Name: dissecting cell-autonomous function of fragile x mental retardation protein in an auditory circuit by in ovo electroporation
Uploaded: 2022-07-06T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Dissecting Cell-Autonomous Function of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein in an Auditory Circuit by In Ovo Electroporation at JoVE.com

This study was supported by: a National Natural Science Foundation of China grant (No. 32000697); the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (202102080139); the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (2019A1515110625, 2021A1515010619); the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (11620324); a Research Grant of Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, Jinan University (No. ZSYXM202107); the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (21621054); and the Medical Scientific Research Foundation of Guangdong Province of China (20191118142729581). We thank the medical experimental center of Jinan University. We thank Dr. Terra Bradley for careful editing of the manuscript.

Eggs and chicken embryos were handled with care and respect in accordance with the animal protocols approved by the Jinan University Animal Care and Use Committee.
1. Egg and plasmid preparation
<ol>
	<li>Egg preparation
	<ol>
		<li>Obtain fresh fertilized chicken eggs (Gallus gallus) from the South China Agricultural University and store at 16 &#176;C before incubation. For optimal viability, set all eggs for incubation within a week of arrival.</li>
		<li>Place eg...

<ol>
	<li>Hagerman, R. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fragile+X+syndrome.">Fragile X syndrome.</a> Nature Reviews Disease Primers. 3, 17065 (2017).</li><li>Hinds, H. 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=Tissue+specific+expression+of+FMR-1+provides+evidence+for+a+functional+role+in+fragile+X+syndrome.">Tissue specific expression of FMR-1 provides evidence for a functional role in fragile X syndrome.</a> Nature Genetics. 3 (1), 36-43 (1993).</li><li>Frederikse, P. H., Nandanoor, A., Kasinathan, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fragile+X+Syndrome+FMRP+co-localizes+with+regulatory+targets+PSD-95,+GABA+receptors,+CaMKIIalpha,+and+mGluR5+at+fiber+cell+membranes+in+the+eye+lens.">Fragile X Syndrome FMRP co-localizes with regulatory targets PSD-95, GABA receptors, CaMKIIalpha, and mGluR5 at fiber cell membranes in the eye lens.</a> Neurochemical Research. 40 (11), 2167-2176 (2015).</li><li>Zorio, D. A., Jackson, C. M., Liu, Y., Rubel, E. W., Wang, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellular+distribution+of+the+fragile+X+mental+retardation+protein+in+the+mouse+brain.">Cellular distribution of the fragile X mental retardation protein in the mouse brain.</a> Journal of Comparative Neurology. 525 (4), 818-849 (2017).</li><li>Darnell, J. C., 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=FMRP+stalls+ribosomal+translocation+on+mRNAs+linked+to+synaptic+function+and+autism.">FMRP stalls ribosomal translocation on mRNAs linked to synaptic function and autism.</a> Cell. 146 (2), 247-261 (2011).</li><li>Bakker, C. E., Oostra, B. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Understanding+fragile+X+syndrome:+insights+from+animal+models.">Understanding fragile X syndrome: insights from animal models.</a> Cytogenetic and Genome Research. 100 (1-4), 111-123 (2003).</li><li>Hanson, J. E., Madison, D. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Presynaptic+FMR1+genotype+influences+the+degree+of+synaptic+connectivity+in+a+mosaic+mouse+model+of+fragile+X+syndrome.">Presynaptic FMR1 genotype influences the degree of synaptic connectivity in a mosaic mouse model of fragile X syndrome.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 27 (15), 4014-4018 (2007).</li><li>Deng, P. Y., Sojka, D., Klyachko, V. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Abnormal+presynaptic+short-term+plasticity+and+information+processing+in+a+mouse+model+of+fragile+X+syndrome.">Abnormal presynaptic short-term plasticity and information processing in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 31 (30), 10971-10982 (2011).</li><li>Patel, A. B., Hays, S. A., Bureau, I., Huber, K. M., Gibson, J. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+target+cell-specific+role+for+presynaptic+Fmr1+in+regulating+glutamate+release+onto+neocortical+fast-spiking+inhibitory+neurons.">A target cell-specific role for presynaptic Fmr1 in regulating glutamate release onto neocortical fast-spiking inhibitory neurons.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 33 (6), 2593-2604 (2013).</li><li>Patel, A. B., Loerwald, K. W., Huber, K. M., Gibson, J. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Postsynaptic+FMRP+promotes+the+pruning+of+cell-to-cell+connections+among+pyramidal+neurons+in+the+L5A+neocortical+network.">Postsynaptic FMRP promotes the pruning of cell-to-cell connections among pyramidal neurons in the L5A neocortical network.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 34 (9), 3413-3418 (2014).</li><li>Higashimori, H., 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=Selective+deletion+of+astroglial+FMRP+dysregulates+glutamate+transporter+GLT1+and+contributes+to+Fragile+X+syndrome+phenotypes+in+vivo.">Selective deletion of astroglial FMRP dysregulates glutamate transporter GLT1 and contributes to Fragile X syndrome phenotypes in vivo.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 36 (27), 7079-7094 (2016).</li><li>Hodges, J. 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=Astrocytic+contributions+to+synaptic+and+learning+abnormalities+in+a+mouse+model+of+Fragile+X+syndrome.">Astrocytic contributions to synaptic and learning abnormalities in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome.</a> Biological Psychiatry. 82 (2), 139-149 (2017).</li><li>Gonzalez, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Audiogenic+seizures+in+the+Fmr1+knock-out+mouse+are+induced+by+Fmr1+deletion+in+subcortical,+VGlut2-expressing+excitatory+neurons+and+require+deletion+in+the+inferior+colliculus.">Audiogenic seizures in the Fmr1 knock-out mouse are induced by Fmr1 deletion in subcortical, VGlut2-expressing excitatory neurons and require deletion in the inferior colliculus.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 39 (49), 9852-9863 (2019).</li><li>Bland, K. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=FMRP+regulates+the+subcellular+distribution+of+cortical+dendritic+spine+density+in+a+non-cell-autonomous+manner.">FMRP regulates the subcellular distribution of cortical dendritic spine density in a non-cell-autonomous manner.</a> Neurobiology of Disease. 150, 105253 (2021).</li><li>Pfeiffer, B. E., Huber, K. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fragile+X+mental+retardation+protein+induces+synapse+loss+through+acute+postsynaptic+translational+regulation.">Fragile X mental retardation protein induces synapse loss through acute postsynaptic translational regulation.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 27 (12), 3120-3130 (2007).</li><li>Pfeiffer, B. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fragile+X+mental+retardation+protein+is+required+for+synapse+elimination+by+the+activity-dependent+transcription+factor+MEF2.">Fragile X mental retardation protein is required for synapse elimination by the activity-dependent transcription factor MEF2.</a> Neuron. 66 (2), 191-197 (2010).</li><li>Deng, P. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=FMRP+regulates+neurotransmitter+release+and+synaptic+information+transmission+by+modulating+action+potential+duration+via+BK+channels.">FMRP regulates neurotransmitter release and synaptic information transmission by modulating action potential duration via BK channels.</a> Neuron. 77 (4), 696-711 (2013).</li><li>Yang, Y. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+a+molecular+locus+for+normalizing+dysregulated+GABA+release+from+interneurons+in+the+Fragile+X+brain.">Identification of a molecular locus for normalizing dysregulated GABA release from interneurons in the Fragile X brain.</a> Molecular Psychiatry. 25 (9), 2017-2035 (2020).</li><li>Razak, K. A., Dominick, K. C., Erickson, C. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Developmental+studies+in+fragile+X+syndrome.">Developmental studies in fragile X syndrome.</a> Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. 12 (1), 13 (2020).</li><li>Wang, X., Zorio, D. A. R., Schecterson, L., Lu, Y., Wang, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Postsynaptic+FMRP+regulates+synaptogenesis+in+vivo+in+the+developing+cochlear+nucleus.">Postsynaptic FMRP regulates synaptogenesis in vivo in the developing cochlear nucleus.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 38 (29), 6445-6460 (2018).</li><li>Wang, X., 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=Temporal-specific+roles+of+fragile+X+mental+retardation+protein+in+the+development+of+the+hindbrain+auditory+circuit.">Temporal-specific roles of fragile X mental retardation protein in the development of the hindbrain auditory circuit.</a> Development. 147 (21), (2020).</li><li>Rubel, E. W., Fritzsch, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Auditory+system+development:+primary+auditory+neurons+and+their+targets.">Auditory system development: primary auditory neurons and their targets.</a> Annual Review of Neuroscience. 25, 51-101 (2002).</li><li>Cramer, K. S., Fraser, S. E., Rubel, E. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Embryonic+origins+of+auditory+brain-stem+nuclei+in+the+chick+hindbrain.">Embryonic origins of auditory brain-stem nuclei in the chick hindbrain.</a> Developmental Biology. 224 (2), 138-151 (2000).</li><li>Chervenak, A. P., Hakim, I. S., Barald, K. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spatiotemporal+expression+of+Zic+genes+during+vertebrate+inner+ear+development.">Spatiotemporal expression of Zic genes during vertebrate inner ear development.</a> Developmental Dynamics. 242 (7), 897-908 (2013).</li><li>Hamburger, V., Hamilton, H. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+series+of+normal+stages+in+the+development+of+the+chick+embryo.">A series of normal stages in the development of the chick embryo.</a> Journal of Morphology. 88 (1), 49-92 (1951).</li><li>Lu, T., Cohen, A. L., Sanchez, J. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+ovo+electroporation+in+the+chicken+auditory+brainstem.">In ovo electroporation in the chicken auditory brainstem.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (124), e56628 (2017).</li><li>Evsen, L., Doetzlhofer, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gene+transfer+into+the+chicken+auditory+organ+by+in+ovo+micro-electroporation.">Gene transfer into the chicken auditory organ by in ovo micro-electroporation.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (110), e53864 (2016).</li><li>Schecterson, L. C., Sanchez, J. T., Rubel, E. W., Bothwell, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=TrkB+downregulation+is+required+for+dendrite+retraction+in+developing+neurons+of+chicken+nucleus+magnocellularis.">TrkB downregulation is required for dendrite retraction in developing neurons of chicken nucleus magnocellularis.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 32 (40), 14000-14009 (2012).</li><li>Wang, X. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+glucose+environment+inhibits+cranial+neural+crest+survival+by+activating+excessive+autophagy+in+the+chick+embryo.">High glucose environment inhibits cranial neural crest survival by activating excessive autophagy in the chick embryo.</a> Scientific Reports. 5, 18321 (2015).</li><li>Yu, X., Wang, X., Sakano, H., Zorio, D. A. R., Wang, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dynamics+of+the+fragile+X+mental+retardation+protein+correlates+with+cellular+and+synaptic+properties+in+primary+auditory+neurons+following+afferent+deprivation.">Dynamics of the fragile X mental retardation protein correlates with cellular and synaptic properties in primary auditory neurons following afferent deprivation.</a> Journal of Comparative Neurology. 529 (3), 481-500 (2021).</li><li>Li, H., 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=Islet-1+expression+in+the+developing+chicken+inner+ear.">Islet-1 expression in the developing chicken inner ear.</a> Journal of Comparative Neurology. 477 (1), 1-10 (2004).</li><li>Carr, C. E., Boudreau, R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Central+projections+of+auditory+nerve+fibers+in+the+barn+owl.">Central projections of auditory nerve fibers in the barn owl.</a> Journal of Comparative Neurology. 314 (2), 306-318 (1991).</li><li>Sandell, L. L., Butler Tjaden, N. E., Barlow, A. J., Trainor, P. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cochleovestibular+nerve+development+is+integrated+with+migratory+neural+crest+cells.">Cochleovestibular nerve development is integrated with migratory neural crest cells.</a> Developmental Biology. 385 (2), 200-210 (2014).</li><li>Cramer, K. S., Bermingham-McDonogh, O., Krull, C. E., Rubel, E. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=EphA4+signaling+promotes+axon+segregation+in+the+developing+auditory+system.">EphA4 signaling promotes axon segregation in the developing auditory system.</a> Developmental Biology. 269 (1), 26-35 (2004).</li><li>Evsen, L., Sugahara, S., Uchikawa, M., Kondoh, H., Wu, D. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Progression+of+neurogenesis+in+the+inner+ear+requires+inhibition+of+Sox2+transcription+by+neurogenin1+and+neurod1.">Progression of neurogenesis in the inner ear requires inhibition of Sox2 transcription by neurogenin1 and neurod1.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 33 (9), 3879-3890 (2013).</li><li>Curnow, E., Wang, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=New+animal+models+for+understanding+FMRP+functions+and+FXS+pathology.">New animal models for understanding FMRP functions and FXS pathology.</a> Cells. 11 (10), 1628 (2022).</li></ol>

To determine the cell-autonomous function of FMRP, manipulating its expression in individual cell groups or cell types is necessary. Since one of the major functions of FMRP is to regulate synaptic formation and plasticity, selectively manipulating each synaptic component of a certain circuit is prerequisite for a full understanding of FMRP mechanism in synaptic communication. Using in ovo electroporation of chicken embryos, we demonstrated a method to target FMRP expression in t...

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, sensory abnormalities, and autistic behaviors. In most cases, FXS is caused by a global loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP; encoded by Fmr1 gene) starting at early embryonic stages1. FMRP is an RNA-binding protein that is normally expressed in most neurons and glial cells in the brain, as well as in sensory organs2,3,4. In mammalian brains, FMRP is likely associated with hundreds of mRNAs that encode proteins that are important for various neural activities5. Studies of conventional Fmr1 knockout animals demonstrated that FMRP expression is particularly important to the assembly and plasticity of synaptic neurotransmission6. Several conditional and mosaic knockout models have further demonstrated that FMRP actions and signals vary across brain regions, cell types, and synaptic sites&#160;during several developmental events including axonal projection, dendritic patterning, and synaptic plasticity7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14. Acute function of FMRP in regulating synaptic transmission was studied by intracellular delivery of inhibitory FMRP antibodies or FMRP itself in brain slices or cultured neurons15,16,17,18. These methods, however, do not offer the ability to track FMRP misexpression-induced consequences during development. Thus, developing in vivo methods to investigate the cell-autonomous functions of FMRP is in great need, and expected to help determine whether the reported anomalies in FXS patients are direct consequences of FMRP loss in the associated neurons and circuits, or secondary consequences derived from network-wide changes during development19.
The auditory brainstem of chicken embryos offers a uniquely advantageous model for in-depth functional analyses of FMRP regulation in circuit and synapse development. The easy access to embryonic chicken brains and the well-established in ovo electroporation technique for genetic manipulation have contributed greatly to our understanding of brain development at early embryonic stages. In a recently published study, this technique was combined with advanced molecular tools that allow temporal control of FMRP misexpression20,21. Here, the methodology is advanced to induce selective manipulations of presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons separately. This method was developed in the auditory brainstem circuit. Acoustic signal is detected by hair cells in the auditory inner ear and then conveyed to the auditory ganglion (AG; also called the spiral ganglion in mammals). Bipolar neurons in the AG innervate hair cells with their peripheral processes and in turn send a central projection (the auditory nerve) to the brainstem where they terminate in two primary cochlear nuclei, the nucleus magnocellularis (NM) and the nucleus angularis (NA). Neurons in the NM are structurally and functionally comparable to the spherical bushy cells of the mammalian anteroventral cochlear nucleus. Within the NM, auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) synapse on the somata of NM neurons via the large endbulb of Held terminals22. During development, NM neurons arise from rhombomeres 5 and 6 (r5/6) in the hindbrain23, while AG neurons are derived from neuroblasts residing in the otocyst24. Here, we describe the procedure to selectively knockdown FMRP expression in the presynaptic AG neurons and in the postsynaptic NM neurons separately.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Egg incubation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>16 &#176;C refrigerator</td>
			<td>MAGAT</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Used for fertilized egg storage.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Egg incubator</td>
			<td>SHANGHAI BOXUN</td>
			<td>GZX-9240MBE</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fertilized eggs</td>
			<td>Farm of South China Agricultural University</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Eggs must be used in one week for optimal viability.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plasmid preparation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>10016</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fast green</td>
			<td>Solarbio</td>
			<td>G1661</td>
			<td>Make 0.1% working solution in distilled water and autoclave.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plasmid Maxi-prep kit</td>
			<td>QIAGEN</td>
			<td>12162</td>
			<td>Dissolve plasmid DNA in Tris-EDTA (TE) buffer; endotoxin-free preparation kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Acetate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S2889</td>
			<td>Make 7.5M working solution in nuclase-free water.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Electroporation and Doxycycline Administration</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Electroporator</td>
			<td>BTX</td>
			<td>ECM399</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1 mL / 5 mL Syringe</td>
			<td>GUANGZHOU KANGFULAI</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting microscope</td>
			<td>CNOPTEC</td>
			<td>SZM-42</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Doxcycline</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D9891</td>
			<td>Use fresh aliquots for each dose and store at -20 &#176;C.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass capillary</td>
			<td>BEIBOBOMEI</td>
			<td>RD0910</td>
			<td>0.9-1.1 mm*100 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laboratory parafilm</td>
			<td>PARAFILM</td>
			<td>PM996</td>
			<td>transparent film</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pipette puller</td>
			<td>CHENGDU INSTRUMENT FACTORY</td>
			<td>WD-2</td>
			<td>Pulling condition: 500 &#176;C for 15 s</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Platinum elctrodes</td>
			<td>Home made</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>0.5 mm diameter, 1.5 mm interval.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Platinum elctrodes</td>
			<td>Home made</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>0.5 mm diameter, 1.5 mm interval.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rubber tube</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A5177</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue Dissection and Fixation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Forceps</td>
			<td>RWD</td>
			<td>F11020-11</td>
			<td>Tip size: 0.05*0.01 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Other surgery tools</td>
			<td>RWD</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>158127</td>
			<td>Freshly made 4% PFA solution in phosphate-buffered saline can be stored in 4 &#176;C for up to 1 week.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SYLGARD 184 Silicone Elastomer Kit</td>
			<td>DOW</td>
			<td>01673921</td>
			<td>For black background plates, food-grade carbon powder is applied.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sectioning</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cryostat</td>
			<td>LEICA</td>
			<td>CM1850</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gelatin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>G9391</td>
			<td>From bovine skin.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sliding microtome</td>
			<td>LEICA</td>
			<td>SM2010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Immunostaining</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 488 goat anti-Mouse</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab150113</td>
			<td>1:500 dilution, RRID: AB_2576208</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 555 goat anti-rabbit</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab150078</td>
			<td>1:500 dilution, RRID: AB_2722519</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DAPI</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab285390</td>
			<td>1: 1000 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluoromount-G mounting medium</td>
			<td>Southern&#160;Biotech</td>
			<td>Sb-0100-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FMRP antibody</td>
			<td>Y. Wang, Florida State University</td>
			<td>#8263</td>
			<td>1:1000 dilution, RRID: AB_2861242</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Islet-1 antibody</td>
			<td>DSHB</td>
			<td>39.3F7</td>
			<td>1:100 dilution, RRID: AB_1157901</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Netwell plate</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>3478</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neurofilament antibody</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>N4142</td>
			<td>1:1000 dilution, RRID: AB_477272</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Parvalbumin antibody</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P3088</td>
			<td>1:10000 dilution, RRID: AB_477329</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SNAP25 antibody</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab66066</td>
			<td>1:1000 dilution, RRID: AB_2192052</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Imaging</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adobe photoshop</td>
			<td>ADOBE</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>image editing software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Confocal microscope</td>
			<td>LEICA</td>
			<td>SP8</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescent stereomicroscope</td>
			<td>OLYMPUS</td>
			<td>MVX10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Olympus Image-Pro Plus 7.0</td>
			<td>OlYMPUS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>commercial image processing software package</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

dissecting cell-autonomous function of fragile x mental retardation protein in an auditory circuit by in ovo electroporation

Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) is an mRNA-binding protein that regulates local protein translation. FMRP loss or dysfunction leads to aberrant neuronal and synaptic activities in fragile X syndrome (FXS), which is characterized by intellectual disability, sensory abnormalities, and social communication problems. Studies of FMRP function and FXS pathogenesis have primarily been conducted with Fmr1 (the gene encoding FMRP) knockout in transgenic animals. Here we report an in vivo method for determining the cell-autonomous function of FMRP during the period of circuit assembly and synaptic formation using chicken embryos. This method employs stage-, site-, and direction-specific electroporation of a drug-inducible vector system containing Fmr1 small hairpin RNA (shRNA) and an EGFP reporter. With this method, we achieved selective FMRP knockdown in the auditory ganglion (AG) and in one of its brainstem targets, the nucleus magnocellularis (NM), thus providing a component-specific manipulation within the AG-NM circuit. Additionally, the mosaic pattern of the transfection allows within-animal controls and neighboring neuron/fiber comparisons for enhanced reliability and sensitivity in data analyzing. The inducible vector system provides temporal control of gene editing onset to minimize accumulating developmental effects. The combination of these strategies provides an innovative tool to dissect the cell-autonomous function of FMRP in synaptic and circuit development.

By performing in ovo electroporation at different sites and at different developmental stages, we achieved selective FMRP knockdown either in the auditory periphery or in the auditory brainstem.
FMRP knockdown in NM 
Small hairpin RNA (shRNA) against the chicken Fmr1 was designed and cloned into the Tet-On vector system as described previously20. The setup for in ovo electroporation is shown in Figure...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Dissecting Cell-Autonomous Function of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein in an Auditory Circuit by In Ovo Electroporation at JoVE.com

Dissecting Cell-Autonomous Function of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein in an Auditory Circuit by In Ovo Electroporation

Using in ovo electroporation, we devised a method to selectively transfect the auditory inner ear and cochlear nucleus in chicken embryos to achieve a cell-group-specific knockdown of fragile X mental retardation protein during discrete periods of circuit assembly.

Dissecting Cell-Autonomous Function of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein in an Auditory Circuit by In Ovo Electroporation

Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) is an mRNA-binding protein that regulates local protein translation. FMRP loss or dysfunction leads to ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

In utero Electroporation followed by Primary Neuronal Culture for Studying Gene Function in Subset of Cortical Neurons

In utero Electroporation followed by Primary Neuronal Culture for Studying Gene Function in Subset of Cortical Neurons

In vitro study of primary neuronal cultures allows for quantitative analyses of neurite outgrowth. In order to study how genetic alterations affect ...

TMS: Using the Theta-Burst Protocol to Explore Mechanism of Plasticity in Individuals with Fragile X Syndrome and Autism

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), also known as Martin-Bell Syndrome, is a genetic abnormality found on the X chromosome.1,2 Individuals suffering from FXS ...

Transfection of Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells by in vivo Electroporation

Transfection of Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells by in vivo Electroporation

The targeting and refinement of RGC projections to the midbrain is a popular and powerful model system for studying how precise patterns of neural ...

In ovo Electroporation in Chick Midbrain for Studying Gene Function in Dopaminergic Neuron Development

In ovo Electroporation in Chick Midbrain for Studying Gene Function in Dopaminergic Neuron Development

Dopaminergic neurons located in the ventral midbrain control movement, emotional behavior, and reward mechanisms1-3. The dysfunction of ventral midbrain ...

In ovo Electroporation of miRNA-based Plasmids in the Developing Neural Tube and Assessment of Phenotypes by DiI Injection in Open-book Preparations

In ovo Electroporation of miRNA-based Plasmids in the Developing Neural Tube and Assessment of Phenotypes by DiI Injection in Open-book Preparations

Commissural dI1 neurons have been extensively studied to elucidate the mechanisms underlying axon guidance during development1,2. These neurons are ...

Investigations on Alterations of Hippocampal Circuit Function Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) afflicts more than 1.7 million people in the United States each year and even mild TBI can lead to persistent neurological ...

In ovo Expression of MicroRNA in Ventral Chick Midbrain

In ovo Expression of MicroRNA in Ventral Chick Midbrain

Non-coding RNAs are additional players in regulating gene expression. Targeted in ovo electroporation of specific areas provides a unique tool for spatial ...

A Lightweight, Headphones-based System for Manipulating Auditory Feedback in Songbirds

Experimental manipulations of sensory feedback during complex behavior have provided valuable insights into the computations underlying motor control and ...

Detection of Protein Palmitoylation in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons by Immunoprecipitation and Acyl-Biotin Exchange (ABE)

Detection of Protein Palmitoylation in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons by Immunoprecipitation and Acyl-Biotin Exchange ABE

Palmitoylation is a post-translational lipid  modification involving the attachment of a 16-carbon saturated fatty acid,  palmitate, to cysteine residues ...

Recording and Analysis of Circadian Rhythms in Running-wheel Activity in Rodents

When rodents have free access to a running wheel in their home cage, voluntary use of this wheel will depend on the time of day1-5. Nocturnal rodents, ...