Implanting Glass Spinal Cord Windows in Adult Mice with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Keith K. Fenrich; Pascal Weber; Genevieve Rougon; Franck Debarbieux

doi:10.3791/50826

Implante de ventanas de vidrio de la médula espinal en ratones adultos con encefalomielitis autoi...

JoVE Journal
Medicine

A subscription to JoVE is required to view this content. Sign in or start your free trial.

JoVE Journal Medicine

Implanting Glass Spinal Cord Windows in Adult Mice with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Implante de ventanas de vidrio de la médula espinal en ratones adultos con encefalomielitis autoinmune experimental

Full Text

8,046 Views

09:20 min

December 21, 2013

DOI: 10.3791/50826-v

Keith K. Fenrich¹, Pascal Weber¹, Genevieve Rougon^1,2, Franck Debarbieux^1,2

¹Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille-Luminy (IBDML),Aix Marseille University, ²Campus de la Timone,European Research Center for Medical Imaging (CERIMED)

Please note that some of the translations on this page are AI generated. Click here for the English version.

Overview

This article describes a method for implanting glass windows over the exposed spinal cords of adult mice to study experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The technique allows for chronic optical access to monitor cell dynamics at the subcellular level using two-photon microscopy.

Key Study Components

Area of Science

Neuroscience
Immunology
Microscopy

Background

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis is a model for studying multiple sclerosis.
Two-photon microscopy enables high-resolution imaging of live tissues.
Chronic imaging techniques are essential for understanding disease progression.
Glass windows facilitate long-term observation of cellular interactions.

Purpose of Study

To create a window view of spinal cords in adult mice.
To study the dynamics of EAE through longitudinal imaging.
To observe spatiotemporal changes in cell distributions and interactions.

Methods Used

Implantation of a spinal clamp to support the vertebrae.
Exposure of the spinal cord and preparation of vertebrae edges.
Implantation of a glass window with silicone elastomer.
Induction of EAE several weeks post-implantation.

Main Results

Successful chronic imaging of spinal cord dynamics.
Observation of cell interactions in EAE-affected mice.
Insights into the progression of autoimmune responses.
Demonstration of the utility of two-photon microscopy in live imaging.

Conclusions

The method provides a valuable tool for studying EAE.
Chronic optical access enhances understanding of cellular behavior.
Two-photon microscopy is effective for longitudinal studies in live animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis?

EAE is an animal model used to study multiple sclerosis and autoimmune responses in the central nervous system.

How does two-photon microscopy work?

Two-photon microscopy uses infrared light to excite fluorescent molecules, allowing for deep tissue imaging with minimal damage.

What are the benefits of using glass windows in this study?

Glass windows provide chronic access to the spinal cord, enabling long-term observation of cellular dynamics and interactions.

What role does silicone elastomer play in the implantation?

Silicone elastomer acts as a cushion between the glass window and the dura, preventing damage and ensuring stability.

Can this method be applied to other models of disease?

Yes, the technique can potentially be adapted for other models requiring chronic imaging of the spinal cord or other tissues.

What are the implications of this research?

This research enhances our understanding of autoimmune diseases and could lead to better therapeutic strategies.

Describimos un método para implantar y mantener ventanas de vidrio sobre la médula espinal expuesta de ratones adultos para estudiar la encefalomielitis autoinmune experimental. Estas ventanas proporcionan acceso óptico crónico a la médula espinal para monitorear la dinámica celular a nivel subcelular en animales vivos utilizando microscopía de dos fotones.

El objetivo general de este procedimiento es crear una vista de ventana de la médula espinal y ratones adultos para estudiar la encefalomielitis autoinmune experimental mediante microscopía intravital longitudinal de dos fotones. Esto se logra implantando primero una pinza espinal para sostener las vértebras para la cirugía y la imagen. Los siguientes pasos son exponer la médula espinal y preparar los bordes laterales de las vértebras para sostener la ventana de vidrio.

A continuación, se implanta en la ventana una fina capa de elastómero de silicona entre la ventana y la duramadre. El paso final, varias semanas después de la implantación, es inducir EAE en los ratones implantados. En última instancia, los resultados pueden mostrar los cambios espacio-temporales en las distribuciones celulares y las interacciones celulares en la médula espinal de ratones EAE utilizando dos microscopías de fotones.

View the full transcript and gain access to thousands of scientific videos

Explore More Videos

Palabras clave: Microscopía intravital médula espinal encefalomielitis autoinmune experimental (EAE) implante de ventana de vidrio ratones thy1-CFP-23 pérdida axonal dinámica celular enfermedades autoinmunes desmielinizantes