Name: isolation of murine spermatogenic cells using a violet-excited cell-permeable dna binding dye
Uploaded: 2021-01-14T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Murine Spermatogenic Cells using a Violet-Excited Cell-Permeable DNA Binding Dye at JoVE.com

We thank members of the Namekawa, Yoshida, and Maezawa laboratories for their help; Katie Gerhardt for editing the manuscript; Mary Ann Handel for sharing the H1T antibody, the Cincinnati Children&#8217;s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Research Flow Cytometry Core for sharing the FACS equipment supported by NIH S10OD023410; Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI; 17K07424) to T.N.; Lalor Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship to A.S.; AMED-CREST (JP17gm1110005h0001) to S.Y.; the Research Project Grant by the Azabu University Research Services Division, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)-Supported Program for the Private University Research Branding Project (2016&#8211;2019), Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up (19K21196), the Takeda Science Foundation (2019), and the Uehara Memorial Foundation Research Incentive Grant (2018) to S.M.; National Institute of Health R01 GM122776 to S.H.N.

This protocol follows the guidelines of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (protocol no. IACUC2018-0040) at Cincinnati Children&#8217;s Hospital Medical Center.
1. Equipment and reagent setup for the preparation of testicular cell suspension
<ol>
	<li>Prepare each enzyme stock in 1x Hanks&#8217; Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) and store at -20 &#176;C. (Table1). 
	NOTE: Prepare any time before the experiment.</li>
	<li>One day before the experiment: Coat coll...

<ol>
	<li>Griswold, M. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spermatogenesis:+The+Commitment+to+Meiosis.">Spermatogenesis: The Commitment to Meiosis.</a> Physiological Reviews. 96 (1), 1-17 (2016).</li><li>Yoshida, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mouse+Spermatogenesis+Reflects+the+Unity+and+Diversity+of+Tissue+Stem+Cell+Niche+Systems.">Mouse Spermatogenesis Reflects the Unity and Diversity of Tissue Stem Cell Niche Systems.</a> Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology. , 036186 (2020).</li><li>Rathke, C., Baarends, W. M., Awe, S., Renkawitz-Pohl, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chromatin+dynamics+during+spermiogenesis.">Chromatin dynamics during spermiogenesis.</a> Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 1839 (3), 155-168 (2014).</li><li>Maezawa, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SCML2+promotes+heterochromatin+organization+in+late+spermatogenesis.">SCML2 promotes heterochromatin organization in late spermatogenesis.</a> Journal of Cell Science. 131 (17), 217125 (2018).</li><li>Maezawa, S., Yukawa, M., Alavattam, K. G., Barski, A., Namekawa, S. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dynamic+reorganization+of+open+chromatin+underlies+diverse+transcriptomes+during+spermatogenesis.">Dynamic reorganization of open chromatin underlies diverse transcriptomes during spermatogenesis.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 46 (2), 593-608 (2018).</li><li>Bellve, A. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Purification,+culture,+and+fractionation+of+spermatogenic+cells.">Purification, culture, and fractionation of spermatogenic cells.</a> Methods in Enzymology. 225, 84-113 (1993).</li><li>Bryant, J. M., Meyer-Ficca, M. L., Dang, V. M., Berger, S. L., Meyer, R. 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F., 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=Revealing+stage-specific+expression+patterns+of+long+noncoding+RNAs+along+mouse+spermatogenesis.">Revealing stage-specific expression patterns of long noncoding RNAs along mouse spermatogenesis.</a> RNA Biology. 17 (3), 350-365 (2020).</li><li>Telford, W. G., Bradford, J., Godfrey, W., Robey, R. W., Bates, S. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Side+population+analysis+using+a+violet-excited+cell-permeable+DNA+binding+dye.">Side population analysis using a violet-excited cell-permeable DNA binding dye.</a> Stem Cells. 25 (4), 1029-1036 (2007).</li><li>Alavattam, K. G., Abe, H., Sakashita, A., Namekawa, S. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chromosome+Spread+Analyses+of+Meiotic+Sex+Chromosome+Inactivation.">Chromosome Spread Analyses of Meiotic Sex Chromosome Inactivation.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology. 1861, 113-129 (2018).</li><li>Maezawa, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Super-enhancer+switching+drives+a+burst+in+gene+expression+at+the+mitosis-to-meiosis+transition.">Super-enhancer switching drives a burst in gene expression at the mitosis-to-meiosis transition.</a> Nature Structural &amp; Molecular Biology. , (2020).</li><li>Sakashita, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Endogenous+retroviruses+drive+species-specific+germline+transcriptomes+in+mammals.">Endogenous retroviruses drive species-specific germline transcriptomes in mammals.</a> Nature Structural &amp; Molecular Biology. , (2020).</li><li>Agrimson, K. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterizing+the+Spermatogonial+Response+to+Retinoic+Acid+During+the+Onset+of+Spermatogenesis+and+Following+Synchronization+in+the+Neonatal+Mouse+Testis.">Characterizing the Spermatogonial Response to Retinoic Acid During the Onset of Spermatogenesis and Following Synchronization in the Neonatal Mouse Testis.</a> Biology of Reproduction. 95 (4), 81 (2016).</li><li>Hogarth, C. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Turning+a+spermatogenic+wave+into+a+tsunami:+synchronizing+murine+spermatogenesis+using+WIN+18,446.">Turning a spermatogenic wave into a tsunami: synchronizing murine spermatogenesis using WIN 18,446.</a> Biology of Reproduction. 88 (2), 40 (2013).</li><li>Patel, 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=Dynamic+reorganization+of+the+genome+shapes+the+recombination+landscape+in+meiotic+prophase.">Dynamic reorganization of the genome shapes the recombination landscape in meiotic prophase.</a> Nature Structural &amp; Molecular Biology. 26 (3), 164-174 (2019).</li><li>Alavattam, K. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Attenuated+chromatin+compartmentalization+in+meiosis+and+its+maturation+in+sperm+development.">Attenuated chromatin compartmentalization in meiosis and its maturation in sperm development.</a> Nature Structural &amp; Molecular Biology. 26 (3), 175-184 (2019).</li><li>Adams, S. R., 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=RNF8+and+SCML2+cooperate+to+regulate+ubiquitination+and+H3K27+acetylation+for+escape+gene+activation+on+the+sex+chromosomes.">RNF8 and SCML2 cooperate to regulate ubiquitination and H3K27 acetylation for escape gene activation on the sex chromosomes.</a> PLoS Genetics. 14 (2), 1007233 (2018).</li><li>Wiltshire, T., Park, C., Caldwell, K. A., Handel, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Induced+premature+G2/M-phase+transition+in+pachytene+spermatocytes+includes+events+unique+to+meiosis.">Induced premature G2/M-phase transition in pachytene spermatocytes includes events unique to meiosis.</a> Developmental Biology. 169 (2), 557-567 (1995).</li></ol>

Here we present a practical and simple protocol to isolate subpopulations of spermatocytes and spermatids from a single adult male mouse. To ensure the reproducibility of this protocol, there are some critical steps that need attention. Before enzyme digestion, wash step aims to remove interstitial cells; after digestion, this step helps to remove spermatozoa and debris. Washing/centrifuging 3 times is important. In our dissociation buffer recipe, the combination of several different enzymes facilitates the dissociation ...

Spermatogenesis is a complex process wherein a small population of spermatogonial stem cells sustain continuous production of a large number of sperm throughout adult life1,2. During spermatogenesis, dynamic chromatin remodeling takes place when spermatogenic cells undergo meiosis to produce haploid spermatids3,4,5. Isolation of meiotic spermatocytes is essential for molecular investigation, and several different approaches to isolate meiotic spermatocytes have been established, including sedimentation-based separation6,7 and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17. However, these methods have technical limitations. While sedimentation-based separation yields a large number of cells5,6,7, it is labor intensive. The established FACS-based method uses Hoechst 33342 (Ho342) to separate meiotic spermatocytes based on DNA content and light scattering properties and requires FACS cell sorters equipped with an ultraviolet (UV) laser8,9,10,11. Alternative FACS-based methods require transgenic mouse lines that express florescent proteins, synchronization of spermatogenesis12, or cell fixation and antibody labeling that is not compatible with isolation of live cells13. While there is another alternative method using a cell-permeable DNA binding dye, DyeCycle Green stain14,15,16,17, this method is recommended for the isolation of spermatogenic cells from juvenile testis. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop a simple and robust isolation method for live meiotic spermatocytes that can be applied to any mouse strain of any age and that can be performed using any FACS cell sorter.
Here we describe such a long-sought cell isolation protocol using the DyeCycle Violet (DCV) stain. DCV is a low cytotoxicity, cell-permeable DNA binding dye structurally similar to Ho342 but with an excitation spectrum shifted toward the violet range18. In addition, DCV has a broader emission spectrum compared to DCG. Thus, it can be excited by both UV and violet lasers, which improves the flexibility of equipment, allowing the use of an FACS cell sorter not equipped with a UV laser. The DCV protocol presented here uses two-dimensional separation with DCV blue and DCV red, mimicking the advantage of the Ho342 protocol. With this advantage, our DCV protocol allows us to isolate highly enriched germ cells from the adult testis. We provide a detailed gating protocol to isolate live spermatogenic cells from adult mouse testes of one mouse (from two testes). We also describe an efficient and quick protocol to prepare single-cell suspension from mouse testes that can be used for this cell isolation. The procedure requires a short time to complete (preparation of single cell suspension - 1 hour, dye staining - 30 min, and cell sorting - 2-3 hours: total - 4-5 hours depending on the number of needed cells; Figure 1). Following cell isolation, a wide range of downstream applications including RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, and cell culture can be completed.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>1.5 ml tube</td>
			<td>Watson</td>
			<td>131-7155C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>100 mm Petri dish</td>
			<td>Corning, Falcon</td>
			<td>351029</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15 mL Centrifuge tube</td>
			<td>Watson</td>
			<td>1332-015S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5 ml polystyrene tube with cell strainer snap cap (35 &#181;m nylon mesh)</td>
			<td>Corning, Falcon</td>
			<td>352235</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50 mL Centrifuge tube</td>
			<td>Watson</td>
			<td>1342-050S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>60 mm Petri dish</td>
			<td>Corning, Falcon</td>
			<td>351007</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>70 &#181;m nylon mesh</td>
			<td>Corning, Falcon</td>
			<td>352350</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell sorter</td>
			<td>Sony</td>
			<td>SH800S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase, recombinant, Animal-derived-free</td>
			<td>FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation</td>
			<td>036-23141</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase, Type 1</td>
			<td>Worthington</td>
			<td>LS004196</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cover glass</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>12-544-G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cytospin 3</td>
			<td>Shandon</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DAPI (4&#39;,6-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole, Dihydrochloride)</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>D1306</td>
			<td>working concentration: 0.1 &#956;g/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dnase I</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>D5025-150KU</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Donkey serum</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S30-M</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#8217;s phosphate-buffered saline (DPBS)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>14190144</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11885076</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>16000044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hostone H1T antibody</td>
			<td>gift from Mary Ann Handel</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>1/2000 diluted</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hank&#8217;s balanced salt solution (HBSS)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>14175095</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hyaluronidase from bovine testes</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>H3506-1G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P5493-4L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pipettemen</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ProLong Gold Antifade Mountant</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>P36930</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>rH2AX antibody</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>05-635</td>
			<td>working concentration: 2 &#956;g/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sperm Fertilization Protein 56 (Sp56) antibody</td>
			<td>QED Bioscience</td>
			<td>55101</td>
			<td>working concentration: 0.5 &#956;g/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterilized forceps and scissors</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Superfrost /Plus Microscope Slides</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>12-550-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SYCP3 antibody</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab205846</td>
			<td>working concentration: 5 &#956;g/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TWEEN 20 (Polysorbate 20)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P9416</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vybrant DyeCycle Violet Stain (DCV)</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>V35003</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Water bath</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation of murine spermatogenic cells using a violet-excited cell-permeable dna binding dye

Isolation of meiotic spermatocytes is essential to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying meiosis and spermatogenesis. Although there are established cell isolation protocols using Hoechst 33342 staining in combination with fluorescence-activated cell sorting, it requires cell sorters equipped with an ultraviolet laser. Here we describe a cell isolation protocol using the DyeCycle Violet (DCV) stain, a low cytotoxicity DNA binding dye structurally similar to Hoechst 33342. DCV can be excited by both ultraviolet and violet lasers, which improves the flexibility of equipment choice, including a cell sorter not equipped with an ultraviolet laser. Using this protocol, one can isolate three live-cell subpopulations in meiotic prophase I, including leptotene/zygotene, pachytene, and diplotene spermatocytes, as well as post-meiotic round spermatids. We also describe a protocol to prepare single-cell suspension from mouse testes. Overall, the procedure requires a short time to complete (4-5 hours depending on the number of needed cells), which facilitates many downstream applications.

A representative result of this sorting protocol is shown in Figure 3. The total sorting time of two testes (one mouse) is usually around 3 hours, which is dependent on the concentration of cell suspension and the sorting speed. After sorting, the purity of spermatocytes is confirmed by immunostaining of SYCP3 and &#947;H2AX&#160;(Figure 3A). The representative purity of sorted L/Z, P, D spermatocyte fractions are around 80.4%, 90.6%, and 87.6%, respectively (<s...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Murine Spermatogenic Cells using a Violet-Excited Cell-Permeable DNA Binding Dye at JoVE.com

Isolation of Murine Spermatogenic Cells using a Violet-Excited Cell-Permeable DNA Binding Dye

Here we present a simple and efficient method to isolate live meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells from adult mouse testes. Using a low-cytotoxicity, violet-excited DNA binding dye and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, one can isolate highly enriched spermatogenic cell populations for many downstream applications.

Isolation of meiotic spermatocytes is essential to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying meiosis and spermatogenesis. Although there are established ...

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The Production of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Amniotic Fluid Cells Using a Transposon System

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are generated from mouse and human somatic cells by forced expression of defined transcription factors using ...

Horizontal Whole Mount: A Novel Processing and Imaging Protocol for Thick, Three-dimensional Tissue Cross-sections of Skin

Processing a tissue of interest to generate a microscopic image that supports a scientific argument can be challenging. The acquisition of high-quality ...

Isolation of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells for In Vitro Decidualization

Isolation of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells for In Vitro Decidualization

The differentiation of human endometrial stromal cells (HESC) from fibroblast-like appearance into secretory decidua is a transformation required for ...

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) germline is used to study several biologically important processes including stem cell development, apoptosis, and ...

In Vitro Generation of Somite Derivatives from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

In response to signals such as WNTs, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and sonic hedgehog (SHH) secreted from surrounding tissues, somites (SMs) give ...

Three-dimensional Angiogenesis Assay System using Co-culture Spheroids Formed by Endothelial Colony Forming Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Studies in the field of angiogenesis have been aggressively growing in the last few decades with the recognition that angiogenesis is a hallmark of more ...