Microinjection Program
Microinjection Program - Related Videos
08:12
Zebrafish Microinjection Techniques
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2023
One of the major advantages to working with zebrafish (Danio rerio) is that their genetics can be easily manipulated by microinjection of early stage embryos. Using this technique, solutions containing genetic material or knockdown constructs are delivered into the blastomeres: the embryonic cells sitting atop the yolk of the newly fertilized egg. Delivery into the cytoplasm is achieved either through direct injection into the blastomere, or via natural cytoplasmic movements that occur after a...
11:29
Technique to Target Microinjection to the Developing Xenopus Kidney
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Cited by 17 •
2016
Here, we present a protocol to use fate maps and lineage tracers to target injections into individual blastomeres that give rise to the kidney of Xenopus laevis embryos.
13:39
Intranuclear Microinjection of DNA into Dissociated Adult Mammalian Neurons
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Cited by 20 •
2009
Direct intranuclear injection of cDNA is an effective transfection technique for post-mitotic cells. This method provides high levels of heterologous protein expression from single or multiple cDNA constructs and enables protein function to be studied in a physiologically relevant environment with a variety of single cell assays.
07:47
Ultrasound-Guided Microinjection into the Mouse Forebrain In Utero at E9.5
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Cited by 16 •
2010
In utero survival surgery in mice permits the molecular manipulation of gene expression during development. Here we describe the use of high-frequency ultrasound imaging to guide the injection of retroviral vectors into the mouse brain at embryonic day (E) 9.5.
12:10
Microinjection of Xenopus Laevis Oocytes
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Cited by 14 •
2009
Here we demonstrate cytoplasmic microinjection of Xenopus laevis oocytes with a nuclear import substrate, as well as preparation of the injected oocytes for visualization by thin-sectioning electron microscopy.
FAQs
Precision depends on coordinating fine-needle placement with controlled microscopic or stereotaxic guidance and measured pressure. These controls help researchers target a particular cell, tissue, or anatomical site while reducing mechanical damage and limiting unintended diffusion. In neuroscience experiments, accurate placement is essential because the resulting physiological or behavioral effect must be linked confidently to the intended neural location.
Applied pressure determines how the material enters the target, while diffusion influences how far it spreads afterward. Excessive spread can expose nearby cells or regions and complicate interpretation, whereas insufficient delivery may weaken the intended manipulation. Managing both factors preserves spatial specificity, allowing researchers to distinguish effects associated with the selected site from effects caused by neighboring tissue exposure.
Different materials support different experimental aims. Drugs can manipulate local biological activity, tracers can help investigate anatomical connections, and nucleic acids can support studies of cellular processes; other reagents may serve additional purposes. Selecting the material according to the research question helps connect a localized intervention with changes in neural circuitry, cellular function, physiology, or behavior.
A procedure generally requires selecting the target and material, positioning a fine needle under microscopic or stereotaxic guidance, and applying measured pressure to deliver a very small volume. Researchers then relate the localized manipulation to the observed outcome. Throughout the process, controlled positioning and delivery are important for limiting tissue disruption and unintended movement of the reagent.
Researchers choose this approach when they need to manipulate or label a precisely defined cell, tissue, or anatomical site. Local delivery can help test how a particular brain region or neural circuit contributes to cellular function, physiology, or behavior. It is especially useful when experimental conclusions depend on connecting a specific intervention with a localized neural target.
These experiments can link a molecular or regional manipulation to physiological and behavioral outcomes. For example, delivering a drug, tracer, nucleic acid, or other reagent at a defined site may reveal consequences for neural circuits or cellular function. The value of the result depends on maintaining sufficient spatial control so that observed changes can be interpreted in relation to the intended target.