We thank members of Kim lab and Lance Davidson for their comments and support. This work was supported by Young Scientist Fellowship to HYK from Institute for Basic Science (IBS-R0250Y1).

Animal use and experimental protocols were approved by the institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC) of the Institute for Basic Science (IBS 18-01) and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KA2017-22).
1. Embryos
<ol>
	<li>Obtain X. laevis embryos using a standard procedure: manually collect eggs from stimulated female frogs and perform in vitro fertilization18,19.</li>
	<li>De-jelly the fertilized embryos with gentle agitation for about 5 min in 2% cysteine in 1/3x modified Barth&#8217;s saline (MBS; see the recipe for 1X MBS below) at pH 819.</li>
	<li>Optional step for live imaging: to fluorescently label specific proteins and observe their dynamics in the organoid, proceed to section 5.</li>
	<li>(Optional) To monitor the contamination of superficial ectoderm cells within organoids, label the apical surface of the embryos with NHS-rhodamine at stage 914. Incubate embryos in 1 mg/mL NHS-Rhodamine in 1/3x MBS (pH 9.0) for 30 min with gentle nutation. Wash embryos three times by transferring to a Petri dish filled with 1/3x MBS for 15 min.</li>
	<li>Culture the embryo in 1/3x MBS at the preferred temperature (14&#8211;26 &#176;C) until the first signs of stage 10 are detected (i.e., the appearance of dark pigmented cells around the blastopore at the vegetal view).</li>
</ol>
2. Preparation of microsurgical tools, solutions, and culture vessels
<ol>
	<li>Prepare the tools needed including a pair of surgical grade forceps and hair tools (hair loop and hair knife) for microsurgery20.</li>
	<li>Prepare the following culture media for embryos: 1/3X MBS, where 1X MBS is made with NaCl (88 mM), KCl (1 mM), NaHCO3 (2.4 mM), MgSO4 (0.82 mM), Ca(NO3)2 (0.33 mM), CaCl2 (0.41 mM), and HEPES (10 mM). Adjust pH to 7.4 with 10 M NaOH. 
	NOTE: Optional: add drops of phenol red to indicate pH.</li>
	<li>Prepare the following culture media for embryonic tissues and organoids: Danilchik&#8217;s for Amy (DFA)21 supplemented with fresh 1% antibiotic and antimycotic solution. Prepare DFA with NaCl (53 mM), Na2CO3 (5 mM), potassium gluconate (4.5 mM), sodium gluconate (32 mM), CaCl2 (1 mM), and MgSO4 (1 mM). Adjust pH to 8.3 with granular Bicine. Filter DFA (0.2 &#956;m bottle-top filter), aliquot and store it at -20 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Prepare calcium- and magnesium-free DFA for separating deep cells from ectoderm by using the recipe above and omitting CaCl2 and MgSO4. Aliquot and store at-20 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Prepare non-adhesive PCR tubes for embryonic cell aggregation.
	<ol>
		<li>To induce spontaneous aggregation of the isolated embryonic cells, prepare non-adhesive PCR tubes by coating round-bottomed PCR tubes with 200 &#956;L of 1% BSA (1 g of BSA in 100 mL of distilled water) overnight at 4 &#176;C or for 2 h at room temperature. Each tube will be used to assemble one organoid.</li>
		<li>Rinse BSA-coated PCR tubes with DFA three times to remove any residual BSA.</li>
		<li>Fill PCR tubes with 200 &#956;L of DFA.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Isolation of deep ectoderm cells
<ol>
	<li>Select and gather embryos as they reach early stage 10 using hair tools under a stereoscope.</li>
	<li>Using a disposable transfer pipette, transfer the selected embryos into a DFA-filled Petri dish.</li>
	<li>Remove the vitelline membrane of the embryos using sharp forceps from the vegetal side without disrupting the animal side of the embryo. 
	NOTE: Be careful to avoid exposing embryos to the air. Introducing air bubbles into the solution or bringing embryos to the surface will cause the embryo to burst.</li>
	<li>To isolate the animal cap, position the animal side of the embryo up.</li>
	<li>Visually estimate the extent of the animal cap to be excised and make the first incision along the edge of the animal cap with a hair knife. Pull the hair knife outward to make a cut.</li>
	<li>Repeat step 3.5 to create a chain of small cuts to excise the animal cap.</li>
	<li>Trim the thick-layered edge of the animal cap using a hair knife to prevent the inclusion of mesoderm precursors. 
	NOTE: To prevent the healing and aggregation of isolated animal caps, proceed to the next step within 10 min. Typically, we isolate 5&#8211;10 animal caps at a time to assemble multiple organoids.</li>
	<li>To separate deep ectoderm cells from the animal cap, transfer the excised animal caps to a Petri dish filled with calcium- and magnesium-free DFA with a disposable transfer pipette. Be careful not to introduce any air bubbles during the transfer.</li>
	<li>To keep enough space for the next steps, using the hair tools, position the animal caps to face the animal-side up and maintain a generous distance from other explants.</li>
	<li>Wait for 5&#8211;10 min and then monitor the explants under a stereoscope. Once loosened deep cells have been found from the edge of the dark-pigmented superficial layer, begin lifting the superficial layer away from the light-colored deep ectoderm cells using a hair knife under the stereoscope.</li>
	<li>Carefully detach (peel-off) the superficial layer with a hair knife, starting at the edge.</li>
	<li>Collect the deep ectoderm cells with minimum aspiration (10&#8210;15 &#956;L) to limit the amount of calcium- and magnesium-free DFA that is transferred to the aggregation media in the next step. 
	NOTE: Detached superficial cells can be removed from the media to prevent contaminating the remaining deep ectoderm cells.</li>
</ol>
4. Generation of mucociliary epithelial organoids
<ol>
	<li>Transfer collected deep ectoderm cells to a non-adhesive PCR tube containing 200 &#956;L of DFA. Gently pipette the media (2&#8210;3 times) to disperse transferred cells in the PCR tube. 
	NOTE: The timing designated as hours post aggregation (hpa) starts at this step. The size of the resulting organoids is controlled by the number of deep ectoderm cells added to a PCR tube. Deep ectoderm cells from one or more animal caps can be used, depending on the desired size of the organoid.</li>
	<li>Close the PCR tube. Keep PCR tubes upright to induce spontaneous aggregation at the bottom.</li>
	<li>Monitor the aggregation process under a stereoscope. Cells typically gather at the bottom of the PCR tube within an hour and assemble into spherical aggregates within 2&#8211;3 h, depending on the size.</li>
	<li>To conduct live imaging or drug testing during the development of the mucociliary epithelial organoids, collect aggregates at 2 hpa using a 200 &#181;L pipette fitted with enlarged tips (cut with sterilized scissor) to avoid causing damage to the aggregates during collection.</li>
	<li>To allow aggregates to develop into the mucociliary epithelial organoid in culture, collect spherical aggregates from the PCR tube at 5 hpa and transfer them to a DFA-filled Petri dish.</li>
	<li>Position the aggregates far from others to prevent them from fusing. Within 24 h of culture at room temperature without any added factors, mature mucociliary epithelial organoids can be observed to be rotating with the action of beating cilia covering the surface of the differentiated epithelium</li>
</ol>
5. (Optional) High-resolution live imaging of developing organoids
<ol>
	<li>Prepare mRNA for microinjection.
	<ol>
		<li>To visualize the epithelialization that occurs at the initial stage of organoid formation, prepare mRNA for the epithelial-specific zonula occludens protein-1 (ZO-1) and for outlining the cell membranes by amplifying pCS2-ZO1-RFP and pCS2-mem-GFP plasmids (a gift from Lance Davidson).</li>
		<li>Extract and linearize the plasmid DNA, and then transcribe the capped mRNA using an SP6/T7 in vitro transcription kit.</li>
		<li>Aliquot the transcribed mRNA and store it at -80 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Microinject the mRNA into a fertilized embryo
	<ol>
		<li>Place fertilized embryos in 3% Ficoll in 1x MBS.</li>
		<li>Load 3&#8211;4 &#956;L of mRNA using a micro-loader tip into a pulled glass needle (a long and fine tapered needle tip with inner diameter of 10&#8210;30 &#181;m).</li>
		<li>Attach the needle to a microinjector and adjust the time and pressure to deliver a constant volume of mRNA for microinjection.</li>
		<li>Inject the mRNA just under the apical surface of the animal pole. A distinct pale-colored circular patch that is caused by the expansion of the cortex is visible at the time of microinjection.</li>
		<li>Transfer the injected embryos to 1/3X MBS and culture them to stage 9.5.</li>
		<li>Collect the fluorescently labeled embryos under a fluorescence stereoscope (excitation/emission settings for GFP (488/510) and RFP (532/588)).</li>
		<li>Proceed with step 1.3.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Assemble and culture the organoid (sections 3 and 4) until the desired stage of development.</li>
	<li>Perform live imaging.
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare a glass-bottom imaging chamber by gluing a cover glass to a custom-milled acrylic chamber using silicon grease. 
		NOTE: Tightly seal the chamber to prevent leakage of the culture media.</li>
		<li>Fill the imaging chamber with DFA.</li>
		<li>Pick one hexagonal transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grid (75 mesh) from a container using forceps and apply a tiny amount of grease to the edge of the grid. 
		NOTE: The size of the mesh should be smaller than the diameter of the aggregate so that the aggregate sits on the grid.</li>
		<li>Press down lightly to secure the TEM grid to the bottom of the imaging chamber.</li>
		<li>Transfer the aggregates to the imaging chamber and position them within the grid. 
		NOTE: Avoid positioning the aggregates next to the grease. Throughout the experiment, the aggregates should sit on the TEM grid without contacting the bottom of the chamber to prevent physical compression.</li>
		<li>Fill up the imaging chamber with DFA and seal it with a cover glass and grease. 
		NOTE: The chamber should be airtight with no air bubbles to prevent any turbulence or movement during imaging.</li>
		<li>To follow the progression of mucociliary epithelial organoid formation, collect time-lapse z-stack images of aggregates (from 2 hpa) using a confocal microscope. 
		NOTE: We typically collect ~120 &#181;m-thick z-stacks every 15 min using a 20X objective to follow the dynamic cell behaviors, but these specifications should be optimized for the goal of experiments.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
6. (Optional) Imaging developing organoids by fixation and immunostaining
<ol>
	<li>Fix organoids at the desired stage of development by transferring them to a glass vial filled with a fixative solution. 
	NOTE: Add a volume of fixative solution that is &#62;20 times that of the samples to ensure complete fixation. Perform the following processes on a nutator unless otherwise noted. In general, organoids are fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) in PBS. However, different fixatives may be required to detect specific proteins. For example, we used 4% PFA with 0.25% glutaraldehyde in PBS to detect F-actin and acetylated tubulin. To detect intelectin (ITLN) and ZO-1, organoids are fixed with ice-cold Dent&#8217;s solution (4:1 methanol:dimethyl sulfoxide) for overnight at -20 &#176;C. Dent&#8217;s fixed organoids should be serially dehydrated before washing (step 6.3). Duration for antibody incubation and washing can be optimized for specific needs.</li>
	<li>Fix organoids for 15 min at room temperature (RT) or overnight at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Wash 3 times with PBST (PBS with 0.1% Triton X-100) for 15 min at RT.</li>
	<li>Block unspecific binding with 10% goat serum in PBST (PBSGT) for 1 h at RT.</li>
	<li>Incubate with primary antibody (1:200) in PBSGT overnight at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Wash 3 times with PBST for 15 min at RT.</li>
	<li>Incubate with secondary antibody (1:200) in PBSGT overnight at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Wash 3 times with PBST for 15 min at RT.</li>
	<li>Transfer the fixed and immunostained organoids to an imaging chamber and proceed with confocal imaging.</li>
</ol>

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Mucociliary epithelial organoids generated from deep ectoderm cells of X. laevis embryo are a powerful tool to study the epithelialization and differentiation of multipotent progenitors in vitro. In contrast to the widely adopted animal cap assay16 used for in vitro organogenesis13 and the development of mucociliary epithelia15,17,22 that utilize the intact ectoderm, the deep ectoderm-derived organoids presented in this protocol offer a distinct opportunity to monitor the tissue mechanics-driven regeneration phases of the surface epithelium14. At around 2 hpa, the newly generated ZO-1 positive epithelial cells (Figure 2) begin to appear on the apical surface of organoids and increase their population to cover the entire organoid as the tissue solidify or reduces the compliance14. The regeneration of the epithelium and subsequent lineage specifications for mucus-producing goblet cells proceed spontaneously in a chemically defined culture media within a day. These rapidly developing mucociliary epithelial organoids provide a platform to examine dynamic cell behaviors in real-time, in high-resolution, during progressive steps of epithelial regeneration. They also enable investigation of fundamental questions that arise during mucociliary epithelium development, homeostasis, and associated diseases2,9,23. In particular, the mechanical sensitivity of the deep progenitor cells during the transition to epithelial goblet cell precursors identified in the organoids14 may serve to link respiratory diseases associated with abnormal basal differentiation where mucus-secreting goblet cells are over- or under-produced23.
While this protocol offers a simple approach to generate these organoids, there are several critical steps for success in experiments. To prevent contamination of superficial epithelial cells during the isolation of deep ectoderm cells from the animal cap, one should monitor the animal cap placed in calcium- and magnesium-free DFA under a stereoscope and detect the right time to initiate the separation of the dark-pigmented superficial layer of the animal cap. If the tissue is kept in calcium- and magnesium-free DFA for too long, the entire tissue will dissociate and distinguishing between deep and superficial cells would then be impossible for deep ectoderm aggregates. To confirm the absence of superficial cells in deep ectoderm aggregates, we recommend fluorescently labeling the apical surface of the embryo with NHS-rhodamine (step 1.414) prior to microsurgery; this would allow for easy identification of surface cells if they exist in the resultant organoids. Since epithelial regeneration is regulated by tissue mechanics14, it is essential to avoid unintended force generation for self-organizing organoids. In particular, we suggest avoiding contact with the glass bottom of the imaging chamber during live imaging by placing aggregates at the edges of the TEM grids as this allows for free contact with the imaging window of live aggregates (step 5.1.2.). This in vitro-cultured, self-organized 3D model for mucociliary epithelium will serve as a tractable tool to answer the fundamental questions that arise during the regeneration of epithelium and the lineage specification of goblet cells.

Injury, infection, and disease of mucociliary epithelium are associated with impaired production and clearance of mucus which is often found in pulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and primary ciliary dyskinesia1,2,3,4. A recent advance in organoid technology, for instance, the basal cell derived lung organoid called tracheosphere that recapitulates the regeneration of mucociliary epithelium arise as a promising model with therapeutic potential1,5,6. However, its use is currently limited, in part because of lack of the defined culture conditions and low efficiency in organoid productions. Mucociliary epithelium in the human airway and frog epidermis are remarkably similar in tissue morphology, cellular composition, and its function7,8,9,10,11,12. In both organisms, mucociliary epithelium provides first-line defense by secreting mucus and antimicrobial substances and clears harmful particles and pathogens through the synchronized action of cilia.
Here, we describe a simple protocol to generate mucociliary epithelial organoids using the multipotent progenitors of Xenopus laevis embryos13,14. Previously, we reported14 that in the absence of exogenous growth factors and the extracellular matrix, the microsurgically isolated deep cells from the early gastrula stage ectoderm spontaneously assemble into aggregates, regenerate epithelium on its surface, and mature into mucociliary epithelium by intercalating multiciliated and other accessory cells within 24 h. In addition to the rapid development, this protocol offers a distinct opportunity for directly accessing the transitions of multipotent deep ectoderm cells into epithelial goblet cell progenitors that recapitulate the regeneration steps of a disrupted epithelium14 which are not available from intact embryos and ectoderm (also known as the animal cap)15,16,17. The number and size of the organoids produced are scalable with high efficiency by controlling the starting materials from Xenopus embryos. Organoids in floating culture can be easily sorted and transferred at the desired stage for further analyses, including high-resolution imaging, mechanical testing, drug treatment, and genetic characterization14. This spontaneous, tissue mechanics-driven regeneration of the epithelium on the surface of embryonic cell aggregates results in mucociliary epithelial organoids and provide a novel three-dimensional (3D) model to study the biology of the mucociliary epithelium.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Equipment</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dual-stage Glass Micropipette Puller</td>
			<td>Narishige</td>
			<td>PC-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Picoliter microinjector</td>
			<td>Warner Instruments</td>
			<td>PLI-100A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Confocal Laser Microscope</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stereoscope</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tools</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Forcep</td>
			<td>Dumont</td>
			<td>Dumont #5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hair knife</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Reference (Kay, B.K.; Peng, H.B., 1991)</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hair loop</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Reference (Kay, B.K.; Peng, H.B., 1991)</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>hCG injection</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>human chorionic gonadotropin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>cg10-10vl</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MBS solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10M Sodium hydroxide</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>72068</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calcium chloride</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C3881</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calcium nitrate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C1396</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>H4034</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium sulfate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>230391</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phenol-red</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P0290</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium chloride</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>7447-40-7</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium bicarbonate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S6014</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium chloride</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S9625</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium hydroxide reagent grade, 97%, powder-25g</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>655104</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>dejellying solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C7880</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium hydroxide 10M</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>72068</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ficoll solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ficoll</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>F4375</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DFA solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium chloride</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S9625</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0.22mm Filter</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>S2GPT05RE</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antibiotic Antimycotic Solution</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A5955</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bicine</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>B3876</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calcium chloride</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C3881</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium sulfate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>230391</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium gluconate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>G4500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium carbonate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>222321</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium gluconate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>G9005</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>mRNA in vitro transcription</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SP6/T7 in vitro transcription kit</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>AM1340</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>mRNA microinjection</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Borosilicate glass capillary tubes</td>
			<td>Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td>GC100-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Eppendorf microloader pipette tips</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>A25547</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mineral oil</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M5904</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PCR tube coating</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BSA</td>
			<td>Thermofisher</td>
			<td>26140079</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PCR tubes</td>
			<td>SSI</td>
			<td>SSI-3245-00</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Imaging</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Custom-milled acrylic chamber</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coverglass 24mmX50mm</td>
			<td>Duran</td>
			<td>B01_001650</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SPI Hexagonal TEM Grids, Gilded Nickel (50mesh)</td>
			<td>SPI</td>
			<td>275HGN-XA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SPI Hexagonal TEM Grids, Gilded Nickel (75mesh)</td>
			<td>SPI</td>
			<td>2775GN-XA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silicone grease</td>
			<td>Shinetsu</td>
			<td>HIVAC-G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fixation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>20ml screw top-cap vial</td>
			<td>Wheaton</td>
			<td>WH.986580</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2ml screw top-cap vial</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Benzyl alcohol</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>305197</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Benzyl benzoate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>B6630</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)</td>
			<td>Sgima</td>
			<td>D4540</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glutaraldehyde 10% EM GRADE</td>
			<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td>16120</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat serum</td>
			<td>Jackson</td>
			<td>005-000-121</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>322415</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraforlamdehyde</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P6148</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>LPS Solution</td>
			<td>CBP007B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T8787</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Primary antibody (1:200)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>acetylated tubulin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>clone 6-11B-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Itln1</td>
			<td>Proteintech</td>
			<td>11770-1-AP</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Keratin</td>
			<td>Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank</td>
			<td>1h5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ZO1</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>402200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vectors</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pCS2-mem-GFP</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Gift from Dr. Lance Davidson</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pCS2-ZO1-RFP</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Gift from Dr. Lance Davidson</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

mucociliary epithelial organoids from xenopus embryonic cells: generation, culture and high-resolution live imaging

Mucociliary epithelium provides the first line of defense by removing foreign particles through the action of mucus production and cilia-mediated clearance. Many clinically relevant defects in the mucociliary epithelium are inferred as they occur deep within the body. Here, we introduce a tractable 3D model for mucociliary epithelium generated from multipotent progenitors that were microsurgically isolated from Xenopus laevis embryos. The mucociliary epithelial organoids are covered with newly generated epithelium from deep ectoderm cells and later decorated with distinct patterned multiciliated cells, secretory cells, and mucus-producing goblet cells that are indistinguishable from the native epidermis within 24 h. The full sequences of dynamic cell transitions from mesenchymal to epithelial that emerge on the apical surface of organoids can be tracked by high-resolution live imaging. These in vitro cultured, self-organizing mucociliary epithelial organoids offer distinct advantages in studying the biology of mucociliary epithelium with high-efficiency in generation, defined culture conditions, control over number and size, and direct access for live imaging during the regeneration of the differentiated epithelium.

This standardized protocol generates a mucociliary epithelial organoid from multipotent progenitors isolated from the early gastrula stage X. laevis embryos within 24 h of cultivation14. Collected deep ectoderm cells self-assemble to form an aggregate in a non-adhesive PCR tube and undergo surface epithelialization and goblet cell differentiation. The newly epithelialized surface of aggregates provides a substrate similar to the native epithelium found in vivo for intercalating inner cells (e.g., multiciliated and other accessory cells) and develops to form mucociliary epithelial organoids (Figure 1A,B). Within 24 h after aggregation, self-organized mucociliary epithelial organoids regenerate a mature epidermis that is indistinguishable from the epidermis of a tadpole. The organoids comprise fully differentiated epithelium (keratin), mucus-secreting goblet cells (ITLN), multiciliated cells (acetylated tubulin), and small secretory cells (peanut agglutinin, PNA) (Figure 1C).
In addition to confirming the development of different cell types with immunostaining, the dynamics of organoid development can be followed by live imaging (Figure 2A). To examine the epithelialization that emerges at the early stage of organoid formation (Figure 1B), we labeled embryos by expressing fluorescently tagged tight junction proteins (ZO-1-RFP) and membrane localizing proteins (mem-GFP). With dual-labeling, the sequential steps of ZO-1-positive tight junction formation can be marked and quantitatively analyzed during epithelialization (Figure 2). For example, for cells (Figure 2B, green-colored) at different stages of epithelialization (at 0 min), some regions of cell-cell adhesion have scattered puncta of ZO-1 (Figure 2B, green arrows). In contrast, other areas have fully assembled, contiguous ZO-1 expression (Figure 2B, yellow arrows). Over time, the puncta coalesce and connect to form contiguous tight junctions (Figure 2B, green arrows), and contiguous tight junctions maintain their morphology even during cell division (Figure 2B, yellow arrows). As the tight junctions mature, cells dynamically move in and out of the surface along the apical planes of the organoids (Figure 2C,D). Furthermore, by tracking cells spatiotemporally on the surface of differentiating organoids (Figure 2B, color-coded cells), multi-scale analysis is possible, ranging from individual puncta to contiguous tight junctions, cell-cell boundaries, and subsets of cell populations within organoids.
<img alt="Figure 1" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/61604/61604fig01.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: Generation of mucociliary epithelial organoids. 
(A) A schematic showing the protocol to assemble deep ectoderm aggregates from X. laevis embryos. (B) A schematic for a model of mucociliary epithelial organoid formation originating from multipotent deep ectoderm cells (cross-sectional view). Surface-positioned cells transit into epithelial cells and differentiate into goblet cells. Differentiating ciliated cells, secretory cells, and ionocytes radially intercalate into the surface and regenerate a mature epidermis. (C) Maximum z-projection of mucociliary epithelium immunostained for ITLN (mucus-producing goblet cells), acetylated tubulin (ciliated cells), PNA (small secretory cells), and keratin (epithelial cells) in organoids at 24 hpa (upper panel) and tadpole epidermis (lower panel). Scale bar = 30 &#956;m. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/61604/61604fig01large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 2" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/61604/61604fig02.jpg" /> 
Figure 2: Live imaging of developing organoids. 
(A) A schematic of the imaging chamber for live organoids (not to scale). (B) Time-lapse sequences of confocal stacks collected from deep ectoderm cell aggregates expressing ZO-1-RFP and mem-GFP from 2.5 hpa. Scale bar = 20 &#956;m. Cells are pseudo-colored for tracking over time. Green-colored cell have different cell adhesion statuses, including one progressively developing ZO-1 positive adhesion (green arrows) and one maintaining contiguous ZO-1 positive adhesion (yellow arrows) over time. (C, D) Time-lapse confocal images of ZO-1-RFP-expressing deep ectoderm cell aggregates show the radially intercalating cells moving to the surface (C, yellow star) and moving inside the aggregates (D, blue star). Scale bars = 10 &#956;m. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/61604/61604fig02large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Mucociliary Epithelial Organoids from Xenopus Embryonic Cells: Generation, Culture and High-Resolution Live Imaging at JoVE.com

Mucociliary Epithelial Organoids from Xenopus Embryonic Cells: Generation, Culture and High-Resolution Live Imaging

We describe a simple protocol to develop mucociliary epithelial organoids from deep ectoderm cells isolated from Xenopus laevis embryos. The multipotent progenitors regenerate epithelial goblet cell precursors and allow live tracking of the initiation and progression of the cell transitions on the surface of organoids.

Mucociliary epithelium provides the first line of defense by removing foreign particles through the action of mucus production and cilia-mediated ...

mucociliary-epithelial-organoids-from-xenopus-embryonic-cells

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JoVE Journal

Biology

4.5K Views.  Institute for Basic Science. We describe a simple protocol to develop mucociliary epithelial organoids from deep ectoderm cells isolated from Xenopus laevis embryos. The multipotent progenitors regenerate epithelial goblet cell precursors and allow live tracking of the initiation and progression of the cell transitions on the surface of organoids.

Video: Mucociliary Epithelial Organoids from Xenopus Embryonic Cells: Generation, Culture and High-Resolution Live Imaging

Neuronal Cell Cultures from Aplysia for High-Resolution Imaging of Growth Cones

Neuronal growth cones are the highly motile structures at the tip of axons that can detect guidance cues in the environment and transduce this information into directional movement towards the appropriate target cell. To fully understand how guidance information is transmitted from the cell surface to the underlying dynamic cytoskeletal networks, one needs a model system suitable for live cell imaging of protein dynamics at high temporal and spatial resolution. Typical vertebrate growth cones are too small to quantitatively analyze F-actin and microtubule dynamics. Neurons from the sea hare Aplysia californica are 5-10 times larger than vertebrate neurons, can easily be kept at room temperature and are very robust cells for micromanipulation and biophysical measurements. Their growth cones have very defined cytoplasmic regions and a well-described cytoskeletal system. The neuronal cell bodies can be microinjected with a variety of probes for studying growth cone motility and guidance. In the present protocol we demonstrate a procedure for dissection of the abdominal ganglion, culture of bag cell neurons and setting up an imaging chamber for live cell imaging of growth cones.

Aplysia californica neurons develop large growth cones in culture that are excellent for high-resolution imaging of growth cone motility and guidance. Here, we present a protocol for dissection and plating of Aplysia bag cell neurons as well as for setting up a chamber for live cell imaging.

Neuronal growth cones are the highly motile structures at the tip of axons that can detect guidance cues in the environment and transduce this information ...

Live Imaging Of Drosophila melanogaster Embryonic Hemocyte Migrations

Many studies address cell migration using in vitro methods, whereas the physiologically relevant environment is that of the organism itself. Here we present a protocol for the mounting of Drosophila melanogaster embryos and subsequent live imaging of fluorescently labeled hemocytes, the embryonic macrophages of this organism. Using the Gal4-uas system1 we drive the expression of a variety of genetically encoded, fluorescently tagged markers in hemocytes to follow their developmental dispersal throughout the embryo. Following collection of embryos at the desired stage of development, the outer chorion is removed and the embryos are then mounted in halocarbon oil between a hydrophobic, gas-permeable membrane and a glass coverslip for live imaging. In addition to gross migratory parameters such as speed and directionality, higher resolution imaging coupled with the use of fluorescent reporters of F-actin and microtubules can provide more detailed information concerning the dynamics of these cytoskeletal components.

Live Imaging Of Drosophila melanogaster Embryonic Hemocyte Migrations

Drosophila hemocytes disperse over the entirety of the developing embryo. This protocol demonstrates how to mount and image these migrations using embryos with fluorescently labelled hemocytes.

Many studies address cell migration using in vitro methods, whereas the physiologically relevant environment is that of the organism itself. Here we ...

Live-cell Imaging and Quantitative Analysis of Embryonic Epithelial Cells in Xenopus laevis

Embryonic epithelial cells serve as an ideal model to study morphogenesis where multi-cellular tissues undergo changes in their geometry, such as changes in cell surface area and cell height, and where cells undergo mitosis and migrate. Furthermore, epithelial cells can also regulate morphogenetic movements in adjacent tissues1. A traditional method to study epithelial cells and tissues involve chemical fixation and histological methods to determine cell morphology or localization of particular proteins of interest. These approaches continue to be useful and provide "snapshots" of cell shapes and tissue architecture, however, much remains to be understood about how cells acquire specific shapes, how various proteins move or localize to specific positions, and what paths cells follow toward their final differentiated fate. High resolution live imaging complements traditional methods and also allows more direct investigation into the dynamic cellular processes involved in the formation, maintenance, and morphogenesis of multicellular epithelial sheets. Here we demonstrate experimental methods from the isolation of animal cap tissues from Xenopus laevis embryos to confocal imaging of epithelial cells and simple measurement approaches that together can augment molecular and cellular studies of epithelial morphogenesis.

Live-cell Imaging and Quantitative Analysis of Embryonic Epithelial Cells in Xenopus laevis

Xenopus embryonic epithelia are an ideal model system to study cell behaviors such as polarity development and shape change during epithelial morphogenesis. Traditional histology of fixed samples is increasingly being complemented by live-cell confocal imaging. Here we demonstrate methods to isolate frog tissues and visualize live epithelial cells and their cytoskeleton using live-cell confocal microscopy.

Embryonic epithelial cells serve as an ideal model to study morphogenesis where multi-cellular tissues undergo changes in their geometry, such as changes ...

Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney

Embryonic development of the kidney has been extensively studied both as a model for epithelial-mesenchymal interaction in organogenesis and to gain understanding of the origins of congenital kidney disease. More recently, the possibility of steering na&iuml;ve embryonic stem cells toward nephrogenic fates has been explored in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. Genetic studies in the mouse have identified several pathways required for kidney development, and a global catalog of gene transcription in the organ has recently been generated <a href="http://www.gudmap.org/">http://www.gudmap.org/</a>, providing numerous candidate regulators of essential developmental functions. Organogenesis of the rodent kidney can be studied in organ culture, and many reports have used this approach to analyze outcomes of either applying candidate proteins or knocking down the expression of candidate genes using siRNA or morpholinos. However, the applicability of organ culture to the study of signaling that regulates stem/progenitor cell differentiation versus renewal in the developing kidney is limited as cultured organs contain a compact extracellular matrix limiting diffusion of macromolecules and virus particles. To study the cell signaling events that influence the stem/progenitor cell niche in the kidney we have developed a primary cell system that establishes the nephrogenic zone or progenitor cell niche of the developing kidney ex vivo in isolation from the epithelial inducer of differentiation. Using limited enzymatic digestion, nephrogenic zone cells can be selectively liberated from developing kidneys at E17.5. Following filtration, these cells can be cultured as an irregular monolayer using optimized conditions. Marker gene analysis demonstrates that these cultures contain a distribution of cell types characteristic of the nephrogenic zone in vivo, and that they maintain appropriate marker gene expression during the culture period. These cells are highly accessible to small molecule and recombinant protein treatment, and importantly also to viral transduction, which greatly facilitates the study of candidate stem/progenitor cell regulator effects. Basic cell biological parameters such as proliferation and cell death as well as changes in expression of molecular markers characteristic of nephron stem/progenitor cells in vivo can be successfully used as experimental outcomes. Ongoing work in our laboratory using this novel primary cell technique aims to uncover basic mechanisms governing the regulation of self-renewal versus differentiation in nephron stem/progenitor cells.

In this report we describe a method for the isolation and culture of the progenitor cell niche from the embryonic mouse kidney that can be used to study signaling pathways regulating stem/progenitor cells of the developing kidney. These cultured cells are highly accessible to small molecule and recombinant protein treatment, and importantly also to viral transduction, which allows efficient manipulation of candidate pathways.

Embryonic development of the kidney has been extensively studied both as a model for epithelial-mesenchymal interaction in organogenesis and  to gain ...

Isolation and Culture of Adult Epithelial Stem Cells from Human Skin

The homeostasis of all self-renewing tissues is dependent on adult stem cells. As undifferentiated stem cells undergo asymmetric divisions, they generate daughter cells that retain the stem cell phenotype and transit-amplifying cells (TA cells) that migrate from the stem cell niche, undergo rapid proliferation and terminally differentiate to repopulate the tissue.
Epithelial stem cells have been identified in the epidermis, hair follicle, and intestine as cells with a high in vitro proliferative potential and as slow-cycling label-retaining cells in vivo 1-3. Adult, tissue-specific stem cells are responsible for the regeneration of the tissues in which they reside during normal physiologic turnover as well as during times of stress 4-5. Moreover, stem cells are generally considered to be multi-potent, possessing the capacity to give rise to multiple cell types within the tissue 6. For example, rodent hair follicle stem cells can generate epidermis, sebaceous glands, and hair follicles 7-9. We have shown that stem cells from the human hair follicle bulge region exhibit multi-potentiality 10.
Stem cells have become a valuable tool in biomedical research, due to their utility as an in vitro system for studying developmental biology, differentiation, tumorigenesis and for their possible therapeutic utility. It is likely that adult epithelial stem cells will be useful in the treatment of diseases such as ectodermal dysplasias, monilethrix, Netherton syndrome, Menkes disease, hereditary epidermolysis bullosa and alopecias 11-13. Additionally, other skin problems such as burn wounds, chronic wounds and ulcers will benefit from stem cell related therapies 14,15. Given the potential for reprogramming of adult cells into a pluripotent state (iPS cells)16,17, the readily accessible and expandable adult stem cells in human skin may provide a valuable source of cells for induction and downstream therapy for a wide range of disease including diabetes and Parkinson's disease.

A rapid, robust way of isolating viable adult epithelial stem cells from human skin is described. The method utilizes enzymatic digestion of skin collagen matrix , followed by plucking of hair follicles and isolation of single cell suspensions or tissue fragments for cell culture.

The homeostasis of all self-renewing tissues is dependent on adult stem cells. As undifferentiated stem cells undergo asymmetric divisions, they generate ...

Robust Generation of Hepatocyte-like Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cell Populations

Despite progress in modelling human drug toxicity, many compounds fail during clinical trials due to unpredicted side effects. The cost of clinical studies are substantial, therefore it is essential that more predictive toxicology screens are developed and deployed early on in drug development (Greenhough et al 2010). Human hepatocytes represent the current gold standard model for evaluating drug toxicity, but are a limited resource that exhibit variable function. Therefore, the use of immortalised cell lines and animal tissue models are routinely employed due to their abundance. While both sources are informative, they are limited by poor function, species variability and/or instability in culture (Dalgetty et al 2009). Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are an attractive alternative source of human hepatocyte like cells (HLCs) (Medine et al 2010). PSCs are capable of self renewal and differentiation to all somatic cell types found in the adult and thereby represent a potentially inexhaustible source of differentiated cells. We have developed a procedure that is simple, highly efficient, amenable to automation and yields functional human HLCs (Hay et al 2008 ; Fletcher et al 2008 ; Hannoun et al 2010 ; Payne et al 2011 and Hay et al 2011). We believe our technology will lead to the scalable production of HLCs for drug discovery, disease modeling, the construction of extra-corporeal devices and possibly cell based transplantation therapies.

This article will focus on the generation of human hepatic endoderm from human embryonic stem cell populations.

Despite progress in modelling human drug toxicity, many compounds fail during clinical trials due to unpredicted side effects. The cost of clinical ...

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is essential for proper morphogenesis during development. Misregulation of this process has been implicated as a key event in fibrosis and the progression of carcinomas to a metastatic state. Understanding the processes that underlie EMT is imperative for the early diagnosis and clinical control of these disease states. Reliable induction of EMT in vitro is a useful tool for drug discovery as well as to identify common gene expression signatures for diagnostic purposes. Here we demonstrate a straightforward method for the induction of EMT in a variety of cell types. Methods for the analysis of cells pre- and post-EMT induction by immunocytochemistry are also included. Additionally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of this method through antibody-based array analysis and migration/invasion assays.

A straightforward method is described for the induction of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in a variety of cell types. Methods for the analysis of cells in EMT states by immunocytochemistry are included.

Epithelial  to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is essential for proper morphogenesis during  development. Misregulation of this  process has been implicated ...

Rapid and Efficient Zebrafish Genotyping Using PCR with High-resolution Melt Analysis

Zebrafish is a powerful vertebrate model system for studying development, modeling disease, and performing drug screening. Recently a variety of genetic tools have been introduced, including multiple strategies for inducing mutations and generating transgenic lines. However, large-scale screening is limited by traditional genotyping methods, which are time-consuming and labor-intensive. Here we describe a technique to analyze zebrafish genotypes by PCR combined with high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA).&#160;This approach is rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive, with lower risk of contamination artifacts.&#160;Genotyping by PCR with HRMA can be used for embryos or adult fish, including in high-throughput screening protocols.

PCR combined with high-resolution melt analysis (HRMA) is demonstrated as a rapid and efficient method to genotype zebrafish.

Zebrafish is a powerful vertebrate model system for studying development, modeling disease, and performing drug screening. Recently a variety of genetic ...

Isolation and Culture of Dental Epithelial Stem Cells from the Adult Mouse Incisor

Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie tooth regeneration and renewal has become a topic of great interest1-4, and the mouse incisor provides a model for these processes. This remarkable organ grows continuously throughout the animal&#39;s life and generates all the necessary cell types from active pools of adult stem cells housed in the labial (toward the lip) and lingual (toward the tongue) cervical loop (CL) regions. Only the dental stem cells from the labial CL give rise to ameloblasts that generate enamel, the outer covering of teeth, on the labial surface. This asymmetric enamel formation allows abrasion at the incisor tip, and progenitors and stem cells in the proximal incisor ensure that the dental tissues are constantly replenished. The ability to isolate and grow these progenitor or stem cells in vitro allows their expansion and opens doors to numerous experiments not achievable in vivo, such as high throughput testing of potential stem cell regulatory factors. Here, we describe and demonstrate a reliable and consistent method to culture cells from the labial CL of the mouse incisor.

The continuously growing mouse incisor provides a model for studying renewal of dental tissues from dental epithelial stem cells (DESCs). A robust system for consistently and reliably obtaining these cells from the incisor and expanding them in vitro is reported here.

Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie tooth regeneration and renewal has become a topic of great interest1-4, and the mouse ...

Ex vivo Culture of Mouse Embryonic Skin and Live-imaging of Melanoblast Migration

Melanoblasts are the neural crest derived precursors of melanocytes; the cells responsible for producing the pigment in skin and hair. Melanoblasts migrate through the epidermis of the embryo where they subsequently colonize the developing hair follicles1,2. Neural crest cell migration is extensively studied in vitro but in vivo methods are still not well developed, especially in mammalian systems. One alternative is to use ex vivo organotypic culture3-6. Culture of mouse embryonic skin requires the maintenance of an air-liquid interface (ALI) across the surface of the tissue3,6. High resolution live-imaging of mouse embryonic skin has been hampered by the lack of a good method that not only maintains this ALI but also allows the culture to be inverted and therefore compatible with short working distance objective lenses and most confocal microscopes. This article describes recent improvements to a method that uses a gas permeable membrane to overcome these problems and allow high-resolution confocal imaging of embryonic skin in ex vivo culture6. By using a melanoblast specific Cre-recombinase expressing mouse line combined with the R26YFPR reporter line we are able to fluorescently label the melanoblast population within these skin cultures. The technique allows live-imaging of melanoblasts and observation of their behavior and interactions with the tissue in which they develop. Representative results are included to demonstrate the capability to live-image 6&#160;cultures in parallel.

Ex vivo Culture of Mouse Embryonic Skin and Live-imaging of Melanoblast Migration

We describe the dissection and ex vivo culture of mouse embryonic skin. The culture system maintains an air-liquid interface across the tissue surface and allows imaging on an inverted microscope. Melanoblasts, a component of the developing skin, are fluorescently labeled allowing their behavior to be observed using confocal microscopy.

Melanoblasts are the neural crest derived precursors of melanocytes; the cells responsible for producing the pigment in skin and hair. Melanoblasts ...