This work was supported in part by a JSPS KAKENHI grant from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (No. 19K10397 to H.K. and No. 18K09862 to I.M.).

All animal procedures and animal care were performed in accordance with Tohoku University rules and regulations.
1. Dissection of newborn dmp1-topaz mouse calvaria
<ol>
	<li>For this protocol, use 6&#8210;7 day old pups of C57BL/6-Tg(Dmp1-Topaz)1Ikal/J mice. Euthanize mice with 5% isoflurane inhalation and then transfer the pups into 70% ethanol.</li>
	<li>Transfer the euthanized pup into a non-treated culture dish.</li>
	<li>Using scissors and tweezers, grab the skin at the base of the skull and make an incision.</li>
	<li>Using the first incision as a starting point, cut on both lateral sides of the skull in front of the ears, remove the skin, and expose the calvaria.</li>
	<li>Hold the head from the nasal bridge and cut the calvaria along the lambdoid suture. Cut along the lateral edges of the parietal bones and extend it to include the frontal part.</li>
	<li>Separate the calvaria from the underlying brain tissue. 
	NOTE: To ensure a clean bony calvaria with minimal soft tissue attachment do not cut deep into the bone; for reference, one should be able to see the shadow of the scissors beneath the bone.</li>
	<li>Transfer the calvaria into phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4 throughout the protocol). Make sure the concave part is facing upwards.</li>
</ol>
2. Fractionation of newborn mouse calvaria
<ol>
	<li>Transfer up to 5 calvariae to a 50 mL conical tube containing 5 mL of 2 mg/mL collagenase solution. Use fresh collagenase solution prepared just before use.
	<ol>
		<li>To prepare a fresh collagenase solution, add collagenase powder to isolation buffer (70 mM NaCl, 10 mM NaHCO3, 60 mM sorbitol, 3 mM K2HPO4, 1 mM CaCl2, 1 mg/mL bovine serum albumin (BSA), 5 mg/mL glucose and 25 mM HEPES) at 2 mg/mL. Dissolve the collagenase powder on a magnetic stirrer.</li>
		<li>Run the collagenase solution through a 0.22 &#956;m sterile filter unit into a 50 mL tube and keep it on ice throughout the protocol.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Incubate the calvaria at 37 &#176;C for 20 min on a shaker at 300 rpm to obtain fraction 1.</li>
	<li>Discard the digest of fraction 1, wash the calvaria with 5 mL of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and discard the wash.</li>
	<li>Incubate the calvaria in 5 mL of 5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) containing 1 mg/mL BSA in PBS, PH 7.4 at 37 &#176;C for 15 min on a shaker at 300 rpm.</li>
	<li>Collect the digest in a 50 mL conical tube. Wash the calvaria with 5 mL of PBS and add the wash solution to the digest. 
	NOTE: At each point of collecting the digest and washing, pipette the bones in their solution to detach the cells from the bone and to prevent doublets and cell aggregates.</li>
	<li>To obtain fraction 2, centrifuge the digest at 300 x g at 4 &#176;C for 5 min. Discard the supernatant, re-suspend the pellet in 8 mL of &#945;-Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 100 IU/mL penicillin G, and 100 &#956;g/mL streptomycin. Seed on a 10 cm culture dish. Incubate fraction 2 at 37 &#176;C under 5% CO2.</li>
	<li>Incubate the calvaria in 5 mL of collagenase solution at 37 &#176;C for 20 min on a shaker at 300 rpm.</li>
	<li>To collect fraction 3, repeat steps 2.5&#8210;2.6. Incubate fraction 3 at 37 &#176;C under 5% CO2. 
	NOTE: At this point, the bones will become smaller, and they will be reduced to fragments. To ensure that no bones get accidentally aspirated into the digests, which leads to cell loss in the process, use a small tip pipette for collecting the digests (1000&#8210;200 &#956;L pipette tips).</li>
	<li>Incubate the calvaria in 5 mL of collagenase solution at 37 &#176;C for 20 min on a shaker at 300 rpm.</li>
	<li>To collect fraction 4, repeat steps 2.5&#8210;2.6. Incubate fraction 4 at 37 &#176;C under 5% CO2.</li>
	<li>Incubate the calvaria in 5 mL of 5 mM EDTA containing 1 mg/mL BSA in PBS (pH 7.4) at 37 &#176;C for 15 min on a shaker at 300 rpm.</li>
	<li>To collect fraction 5, repeat steps 2.5&#8210;2.6. Incubate fraction 5 at 37 &#176;C under 5% CO2. Osteocytes can be prepared for sorting on the same day or cultured up to 24 h before sorting.</li>
</ol>
3. Preparation of osteocytes for fluorescence activated cell sorting
<ol>
	<li>Aspirate the medium of each cell fraction and wash gently with 10 mL of PBS twice.</li>
	<li>Add 5 mL of 0.5% Trypsin-EDTA in PBS and incubate the cells for 5 min at 37 &#176;C. Add 5 mL of 10% FBS &#945;-MEM and pipette to detach the cells gently. Combine the cells in each fraction by sifting through a 40 &#956;m cell strainer into a 50 mL conical centrifuge tube.</li>
	<li>Wash the cells with 10 mL of PBS and collect by sifting through a 40 &#956;m cell strainer into a 50 mL conical centrifuge tube. Centrifuge the cells at 300 x g at 4 &#176;C for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Aspirate the supernatant and add 10% FBS &#945;-MEM to the pellet. Adjust cell concentration to approximately 1 x 107 cells/mL.</li>
	<li>Filter the cells in a 35 &#956;m nylon mesh capped tube. The cells are now ready for FACS.</li>
	<li>For this protocol, use a 100 &#956;m size nozzle. The collection fluid should consist of 10% FBS &#945;-MEM. Keep the sample being sorted on agitation and at 4 &#176;C throughout the sort if possible.</li>
	<li>Prior to the sort, optimize gating to remove artifacts and cells by adjusting the side scatter (SSC) area and forward scatter (FSC) area. Eliminate doublets by adjusting SSC-width vs SSC-Height and FSC-area vs FSC-width. GFP-negative osteocytes should be used as a control to adjust the parameters of the sort instrument.</li>
	<li>After cell collection is complete, centrifuge the cells at 300 x g at 4 &#176;C for 10 min. Wash cells with PBS. Centrifuge the cells at 300 x g at 4 &#176;C for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Re-suspend the cells and adjust the number as desired using 10% FBS &#945;-MEM.</li>
</ol>

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F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanosensation+and+Transduction+in+Osteocytes.">Mechanosensation and Transduction in Osteocytes.</a> BoneKEy osteovision. 3 (10), 7-15 (2006).</li><li>Feng, J. Q., 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=Loss+of+DMP1+causes+rickets+and+osteomalacia+and+identifies+a+role+for+osteocytes+in+mineral+metabolism.">Loss of DMP1 causes rickets and osteomalacia and identifies a role for osteocytes in mineral metabolism.</a> Nature Genetics. 38 (11), 1310-1315 (2006).</li><li>Lane, N. 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D., Klein-Nulend, J., Bravenboer, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Studies+on+Osteocytes+in+Their+3D+Native+Matrix+Versus+2D+In+Vitro+Models.">Studies on Osteocytes in Their 3D Native Matrix Versus 2D In Vitro Models.</a> Current Osteoporosis Reports. 17 (4), 207-216 (2019).</li><li>Woo, S. M., Rosser, J., Dusevich, V., Kalajzic, I., Bonewald, L. 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The authors have nothing to disclose.

The first isolated osteocyte was from a chicken calvaria7 isolated by using (OB7.3) or the aviant variant of PHEX; however, this method is limited by the availability of workable antibodies, as osteocyte-specific antibodies that are also specie-specific have to be manufactured. Researchers used a different modification of the sequential enzymatic process to obtain osteocytes from mouse and rat long bones; the reported purity of these cultures were set at about 70%9. The dev...

Osteocytes are terminally differentiated cells from osteoblastic progenitors that became embedded in their secreted matrix1. They are the most abundant and longest-living cells among bone cell populations. They reside within lacunae and have a characteristic stellate morphology with dendrites that extend through channels called canaliculi forming an extensive network of communication and metabolic exchange with their surrounding environment and the bone surface2. Osteocytes choreograph both osteoblasts and osteoclasts roles in bone remodeling, they are the primary mechanosensory cells conferring adaptation to mechanical loading3, are involved in phosphate homeostasis4 and bone matrix mineralization5, and together with the lacunocanalicular system, they act as an endocrine organ signaling distant tissues6.
Osteocytes are situated within a mineralized matrix, which limits accessibility and renders their isolation challenging, thus hindering in vitro investigation. One of the first isolation methods described isolated osteocytes from chicken calvaria using an osteocyte-specific monoclonal antibody (OB7.3)7 which was later known to be the avian variant of PHEX (PHosphate-regulating gene with homology to Endopeptidases on the X chromosome)8. Other researchers used sequential digestion of rat9 or mouse10 long bones to obtain osteocyte-rich fractions in which osteocyte purity was reported to be around 70%9. Limitations of this procedure include the sub-optimal purity of cultures contaminated with other cell types besides osteocytes and that osteocytes could be potentially overgrown by other cells in culture since osteocytes have lost the ability to divide. These challenges restrict the usability of long term cultures.
To overcome these limitations, different osteocyte cell lines were developed. The MLO-Y4 cell line11 and the MLO-A5 cell line12 are notably the most widely studied cell lines which are useful for the study of the early stage osteocytes; however, they are less useful for studying mature osteocyte signaling as they express low levels of sclerostin and FGF2313, both of which are mature osteocyte markers. Other cell lines including IDG-SW314 and Ocy45415, express high levels of sclerostin and FGF23 and are useful in studying the late osteocyte stage. Cell lines prove to be useful research tools; nevertheless, they do not come without limitations as they do not fully represent the biology of the primary cell. Different cell lines represent different developmental stages of the osteocyte maturity spectrum, and cell lines fail to represent the heterogeneity of primary osteocytes16,17.
To obtain pure cultures of primary osteocytes, researchers took advantage of the cre mouse model in which the 8-kb dmp1 promoter is used to drive green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in osteocytes18,19. Dual transgenic mice (pOB-Col 2.3- GFP-cyan and DMP1-GFP-topaz) by Paic et al.19 and dmp1-topaz transgenic mice by Nakashima et al.20 have been used to obtain osteocyte populations. In which they employed sequential digestion and FACS of osteocytes expressing GFP to acquire cultures of primary osteocytes19,20. The direction of cre in the 10-kb dmp1 reporter mouse Ai9, which activates the tdTomato protein, was shown to be present in osteocytes, osteoblasts, muscles, and cells within the bone marrow. The 8-kb dmp1 promoter had the same expression pattern, but only a proportion of osteoblasts and bone marrow cells expressed the protein, which indicates that the 8-kb dmp1 promoter is more specific21. Despite this, results obtained using the 8-kb dmp1 promoter should be interpreted with caution, and gene expression profiles should be routinely carried out using osteocyte vs. osteoblast-specific markers to ensure that the population obtained is of high enough purity.
Osteoclast markers OSCAR and Dcstamp were found in hematopoietic non-depleted vs. depleted osteocyte populations, this finding led the authors to conclude that digests obtained from fractionation of 8-kb dmp1-topaz neonatal calvaria and GFP sorting are contaminated with hematopoietic cells. Contamination with hematopoietic cells could have been mitigated by tightening the GFP sort gate since GFP-positive hematopoietic cells had a reasonably lower GFP intensity than GFP-positive mesenchymal cells (osteocytes)22.
The methods for studying osteocytes in vitro have contributed to the recent wealth of information on osteocyte biology. However, osteocyte isolation remains a labor-intensive and lengthy procedure with low cell yields. The described method of bone digestion using collagenase and EDTA often up to fraction 823, takes several hours in which osteocyte viability is taxed. Researchers have reported using fractions (2&#8210;5) for cell sorting20, and have shown that the expression profile of genes associated with osteocytes versus those of osteoblasts confirms the success of isolating pure osteocyte populations20. In this article, we describe the process of obtaining fractions (2&#8210;5), and we compare the yield of osteocytes from each fraction starting with fraction 1 through 8 to determine the return of osteocytes in each fraction. We also describe the dissection of newborn dmp1-topaz mouse calvaria and calvarial digestion using collagenase and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), as well as, preparation of cells for FACS.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>BD FACSDiva software</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Data aquisition and analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BD Falcon Tube</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>352235</td>
			<td>12 x 75 mm Tube with Cell Strainer Cap, 35 &#956;m nylon mesh.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine serum albumin (BSA)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich, MO, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase</td>
			<td>Wako, Osaka, Japan</td>
			<td>034-22363</td>
			<td>0.2% (w/v), crude collagenase mix sourced from C. histolyticum.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EDTA</td>
			<td>Dojindo, Kumamoto, Japan</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>5mM EDTA prepared with 0.1% BSA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FACSAriaTM II</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>Biowest, Nuaill&#233;, France</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isolation buffer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>70mM NaCl, 10mM NaHCO, 60mM sorbitol, 3mM K2HPO4, 1mM CaCl2, 0.1% (w/v) BSA, 0.5% (w/v) glucose and 25 mM HEPES</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Millex Sterile Filter Unit</td>
			<td>Merck Millipore, Ireland</td>
			<td>SLGV033RS</td>
			<td>0.22&#956;m</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nylon cell strainer</td>
			<td>FALCON, NY, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>40&#956;m</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin-EDTA</td>
			<td>Life Technologies, NY, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>0.5% x10. diluted to x1 in PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#945;-MEM</td>
			<td>Wako, Osaka, Japan</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 IU/ml penicillin G, and 100 &#956;g/ml streptomycin</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

obtaining primary osteocytes through murine calvarial fractionation of gfp-expressing osteocytes

The osteocyte, once thought to be a passive resident of the bone given the backstage function of sensing mechanical loading, is now brought to the spotlight and has been shown to have multiple major functions like actively modifying the extracellular matrix and forming an endocrine organ with the lacunocanalicular system that encloses it sending messages to distant sites. Owing to the methods that made it possible to test the osteocyte in vitro from isolating primary osteocytes to osteocyte-like cell lines, osteocytes are now experiencing a resounding interest and a surge of knowledge on structure and function. Many aspects of the osteocyte biology and interaction with other molecular components are yet to be discovered. In this protocol, we describe in detail the efficient isolation of primary osteocytes from dmp1-topaz neonatal mouse calvaria, which express the green fluorescent protein in osteocytes, through cell fractionation and subsequently acquiring cultures of primary osteocytes by FACS.

The purpose of this protocol is to demonstrate the process of obtaining cultures of primary osteocytes from dmp1-topaz neonatal mouse calvaria through a fractionation process using collagenase to degrade the collagen matrix and EDTA for calcium chelation, after which cells are prepared for FACS to separate osteocytes from other cell populations.
Methods for obtaining primary osteocytes from neonatal mouse calvaria often describe the use of fractions (1&#8210;8) for sorting23<...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Obtaining Primary Osteocytes Through Murine Calvarial Fractionation of GFP-Expressing Osteocytes at JoVE.com

Obtaining Primary Osteocytes Through Murine Calvarial Fractionation of GFP-Expressing Osteocytes

This protocol describes the dissection of neonatal dmp1-topaz mouse calvaria and isolation of osteocytes expressing the green fluorescent protein through cell digestion and fractionation, in addition to osteocyte preparation for fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS).

The osteocyte, once thought to be a passive resident of the bone given the backstage function of sensing mechanical loading, is now brought to the ...

obtaining-primary-osteocytes-through-murine-calvarial-fractionation

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2.0K Views.  Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry. This protocol describes the dissection of neonatal dmp1-topaz mouse calvaria and isolation of osteocytes expressing the green fluorescent protein through cell digestion and fractionation, in addition to osteocyte preparation for fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS).

Video: Obtaining Primary Osteocytes Through Murine Calvarial Fractionation of GFP-Expressing Osteocytes

Obtaining Eggs from Xenopus laevis Females

The eggs of Xenopus laevis intact, lysed, and/or fractionated are useful for a wide variety of experiments. This protocol shows how to induce egg laying, collect and dejelly the eggs, and sort the eggs to remove any damaged eggs.

The eggs of Xenopus laevis intact, lysed, and/or fractionated are useful for a wide variety of experiments. This protocol shows how to induce egg laying, collect and dejelly the eggs, and sort the eggs to remove any damaged eggs.

The eggs of Xenopus laevis intact, lysed, and/or fractionated are useful for a wide variety of experiments. This protocol shows how to induce egg laying, ...

Preparation and Fractionation of Xenopus laevis Egg Extracts

Crude and fractionated Xenopus egg extracts can be used to provide ingredients for reconstituting cellular processes for morphological and biochemical analysis. Egg lysis and differential centrifugation are used to prepare the crude extract which in turn in used to prepare fractionated extracts and light membrane preparations.

Crude and fractionated Xenopus egg extracts can be used to provide ingredients for reconstituting cellular processes for morphological and biochemical analysis. Egg lysis and differential centrifugation are used to prepare the crude extract which in turn in used to prepare fractionated extracts and light membrane preparations.

Crude and fractionated Xenopus egg extracts can be used to provide ingredients for reconstituting cellular processes for morphological and biochemical ...

The Preparation of Primary Hematopoietic Cell Cultures From Murine Bone Marrow for Electroporation

It is becoming increasingly apparent that electroporation is the most effective way to introduce plasmid DNA or siRNA into primary cells. The Gene Pulser MXcell  electroporation system and Gene Pulser  electroporation buffer were specifically developed to transfect nucleic acids into mammalian cells and difficult-to-transfect cells, such as primary and stem cells.This video demonstrates how to establish primary hematopoietic cell cultures from murine bone marrow, and then prepare them for electroporation in the MXcell system. We begin by isolating femur and tibia. Bone marrow from both femur and tibia are then harvested and cultures are established. Cultured bone marrow cells are then transfected and analyzed.

This procedure describes how to establish primary hematopoietic cell cultures from murine bone marrow and is followed by transfection using the Gene Pulser MXCell electroporation system.

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

Primary Culture and Plasmid Electroporation of the Murine Organ of Corti. 

In all mammals, the sensory epithelium for audition is located along the spiraling organ of Corti that resides within the conch shaped cochlea of the inner ear (fig 1). Hair cells in the developing cochlea, which are the mechanosensory cells of the auditory system, are aligned in one row of inner hair cells and three (in the base and mid-turns) to four (in the apical turn) rows of outer hair cells that span the length of the organ of Corti. Hair cells transduce sound-induced mechanical vibrations of the basilar membrane into neural impulses that the brain can interpret. Most cases of sensorineural hearing loss are caused by death or dysfunction of cochlear hair cells.
An increasingly essential tool in auditory research is the isolation and in vitro culture of the organ explant 1,2,9. Once isolated, the explants may be utilized in several ways to provide information regarding normative, anomalous, or therapeutic physiology. Gene expression, stereocilia motility, cell and molecular biology, as well as biological approaches for hair cell regeneration are examples of experimental applications of organ of Corti explants.
This protocol describes a method for the isolation and culture of the organ of Corti from neonatal mice. The accompanying video includes stepwise directions for the isolation of the temporal bone from mouse pups, and subsequent isolation of the cochlea, spiral ligament, and organ of Corti. Once isolated, the sensory epithelium can be plated and cultured in vitro in its entirety, or as a further dissected micro-isolate that lacks the spiral limbus and spiral ganglion neurons. Using this method, primary explants can be maintained for 7-10 days. As an example of the utility of this procedure, organ of Corti explants will be electroporated with an exogenous DsRed reporter gene. This method provides an improvement over other published methods because it provides reproducible, unambiguous, and stepwise directions for the isolation, microdissection, and primary culture of the organ of Corti.

Primary Culture and Plasmid Electroporation of the Murine Organ of Corti.

This procedure describes a method for the isolation and culture of the murine organ of Corti with or without the spiral limbus and spiral ganglion neurons. We also demonstrate a method for the expression of an exogenous reporter gene in the organ of Corti explant by electroporation.

In all mammals, the sensory epithelium for audition is located along the spiraling organ of Corti that resides within the conch shaped cochlea of the ...

Using the GELFREE 8100 Fractionation System for Molecular Weight-Based Fractionation with Liquid Phase Recovery

The GELFREE 8100 Fractionation System is a novel protein fractionation system designed to maximize protein recovery during molecular weight based fractionation. The system is comprised of single-use, 8-sample capacity cartridges and a benchtop GELFREE Fractionation Instrument. During separation, a constant voltage is applied between the anode and cathode reservoirs, and each protein mixture is electrophoretically driven from a loading chamber into a specially designed gel column gel. Proteins are concentrated into a tight band in a stacking gel, and separated based on their respective electrophoretic mobilities in a resolving gel. As proteins elute from the column, they are trapped and concentrated in liquid phase in the collection chamber, free of the gel. The instrument is then paused at specific time intervals, and fractions are collected using a pipette. This process is repeated until all desired fractions have been collected. If fewer than 8 samples are run on a cartridge, any unused chambers can be used in subsequent separations.
This novel technology facilitates the quick and simple separation of up to 8 complex protein mixtures simultaneously, and offers several advantages when compared to previously available fractionation methods. This system is capable of fractionating up to 1mg of total protein per channel, for a total of 8mg per cartridge. Intact proteins over a broad mass range are separated on the basis of molecular weight, retaining important physiochemical properties of the analyte. The liquid phase entrapment provides for high recovery while eliminating the need for band or spot cutting, making the fractionation process highly reproducible1.

The accompanying video describes the use of the GELFREE 8100 Fractionation System, which partitions complex protein samples on the basis of molecular weight and recovers the fractions in liquid phase. The video describes how the technology works, how it is used, and provides resultant data, with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of fractionated bovine liver homogenate.

The GELFREE 8100 Fractionation System is a novel protein fractionation system designed to maximize protein recovery during molecular weight based ...

Transplantation of GFP-expressing Blastomeres for Live Imaging of Retinal and Brain Development in Chimeric Zebrafish Embryos

Cells change extensively in their locations and property during embryogenesis. These changes are regulated by the interactions between the cells and their environment. Chimeric embryos, which are composed of cells of different genetic background, are great tools to study the cell-cell interactions mediated by genes of interest. The embryonic transparency of zebrafish at early developmental stages permits direct visualization of the morphogenesis of tissues and organs at the cellular level. Here, we demonstrate a protocol to generate chimeric retinas and brains in zebrafish embryos and to perform live imaging of the donor cells. The protocol covers the preparation of transplantation needles, the transplantation of GFP-expressing donor blastomeres to GFP-negative hosts, and the examination of donor cell behavior under live confocal microscopy. With slight modifications, this protocol can also be used to study the embryonic development of other tissues and organs in zebrafish. The advantages of using GFP to label donor cells are also discussed. 

We demonstrate a protocol to generate chimeric zebrafish embryos for live imaging cellular behavior during embryogenesis.

Cells change extensively in their locations and property during embryogenesis. These changes are regulated by the interactions between the cells and their ...

In situ Subcellular Fractionation of Adherent and Non-adherent Mammalian Cells

Protein function is intimately coupled to protein localization. Although some proteins are restricted to a specific location or subcellular compartment, many proteins are present as a freely diffusing population in free exchange with a sub-population that is tightly associated with a particular subcellular domain or structure. In situ subcellular fractionation allows the visualization of protein compartmentalization and can also reveal protein sub-populations that localize to specific structures. For example, removal of soluble cytoplasmic proteins and loosely held nuclear proteins can reveal the stable association of some transcription factors with chromatin. Subsequent digestion of DNA can in some cases reveal association with the network of proteins and RNAs that is collectively termed the nuclear scaffold or nuclear matrix. 
Here we describe the steps required during the in situ fractionation of adherent and non-adherent mammalian cells on microscope coverslips. Protein visualization can be achieved using specific antibodies or fluorescent fusion proteins and fluorescence microscopy. Antibodies and/or fluorescent dyes that act as markers for specific compartments or structures allow protein localization to be mapped in detail. In situ fractionation can also be combined with western blotting to compare the amounts of protein present in each fraction. This simple biochemical approach can reveal associations that would otherwise remain undetected.

In situ Subcellular Fractionation of Adherent and Non-adherent Mammalian Cells

In situ subcellular fractionation of mammalian cells on microscope coverslips allows the visualisation of protein localisation.

Protein function is intimately coupled to protein localization. Although some proteins are restricted to a specific location or subcellular compartment, ...

Application of Retinoic Acid to Obtain Osteocytes Cultures from Primary Mouse Osteoblasts

The need for osteocyte cultures is well known to the community of bone researchers; isolation of primary osteocytes is difficult and produces low cell numbers. Therefore, the most widely used cellular system is the osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cell line.
The method here described refers to the use of retinoic acid to generate a homogeneous population of ramified cells with morphological and molecular osteocyte features.
After isolation of osteoblasts from mouse calvaria, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is added to cell medium, and cell monitoring is conducted daily under an inverted microscope. First morphological changes are detectable after 2 days of treatment and differentiation is generally complete in 5 days, with progressive development of dendrites, loss of the ability to produce extracellular matrix, down-regulation of osteoblast markers and up-regulation of osteocyte-specific molecules.
Daily cell monitoring is needed because of the inherent variability of primary cells, and the protocol can be adapted with minimal variation to cells obtained from different mouse strains and applied to transgenic models. 
The method is easy to perform and does not require special instrumentation, it is highly reproducible, and rapidly generates a mature osteocyte population in complete absence of extracellular matrix, allowing the use of these cells for unlimited biological applications.

Treatment of primary mouse osteoblasts with retinoic acid produces a homogeneous population of ramified cells bearing morphological and molecular features of osteocytes. The method overcomes the difficulty of obtaining and maintaining primary osteocytes in culture, and can be advantageous to study cells derived from transgenic models.&#160;

The need for osteocyte cultures is well known to the community of bone researchers; isolation of primary osteocytes is difficult and produces low cell ...

In Vivo 4-Dimensional Tracking of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in Adult Mouse Calvarial Bone Marrow

Through a delicate balance between quiescence and proliferation, self renewal and production of differentiated progeny, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) maintain the turnover of all mature blood cell lineages. The coordination of the complex signals leading to specific HSC fates relies upon the interaction between HSCs and the intricate bone marrow microenvironment, which is still poorly understood[1-2].
We describe how by combining a newly developed specimen holder for stable animal positioning with multi-step confocal and two-photon in vivo imaging techniques, it is possible to obtain high-resolution 3D stacks containing HSPCs and their surrounding niches and to monitor them over time through multi-point time-lapse imaging. High definition imaging allows detecting ex vivo labeled hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) residing within the bone marrow. Moreover, multi-point time-lapse 3D imaging, obtained with faster acquisition settings, provides accurate information about HSPC movement and the reciprocal interactions between HSPCs and stroma cells.
Tracking of HSPCs in relation to GFP positive osteoblastic cells is shown as an exemplary application of this method. This technique can be utilized to track any appropriately labeled hematopoietic or stromal cell of interest within the mouse calvarium bone marrow space.

In Vivo 4-Dimensional Tracking of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in Adult Mouse Calvarial Bone Marrow

The nature of the interactions between hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and bone marrow niches is poorly understood. Custom hardware modifications and a multi-step acquisition protocol allow the use of two-photon and confocal microscopy to image ex vivo labeled HSPCs homed within bone marrow areas, tracking interactions and movement.

Through a delicate balance between quiescence and proliferation, self renewal and production of differentiated progeny, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) ...

Subcellular Fractionation for ERK Activation Upon Mitochondrial-derived Peptide Treatment

Mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) are a new class of peptides that are encoded by small open reading frames within other known genes of the mitochondrial genome. MDPs have a wide variety of biological effects such as protecting neurons from apoptosis, improving metabolic markers, and protecting cells from chemotherapy. Humanin was the first MDP to be discovered and is the most studied peptide among the MDP family. The membrane receptors and downstream signaling pathways of humanin have been carefully characterized. Additional MDPs such as MOTS-c and SHLP1-6 have been more recently discovered and the signaling mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. Here we describe a cell culture based method to determine the function of these peptides. In particular, cell fractionation techniques in combination with western blotting allow for the quantitative determination of activation and translocation of important signaling molecule. While there are other methods of cell fractionation, the one described here is an easy and straightforward method. These methods can be used to further elucidate the mechanism of action of these peptides and other therapeutic agents.

This protocol describes how to stimulate cells with mitochondrial-derived peptides and assess the signaling cascade and localization of phospho-proteins.