Summary

كله يشن التحليل المناعى للالجنينية الاطراف الأوعية الدموية الجلدية : نظام نموذجي لدراسة الأوعية الدموية المتفرعة التشكل في الأجنة

Published: May 20, 2011
doi:

Summary

We introduce a whole-mount immunohistochemistry and laser scanning confocal microscopy with multiple labelling for analyzing intricate vascular network formation in mouse embryonic limb skin.

Abstract

Whole-mount immunohistochemical analysis for imaging the entire vasculature is pivotal for understanding the cellular mechanisms of branching morphogenesis. We have developed the limb skin vasculature model to study vascular development in which a pre-existing primitive capillary plexus is reorganized into a hierarchically branched vascular network. Whole-mount confocal microscopy with multiple labelling allows for robust imaging of intact blood vessels as well as their cellular components including endothelial cells, pericytes and smooth muscle cells, using specific fluorescent markers. Advances in this limb skin vasculature model with genetic studies have improved understanding molecular mechanisms of vascular development and patterning. The limb skin vasculature model has been used to study how peripheral nerves provide a spatial template for the differentiation and patterning of arteries. This video article describes a simple and robust protocol to stain intact blood vessels with vascular specific antibodies and fluorescent secondary antibodies, which is applicable for vascularized embryonic organs where we are able to follow the process of vascular development.

Protocol

1. Collecting Mouse Embryonic Limb Skin (E13.5~E17.5) Euthanize plugged females by approved procedure. According to our approved animal protocol, the females are euthanized by CO2 exposure and then assured by cervical dislocation. Lay the animal on its absorbent paper towel and soak it thoroughly in 70% EtOH/H2O from a squeeze bottle. Dissect the uterus intact and place it in a 100 x 15 mm Petri dish containing ice-cold Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) to wash out blood.</…

Discussion

The vascular system is crucial for organ development during embryogenesis as well as for organ maintenance and reproductive functions in the adults, because it supplies sufficient oxygen and nutrients to the organs. Proper vascular network is well-established with complex and multi-step processes by angiogenesis in which pre-existing capillary network is reorganized with highly branched and hierarchical structures. Although numerous works have been shown that a variety of molecules is involved in these processes, it has …

Disclosures

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

We thank K. Gill for assistance with mouse breeding and care and for laboratory management. Thanks also to Mukoyama lab members for technical help. Funding was provided by Intramural Research Program of Naitonal Institutes of Health.

Materials

Antibodies

Pan-endothelial cell marker

Antibody Species Company Catalogue # Working condition
PECAM-1 Armenian hamster (M) Chemicon MAB1398Z 1:100 dilution#1
PECAM-1 Rat (M) BD 553369 1:300 dilution
VEGFR2 Rat (M) eBioscience 14-5821-82 1:200 dilution
CD34 Rat (M) eBioscience 13-0341 1:300 dilution
Collagen IV Rabbit (P) AbD Serotec 2150-1470 1:300 dilution#2

Arterial endothelial cell marker

Antibody Species Company Catalogue # Working condition
Neuropilin1 Rabbit (P) The Alex Kolodkin’s lab#3 1:3000 dilution
Unc5H2 Goat (P) R&D AF1006 1:200 dilution

Venous endothelial cell marker

Antibody Species Company Catalogue # Working condition
EphB4 Goat (P) R&D AF446 1:100 dilution

Lymphatic endothelial cell marker

Antibody Species Company Catalogue # Working condition
LYVE-1#4 Rabbit (P)   Abcam ab14917 1:200 dilution
LYVE-1#4 Rat (M)   MBL D225-3 1:200 dilution
Prox-1 Rabbit (P) Chemicon AB5475 1:1000 dilution
Prox-1 Goat (P) R&D AF2727 1:50 dilution
Neuropilin2 Rabbit (P) Cell Signaling 3366 1;100 dilution
Podoplanin Syrian hamster (M) Hybridoma Bank 8.1.1 1:200 dilution

Smooth muscle cell/pericyte marker

Antibody Species Company Catalogue # Working condition
αSMA-Cy3 Mouse (M)#5 Sigma c-6198 1:500 dilution#6
NG2 Rabbit (P)   Chemicon AB5320 1:200 dilution
SM22α Rabbit (P) Abcam ab14106 1:200 dilution

Antibodies forGFP reporter

Antibody Species Company Catalogue # Working condition
GFP Rabbit (P)   Invitrogen A11122 1:300 dilution
GFP Rat (M)   Nacalai tesque 04404-84 1:1000 dilution
GFP Chick (P) Chemicon P42212 1:300 dilution

Antibodies for LacZ reporter

Antibody Species Company Catalogue # Working condition
β-gal Rabbit (P)   MP Biomedical 55976 1:5000 dilution
β-gal Goat (P) AbD Serotec 4600-1409 1:500 dilution
β-gal Chick (P) Abcam ab9361 1:200 dilution

Antibodies for peripheral axon

Antibody Species Company Catalogue # Working condition
2H3 Mouse (M)#7 Hybridoma Bank 2H3 1:200 dilution
Tuj1 Mouse (M)#8   Covance MMS-435P 1:500 dilution
Peripherin Rabbit (P) Chemicon AB1530 1:1000 dilution

Antibodies for migrating Schwann cells

BFABP Rabbit (P) The Thomas Müller’s lab#9 1:3000 dilution

(P): polyclonal antibody, (M): monoclonal antibody

#1: Goat anti-Armenian hamster-Cy3 (Jackson ImmunoResearch 127-165-160) antibody should be used as a secondary antibody.

#2: The Collagen IV antibody can be used to detect blood vessels after in situ hybridization.

#3: The Neuropilin1 antibody is kindly provided by the Alex Kolodkin’s lab in the Johns Hopkins University. Sheep anti-human Neuropilin1 antibody is available in R&D (AF3870), although we have not tested it yet.

#4: The LYVE-1 antibodies also detect a subset of macrophages in the embryonic skin.

#5: The anti-αSMA antibody is mouse IgG2a monoclonal antibody.

#6: The Cy3-conjugated αSMA antibody is incubated for 1 hour at room temperature together with secondary antibodies for other primary antibodies.

#7: 2H3 antibody is mouse IgG1 monoclonal antibody against neurofilament.

#8: Tuj1 antibody is mouse IgG2a monoclonal antibody against Neuron-specific class III beta-tubulin.

#9: The BFABP (brain-specific fatty acid binding protein) antibody is kindly provided by the Thomas Müller’s lab in Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine.

References

  1. Mukouyama, Y. S., Shin, D., Britsch, S., Taniguchi, M., Anderson, D. J. Sensory nerves determine the pattern of arterial differentiation and blood vessel branching in the skin. Cell. 109, 693-705 (2002).
  2. Mukouyama, Y. S., Gerber, H. P., Ferrara, N., Gu, C., Anderson, D. J. Peripheral nerve-derived VEGF promotes arterial differentiation via neuropilin 1-mediated positive feedback. Development. 132, 941-952 (2005).
  3. Wang, H. U., Chen, Z. F., Anderson, D. J. Molecular distinction and angiogenic interaction between embryonic arteries and veins revealed by ephrin-B2 and its receptor Eph-B4. Cell. 93, 741-753 (1998).
  4. Gerety, S. S., Wang, H. U., Chen, Z. F., Anderson, D. J. Symmetrical mutant phenotypes of the receptor EphB4 and its specific transmembrane ligand ephrin-B2 in cardiovascular development. Mol Cell. 4, 403-414 (1999).

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Cite This Article
Li, W., Mukouyama, Y. Whole-mount Immunohistochemical Analysis for Embryonic Limb Skin Vasculature: a Model System to Study Vascular Branching Morphogenesis in Embryo. J. Vis. Exp. (51), e2620, doi:10.3791/2620 (2011).

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