti-rabbit IgG, HRP</td>
			<td>Jackson</td>
			<td>111-035-003</td>
			<td>for immunostaining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TSA system</td>
			<td>NEN Life Science Products</td>
			<td>NEL700</td>
			<td>for immunostaining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Streptavidin, Alexa Fluor 594</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>S32356</td>
			<td>for immunostaining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-FITC Alexa Fluor 488</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>A11090</td>
			<td>for immunostaining</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

dissection and coronal slice preparation of developing mouse pituitary gland

The pituitary gland or hypophysis is an important endocrine organ secreting hormones essential for homeostasis. It consists of two glands with separate embryonic origins and functions &#8212; the neurohypophysis and the adenohypophysis. The developing mouse pituitary gland is tiny and delicate with an elongated oval shape. A coronal section is preferred to display both the adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis in a single slice of the mouse pituitary.
The goal of this protocol is to achieve proper pituitary coronal sections with well-preserved tissue architectures from developing mice. In this protocol, we describe in detail how to dissect and process pituitary glands properly from developing mice. First, mice are fixed by transcardial perfusion of formaldehyde prior to dissection. Then three different dissecting techniques are applied to obtain intact pituitary glands depending on the age of mice. For fetal mice aged embryonic days (E) 17.5 - 18.5 and neonates up to 4 days, the entire sella regions including the sphenoid bone, gland, and trigeminal nerves are dissected. For pups aged postnatal days (P) 5 - 14, the pituitary glands connected with trigeminal nerves are dissected as a whole. For mice over 3 weeks old, the pituitary glands are carefully dissected free from the surrounding tissues. We also display how to embed the pituitary glands in a proper orientation by using the surrounding tissues as landmarks to obtain satisfying coronal sections. These methods are useful in analyzing histological and developmental features of pituitary glands in developing mice.

This protocol presents a method to dissect pituitary glands from developing mice. For the neonatal mouse, the whole sella regions containing the pituitary gland, the trigeminal nerves, and the underneath sphenoid bone were dissected out from the skull base. The tiny and delicate pituitary gland remained intact during the process (Figure 1A). For mice older than 5 days, the pituitary glands attached to the lateral trigeminal nerves were then isolated. The gros...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Dissection and Coronal Slice Preparation of Developing Mouse Pituitary Gland at JoVE.com

Dissection and Coronal Slice Preparation of Developing Mouse Pituitary Gland

We present a protocol to dissect pituitary glands and prepare pituitary coronal sections from developing mice.

The pituitary gland or hypophysis is an important endocrine organ secreting hormones essential for homeostasis. It consists of two glands with separate ...

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