Name: large-scale three-dimensional imaging of cellular organization in the mouse neocortex
Uploaded: 2018-09-05T15:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex at JoVE.com

We thank Atsushi Miyawaki and Hiroshi Hama for their advice on the AbScale experiments, Charles Yokoyama for editing of the manuscript, Eriko Ohshima and Miyuki Kishino for their technical assistance. This work was supported by research funds from RIKEN to T.H. and Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan to T.H. (Innovative Areas &#34;Mesoscopic Neurocircuitry&#34;; 22115004) and S.S. (25890023).

All experimental procedures were approved by the RIKEN Wako Animal Experiments Committee and RIKEN Genetic Recombinant Experiment Safety Committee and performed according to the institutional guidelines of the animal facilities of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute.
1. Preparation of Imaging Chambers
<ol>
	<li>Imaging chamber19
	<ol>
		<li>Using silicone rubber sheets, prepare a chamber with a thickness of approximately 5 mm and floor plates of various...

<ol>
	<li>Lein, E. 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=Genome-wide+atlas+of+gene+expression+in+the+adult+mouse+brain.">Genome-wide atlas of gene expression in the adult mouse brain.</a> Nature. 445 (7124), 168-176 (2007).</li><li>Defelipe, J., 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=New+insights+into+the+classification+and+nomenclature+of+cortical+GABAergic+interneurons.">New insights into the classification and nomenclature of cortical GABAergic interneurons.</a> Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 14 (3), 202-216 (2013).</li><li>Jiang, X., 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=Principles+of+connectivity+among+morphologically+defined+cell+types+in+adult+neocortex.">Principles of connectivity among morphologically defined cell types in adult neocortex.</a> Science. 350 (6264), aac9462 (2015).</li><li>Sorensen, S. A., 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=Correlated+gene+expression+and+target+specificity+demonstrate+excitatory+projection+neuron+diversity.">Correlated gene expression and target specificity demonstrate excitatory projection neuron diversity.</a> Cerebral Cortex. 25 (2), 433-449 (2015).</li><li>Zeisel, A., 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=Brain+structure.+Cell+types+in+the+mouse+cortex+and+hippocampus+revealed+by+single-cell+RNA-seq.">Brain structure. Cell types in the mouse cortex and hippocampus revealed by single-cell RNA-seq.</a> Science. 347, 1138-1142 (2015).</li><li>Tasic, B., 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=Adult+mouse+cortical+cell+taxonomy+revealed+by+single+cell+transcriptomics.">Adult mouse cortical cell taxonomy revealed by single cell transcriptomics.</a> Nature Neuroscience. 19 (2), 335-346 (2016).</li><li>Zeng, H., Sanes, J. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuronal+cell-type+classification:+Challenges,+opportunities+and+the+path+forward.">Neuronal cell-type classification: Challenges, opportunities and the path forward.</a> Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 18 (9), 530-546 (2017).</li><li>Horton, J. C., Adams, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+cortical+column:+a+structure+without+a+function.">The cortical column: a structure without a function.</a> Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 360 (1456), 837-862 (2005).</li><li>Costa, N. M., Martin, K. A. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Whose+cortical+column+would+that+be?.">Whose cortical column would that be?.</a> Frontiers in Neuroanatomy. 4, (2010).</li><li>Molyneaux, B. J., Arlotta, P., Menezes, J. R. L., Macklis, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuronal+subtype+specification+in+the+cerebral+cortex.">Neuronal subtype specification in the cerebral cortex.</a> Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 8 (6), 427-437 (2007).</li><li>Hioki, H., 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+type-specific+inhibitory+inputs+to+dendritic+and+somatic+compartments+of+parvalbumin-expressing+neocortical+interneuron.">Cell type-specific inhibitory inputs to dendritic and somatic compartments of parvalbumin-expressing neocortical interneuron.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 33 (2), 544-555 (2013).</li><li>Maruoka, H., Kubota, K., Kurokawa, R., Tsuruno, S., Hosoya, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Periodic+organization+of+a+major+subtype+of+pyramidal+neurons+in+neocortical+layer+V.">Periodic organization of a major subtype of pyramidal neurons in neocortical layer V.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 31 (50), 18522-18542 (2011).</li><li>Kwan, K. Y., 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=Species-dependent+posttranscriptional+regulation+of+NOS1+by+FMRP+in+the+developing+cerebral+cortex.">Species-dependent posttranscriptional regulation of NOS1 by FMRP in the developing cerebral cortex.</a> Cell. 149 (4), 899-911 (2012).</li><li>Maruoka, H., Nakagawa, N., Tsuruno, S., Sakai, S., Yoneda, T., Hosoya, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lattice+system+of+functionally+distinct+cell+types+in+the+neocortex.">Lattice system of functionally distinct cell types in the neocortex.</a> Science. 358 (6363), 610-615 (2017).</li><li>Treweek, J. B., Gradinaru, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Extracting+structural+and+functional+features+of+widely+distributed+biological+circuits+with+single+cell+resolution+via+tissue+clearing+and+delivery+vectors.">Extracting structural and functional features of widely distributed biological circuits with single cell resolution via tissue clearing and delivery vectors.</a> Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 40, 193-207 (2016).</li><li>Tainaka, K., Kuno, A., Kubota, S. I., Murakami, T., Ueda, H. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chemical+Principles+in+Tissue+Clearing+and+Staining+Protocols+for+Whole-Body+Cell+Profiling.">Chemical Principles in Tissue Clearing and Staining Protocols for Whole-Body Cell Profiling.</a> Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology. 32 (1), (2016).</li><li>Gerfen, C. R., Paletzki, R., Heintz, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=GENSAT+BAC+cre-recombinase+driver+lines+to+study+the+functional+organization+of+cerebral+cortical+and+basal+ganglia+circuits.">GENSAT BAC cre-recombinase driver lines to study the functional organization of cerebral cortical and basal ganglia circuits.</a> Neuron. 80 (6), 1368-1383 (2013).</li><li>Hama, H., 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=ScaleS:+an+optical+clearing+palette+for+biological+imaging.">ScaleS: an optical clearing palette for biological imaging.</a> Nature Neuroscience. 18 (10), 1518-1529 (2015).</li><li>Ke, M. T., Fujimoto, S., Imai, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SeeDB:+a+simple+and+morphology-preserving+optical+clearing+agent+for+neuronal+circuit+reconstruction.">SeeDB: a simple and morphology-preserving optical clearing agent for neuronal circuit reconstruction.</a> Nature Neuroscience. 16 (8), 1154-1161 (2013).</li><li>Gage, G. J., Kipke, D. R., Shain, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Whole+Animal+Perfusion+Fixation+for+Rodents.">Whole Animal Perfusion Fixation for Rodents.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (65), e3564 (2012).</li><li>Kim, S. -. Y., 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=Stochastic+electrotransport+selectively+enhances+the+transport+of+highly+electromobile+molecules.">Stochastic electrotransport selectively enhances the transport of highly electromobile molecules.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112 (46), E6274-E6283 (2015).</li><li>Murray, E., 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=Simple,+scalable+proteomic+imaging+for+high-dimensional+profiling+of+intact+systems.">Simple, scalable proteomic imaging for high-dimensional profiling of intact systems.</a> Cell. 163 (6), 1500-1514 (2015).</li><li>Ke, M. T., 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=Super-resolution+mapping+of+neuronal+circuitry+with+an+index-optimized+clearing+agent.">Super-resolution mapping of neuronal circuitry with an index-optimized clearing agent.</a> Cell Reports. 14 (11), 2718-2732 (2016).</li><li>Lee, E., 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=ACT-PRESTO:+Rapid+and+consistent+tissue+clearing+and+labeling+method+for+3-dimensional+(3D)+imaging.">ACT-PRESTO: Rapid and consistent tissue clearing and labeling method for 3-dimensional (3D) imaging.</a> Scientific Reports. 6, 18631 (2016).</li><li>Renier, N., 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=Mapping+of+Brain+Activity+by+Automated+Volume+Analysis+of+Immediate+Early+Genes.">Mapping of Brain Activity by Automated Volume Analysis of Immediate Early Genes.</a> Cell. 165 (7), 1789-1802 (2016).</li><li>Kubota, S. I., 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=Whole-body+profiling+of+cancer+metastasis+with+single-cell+resolution.">Whole-body profiling of cancer metastasis with single-cell resolution.</a> Cell Reports. 20 (1), 236-250 (2017).</li><li>Li, W., Germain, R. N., Gerner, M. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multiplex,+quantitative+cellular+analysis+in+large+tissue+volumes+with+clearing-enhanced+3D+microscopy+(Ce3D).">Multiplex, quantitative cellular analysis in large tissue volumes with clearing-enhanced 3D microscopy (Ce3D).</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 114 (35), E7321-E7330 (2017).</li><li>Liu, A. K. L., Lai, H. M., Chang, R. C. C., Gentleman, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Free+of+acrylamide+sodium+dodecyl+sulphate+(SDS)-based+tissue+clearing+(FASTClear):+a+novel+protocol+of+tissue+clearing+for+three-dimensional+visualization+of+human+brain+tissues.">Free of acrylamide sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)-based tissue clearing (FASTClear): a novel protocol of tissue clearing for three-dimensional visualization of human brain tissues.</a> Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology. 43 (4), 346-351 (2017).</li></ol>

We have presented procedures to obtain large-scale three-dimensional images of the cell type-specific organization of the major cell types in mouse neocortical layer 5. Compared to the conventional slice staining, the method is more useful in determining the three-dimensional organization of the neocortex. The method enables image acquisition from the wider and the deeper brain regions compared to the typical in vivo 2-photon microscopy or conventional confocal microscopy and, thus, can allow the comprehensive a...

The mammalian neocortex is composed of a large number of cell types, each with the specific gene expression patterns, electrophysiological and biochemical properties, synaptic connections, and in vivo functions1,2,3,4,5,6,7. Whether these cell types are organized into repeated structures has been unclear. Cortical columns, including visual orientation columns and somatosensory barrels, have repeated structures, but their cellular organization remains unclear8,9. These are present in the specific cortical areas and are not a brain-wide system.
In neocortical layer 5, the large majority of neurons are classified into four major types. A major type of excitatory neurons, sub-cerebral projection neurons, projects axons to subcortical targets including the pons, spinal cord, and superior colliculus, and, therefore, represents the major cortical output pathway10. Cortical projection neurons, another major type of excitatory neurons, innervate the cortex10. Inhibitory neurons also contain two major classes: parvalbumin-expressing and somatostatin-expressing cells11.
Recent analyses indicate that the four cell types are organized into repeated structures12,13,14. Both sub-cerebral projection neurons12,13,14 and cortical projection neurons14 organize into cell-type specific microcolumns with a diameter of 1&#8211;2 cells. Parvalbumin-expressing and somatostatin-expressing cells align specifically with microcolumns of sub-cerebral projection neurons but not with microcolumns of cortical projection neurons14. Microcolumns themselves periodically align to form a hexagonal lattice array14 and are present in multiple cortical areas including visual, somatosensory, and motor areas in mouse brain12,14 and in language areas of human brain13. Neurons in the individual microcolumn exhibit synchronized activity and have similar sensory responses14. These observations indicate that layer 5 cell types organize into a microcolumn lattice structure representing the first known brain-wide organization of repeating functional modules.
Microcolumns have a radius of approximately 10 &#181;m and have a spatial periodicity of approximately 40 &#181;m. In addition, the orientation of microcolumns is parallel to their apical dendrites and changes depending on their position in the cortex14. Therefore, the microcolumn system is difficult to analyze using conventional cortical slices with a typical thickness of a few tens of micrometers. In addition, the analysis of periodicity requires three-dimensional data from a wide-range of brain areas, and, therefore, the typical imaging area of confocal microscopy or in vivo 2-photon imaging is too narrow.
Recently, techniques have been developed to clear thick tissues15,16. Here we describe the application of these methods to obtain large-scale, three-dimensional images of the major cell types in mouse neocortical layer 5 that comprise the microcolumn system. Subcerebral projection neurons are labeled by the retrograde labeling or by the expression of the enhanced green fluorescent protein in Crym-egfp transgenic mice12, and cortical projection neurons are labeled by either the retrograde labeling or by the tdTomato expression in Tlx3-cre/Ai9 mice17. Parvalbumin-expressing and somatostatin-expressing cells are labeled by immunohistochemistry. The (Antibody Scale S) AbScale method18 is used for the antibody staining experiments, while the (See Deep Brain) SeeDB method19 is used for other experiments. These methods overcome the above-mentioned difficulties of the conventional imaging methods and reveal the accurate cellular organization of layer 514.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Crym-egfp transgenic mice</td>
			<td>MMRRC</td>
			<td>012003-UCD</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tlx3-cre transgenic mice</td>
			<td>MMRRC</td>
			<td>36547-UCD</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ROSA-CAG-flox-tdTomato mice</td>
			<td>Jackson Laboratory</td>
			<td>JAX #7909</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silicone rubber sheet</td>
			<td>AS ONE</td>
			<td>6-611-01</td>
			<td>0.5 mm thickness</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silicone rubber sheet</td>
			<td>AS ONE</td>
			<td>6-611-02</td>
			<td>1.0 mm thickness</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silicone rubber sheet</td>
			<td>AS ONE</td>
			<td>6-611-05</td>
			<td>3.0 mm thickness</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Petri dishes</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>351008</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cover glass</td>
			<td>Matsunami</td>
			<td>C022241</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cholera toxin subunit B (recombinant), Alexa Fluor 488 conjugate</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>C22841</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cholera toxin subunit B (recombinant), Alexa Fluor 555 conjugate</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>C22843</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cholera toxin subunit B (recombinant), Alexa Fluor 594 conjugate</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>C22842</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cholera toxin subunit B (recombinant), Alexa Fluor 647 conjugate</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>C34778</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>26G Hamilton syringe</td>
			<td>Hamilton</td>
			<td>701N</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Injector pump</td>
			<td>KD Scientific</td>
			<td>KDS 310</td>
			<td>Pons injection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Injector pump</td>
			<td>KD Scientific</td>
			<td>KDS 100</td>
			<td>Superior colliculus injection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Manipulator</td>
			<td>Narishige</td>
			<td>SM-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium pentobarbital</td>
			<td>Kyoritsu Seiyaku</td>
			<td>Somnopentyl</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isoflurane</td>
			<td>Pfizer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lidocaine</td>
			<td>AstraZeneca</td>
			<td>Xylocaine injection 1% with epinephrine</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Drill</td>
			<td>Toyo Associates</td>
			<td>HP-200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Avitene microfibrillar hemostat</td>
			<td>Davol Inc</td>
			<td>1010090</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alonalfa</td>
			<td>Daiichi-Sankyo</td>
			<td>Alonalpha A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical silk</td>
			<td>Ethicon</td>
			<td>K881H</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Incubator</td>
			<td>UVP</td>
			<td>HB-1000 Hybridizer</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass pipette</td>
			<td>Drummond Scientific Company</td>
			<td>2-000-075</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Electrode puller</td>
			<td>Sutter Instrument Company</td>
			<td>P-97</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraffin Liquid, light</td>
			<td>Nacalai tesque</td>
			<td>26132-35</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Saline</td>
			<td>Otsuka</td>
			<td>1326</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>Nacalai tesque</td>
			<td>26126-54</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tungsten needle</td>
			<td>Inter medical</td>
			<td>&#934;0.1 *L200 mm</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vibratome</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>VT1000S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50 mL plastic tube</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>352070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#945;-thioglycerol</td>
			<td>Nacalai tesque</td>
			<td>33709-62</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>D(-) Fructose</td>
			<td>Nacalai tesque</td>
			<td>16315-55</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BluTack</td>
			<td>Bostik</td>
			<td>CKBT-450000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Two-photon microscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>A1RMP</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Water-immersion long working distance objectives</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td colspan="2">CFI Apo LWD 25XW, NA 1.1, WD 2 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Water-immersion long working distance objectives</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>CFI LWD 16XW, NA 0.8, WD 3 mm</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Motorized stage</td>
			<td>COMS</td>
			<td>PT100C-50XY</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Filter</td>
			<td>Semrock</td>
			<td>FF01-492/SP-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Filter</td>
			<td>Semrock</td>
			<td>FF03-525/50-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Filter</td>
			<td>Semrock</td>
			<td>FF03-575/25-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Filter</td>
			<td>Semrock</td>
			<td>FF01-629/56</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Filter</td>
			<td>Chroma</td>
			<td>D605/55m</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5 mL plastic tube</td>
			<td>AS ONE</td>
			<td>VIO-5B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2 mL plastic tube</td>
			<td>Eppendorf&#160;</td>
			<td>0030120094</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Urea</td>
			<td>Nacalai tesque</td>
			<td>35905-35</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Nacalai tesque</td>
			<td>35501-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glyserol</td>
			<td>Sigma-aldrich</td>
			<td>191612</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>D(-)-sorbitol</td>
			<td>Wako</td>
			<td>191-14735</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methyl-&#946;-cyclodextrin</td>
			<td>Tokyo chemical industry</td>
			<td>M1356</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#947;-Cyclodextrin</td>
			<td>Wako</td>
			<td>037-10643</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N-acetyl-L-hydroxyproline</td>
			<td>Skin Essential Actives</td>
			<td>33996-33-7</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMSO</td>
			<td>Nacalai tesque</td>
			<td>13445-45</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine Serum Albumin</td>
			<td>Sigma-aldrich</td>
			<td>A7906</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tween-20 (1.1 g/mL)</td>
			<td>Nacalai tesque</td>
			<td>35624-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti-Mouse IgG (H+L) Cross-Adsorbed Secondary Antibody, Alexa Fluor 555</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A21422</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti-Rabbit IgG (H+L) Cross-Adsorbed Secondary Antibody, Alexa Fluor 555</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A21428</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti-Mouse IgG (H+L) Cross-Adsorbed Secondary Antibody, Alexa Fluor 647</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A21235</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti-Mouse IgG (H+L) Highly CrossAdsorbed Secondary Antibody, Alexa Fluor 488</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A11029</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Donkey anti-Rabbit IgG (H+L) Highly CrossAdsorbed Secondary Antibody, Alexa Fluor 488</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A21206</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Confocal microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>FV1000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Water-immersion long working distance objectives</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>XLUMPLFLN 20XW, NA 1.0, WD 2 mm</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-NeuN</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>MAB377</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-NeuN</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>ABN78</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-CTIP2</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab18465</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Statb2</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab51502</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-GAD67</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>MAB5406</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-GABA</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A2052</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Parvalbumin</td>
			<td>Swant</td>
			<td>235</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Parvalbumin</td>
			<td>Frontier Institute</td>
			<td>PV-Go-Af460</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Parvalbumin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P3088</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Parvalbumin</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab11427</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Somatostatin</td>
			<td>Peninsula Laboratories</td>
			<td>T-4103</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-c-Fos</td>
			<td>CalbioChem</td>
			<td>PC38</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

large-scale three-dimensional imaging of cellular organization in the mouse neocortex

The mammalian neocortex is composed of many types of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, each with specific electrophysiological and biochemical properties, synaptic connections, and in vivo functions, but their basic functional and anatomical organization from cellular to network scale is poorly understood. Here we describe a method for the three-dimensional imaging of fluorescently-labeled neurons across large areas of the brain for the investigation of the cortical cellular organization. Specific types of neurons are labeled by the injection of fluorescent retrograde neuronal tracers or expression of fluorescent proteins in transgenic mice. Block brain samples, e.g., a hemisphere, are prepared after fixation, made transparent with tissue clearing methods, and subjected to fluorescent immunolabeling of the specific cell types. Large areas are scanned using confocal or two-photon microscopes equipped with large working distance objectives and motorized stages. This method can resolve the periodic organization of the cell type-specific microcolumn functional modules in the mouse neocortex. The procedure can be useful for the study of three-dimensional cellular architecture in the diverse brain areas and other complex tissues.

We labeled cortical projection neurons by expression of tdTomato in Tlx3-cre/Ai9 transgenic mice and visualized sub-cerebral projection neurons by injecting the retrograde tracer CTB488 into the pons. The left hemisphere of the brain was subjected to the SeeDB method and scanned using a two-photon microscope equipped with a water-immersion long working distance objective (25X, N.A. 1.1, working distance 2 mm) and a motorized stage. A stack of 401 images (512 x 512 pixels...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex at JoVE.com

Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex

Here we describe a procedure for tissue clearing, fluorescent labeling, and large-scale imaging of mouse brain tissue which, thereby, enables visualization of the three-dimensional organization of cell types in the neocortex.

The mammalian neocortex is composed of many types of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, each with specific electrophysiological and biochemical ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Multiple-mouse Neuroanatomical Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The field of mouse phenotyping with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is rapidly growing, motivated by the need for improved tools for characterizing and ...

Recording Large-scale Neuronal Ensembles with Silicon Probes in the Anesthetized Rat

Large scale electrophysiological recordings from neuronal ensembles offer the opportunity to investigate how the brain orchestrates the wide variety of ...

Large-scale Recording of Neurons by Movable Silicon Probes in Behaving Rodents

A major challenge in neuroscience is linking behavior to the collective activity of neural assemblies. Understanding of input-output relationships of ...

Dissection and Culture of Mouse Dopaminergic and Striatal Explants in Three-Dimensional Collagen Matrix Assays

Midbrain dopamine (mdDA) neurons project via the medial forebrain bundle towards several areas in the telencephalon, including the striatum1. ...

Time-lapse Imaging of Neuroblast Migration in Acute Slices of the Adult Mouse Forebrain

There is a substantial body of evidence indicating that new functional neurons are constitutively generated from an endogenous pool of neural stem cells ...

Two-photon Imaging of Cellular Dynamics in the Mouse Spinal Cord

Two-photon (2P) microscopy is utilized to reveal cellular dynamics and interactions deep within living, intact tissues. Here, we present a method for ...

Imaging Ca2+ Dynamics in Cone Photoreceptor Axon Terminals of the Mouse Retina

Imaging Ca2+ Dynamics in Cone Photoreceptor Axon Terminals of the Mouse Retina

Retinal cone photoreceptors (cones) serve daylight vision and are the basis of color discrimination. They are subject to degeneration, often leading to ...

Protocol for Three-dimensional Confocal Morphometric Analysis of Astrocytes

As glial cells in the brain, astrocytes have diverse functional roles in the central nervous system. In the presence of harmful stimuli, astrocytes modify ...

Three-dimensional Imaging and Analysis of Mitochondria within Human Intraepidermal Nerve Fibers

The goal of this protocol is to study mitochondria within intraepidermal nerve fibers. Therefore, 3D imaging and analysis techniques were developed to ...