Name: isolation of embryonic tissues and formation of quail-chicken chimeric organs using the thymus example
Uploaded: 2019-02-16T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Embryonic Tissues and Formation of Quail-Chicken Chimeric Organs Using The Thymus Example at JoVE.com

The authors are grateful to Isabel Alcobia for the critical reading of the manuscript, to M&#225;rio Henriques for video narration and to Vitor Proa from the Histology Service of the Instituto de Histologia e Biologia do Desenvolvimento, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, for technical support. We are particularly indebted to Paulo Caeiro and Hugo Silva from the Unidade de audiovisuais (Audiovisual Unit), Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa for their outstanding commitment to the production of this video. We acknowledge Leica Microsystems for kindly providing a stereoscope equipped with a video system and to Interaves - Sociedade Agro-Pecu&#225;ria, S.A for contributing with quail fertilized eggs. This work was supported by Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa (FMUL).

All these experiments follow the animal care and ethical guidelines of the Centro Acad&#233;mico de Medicina de Lisboa.
1. Fertilized quail and chicken egg incubation
<ol>
	<li>Place fertilized eggs of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) in a 38 &#176;C humidified incubator for 3 days. Incubate the eggs (egg blunt end) facing up in the air chamber. 
	NOTE: The humidified environment is achieved by placing a water container at the bottom of the incubator.</li>
	<li>Incub...

<ol>
	<li>Le Douarin, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Nogent+Institute--50+years+of+embryology.">The Nogent Institute--50 years of embryology.</a> The International Journal of Developmental Biology. 49 (2-3), 85-103 (2005).</li><li>Le Douarin, N. M., Teillet, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+migration+of+neural+crest+cells+to+the+wall+of+the+digestive+tract+in+avian+embryo.">The migration of neural crest cells to the wall of the digestive tract in avian embryo.</a> Journal of Embryology and Experimental Morphology. 30 (1), 31-48 (1973).</li><li>Le Douarin, N. M., Jotereau, F. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tracing+of+cells+of+the+avian+thymus+through+embryonic+life+in+interspecific+chimeras.">Tracing of cells of the avian thymus through embryonic life in interspecific chimeras.</a> Journal of Experimental Medicine. 142 (1), 17-40 (1975).</li><li>Hamburger, V., Hamilton, H. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+series+of+normal+stages+in+the+development+of+the+chick+embryo.+1951.">A series of normal stages in the development of the chick embryo. 1951.</a> Developmental Dynamics. 195 (4), 231-272 (1992).</li><li>Neves, H., Dupin, E., Parreira, L., Le Douarin, N. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modulation+of+Bmp4+signalling+in+the+epithelial-mesenchymal+interactions+that+take+place+in+early+thymus+and+parathyroid+development+in+avian+embryos.">Modulation of Bmp4 signalling in the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions that take place in early thymus and parathyroid development in avian embryos.</a> Developmental Biology. 361 (2), 208-219 (2012).</li><li>Takahashi, Y., Bontoux, M., Le Douarin, N. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Epithelio--mesenchymal+interactions+are+critical+for+Quox+7+expression+and+membrane+bone+differentiation+in+the+neural+crest+derived+mandibular+mesenchyme.">Epithelio--mesenchymal interactions are critical for Quox 7 expression and membrane bone differentiation in the neural crest derived mandibular mesenchyme.</a> Embo Journal. 10 (9), 2387-2393 (1991).</li><li>Figueiredo, M., 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=Notch+and+Hedgehog+in+the+thymus/parathyroid+common+primordium:+Crosstalk+in+organ+formation.">Notch and Hedgehog in the thymus/parathyroid common primordium: Crosstalk in organ formation.</a> Developmental Biology. 418 (2), 268-282 (2016).</li><li>Figueiredo, M., Neves, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Two-step+Approach+to+Explore+Early-and+Late-stages+of+Organ+Formation+in+the+Avian+Model:+The+Thymus+and+Parathyroid+Glands+Organogenesis+Paradigm+Video+Link.">Two-step Approach to Explore Early-and Late-stages of Organ Formation in the Avian Model: The Thymus and Parathyroid Glands Organogenesis Paradigm Video Link.</a> Journal of Visualuzed Experiments. , (2018).</li><li>Nehls, M., 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=Two+genetically+separable+steps+in+the+differentiation+of+thymic+epithelium.">Two genetically separable steps in the differentiation of thymic epithelium.</a> Science (New York, N.Y.). 272 (5263), 886-889 (1996).</li><li>Morahan, G., 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=The+nu+gene+acts+cell-autonomously+and+is+required+for+differentiation+of+thymic+epithelial+progenitors.">The nu gene acts cell-autonomously and is required for differentiation of thymic epithelial progenitors.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 93 (12), 5742-5746 (1996).</li><li>Jerome, L. A., Papaioannou, V. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=DiGeorge+syndrome+phenotype+in+mice+mutant+for+the+T-box+gene,+Tbx1.">DiGeorge syndrome phenotype in mice mutant for the T-box gene, Tbx1.</a> Nature Genetics. 27 (3), 286-291 (2001).</li><li>Nie, X., Brown, C. B., Wang, Q., Jiao, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inactivation+of+Bmp4+from+the+Tbx1+expression+domain+causes+abnormal+pharyngeal+arch+artery+and+cardiac+outflow+tract+remodeling.">Inactivation of Bmp4 from the Tbx1 expression domain causes abnormal pharyngeal arch artery and cardiac outflow tract remodeling.</a> Cells Tissues Organs. 193 (6), 393-403 (2011).</li><li>Zou, 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=Patterning+of+the+third+pharyngeal+pouch+into+thymus/parathyroid+by+Six+and+Eya1.">Patterning of the third pharyngeal pouch into thymus/parathyroid by Six and Eya1.</a> Developmental Biology. 293 (2), 499-513 (2006).</li><li>Davey, M. G., Tickle, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+chicken+as+a+model+for+embryonic+development.">The chicken as a model for embryonic development.</a> Cytogenetic and Genome Research. 117 (1-4), 231-239 (2007).</li><li>Nowak-sliwinska, P., Segura, T., Iruela-arispe, M. L., Angeles, 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+chicken+chorioallantoic+membrane+model+in+biology,+medicine+and+bioengineering.">The chicken chorioallantoic membrane model in biology, medicine and bioengineering.</a> Angiogenesis. 17 (4), 779-804 (2014).</li><li>Uematsu, 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=Use+of+in+ovo+chorioallantoic+membrane+engraftment+to+culture+testes+from+neonatal+mice.">Use of in ovo chorioallantoic membrane engraftment to culture testes from neonatal mice.</a> Comparative Medicine. 64 (4), 264-269 (2014).</li><li>Martyn, I., Kanno, T. Y., Ruzo, A., Siggia, E. D., Brivanlou, A. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Self-organization+of+a+human+organizer+by+combined+Wnt+and+Nodal+signaling.">Self-organization of a human organizer by combined Wnt and Nodal signaling.</a> Nature. 558 (7708), 132-135 (2018).</li></ol>

The embryonic tissue isolation procedure detailed here was improved from previous techniques to produce quail-chicken chimeric embryos in different biological contexts3,5,6.
This approach is suitable to isolate pure embryonic tissues without requiring genetic manipulation or the use of tissue-specific markers, which are often undetermined, limiting the use of genetically modified animal models. It can...

In the early 1970s, an elegant quail-chicken chimera system was developed by Le Douarin, opening new avenues to understand the role of cell migration and cellular interactions during development1,2. The model was devised on the premise that cell exchange between the two species would not significantly disturb embryogenesis, later confirmed when used to study numerous developmental processes, including the formation of the nervous and the hematopoietic systems1. Taking the latter as an example, the cyclic waves of hematopoietic progenitors colonizing the thymic epithelial rudiment was first observed using the quail-chicken chimera system3. For that, the prospective territory of the thymus, the endoderm of the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches (3/4PP), was mechanically and enzymatically isolated from quail (q) embryos at 15 to 30-somite stage [embryonic day (E) 1.5- E2.5]. These stages correspond to chicken Hamburger and Hamilton4 (HH) - stages 12-17. The isolation procedures started with the use of trypsin to enzymatically dissociate the endoderm from the attached mesenchyme. The isolated endoderm was grafted into the somatopleura region of a host chicken (c) embryo at&#160;E3-E3.5 (HH-stages 20-21). This heterologous mesenchyme was considered &#34;permissive&#34; to thymic epithelium development contributing also to the organ formation3. Afterward, successive waves of chicken host blood-borne progenitor cells infiltrated the quail donor thymic epithelial counterpart contributing to thymus formation in the host embryo3.
More recently, a modified version of this approach was also proven to be important for studying epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during early-stages of thymus formation5. In this respect, the tissues involved in the formation of the ectopic thymus in chimeric embryos3 were isolated, both from donor and host embryos, and associated ex vivo. An improved protocol was used to isolate the quail 3/4PP endoderm (E2.5-E3) and the chicken somatopleura mesoderm (E2.5-E3). Briefly, embryonic tissues were isolated by microsurgery and subject to in vitro pancreatin digestion. Also, the conditions of enzymatic digestion, temperature and time of incubation were optimized according to tissue-type and developmental stage (Table 1).
Next, the isolated tissues were associated in an organotypic in vitro system for 48 h, as previously reported5,6. The in vitro association of tissues mimics the local cellular interactions in the embryo, overcoming some restrictions of the in vivo manipulation. This system is particularly useful to study&#160;cellular interactions in complex morphogenic events, such as the development of the pharyngeal apparatus.
The contribution of each tissue in thymus histogenesis, as well as the ability of the heterospecific association to generate a thymus can be further explored using the CAM methodology, previously detailed5,7,8. Succinctly, the cultured tissues were grafted onto the CAM of cE8 embryos and allowed to develop in ovo for 10 days. Then, thymus formation was evaluated by morphological analysis in the harvested explants. As in the classical quail-chicken studies3, the quail thymic epithelium was colonized by hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) derived from the chicken embryo, which was later shown to contribute to organ development9,10. The HPCs migrated from the embryo to the ectopic chimeric thymus through the highly vascularized CAM5,7,8. Quail derived thymic epithelium can be identified by immunohistochemistry using species-specific antibodies (i.e., QCPN- MAb Quail PeriNuclear), overcoming the need for tissue-specific molecular markers.
This experimental method, as the two-step approach reported in previous publication8, allows the modulation of signalling pathways by regular administration of pharmacological agents during in vitro and in ovo development. Also, explants can be harvested at any time-point of the course of the experiment8.
Lastly, the isolation protocol here detailed allows the preservation of the natural properties and 3D-architecture of embryonic tissues, particularly useful for detailing in situ gene-expression patterns of embryonic territories otherwise inaccessible by conventional methods. In addition, transcriptome analysis approaches, including RNA-seq or microarrays, can also be applied in isolated tissues without requiring genetic markers while providing a tissue-specific high throughput &#34;omics&#34; analysis.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:1279px;" width="1277">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:25px;width:379px;">Chicken fertilized eggs (Gallus gallus)</td>
			<td style="width:306px;">Pintobar, Portugal</td>
			<td style="width:149px;"></td>
			<td style="width:445px;">Poultry farm&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:25px;width:379px;">Quail fertilized eggs (Coturnix coturnix)</td>
			<td>Interaves, Portugal</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:445px;">Bird farm&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">15 mL PP centrifuge tubes</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430052</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">50 mL PP centrifuge tubes</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430290</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">60 x 20 mm pyrex dishes</td>
			<td>Duran group</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">21 755 41</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">100 x 20 mm pyrex dishes</td>
			<td>Duran group</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">21 755 48</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Metal grid</td>
			<td>Goodfellows</td>
			<td style="width:149px;"></td>
			<td style="width:445px;">fine meshed&#160; stainless steel grid</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Membrane filter</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">DTTP01300</td>
			<td style="width:445px;">0.6 mm Isopore membrane filter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Petri dish, 35 x 10 mm</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">P5112&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">60 x 30 mm pyrex bowls (Small size)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:149px;"></td>
			<td style="width:445px;">from supermarket&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">100 x 50 mm pyrex bowls (Large size)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:149px;"></td>
			<td style="width:445px;">from supermarket&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Transfer pipettes</td>
			<td>Samco Scientific, Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>2041S</td>
			<td style="width:445px;">2 mL plastic pipet</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Glass pasteur pipette</td>
			<td>Normax</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">5426015</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Clear plastic tape</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:149px;"></td>
			<td style="width:445px;">from supermarket&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:379px;">Cytokeratin (pan; acidic and basic, type I and II cytokeratins), clone Lu-5</td>
			<td>BMA Biomedicals</td>
			<td>T-1302</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
			<td>Invitrogen, Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:445px;">Standart FBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="56">
			<td height="56" style="height:56px;width:379px;">Pancreatin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P-3292</td>
			<td style="width:445px;">Prepare a 25 mg/mL solution according to manufacturer&#39;s instructions; centrifuge and filter prior to aliquote and store at -20&#186;C. Aliquots can be kept frozen for several years.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P6148</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Penicillin-Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Invitrogen, Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>15140-122</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>GIBCO, Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>10010023</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">QCPN antibody</td>
			<td>Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank</td>
			<td>QCPN</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">RPMI 1640 Medium, GlutaMAX Supplement&#160;</td>
			<td>GIBCO, Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>61870010</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Bluesil RTV141A/B Silicone Elastomer 1.1Kg Kit</td>
			<td>ELKEM/Silmid</td>
			<td>RH141001KG</td>
			<td style="width:445px;">To prepare the back base for petri dish</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Dumont #5 Forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">11251-30&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:445px;">Thin forceps</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Extra fine Bonn scissors, curved</td>
			<td style="width:306px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">14085-08</td>
			<td style="width:445px;">Curved scissors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Insect pins&#160;</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">26001-30</td>
			<td style="width:445px;">0.3 mm Stainless steel pin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Micro spatula&#160;</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">10087-12</td>
			<td style="width:445px;">Transplantation spoon</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Minutien Pins</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">26002-20</td>
			<td style="width:445px;">0.2 mm Stainless steel microscalpel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Minutien Pins</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">26002-10</td>
			<td style="width:445px;">0.1 mm Stainless steel microscalpel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Moria Nickel Plated Pin Holder</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">26016-12</td>
			<td style="width:445px;">Nickel plated pin holder</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Moria Perforated Spoon</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">10370-17</td>
			<td style="width:445px;">Skimmer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Wecker Eye Scissor</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">15010-11</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Camera</td>
			<td>Leica Microsystems&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">MC170 HD</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Microscope</td>
			<td>Leica Microsystems&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">DM2500</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">NanoZoomer&#160;S360 Digital&#160;slide scanner&#160;</td>
			<td>Hamamatsu Photonics</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">C13220-01</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:379px;">Stereoscope</td>
			<td>Leica Microsystems&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:149px;">Leica M80</td>
			<td style="width:445px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation of embryonic tissues and formation of quail-chicken chimeric organs using the thymus example

The capacity to isolate embryonic tissues was an essential step for establishing the quail-chicken chimera system, which in turn has provided undisputed contributions to unveiling key processes in developmental biology.
Herein is described an optimized method to isolate embryonic tissues from quail and chickens by microsurgery and enzymatic digestion while preserving its biological properties. After isolation, tissues from both species are associated in an in vitro organotypic assay for 48 h. Quail and chicken tissues can be discriminated by distinct nuclear features and molecular markers allowing the study of the cellular cross-talk between heterospecific association of tissues. This approach is, therefore, a useful tool for studying complex tissue interactions in developmental processes with highly dynamic spatial modifications, such as those occurring during pharyngeal morphogenesis and the formation of the foregut endoderm-derived organs. This experimental approach was first developed to study the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during early-stages of thymus formation. In this, the endoderm-derived prospective thymic rudiment and mesoderm-derived mesenchyme, were isolated from quail and chicken embryos, respectively.
The capacity of the associated tissues to generate organs can be further tested by grafting them onto the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of a chicken embryo. The CAM provides nutrients and allows gas exchanges to the explanted tissues. After 10 days of in ovo development, the chimeric organs can be analyzed in the harvested explants by conventional morphological methods. This procedure also allows studying tissue-specific contributions during organ formation, from its initial development (in vitro development) to the final stages of organogenesis (in ovo development).
Finally, the improved isolation method also provides three-dimensionally (3D) preserved embryonic tissues, that can also be used for high-resolution topographical analysis of tissue-specific gene-expression patterns.

The protocol details a method to isolate avian embryonic tissues to be used in several cellular and developmental biology technical approaches. This method was previously employed to study epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during early stages of thymus formation5. Herein, new results are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, using similar approaches.
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Isolation of Embryonic Tissues and Formation of Quail-Chicken Chimeric Organs Using The Thymus Example

This article provides a method to isolate pure embryonic tissues from quail and chicken embryos that can be combined to form ex vivo chimeric organs.

The capacity to isolate embryonic tissues was an essential step for establishing the quail-chicken chimera system, which in turn has provided undisputed ...

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Developmental Biology

Transcriptome Profiling of In-Vivo Produced Bovine Pre-implantation Embryos Using Two-color Microarray Platform

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Two-step Approach to Explore Early- and Late-stages of Organ Formation in the Avian Model: The Thymus and Parathyroid Glands Organogenesis Paradigm

The avian embryo, as an experimental model, has been of utmost importance for seminal discoveries in developmental biology. Among several approaches, the ...

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The sensory organs of the inner ear are challenging to study in mammals due to their inaccessibility to experimental manipulation and optical observation. ...

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