This work was supported by the Margaret M. Alkek Foundation to RHF.

Part&nbsp;1: Bench set up
<ol>
<li>A humid chamber is prepared by placing Kimwipe/ddH2O in plastic chamber.</li>
<li>A Falcon tube to collect albumin, dishes for culture, rings, watchglass and waste disposal are placed on bench.</li>
<li>Pyrex dish is filled with 1.4 l saline (see notes [a]).</li>
</ol>
Part&nbsp;2: Embryo is explanted in saline
<ol>
<li>Eggs are removed from the incubator after 16 hrs (stage 4). The egg is opene by tapping the shell with forceps. Shell pieces are removed.</li>
<li>The thin albumin is collected in Falcon tube. The thick albumin is removed with forceps.</li>
<li>The embryo is placed in a plastic dish inside the saline dish. The remaining albumin is removed with forceps.</li>
</ol>
Part&nbsp;3: Embryo is centered on ring
<ol>
<li>The yolk sac is tilted with forceps so that embryo faces upwards.</li>
<li>The yolk sac is cut at the level of the equator or below.</li>
<li>Using fine forceps, the vitelline membrane is swiftly peeled. The vitelline membrane is oriented so that its granular side (non shinny) faces upwards.</li>
<li>Using fine forceps, the vitelline membrane is placed on the watch glass.</li>
<li>Using fine forceps, a glass ring is applied on top of vitelline membrane and the embryo is centered.</li>
<li>The vitelline membrane is lifted around edges of the glass ring. The assembly is removed from the saline dish.</li>
</ol>
Part&nbsp;4: The culture is set up under microscope
<ol>
<li>The vitelline membrane is lifted over the glass ring using fine forceps under microscope.</li>
<li>Using Pasteur pipette, the saline is removed from the outer edge of the ring.</li>
<li>Using fine scissors, excess vitelline membrane is removed from the inner edge of the glass ring. Care is taken not to pierce the membrane with pipette or forceps.</li>
<li>The embryo is gently rinsed with saline to remove loose membranes and yolk cells.</li>
<li>200 &micro;l saline is added to outer edge of the ring (this will facilitate later transfer).</li>
<li>The assembly is covered with an inverted plastic dish.</li>
</ol>
Part&nbsp;5: The culture is transferred to incubator
<ol>
<li>A Falcon culture dish is labelled.</li>
<li>2.5ml of thin albumin is added to the bottom of the Falcon dish.</li>
<li>200&micro;l of thin albumin is added to the inner edge of the lid of the Falcon dish.</li>
<li>The inverted dish is removed from the assembly.</li>
<li>Using fine forceps, the glass ring is slided along the edge of the watch glass, and transfered to the Falcon dish.</li>
<li>All remaining saline is removed from inner surface of the ring.</li>
<li>The Falcon dish is covered with lid and sealed.</li>
<li>The assembly is placed in humid chamber and then in the incubator.</li>
<li>The embryos&nbsp;are cultured for up to 24 hrs at 38&deg;C.</li>
</ol>
Part&nbsp;6: Following culture, the embryo is fixed; culture is transferred to incubator
<ol>
<li>A fixation dish is filled with ice-cold PBS (or depc-PBS if embryos are to be processed for in situ hybridization).</li>
<li>The culture is removed from the incubator and immediately placed on ice. The culture dish is immediately filled with ice-cold PBS/depc-PBS.</li>
<li>The embryo is detached from the vitelline membrane. The embryo is transferred to the fixation dish, using the blunt end of a Pasteur pipette.</li>
<li>The embryo is pinned down using blunt-ended fine forceps. The PBS covering the fixation dish is removed. Fixative is added (see notes [b]).</li>
<li>Depending on application, the embryo is fixed for 6-8 hr at 4&deg;C (cryostat), O/N at 4&deg;C (in situs), or 1 hr at RT for whole mount immunohistochemistry.</li>
<li>The fixative is removed and replaced with ice-cold PBS/depc PBS.</li>
<li>For downstream applications such as in situ hybridization or immantibody staining: the nervous system and the heart are perforated using a blunt end microcapillary needle or a microdissection knife; this will prevent trapping of probe/antibody in later steps. Notes: [a] Saline consists of: solution A (for 1 l): 121.0 g NaCl, 15.5 g KCl, 10.4 g CaCl2.2H2O, 12.7 g MgCl2.6H2O; solution B (for 1 l): 2.4 g Na2HPO4.2H2O, 0.2 g NaH2PO4.2H2O; Autoclave; Prior to use, mix 120 ml A with 2700 ml H2O; Add 180 ml B. Mix [1]; [b] Fixative is prepared just prior to use (4% PFA in PBS or depc-PBS for in situs).</li>
</ol>
Part 7: Representative Results
Prior to culture, the embryo is at primitive streak stage (HH4). At the end of the culture period, the embryo has developed to HH10 (length 2-3 mm) and is visible in the center of the culture dish. It is possible to label a group of cells with carbocyanine fluorescent DiI just before culture (0h) and follow their movement throughout the culture period. In this case, cells below Hensen's node (HN) were labelled with DiI. These cells are shown to contribute to progressively developing somites (som) and notochord (n). <img src="/files/ftp_upload/old/903_2008_10_20_2/903_Figure-01.png" alt="" width="780" height="228" />
Part 8: Troubleshooting
<table style="width: 698px; height: 241px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="698">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Problem</td><td>Cause</td><td>Remedy</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Embryo remains with yolk instead of coming off with membrane (step 2)</td>
<td>Poor egg quality</td>
<td>Request freshly produced eggs; Store eggs at 13&deg;C upon receipt. Incubate eggs the same day as arrival date.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vitelline membrane slide away from watchmaker's glass following placement of ring (step 3)</td>
<td>Albumin remnants</td>
<td>In step 2, make sure that all albumin is removed by pulling it away from membrane with tilted forceps</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Embryo is inaccessible: lies underneath the membrane (step 4)</td>
<td>Wrong side of membrane is upwards</td>
<td>In step 3, make sure the side of the membrane containing yolk granules is facing upwards. The shiny, polished side should face downwards.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Embryo submerged in saline/albumin following culture(step 6)</td>
<td>Saline/albumin left inside ring prior to culture; hole in membrane</td>
<td>In step 5, make sure that all albumin/saline is removed from inside the ring; In step 4, make sure you do not pierce membrane with forceps (use blunt ended forceps)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Embryo disintegrated following culture</td>
<td>Bacterial infection</td>
<td>Sterilize all tools and glassware; Use antibiotic/antimycotic</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<ol>
	<li>Pannett, P. A., Compton, 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=The+cultivation+of+tissues+in+saline.">The cultivation of tissues in saline.</a> Lancet. 206, 381-384 (1924).</li><li>New, D. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+new+technique+for+the+cultivation+of+the+chick+embryo+in+vitro.">A new technique for the cultivation of the chick embryo in vitro.</a> J. Embryol. Exp. Morph. 3, 326-331 (1955).</li><li>Alvarez, I. S., Araujo, M., Nieto, 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=Neural+induction+in+whole+chick+embryo+cultures+by+FGF.">Neural induction in whole chick embryo cultures by FGF.</a> Dev. Biol. 199, 42-54 (1998).</li><li>Psychoyos, D., Stern, C. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Restoration+of+the+organizer+after+radical+ablation+of+Hensen's+node+and+the+anterior+primitive+streak+in+the+chick+embryo.">Restoration of the organizer after radical ablation of Hensen's node and the anterior primitive streak in the chick embryo.</a> Development. 122, 3263-3273 (1996).</li><li>Psychoyos, D., Stern, C. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fates+and+migratory+routes+of+primitive+streak+cells+in+the+chick+embryo.">Fates and migratory routes of primitive streak cells in the chick embryo.</a> Development. 122, 1523-1534 (1996).</li><li>Voiculescu, O., Papanayotou, C., Stern, C. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spatially+and+temporally+controlled+electroporation+of+early+chick+embryos.">Spatially and temporally controlled electroporation of early chick embryos.</a> Nature Protoc. 3, 419-426 (2008).</li></ol>

The New culture method 2 can be used for a wide variety of applications, ranging from grafts of growth factor containing beads 3, to whole mount in situ hybridization and whole mount immunohistochemistry 4. Culture over a 24 hr period enables the continuous monitoring of embryonic development in applications such as time lapse cell movement analysis 5 or monitoring of GFP containing electroporated constructs 6.

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		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>Eggs</td>
<td>Animal</td>
<td>Charles River Laboratories</td>
<td>Premium Fertile</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Stereomicroscope</td>
<td>Microscope</td>
<td>Leica Microsystems</td>
<td>MZ9.5 or similar</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Marsh Automatic Incubator</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Lyon</td>
<td>RX</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Hybridization Incubator</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Robbins Scientific</td>
<td>M1000</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Pyrex dish (2)</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Watchmaker&#x2019;s glass 50mm</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>VWR</td>
<td>66112-060</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Glass rings</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Physical Plant facility</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>cut 4 mm thick sections of glass tubing (27 mm outer diam, 25 mm inner diam). Do not fine polish.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Curved Forceps (1)</td>
<td>Surgery</td>
<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
<td>72991-4C</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Forceps (2)</td>
<td>Surgery</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>11002-13</td>
<td>blunt ended using sharpening Stone and 100ul mineral oil</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sharpening Stone Dan&#x2019;s Black Arkansas</td>
<td>Surgery</td>
<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
<td>62082-00</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Fine scissors</td>
<td>Surgery</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>14161-10</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Plastic dishes</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Falcon</td>
<td>353001</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Rubber Bulb</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
<td>70980</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Pasteur Capillary Pipette</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
<td>70950-12</td>
<td>round edge under flame</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microcapillary tube</td>
<td>Surgery</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>P1049-1PAK</td>
<td>Pull using vertical micropipette puller; blunt end with fine forceps</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microdissecting knife</td>
<td>Surgery</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>10056-12</td>
<td>Use to puncture cavities prior to in situ hybridization</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Minuten pins 0.2mm diam</td>
<td>Surgery</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>26002-20</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Sylgard 184 Silicon Elastomer Curing Agent and Base</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Dow Corning</td>
<td>0001986475</td>
<td>Mix 1 part Curing Agent, 9 parts Base; set O/N at 37C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Diethylpyrocarbonate (depc)</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Acros Organics</td>
<td>10025025</td>
<td>Add 1ml depc to 1l PBS; shake; autoclave</td>
</tr>		</tbody>
		</table>
		</div>

method for culture of early chick embryos ex vivo (new culture)

The chick embryo is a valuable tool in the study of early embryonic development. Its transparency, accessibility and ease of manipulation, make it an ideal tool for studying  the formation and patterning of brain, neural tube, somite and heart primordia. Applications of chick embryo culture include electroporation of DNA or RNA constructs in order to analyze gene function, grafts of growth factor coated beads such as FGFs and BMPs , as well as whole mount in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. This video demonstrates the different steps in chick embryo culture; First, the embryo is explanted in saline. Then, the embryo is centered on a glass ring. The membranes surrounding the embryo are lifted along the walls of the ring. The ring is then placed in a culture dish containing a pool of albumine. The culture dish is sealed and placed in a humid chamber, where the embryo is cultured for up to 24 hrs. Finally, the embryo is removed from the ring, fixed and processed for further applications. A troubleshooting guide is also presented.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Method for Culture of Early Chick Embryos ex vivo New Culture at JoVE.com

Method for Culture of Early Chick Embryos ex vivo New Culture

This video demonstrates New culture, a method by which chick embryos are cultured outside the egg for up to 24 hr. This method enables one to study early development (primitive streak to 14 som.), a period corresponding to E7-9 in mouse. Applications of this technique include electroporation, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

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

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

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15.5K Views.  Institute of Biosciences and Technology - Texas A&M Health Science Center. This video demonstrates New culture, a method by which chick embryos are cultured outside the egg for up to 24 hr. This method enables one to study early development (primitive streak to 14 som.), a period corresponding to E7-9 in mouse. Applications of this technique include electroporation, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

Video: Method for Culture of Early Chick Embryos ex vivo New Culture

Double Whole Mount in situ Hybridization of Early Chick Embryos

The chick embryo is a valuable tool in the study of early embryonic development. Its transparency, accessibility and ease of manipulation, make it an ideal tool for studying  gene expression in brain, neural tube, somite and heart primordia formation. This video demonstrates the different steps in 2-color whole mount in situ hybridization; First, the embryo is dissected from the egg and fixed in paraformaldehyde. Second, the embryo is processed for prehybridization. The embryo is then hybridized with two different probes, one coupled to DIG, and one coupled to FITC.  Following overnight hybridization, the embryo is incubated with DIG coupled antibody. Color reaction for DIG substrate is performed, and the region of interest appears blue. The embryo is then incubated with FITC coupled antibody. The embryo is processed for color reaction with FITC, and the region of interest appears red. Finally, the embryo is fixed and processed for phtograph and sectioning. A troubleshooting guide is also presented.

This video demonstrates 2-color whole mount in situ hybridization, a method by which the spatial and temporal expression pattern of 2 different genes can be visualized in young chick embryos. This method was originally introduced by David Wilkinson, Domingos Henrique, Phil Ingham and David Ish -Horowicz.

Chick ex ovo Culture and ex ovo CAM Assay: How it Really Works

Chicken eggs in the early phase of breeding are between in vitro and in vivo systems and provide a vascular test environment not only to study angiogenesis but also to study tumorigenesis. After the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) has developed, its blood vessel network can be easily accessed, manipulated and observed and therefore provides an optimal setting for angiogenesis assays. Since the lymphoid system is not fully developed until late stages of incubation, the chick embryo serves as a naturally immunodeficient host capable of sustaining grafted tissues and cells without species-specific restrictions. In addition to nurturing developing allo- and xenografts, the CAM blood vessel network provides a uniquely supportive environment for tumor cell intravasation, dissemination, and vascular arrest and a repository where arrested cells extravasate to form micro metastatic foci.
For experimental purposes, in most of the recent studies the CAM was exposed by cutting a window through the egg shell and experiments were carried out in ovo, resulting in significant limitations in the accessibility of the CAM and possibilities for observation and photo documentation of effects. When shell-less cultures of the chick embryo were used1-4, no experimental details were provided and, if published at all, the survival rates of these cultures were low. We refined the method of ex ovo culture of chick embryos significantly by introducing a rationally controlled extrusion of the egg content. These ex ovo cultures enhance the accessibility of the CAM and chick embryo, enabling easy in vivo documentation of effects and facilitating experimental manipulation of the embryo. This allows the successful application to a large number of scientific questions: (1) As an improved angiogenesis assay5,6, (2) an experimental set up for facilitated injections in the vitreous of the chick embryo eye7-9, (3) as a test environment for dissemination and intravasation of dispersed tumor cells from established cell lines inoculated on the CAM10-12, (4) as an improved sustaining system for successful transplantation and culture of limb buds of chicken and mice13 as well as (5) for grafting, propagation, and re-grafting of solid primary tumor tissue obtained from biopsies on the surface of the CAM14.
In this video article we describe the establishment of a refined chick ex ovo culture and CAM assay with survival rates over 50%. Besides we provide a step by step demonstration of the successful application of the ex ovo culture for a large number of scientific applications. 
Daniel S. Dohle, Susanne D. Pasa, and Sebastian Gustmann contributed equally to this study.

Chick ex ovo Culture and ex ovo CAM Assay: How it Really Works

The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is a unique, naturally immunodeficient supportive culture environment to study angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. This video article demonstrates the different steps in chick ex ovo culture, application of potentially angiogenic substances and successful inoculation of tumor cells and tissues on the surface of the CAM.

Chicken eggs in the early phase of breeding are between in vitro and in vivo systems and provide a vascular test environment not only to study ...

In vivo-like Organotypic Murine Retinal Wholemount Culture

Targeted ablations of genes and analysis of animal models is the classical strategy for enrolling specific retinal gene function. However, transgenic, retina-specific or conditional knockout mouse models often display early lethality or suffer from severe malformations, preventing an analysis beyond embryonic or early postnatal stages.
Primary cell culture is an alternative to investigate the effects of exogenously applied recombinant factors, overexpression of genes or siRNA-mediated gene knockdown in a controlled environment. Dissociated cell culture has the advantage that the endogenous signals reaching the target cells are reduced, thereby facilitating the identification of exogenously triggered effects after pharmacological manipulation. However, important cell-cell interactions are initially destroyed by enzymatic digestion or mechanical dissociation, even if re-aggregated retinospheroid cultures1 are used.
By contrast, organotypic retinal wholemount cultures provide a system close to the physiological in vivo situation with neuronal interactions and connections still preserved2-5.
In this video article we provide a step by step demonstration of (1) the establishment of in vivo-like organotypic retinal wholemount cultures including dissection peculiarities of embryonic, postnatal and adult murine eyes and (2) a dissociation and cytospin procedure for analysis of neuronal apoptosis and retinal cell proliferation in organotypic wholemounts, e.g. after culture in the presence of exogenously applied recombinant factors.

In vivo-like Organotypic Murine Retinal Wholemount Culture

This video article demonstrates the establishment of organotypic retinal wholemount cultures and a cytospin procedure for analysis of exogenously induced effects. Organotypic retinal wholemount cultures mimic the in vivo situation and significantly facilitate the accessibility of murine retinas for experimental manipulations while circumventing the disadvantages of classical murine animal models.

Targeted ablations of genes and analysis of animal models is the classical strategy for enrolling specific retinal gene function. However, transgenic, ...

The Method of Rodent Whole Embryo Culture using the Rotator-type Bottle Culture System

Whole embryo culture (WEC) technique has been developed in 1950's by New and his colleagues, and applied for developmental biology 1. Although development and growth of mammalian embryos are critically dependent on the function of the placenta, WEC technique allows us to culture mouse and rat embryos ex vivo condition during limited periods corresponding to midgestation stages during embryonic day (E) 6.5-E12.5 in the mouse or E8.5-E14.5 in the rat 2, 3, 4. In WEC, we can directly target desired areas of embryos using fine glass capillaries because embryos can be manipulated under the microscope. Therefore, rodent WEC is very useful technique when we want to study dynamic developmental processes of postimplanted mammalian embryos. Up to date, several types of WEC systems have been developed 1. Among those, the rotator-type bottle culture system is most popular and suitable for long-term culture of embryos at midgestation, i.e., after E9.5 and E11.5 in the mouse and rat, respectively 1. In this video protocol, we demonstrate our standard procedures of rat WEC after E12.5 using a refined model of the original rotator system, which was designed by New and Cockroft 5, 6, and introduce various applications of WEC technique for studies in mammalian developmental biology.

Whole embryo culture technique allows us to culture mouse and rat embryos ex vivo condition during limited periods corresponding to midgestation stages. In this video protocol, we demonstrate our standard procedures of rat whole embryo culture after E12.5 using the rotator-type bottle culture system.

Whole embryo culture (WEC) technique has been developed in 1950's by New and his colleagues, and applied for developmental biology 1. Although development ...

Ex Vivo Culture of Primary Human Fallopian Tube Epithelial Cells

Epithelial ovarian cancer is a leading cause of female cancer mortality in the United States. In contrast to other women-specific cancers, like breast and uterine carcinomas, where death rates have fallen in recent years, ovarian cancer cure rates have remained relatively unchanged over the past two decades 1. This is largely due to the lack of appropriate screening tools for detection of early stage disease where surgery and chemotherapy are most effective 2, 3. As a result, most patients present with advanced stage disease and diffuse abdominal involvement. This is further complicated by the fact that ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease with multiple histologic subtypes 4, 5. Serous ovarian carcinoma (SOC) is the most common and aggressive subtype and the form most often associated with mutations in the BRCA genes. Current experimental models in this field involve the use of cancer cell lines and mouse models to better understand the initiating genetic events and pathogenesis of disease 6, 7. Recently, the fallopian tube has emerged as a novel site for the origin of SOC, with the fallopian tube (FT) secretory epithelial cell (FTSEC) as the proposed cell of origin 8, 9. There are currently no cell lines or culture systems available to study the FT epithelium or the FTSEC. Here we describe a novel ex vivo culture system where primary human FT epithelial cells are cultured in a manner that preserves their architecture, polarity, immunophenotype, and response to physiologic and genotoxic stressors. This ex vivo model provides a useful tool for the study of SOC, allowing a better understanding of how tumors can arise from this tissue, and the mechanisms involved in tumor initiation and progression.

Ex Vivo Culture of Primary Human Fallopian Tube Epithelial Cells

The fallopian tube (FT) is emerging as an alternative site of origin for serous ovarian carcinoma (SOC). This protocol describes a novel method for the isolation and ex vivo culture of fallopian tube epithelial cells. This system recapitulates the in vivo epithelium and allows the study of SOC pathogenesis.

Epithelial ovarian cancer is a leading cause of female cancer mortality in the United States. In contrast to other women-specific cancers, like breast and ...

Tracking Morphogenetic Tissue Deformations in the Early Chick Embryo

Embryonic epithelia undergo complex deformations (e.g. bending, twisting, folding, and stretching) to form the primitive organs of the early embryo. Tracking fiducial markers on the surfaces of these cellular sheets is a well-established method for estimating morphogenetic quantities such as growth, contraction, and shear. However, not all surface labeling techniques are readily adaptable to conventional imaging modalities and possess different advantages and limitations. Here, we describe two labeling methods and illustrate the utility of each technique. In the first method, hundreds of fluorescent labels are applied simultaneously to the embryo using magnetic iron particles. These labels are then used to quantity 2-D tissue deformations during morphogenesis. In the second method, polystyrene microspheres are used as contrast agents in non-invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging to track 3-D tissue deformations. These techniques have been successfully implemented in our lab to studythe physical mechanisms of early head fold, heart, and brain development, and should be adaptable to a wide range morphogenetic processes.

This article describes surface labeling and ex ovo tissue culture in the early chick embryo. Techniques amenable to time-lapse bright field, fluorescence, and optical coherence tomography imaging are presented. Tracking surface labels with high spatiotemporal resolution enables kinematic quantities such as morphogenetic strains (deformations) to be calculated in both two and three dimensions.

Embryonic epithelia undergo complex deformations (e.g. bending, twisting, folding, and stretching) to form the primitive organs of the early embryo. ...

Scale-Up of Mammalian Cell Culture using a New Multilayered Flask

A growing number of cell-based applications require large numbers of cells. Usage of single layer T-flasks, that are adequate during small-scale expansion, may become cumbersome, laborious and time-consuming when large numbers of cells are required. To address this need, the performance of a new multi-layered cell culture vessel to facilitate easy scale up of cells from single layered T-flasks will be discussed. The flasks tested are available in 3- and 5-layer format and enable culture and complete recovery of three and five times the number of cells respectively, compared to T-175 flasks. A key feature of the BD Multi-Flask is a mix/equilibration port that allows rapid in-vessel mixing as well as uniform distribution of cells and reagents within and 
between layers of each vessel and consistently produce cells that can be cultured in an environment that is congruent to T-175 flasks.
The design of these Multi-Flasks also allows for convenient pipette access for adding reagents and cells directly into the flasks as well as efficient recovery of valuable cells and reagents and reduces risk of contamination due to pouring. For applications where pouring is preferred over pipetting, the design allows for minimal residual liquid retention so as to reduce wastage of valuable cells and reagents.

Cells play an instrumental and increasing role in research, and the discovery and development of new therapeutics. With this increasing need for greater number of cells we need more efficient and effective ways for growing and harvesting attachment dependent cells. A Multilayered flask with the right features can serve this purpose.

A growing number of cell-based applications require large numbers of cells. Usage of single layer T-flasks, that are adequate during small-scale ...

A Novel Ex vivo Culture Method for the Embryonic Mouse Heart

Developmental studies in the mouse are hampered by the inaccessibility of the embryo during gestation. Thus, protocols to isolate and culture individual organs of interest are essential to provide a method of both visualizing changes in development and allowing novel treatment strategies. To promote the long-term culture of the embryonic heart at late stages of gestation, we developed a protocol in which the excised heart is cultured in a semi-solid, dilute Matrigel. This substrate provides enough support to maintain the three-dimensional structure but is flexible enough to allow continued contraction. In brief, hearts are excised from the embryo and placed in a mixture of cold Matrigel diluted 1:1 with growth medium. After the diluted Matrigel solidifies, growth medium is added to the culture dish. Hearts excised as late as embryonic day 16.5 were viable for four days post-dissection. Analysis of the coronary plexus shows that this method does not disrupt coronary vascular development. Thus, we present a novel method for long-term culture of embryonic hearts.

A Novel Ex vivo Culture Method for the Embryonic Mouse Heart

Developmental studies in the mouse are hampered by the inaccessibility of the embryo during gestation. To promote the long-term culture of the embryonic heart at late stages of gestation, we developed a protocol in which the excised heart is cultured in a semi-solid, dilute Matrigel.

Developmental studies in the mouse are hampered  by the inaccessibility of the embryo during gestation. Thus, protocols to  isolate and culture individual ...

The Slice Culture Method for Following Development of Tooth Germs In Explant Culture

Explant culture allows manipulation of developing organs at specific time points&#160;and is therefore an important method for the developmental biologist. For many organs it is difficult to access developing tissue to allow monitoring during ex vivo culture. The slice culture method allows access to tissue so that morphogenetic movements can be followed and specific cell populations can be targeted for manipulation or lineage tracing.
In this paper we describe a method of slice culture that has been very successful for culture of tooth germs in a range of species. The method provides excellent access to the tooth germs, which develop at a similar rate to that observed in vivo, surrounded by the other jaw tissues. This allows tissue interactions between the tooth and surrounding tissue to be monitored. Although this paper concentrates on tooth germs, the same protocol can be applied to follow development of a number of other organs, such as salivary glands, Meckel&#39;s cartilage, nasal glands, tongue, and ear.

Here we detail a method to culture tooth germs in mandible slices using a tissue chopper. This method allows unique access to the tooth during development, providing excellent opportunity for manipulation and lineage tracing, not available using more traditional culture methods.

Explant culture allows manipulation of developing organs at specific time points&#160;and is therefore an important method for the developmental ...

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 ...