Name: a pipeline using bilateral in utero electroporation to interrogate genetic influences on rodent behavior
Uploaded: 2020-05-21T14:45:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Pipeline using Bilateral In Utero Electroporation to Interrogate Genetic Influences on Rodent Behavior at JoVE.com

We thank Lisa Kretsge for critical feedback and editing to the manuscript. We thank all research assistants in the Cruz-Mart&#237;n lab who were invaluable in helping with perfusions and cell counting of behavior brains. We thank Andrzej Cwetsch for input on the design of the tripolar electrode, and Todd Blute and the Boston University Biology Imaging Core for use of the confocal microscope. This work was supported by a NARSAD Young Investigator Grant (AC-M, #27202), the Brenton R. Lutz Award (ALC), the I. Alden Macchi Award (ALC), the NSF NRT UtB: Neurophotonics National Research Fellowship (ALC, #DGE1633516), and the Boston University Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (WWY). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

All experimental protocols were conducted according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines for animal research and were approved by the Boston University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
1. DNA solution preparation
<ol>
	<li>Purchase a commercial plasmid or subclone a gene of interest into plasmid with desired promoter. Here, a plasmid containing EGFP under the CAG promoter (pCAG-EGFP) was used. 
	NOTE: Determine the desired promoter based off the leve...

<ol>
	<li>Yang, 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=Genetic+association+and+meta-analysis+of+a+schizophrenia+GWAS+variant+rs10489202+in+East+Asian+populations.">Genetic association and meta-analysis of a schizophrenia GWAS variant rs10489202 in East Asian populations.</a> Translational Psychiatry. 8 (1), 144 (2018).</li><li>Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biological+insights+from+108+schizophrenia-associated+genetic+loci.">Biological insights from 108 schizophrenia-associated genetic loci.</a> Nature. 511 (7510), 421-427 (2014).</li><li>Howard, D. 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=Genome-wide+meta-analysis+of+depression+identifies+102+independent+variants+and+highlights+the+importance+of+the+prefrontal+brain+regions.">Genome-wide meta-analysis of depression identifies 102 independent variants and highlights the importance of the prefrontal brain regions.</a> Nature Neuroscience. 22 (3), 343-352 (2019).</li><li>Grove, 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=Identification+of+common+genetic+risk+variants+for+autism+spectrum+disorder.">Identification of common genetic risk variants for autism spectrum disorder.</a> Nature Genetics. 51 (3), 431-444 (2019).</li><li>Comer, A. 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=Increased+expression+of+schizophrenia-associated+gene+C4+leads+to+hypoconnectivity+of+prefrontal+cortex+and+reduced+social+interaction.">Increased expression of schizophrenia-associated gene C4 leads to hypoconnectivity of prefrontal cortex and reduced social interaction.</a> PLoS Biology. 18 (1), 3000604 (2020).</li><li>Chini, 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=Resolving+and+Rescuing+Developmental+Miswiring+in+a+Mouse+Model+of+Cognitive+Impairment.">Resolving and Rescuing Developmental Miswiring in a Mouse Model of Cognitive Impairment.</a> Neuron. 105 (1), 60-74 (2020).</li><li>Clifton, N. 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H., Adikaram, P., Pandey, M., Genis, A., Simonds, W. 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Herein, a pipeline is described that combines the manipulation of novel genes of interest in large populations of frontal cortical neurons with behavioral assays in mice. Moreover, this pipeline allows for the longitudinal study of behavior in the same mice both during early postnatal development and in adulthood. This technique bypasses the need to rely on genetic animal models that can be costly in terms of time and expenses. The strength of this protocol is that it can be used to study neurodevelopmental and neuropsyc...

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have driven the discovery of novel candidate genes that are associated with brain pathologies1,2,3,4. These studies have been particularly beneficial in understanding devastating neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia (SCZ), where the investigation of novel genes has served as a launching point for new lines of research and therapeutic intervention5,6. Genes harboring risk for SCZ show biased expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during prenatal and early postnatal development, a region implicated in the pathology of several neuropsychiatric disorders7. Additionally, mouse models of psychiatric disorders exhibit abnormal activity in PFC networks6,8,9. These results suggest that SZC-associated genes might play a role in the developmental wiring of this region. Further investigation using animal models is required to understand the contribution of these candidate genes to the establishment of connections in the PFC and to determine whether these genes have a causative role in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders. Genetic manipulation techniques in mice that allow for the study of gene expression changes on specific neuronal circuits during prenatal and early postnatal development are a promising method to understand the molecular mechanisms that link gene expression changes to PFC dysfunction.
Genetic mouse lines offer a method to study the impact of particular genes on brain development and function. However, relying on transgenic mice can be limiting since there are not always commercially available lines to examine the effects of specific genes on developing neural circuits. Moreover, it can be extremely costly and time consuming to develop custom mouse lines. The use of intersectional genetic manipulation strategies that combine transgenic mice with viral approaches has revolutionized the understanding of the brain10,11,12. Despite much progress, viral strategies come with certain limitations depending on the viral vector type, including limits in packaging capacity that can restrict viral expression13 and cell toxicity associated with viral expression14. Furthermore, in most experimental conditions, robust gene expression using adeno-associated virus (AAVs) requires approximately 2 to 4 weeks15, making routine viral strategies unfeasible to manipulate genes during early postnatal development.
In utero electroporation (IUE) is an alternative approach that allows for a rapid and inexpensive gene transfer16,17 that, when coupled with fluorescent labeling and pharmacogenetic or optogenetic approaches, provides a powerful platform to dissect the function of neuronal circuits. Additionally, with the development of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing genes can be overexpressed or precisely altered through cell-type specific knock-down or knock-out of specific genes or through the modulation of promoters18,19. Gene manipulation approaches using IUE are especially advantageous when the effect of genes on neuronal circuits need to be tested during narrow developmental windows20. IUE is a versatile technique and overexpression can be easily accomplished by inserting a gene into an expression vector under a specific promoter. Additional control of gene expression can be achieved by driving expression using promoters of different strengths or using inducible promoters capable of temporally controlling gene expression21,22. Additionally, IUE allows for the targeting of cells within specific cortical layers, cell types and brain regions, which isn&#8217;t always feasible using other approaches5,17. Recent advances in the IUE configuration based on the use of three electrodes, which generates a more efficient electric-field distribution, have expanded the functional repertoire of this method and allowed scientists to target new cell types and increase the efficiency, accuracy, and number of cells that can be targeted23,24. This technique was recently used to determine the causative role of complement component 4A (C4A), a gene linked to SCZ, in PFC function and early cognition5.
Presented here is an experimental pipeline that combines gene transfer approaches to target large populations of excitatory neurons in the frontal cortex, including the PFC, with behavioral paradigms that not only enables the study of cell and circuit-level changes, but also allows behavior to be monitored throughout early postnatal development and adulthood. First described is a method to bilaterally transfect large populations of layer (L) 2/3 pyramidal neurons in frontal cortical regions. Next, tasks to assay social behavior in juvenile and adult mice are outlined. Cell counts can be obtained upon the completion of behavioral tasks to quantify the extent and location of cell transfection. Furthermore, the number of cells transfected can be correlated with behavioral data to determine if a greater number of transfected cells leads to greater perturbations in behavior.

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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">13mm Silk Black Braided Suture</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Havel&#39;s</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">SB77D</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Suture skin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Adson Forceps</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">F.S.T.</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">11006-12</td>
			<td>IUE</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">C270 Webcam</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Logitech</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">N/A</td>
			<td>Record behavior</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Electroporator</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Custom-built</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">N/A</td>
			<td>See Figure 1 and 2 and Bullmann et al, 2015</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">EZ-500 Spin Column Plasmid DNA Maxi-preps Kit, 20preps</td>
			<td>Bio Basic Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">BS466</td>
			<td>Pladmid preparation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Fast Green FCF</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sigma</td>
			<td>F7252-5G</td>
			<td>Dye for DNA solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Fine scissors- sharp</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">F.S.T.</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">14060-09</td>
			<td>IUE</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Fisherbrand Gauze Sponges</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>1376152</td>
			<td>IUE</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Gaymar Heating/Cooling</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Braintree</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">TP-700</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Heating Pad</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Glass pipette puller</td>
			<td>Sutter Instrument,</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">P-97</td>
			<td>IUE</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Glass pipettes</td>
			<td>Sutter Instrument,</td>
			<td>BF150-117-10</td>
			<td>IUE</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Hair Removal Lotion</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Nair</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">N/A</td>
			<td>Hair removal</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Hartman Hemostats</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">F.S.T.</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">13002-10</td>
			<td>IUE</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:215px;">Open field maze- homemade acrylic arena</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Custom-built</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">N/A</td>
			<td>50 &#215; 50 &#215; 30 cm length-width-height</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">pCAG-GFP</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Addgene</td>
			<td>11150</td>
			<td>Mammalian expression vector for expression of GFP</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Picospritzer III</td>
			<td>Parker Hannifin</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">N/A</td>
			<td>pressure injector</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Retractor - 2 Pronged Blunt</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">F.S.T.</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">17023-13</td>
			<td>IUE</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Ring forceps</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">F.S.T.</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">11103-09</td>
			<td>IUE</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Sterilizer, dry bead</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sigma</td>
			<td>Z378569</td>
			<td>sterelize surgical tools</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">SUTURE, 3/0 PGA, FS-2, VIOLET FOR VET USE ONLY</td>
			<td>Havel&#39;s</td>
			<td>HJ398</td>
			<td>Suture muscle</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Water bath</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Cole-Parmer</td>
			<td>EW-12105-84</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">warming sterile saline</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a pipeline using bilateral in utero electroporation to interrogate genetic influences on rodent behavior

As genome-wide association studies shed light on the heterogeneous genetic underpinnings of many neurological diseases, the need to study the contribution of specific genes to brain development and function increases. Relying on mouse models to study the role of specific genetic manipulations is not always feasible since transgenic mouse lines are quite costly and many novel disease-associated genes do not yet have commercially available genetic lines. Additionally, it can take years of development and validation to create a mouse line. In utero electroporation offers a relatively quick and easy method to manipulate gene expression in a cell-type specific manner in vivo that only requires developing a DNA plasmid to achieve a particular genetic manipulation. Bilateral in utero electroporation can be used to target large populations of frontal cortex pyramidal neurons. Combining this gene transfer method with behavioral approaches allows one to study the effects of genetic manipulations on the function of prefrontal cortex networks and the social behavior of juvenile and adult mice.

Successful development and implementation of a custom-built electroporator and three prong- electrode. 
For IUEs, an inexpensive custom-built electroporator was built based on a previously described design27 (Figure 1A and Figure 2). A three prong electrode was made23,24 using plastic forceps with 2 negative electrodes attached to the tips of the prongs and t...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Pipeline using Bilateral In Utero Electroporation to Interrogate Genetic Influences on Rodent Behavior at JoVE.com

A Pipeline using Bilateral In Utero Electroporation to Interrogate Genetic Influences on Rodent Behavior

The role of recently discovered disease-associated genes in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders remains obscure. A modified bilateral in utero electroporation technique allows for the gene transfer in large populations of neurons and examination of the causative effects of gene expression changes on social behavior.

As genome-wide association studies shed light on the heterogeneous genetic underpinnings of many neurological diseases, the need to study the contribution ...

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Biology

In Utero Intraventricular Injection and Electroporation of E16 Rat Embryos

In-utero in-vivo injection and electroporation of the embryonic rat neocortex provides a powerful tool for the manipulation of individual progenitors ...

In Utero Intraventricular Injection and Electroporation of E15 Mouse Embryos

In-utero in-vivo injection and electroporation of the embryonic mouse neocortex provides a powerful tool for the manipulation of individual progenitors ...

Method for Culture of Early Chick Embryos ex vivo (New Culture)

Method for Culture of Early Chick Embryos ex vivo New Culture

The chick embryo is a valuable tool in the study of early embryonic development. Its transparency, accessibility and ease of manipulation, make it an ...

Double Whole Mount in situ Hybridization of Early Chick Embryos

Method for Whole Mount Antibody Staining in Chick

Assay for Neural Induction in the Chick Embryo

In utero and ex vivo Electroporation for Gene Expression in Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells

In utero and ex vivo Electroporation for Gene Expression in Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells

The retina and its sole output neuron, the retinal ganglion cell (RGC), comprise an excellent model in which to examine biological questions such as cell ...

Genetic Studies of Human DNA Repair Proteins Using Yeast as a Model System 

Understanding the roles of human DNA repair proteins in genetic pathways is a formidable challenge to many researchers.  Genetic studies in mammalian ...

Using the Gene Pulser MXcell Electroporation System to Transfect Primary Cells with High Efficiency

It is becoming increasingly apparent that electroporation is the most effective way to introduce plasmid DNA or siRNA into primary cells. The Gene Pulser ...

Monitoring Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Homeostasis Using a Gaussia Luciferase SERCaMP

Monitoring Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Homeostasis Using a Gaussia Luciferase SERCaMP

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contains the highest level of intracellular calcium, with concentrations approximately 5,000-fold greater than cytoplasmic ...