Gli autori riconoscono la fonte originale per l&#39;idea di eseguire cultura fetta su embrioni di topo 5. Vorremmo ringraziare Gioacchino Kirsch per generoso supporto scientifico e Anna Degen per agire come il nostro tuttofare durante le riprese. Questo lavoro è stato finanziato dalla Fondazione per la Ricerca tedesca (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft: Sonderforschungsbereich 488, Teilprojekt B7/B9) e l&#39;Università di Heidelberg (Eccellenza Cluster reti cellulari).

Parte 1: Preparazione per affettare e coltura. <ol><li> Preparare 10 cm piastre di coltura di tessuto con taglio medio (DMEM, 25% 1x HBSS, il 25% di siero fetale bovino, 0,5% di glucosio, 1 mM glutammina, 2,5 HEPES mM, pH 7,3) e di 3 cm Millicell-CM 0.4-micron cultura inserti in membrana e di tenere incubatore a 37 ° C e 5% di CO 2. </li><li> Riscaldare il 4% agarosio a basso punto di fusione in PBS nel forno a microonde e tenerlo a piastra di riscaldamento in modo che rimanga a circa 37 ° C. </li><li> Riempi i piatti batteriologico 10 cm di Petri con PBS (140 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 10 mM Na 2 HPO 4, 1,8 KH 2 PO 4) e posto sul ghiaccio. </li><li> Imposta dispositivo di raffreddamento microtomo o garantire che vassoio di buffer e raffreddamento elementi sono memorizzati in freezer per pre-raffreddare. </li></ol> Parte 2: embedding Embryo. <ol><li> Sezionare embrioni dall&#39;utero ed esaminarle con un microscopio invertito a fluorescenza per verificare l&#39;espressione della GFP. </li><li> Embrioni posto su una rovesciata di 10 cm piastra di Petri e orientarli con strisce di carta Whatman per rimuovere eccessivo PBS. </li><li> Applicare agarosio sull&#39;embrione per risolvere il problema in questa posizione. Lasciate solidificare agarosio. </li><li> Limitare l&#39;area che circonda l&#39;embrione da taglio con una lama di rasoio. </li><li> Ruotare l&#39;embrione embedded sul suo lato. </li><li> Applicare ulteriori agarosio sul tessuto embrionale per assicurare che l&#39;embrione sia completamente incorporato. </li><li> Preparare blocco agarosio con bordi puliti e montata sul mandrino vibratome utilizzando Loctite 406, una speciale colla simile a &quot;Glue Krazy&quot;. </li></ol> Parte 3: Sfogliatrici procedura. <ol><li> Impostare il vassoio di buffer preraffreddato e l&#39;elemento di raffreddamento. </li><li> Inserire il mandrino con il tessuto incollato e aggiungere 1x HBSS (Ca 2 +-Mg 2 + senza HBSS, 10 mM tampone HEPES pH 7,3, 500 U / ml di penicillina / streptomicina) fino al coperto. </li><li> Inserire e fissare un predepurata (70% etanolo) lama microtomo. </li><li> Preparare 350-450 fette micron e trasferirli usando accorciato vetro pipette pasteur in piastre di coltura di tessuti conservati in ghiaccio. </li><li> Usando un paio di pinze, rimuovere con attenzione agarosio da ogni fetta e trasferimento Millicell membrane cultura. Circa 4 fette può essere coltivato su una membrana in un piatto di 10 cm di coltura tissutale pieno con 6 ml di terreno di coltura. </li><li> Incubare fette a 37 ° C e 5% di CO 2 (Terreno di coltura: DMEM, 25% 1x HBSS, 25% siero fetale bovino, 0,5% di glucosio, 1MM glutammina, 2,5 HEPES mM, pH 7,3). Se si esegue time-lapse serie di immagini si deve mantenere costante il volume del mezzo. Nel caso di serie a tempo di imaging per un breve lasso di tempo è sufficiente lasciare il medium così com&#39;è. Per le modifiche cultura periodi più lunghi, dopo 12-20 ore sono raccomandati. </li></ol> Parte 4: escrescenza Imaging nervo spinale al microscopio. <ol><li> Nervi spinali immagine mettendo una di 10 cm piastra di coltura dei tessuti, contenenti le membrane cultura Millicell con le fette, sotto un microscopio a fluorescenza in posizione verticale. </li><li> Etichetta l&#39;orientamento delle membrane cultura Millicell sul palco microscopio per posizionare correttamente durante il punto successivo tempo di imaging. </li><li> Escrescenza del nervo spinale immagine usando 4x (apertura numerica [NA] 0,1), 10x (NA 0,3), o 20x (NA 0,5) obiettivi. </li></ol> La figura 1 mostra una serie di immagini raffiguranti la conseguenza del nervo spinale durante 20 ore di cultura con obiettivi 4x e 10x. <img src="/files/ftp_upload/2309/2309fig1.jpg" alt="Figura 1" /> Figura 1 serie Imaging di escrescenza nervo spinale in una fetta trasversale di un embrione omozigote tauGPF. * = Motoneuroni del midollo spinale ventrale, freccia = DRG. La dorsale (D)-ventrale (V) asse della fetta viene indicato. Scalebars: 200 micron.

<ol>
	<li>Tucker, K. L., Meyer, M., Barde, Y. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neurotrophins+are+required+for+nerve+growth+during+development.">Neurotrophins are required for nerve growth during development.</a> Nat Neurosci. 4, 29-37 (2001).</li><li>Brachmann, I., Jakubick, V. C., Shaked, M., Unsicker, K., Tucker, K. 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+simple+slice+culture+system+for+the+imaging+of+nerve+development+in+embryonic+mouse.">A simple slice culture system for the imaging of nerve development in embryonic mouse.</a> Dev Dyn. 236, 3514-3523 (2007).</li><li>Collingridge, G. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+brain+slice+preparation:+a+tribute+to+the+pioneer+Henry+McIlwain.">The brain slice preparation: a tribute to the pioneer Henry McIlwain.</a> Journal of neuroscience methods. 59, 5-9 (1995).</li><li>Katz, L. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Local+circuitry+of+identified+projection+neurons+in+cat+visual+cortex+brain+slices.">Local circuitry of identified projection neurons in cat visual cortex brain slices.</a> J Neurosci. 7, 1223-1249 (1987).</li><li>Hotary, K. B., Landmesser, L. T., Tosney, K. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Embryo+slices.">Embryo slices.</a> Methods Cell Biol. 51, 109-124 (1996).</li></ol>

In un confronto di metodi per preparare culture fetta embrionale di metà gestazione embrioni di topo (E10 - E12), abbiamo osservato che una vibratome produce senza dubbio i risultati più attendibili rispetto sia alla viabilità complessiva della culture e la riproducibilità dei il nervo escrescenza modelli. Al contrario, fette preparati con un elicottero dei tessuti McIlwain 3 dimostrato di essere completamente non vitali. Inizialmente abbiamo utilizzato un metodo ghigliottina 4, in cui un intera cucciolata di embrioni potrebbero essere contemporaneamente preparati da affettare con fili di tungsteno avvolto in serie intorno ad una griglia di taglio per la produzione di 400 micron sezioni 1. Sebbene questa tecnica ha il vantaggio della velocità di preparazione, è prodotto in più una sezione vitali per embrione e ha mostrato una grande quantità di variabilità dei parametri escrescenza. Per queste ragioni, riteniamo che un metodo basato vibratome è la scelta migliore, nonostante il tempo più lungo in preparazione. Anche se questa soluzione per necessità richiede un vibratome, i risultati sono di gran lunga superiori a ciò che è stato raggiunto attraverso altri &quot;low-tech&quot; si avvicina, e giustifica così l&#39;investimento.

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		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>HBSS 10x</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>GIBCO</td>
<td>14180</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Dissection tools</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>FST</td>
<td>various</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>L.M.P. agarose</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Invitrogen</td>
<td>15517-022</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Whatmann paper</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Whatman Int.</td>
<td>3030917</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Shortened firepolished pipettes</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>DMEM</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>GIBCO</td>
<td>41966</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>FBS</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>GIBCO</td>
<td>10270-106</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Pen Strep</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>GIBCO</td>
<td>15140</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>L-glutamine 100x</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>GIBCO</td>
<td>25030</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Vibratome</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Microm International GmbH</td>
<td>HM 650 V</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Fluorescent microscope</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Olympus</td>
<td>BX61WI</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>analySIS</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Soft Imaging System</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Millicell-CM inserts</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Millipore</td>
<td>PICMORG 50</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>10 cm culture plates</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Greiner Bio-One</td>
<td>633171</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>LOCTITE 406</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Henkel</td>
<td>142580</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Razor blades</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
<td>none</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Dissecting microscope</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Nikon</td>
<td>SMZ800</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>HEPES</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Roth</td>
<td>9105.2</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Glucose</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>G7021</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>x4 objective</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Olympus</td>
<td>PL series</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>x10 objective</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Olympus</td>
<td>UPLFL &#x2013;PH series</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Filter</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Olympus</td>
<td>U-MNIBA2</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>CCD camera</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Soft Imaging System</td>
<td>SIS F-View II</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Equipment for heated chamber</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Leica</td>
<td>CTI-Controller 3700 and incubator S #11531171</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>		</tbody>
		</table>
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organotypic slice culture of gfp-expressing mouse embryos for real-time imaging of peripheral nerve outgrowth

Per molti scopi, la coltivazione di embrioni di topo ex vivo come fette organotipica è auspicabile. Per esempio, impieghiamo una linea di topo transgenico (tauGFP) in cui la versione migliorata della proteina verde fluorescente (EGFP) è esclusivamente espressa in tutti i neuroni del sistema di sviluppo nervoso centrale e periferico 1, ammettendo la possibilità ad entrambi film di innervazione del la zampa anteriore e di manipolare questo processo con tecniche farmacologiche e genetiche 2. Il parametro più critico di successo nella coltivazione di culture fetta tale è il metodo con cui vengono preparate le fette. Dopo un&#39;ampia sperimentazione di una varietà di metodi, abbiamo scoperto che una vibratome è il dispositivo migliore per affettare gli embrioni in modo tale da risultare in routine di una cultura che dimostra la vitalità in un periodo di diversi giorni e, soprattutto, si sviluppa in un&#39;epoca specifico modo. Per la metà della gestazione gli embrioni, questo include la conseguenza normale di nervi spinali dal midollo spinale e gangli delle radici dorsali ai loro obiettivi in ​​periferia e alla corretta decisione del tessuto scheletrico e muscolare. In questo lavoro, presentiamo un metodo per l&#39;elaborazione di embrioni intero del giorno embrionale (E) E10 a E12 in 300-400 fette micrometro per la coltivazione in una cultura incubatore standard di tessuto, che può essere studiato per un massimo di due giorni dopo la preparazione fetta. Critico per il successo di questo approccio è l&#39;uso di un vibratome per tagliare ogni agarosio-embedded embrione. Questa è seguita dalla coltivazione delle fette su inserti cultura membrana Millicell posti sopra un piccolo volume di media, risultando in una tecnica cultura interfaccia. Una cucciolata con una media di 7 embrioni produce regolarmente almeno 14 fette (2-3 fette della regione degli arti anteriori per embrione), che varia leggermente a causa dell&#39;età degli embrioni e allo spessore delle fette. Circa l&#39;80% delle fette colta spettacolo escrescenza del nervo, che può essere misurato througout i 2 periodo coltura. Risultati rappresentativi utilizzando la linea del mouse tauGFP sono dimostrati.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Organotypic Slice Culture of GFP-expressing Mouse Embryos for Real-time Imaging of Peripheral Nerve Outgrowth at JoVE.com

Organotypic Slice Culture of GFP-expressing Mouse Embryos for Real-time Imaging of Peripheral Nerve Outgrowth

Vi presentiamo un metodo per preparare le fette di organotipica metà gestazione embrioni di topo per l&#39;imaging coltivazione e time-lapse di escrescenza dei nervi periferici.

Slice Cultura organotipica di GFP che esprimono embrioni di topo per imaging in tempo reale della crescita degli nervi periferici

For many purposes, the cultivation of mouse embryos ex vivo as organotypic slices is desirable. For example, we employ a transgenic mouse line (tauGFP) in ...

organotypic-slice-culture-gfp-expressing-mouse-embryos-for-real-time

Nanyang Technological University

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

16.1K Views.  University of Heidelberg. Vi presentiamo un metodo per preparare le fette di organotipica metà gestazione embrioni di topo per l'imaging coltivazione e time-lapse di escrescenza dei nervi periferici.

Video: Organotypic Slice Culture of GFP-expressing Mouse Embryos for Real-time Imaging of Peripheral Nerve Outgrowth

The Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Culture Model for Examining Neuronal Injury

Organotypic hippocampal slice culture is an in vitro method to examine mechanisms of neuronal injury in which the basic architecture and composition of the hippocampus is relatively preserved 1. The organotypic culture system allows for the examination of neuronal, astrocytic and microglial effects, but as an ex vivo preparation, does not address effects of blood flow, or recruitment of peripheral inflammatory cells. To that end, this culture method is frequently used to examine excitotoxic and hypoxic injury to pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus, but has also been used to examine the inflammatory response. Herein we describe the methods for generating hippocampal slice cultures from postnatal rodent brain, administering toxic stimuli to induce neuronal injury, and assaying and quantifying hippocampal neuronal death.

The organoptypic hippocampal slice culture model is an in vitro model used to examine neuronal injury in a variety of paradigms. In this article, we describe the methods for generating slice cultures and quantifying neuronal injury.

Il organotipica ippocampale Cultura Modello Slice per l&#39;esame di danno neuronale

Organotypic hippocampal slice culture is an in vitro method to examine mechanisms of neuronal injury in which the basic architecture and composition of ...

Ricerca

Neuroscienze

Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures

The hippocampus, a component of the limbic system, plays important roles in long-term memory and spatial navigation 1. Hippocampal neurons can modify the strength of their connections after brief periods of strong activation. This phenomenon, known as long-term potentiation (LTP) can last for hours or days and has become the best candidate mechanism for learning and memory 2. In addition, the well defined anatomy and connectivity of the hippocampus 3 has made it a classical model system to study synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity4.
As our understanding of the physiology of hippocampal synapses grew and molecular players became identified, a need to manipulate synaptic proteins became imperative. Organotypic hippocampal cultures offer the possibility for easy gene manipulation and precise pharmacological intervention but maintain synaptic organization that is critical to understanding synapse function in a more naturalistic context than routine culture dissociated neurons methods.
Here we present a method to prepare and culture hippocampal slices that can be easily adapted to other brain regions. This method allows easy access to the slices for genetic manipulation using different approaches like viral infection 5,6 or biolistics 7. In addition, slices can be easily recovered for biochemical assays 8, or transferred to microscopes for imaging 9 or electrophysiological experiments 10.

We describe a method to prepare organotypic hippocampal slices that can be easily adapted to other brain regions. Brain slices are laid on porous membranes and culture media is allowed to form an interface. This method preserves the gross architecture of the hippocampus for up to 2 weeks in culture.

Organotipica Culture Slice ippocampale

The hippocampus, a component of the limbic system, plays important roles in long-term memory and spatial navigation 1. Hippocampal neurons can modify the ...

An Organotypic Slice Assay for High-Resolution Time-Lapse Imaging of Neuronal Migration in the Postnatal Brain

Neurogenesis in the postnatal brain depends on maintenance of three biological events: proliferation of progenitor cells, migration of neuroblasts, as well as differentiation and integration of new neurons into existing neural circuits. For postnatal neurogenesis in the olfactory bulbs, these events are segregated within three anatomically distinct domains: proliferation largely occurs in the subependymal zone (SEZ) of the lateral ventricles, migrating neuroblasts traverse through the rostral migratory stream (RMS), and new neurons differentiate and integrate within the olfactory bulbs (OB). The three domains serve as ideal platforms to study the cellular, molecular, and physiological mechanisms that regulate each of the biological events distinctly. This paper describes an organotypic slice assay optimized for postnatal brain tissue, in which the extracellular conditions closely mimic the in vivo environment for migrating neuroblasts. We show that our assay provides for uniform, oriented, and speedy movement of neuroblasts within the RMS. This assay will be highly suitable for the study of cell autonomous and non-autonomous regulation of neuronal migration by utilizing cross-transplantation approaches from mice on different genetic backgrounds.

This protocol describes an organotypic slice assay optimized for the postnatal brain and high-resolution time-lapse imaging of neuroblast migration in the rostral migratory stream.

Un saggio Slice organotipica per High-Resolution Time-Lapse Imaging della migrazione neuronale nel cervello postnatale

Neurogenesis in the postnatal brain depends on maintenance of three biological events: proliferation of progenitor cells, migration of neuroblasts, as ...

Multiple-mouse Neuroanatomical Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The field of mouse phenotyping with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is rapidly growing, motivated by the need for improved tools for characterizing and evaluating mouse models of human disease. MRI is an excellent modality for investigating genetically altered animals. It is capable of whole brain coverage, can be used in vivo, and provides multiple contrast mechanisms for investigating different aspects of neuranatomy and physiology. The advent of high-field scanners along with the ability to scan multiple mice simultaneously allows for rapid phenotyping of novel mutations.
Effective mouse MRI studies require attention to many aspects of experiment design. In this article, we will describe general methods to acquire quality images for mouse phenotyping using a system that images mice concurrently in shielded transmit/receive radio frequency (RF) coils in a common magnet (Bock et al., 2003). We focus particularly on anatomical phenotyping, an important and accessible application that has shown a high potential for impact in many mouse models at our imaging centre. Before we can provide the detailed steps to acquire such images, there are important practical considerations for both in vivo brain imaging (Dazai et al., 2004) and ex vivo brain imaging (Spring et al., 2007) that should be noted. These are discussed below.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an increasingly popular tool for examining the phenotype of genetically altered mice. This article illustrates the methods necessary to achieve high-throughput phenotyping of genetically altered mice using multiple-mouse MRI.

Multiple-topo Imaging neuroanatomici Risonanza Magnetica

The field of mouse phenotyping with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is rapidly growing, motivated by the need for improved tools for characterizing and ...

Electrophysiological Characterization of GFP-Expressing Cell Populations in the Intact Retina

Studying the physiological properties and synaptic connections of specific neurons in the intact tissue is a challenge for those cells that lack conspicuous morphological features or show a low population density. This applies particularly to retinal amacrine cells, an exceptionally multiform class of interneurons that comprise roughly 30 subtypes in mammals1. Though being a crucial part of the visual processing by shaping the retinal output2, most of these subtypes have not been studied up to now in a functional context because encountering these cells with a recording electrode is a rare event.
Recently, a multitude of transgenic mouse lines is available that express fluorescent markers like green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of promoters for membrane receptors or enzymes that are specific to only a subset of neurons in a given tissue3,4. These pre-labeled cells are therefore accessible to directed microelectrode targeting under microscopic control, permitting the systematic study of their physiological properties in situ. However, excitation of fluorescent markers is accompanied by the risk of phototoxicity for the living tissue. In the retina, this approach is additionally hampered by the problem that excitation light causes appropriate stimulation of the photoreceptors, thus inflicting photopigment bleaching and transferring the retinal circuits into a light-adapted condition. These drawbacks are overcome by using infrared excitation delivered by a mode-locked laser in short pulses of the femtosecond range. Two-photon excitation provides energy sufficient for fluorophore excitation and at the same time restricts the excitation to a small tissue volume minimizing the hazards of photodamage5. Also, it leaves the retina responsive to visual stimuli since infrared light (&gt;850 nm) is only poorly absorbed by photopigments6.
In this article we demonstrate the use of a transgenic mouse retina to attain electrophysiological in situ recordings from GFP-expressing cells that are visually targeted by two-photon excitation. The retina is prepared and maintained in darkness and can be subjected to optical stimuli which are projected through the condenser of the microscope (Figure 1). Patch-clamp recording of light responses can be combined with dye filling to reveal the morphology and to check for gap junction-mediated dye coupling to neighboring cells, so that the target cell can by studied on different experimental levels.

This article depicts the recording of individual cells from fluorescently tagged neuronal populations in the intact mouse retina. By using two-photon infrared excitation transgenetically labeled cells were targeted for patch-clamp recording to study their light responses, receptive field properties, and morphology.

Caratterizzazione elettrofisiologica di GFP-Esprimendo popolazioni di cellule nella retina intatto

Studying the physiological properties and synaptic connections of specific neurons in the intact tissue is a challenge for those cells that lack ...

A Protocol for the Administration of Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Training

Neurologic disorders are characterized by abnormal cellular-, molecular-, and circuit-level functions in the brain. New methods to induce and control neuroplastic processes and correct abnormal function, or even shift functions from damaged tissue to physiologically healthy brain regions, hold the potential to dramatically improve overall health. Of the current neuroplastic interventions in development, neurofeedback training (NFT) from functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has the advantages of being completely non-invasive, non-pharmacologic, and spatially localized to target brain regions, as well as having no known side effects. Furthermore, NFT techniques, initially developed using fMRI, can often be translated to exercises that can be performed outside of the scanner without the aid of medical professionals or sophisticated medical equipment. In fMRI NFT, the fMRI signal is measured from specific regions of the brain, processed, and presented to the participant in real-time. Through training, self-directed mental processing techniques, that regulate this signal and its underlying neurophysiologic correlates, are developed. FMRI NFT has been used to train volitional control over a wide range of brain regions with implications for several different cognitive, behavioral, and motor systems. Additionally, fMRI NFT has shown promise in a broad range of applications such as the treatment of neurologic disorders and the augmentation of baseline human performance. In this article, we present an fMRI NFT protocol developed at our institution for modulation of both healthy and abnormal brain function, as well as examples of using the method to target both cognitive and auditory regions of the brain.

The ability to induce and/or control neural plasticity may be critical in future treatments for neurologic disorders and the recovery from brain injury. In this paper, we present a protocol on the use of neurofeedback training with functional magnetic resonance imaging to modulate human brain function.

Un protocollo per l'amministrazione di Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Training

Neurologic disorders are characterized by abnormal cellular-, molecular-, and circuit-level functions in the brain. New methods to induce and control ...

Time-lapse Confocal Imaging of Migrating Neurons in Organotypic Slice Culture of Embryonic Mouse Brain Using In Utero Electroporation

In utero electroporation is a rapid and powerful approach to study the process of radial migration in the cerebral cortex of developing mouse embryos. It has helped to describe the different steps of radial migration and characterize the molecular mechanisms controlling this process. To directly and dynamically analyze migrating neurons they have to be traced over time. This protocol describes a workflow that combines in utero electroporation with organotypic slice culture and time-lapse confocal imaging, which allows for a direct examination and dynamic analysis of radially migrating cortical neurons. Furthermore, detailed characterization of migrating neurons, such as migration speed, speed profiles, as well as radial orientation changes, is possible. The method can easily be adapted to perform functional analyses of genes of interest in radially migrating cortical neurons by loss and gain of function as well as rescue experiments. Time-lapse imaging of migrating neurons is a state-of-the-art technique that once established is a potent tool to study the development of the cerebral cortex in mouse models of neuronal migration disorders.

Time-lapse Confocal Imaging of Migrating Neurons in Organotypic Slice Culture of Embryonic Mouse Brain Using In Utero Electroporation

This protocol provides instructions for direct observation of radially migrating cortical neurons. In utero electroporation, organotypic slice culture, and time-lapse confocal imaging are combined to directly and dynamically study the effects of overexpression or downregulation of genes of interest in migrating neurons and to analyze their differentiation during development.

Impressione confocale dei migratori dei neuroni nella cultura di fetta organotipica del cervello embrionale del mouse usando<em&gt; In Utero</em&gt; Elettroporazione

In utero electroporation is a rapid and powerful approach to study the process of radial migration in the cerebral cortex of developing mouse embryos. It ...

Ex Utero Electroporation and Organotypic Slice Cultures of Embryonic Mouse Brains for Live-Imaging of Migrating GABAergic Interneurons

GABAergic interneurons (INs) are critical components of neuronal networks that drive cognition and behavior. INs destined to populate the cortex migrate tangentially from their place of origin in the ventral telencephalon (including from the medial and caudal ganglionic eminences (MGE, CGE)) to the dorsal cortical plate in response to a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic cues. Different methodologies have been developed over the years to genetically manipulate specific pathways and investigate how they regulate the dynamic cytoskeletal changes required for proper IN migration. In utero electroporation has been extensively used to study the effect of gene repression or overexpression in specific IN subtypes while assessing the impact on morphology and final position. However, while this approach is readily used to modify radially migrating pyramidal cells, it is more technically challenging when targeting INs. In utero electroporation generates a low yield given the decreased survival rates of pups when electroporation is conducted before e14.5, as is customary when studying MGE-derived INs. In an alternative approach, MGE explants provide easy access to the MGE and facilitate the imaging of genetically modified INs. However, in these explants, INs migrate into an artificial matrix, devoid of endogenous guidance cues and thalamic inputs. This prompted us to optimize a method where INs can migrate in a more naturalistic environment, while circumventing the technical challenges of in utero approaches. In this paper, we describe the combination of ex utero electroporation of embryonic mouse brains followed by organotypic slice cultures to readily track, image and reconstruct genetically modified INs migrating along their natural paths in response to endogenous cues. This approach allows for both the quantification of the dynamic aspects of IN migration with time-lapse confocal imaging, as well as the detailed analysis of various morphological parameters using neuronal reconstructions on fixed immunolabeled tissue.

Ex Utero Electroporation and Organotypic Slice Cultures of Embryonic Mouse Brains for Live-Imaging of Migrating GABAergic Interneurons

Here, we provide a low-cost and reliable method to generate electroporated brain organotypic slice cultures from mouse embryos suitable for confocal microscopy and live-imaging techniques.

Ex Utero Elettroporazione e colture Organotypic fetta di cervelli embrionali del Mouse per vivere-Imaging di migrazione interneuroni GABAergici

GABAergic interneurons (INs) are critical components of neuronal networks that drive cognition and behavior. INs destined to populate the cortex migrate ...

Preparation and Immunostaining of Myelinating Organotypic Cerebellar Slice Cultures

In the nervous system, myelin is a complex membrane structure generated by myelinating glial cells, which ensheathes axons and facilitates fast electrical conduction. Myelin alteration has been shown to occur in various neurological diseases, where it is associated with functional deficits. Here, we provide a detailed description of an ex vivo model consisting of mouse organotypic cerebellar slices, which can be maintained in culture for several weeks and further be labeled to visualize myelin.

Here we present a method to prepare organotypic slice cultures from mouse cerebellum and myelin sheath staining by immunohistochemistry suitable for investigating mechanisms of myelination and remyelination in the central nervous system.

Preparazione e Immunostaining di su colture organotipiche Myelinating fetta cerebellare

In the nervous system, myelin is a complex membrane structure generated by myelinating glial cells, which ensheathes axons and facilitates fast electrical ...

Ex Vivo Oculomotor Slice Culture from Embryonic GFP-Expressing Mice for Time-Lapse Imaging of Oculomotor Nerve Outgrowth

Accurate eye movements are crucial for vision, but the development of the ocular motor system, especially the molecular pathways controlling axon guidance, has not been fully elucidated. This is partly due to technical limitations of traditional axon guidance assays. To identify additional axon guidance cues influencing the oculomotor nerve, an ex vivo slice assay to image the oculomotor nerve in real-time as it grows towards the eye was developed. E10.5 IslMN-GFP embryos are used to generate ex vivo slices by embedding them in agarose, slicing on a vibratome, then growing them in a microscope stage-top incubator with time-lapse photomicroscopy for 24-72 h. Control slices recapitulate the in vivo timing of outgrowth of axons from the nucleus to the orbit. Small molecule inhibitors or recombinant proteins can be added to the culture media to assess the role of different axon guidance pathways. This method has the advantages of maintaining more of the local microenvironment through which axons traverse, not axotomizing the growing axons, and assessing the axons at multiple points along their trajectory. It can also identify effects on specific subsets of axons. For example, inhibition of CXCR4 causes axons still within the midbrain to grow dorsally rather than ventrally, but axons that have already exited ventrally are not affected.

An ex vivo slice assay allows oculomotor nerve outgrowth to be imaged in real time. Slices are generated by embedding E10.5 IslMN:GFP embryos in agarose, slicing on a vibratome, and growing in a stage-top incubator. The role of axon guidance pathways is assessed by adding inhibitors to the culture media.