Summary
Here are some highlights from the January 2012 Issue of Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE).
Protocol
Selection of Plasmodium falciparum Parasites for Cytoadhesion to Human Brain Endothelial Cells
Antoine Claessens, J. Alexandra Rowe
Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh
An in vitro model for cerebral malaria sequestration is described1. Plasmodium falciparum infected red blood cells are selected for binding to immortalized human brain microvascular endothelial cells. The selected parasites show a distinct phenotype. The selection process can be applied using various P. falciparum strains and endothelial cell lines.
Implantation of a Carotid Cuff for Triggering Shear-stress Induced Atherosclerosis in Mice
Michael T. Kuhlmann1, Simon Cuhlmann2, 3, Irmgard Hoppe1, Rob Krams3, Paul C. Evans2, Gustav J. Strijkers4, Klaas Nicolay4, Sven Hermann1, Michael Schäfers1
1European Institute for Molecular Imaging, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, 2British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Sciences Unit, Imperial College London , 3Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London , 4Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology
The constricting cuff presented in this article is designed to induce atherosclerosis in the murine common carotid artery. Due to the conical shape of its inner lumen the implanted cuff generates well-defined regions of low, high and oscillatory shear stress triggering the development of atherosclerotic lesions of different inflammatory phenotypes.
Analysis of Trunk Neural Crest Cell Migration using a Modified Zigmond Chamber Assay
Christopher C. Walheim1, Juan Pablo Zanin2, Maria Elena de Bellard1
1Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, 2Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
An approach to analyze the migration of explanted cells (trunk neural crest cells) is described. This method is inexpensive, gentle, and capable of distinguishing chemotaxis from both chemokinesis and other influences on migratory polarity such as those derived from cell-cell interactions within the primary trunk neural crest cell culture.
Organotypic Slice Cultures of Embryonic Ventral Midbrain: A System to Study Dopaminergic Neuronal Development in vitro
Gabriela Oana Bodea, Sandra Blaess
Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn
A method to generate organotypic slices from the E12.5 murine embryonic midbrain is described. The organotypic slice cultures can be used to observe the behavior of dopaminergic neurons or other ventral midbrain neurons.
Visualization of Caenorhabditis elegans Cuticle Structures using the Lipophilic Vital Dye, DiI
Robbie D. Schultz1, 2, Tina L. Gumienny2
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, 2Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College of Medicine
We present a method to visualize cuticle in live C. elegans using the red fluorescent lipophilic dye DiI (1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate), which is commonly used in C. elegans to visualize environmentally exposed neurons. With this optimized protocol, alae and annular cuticular structures are stained by DiI and observed using compound microscopy.
A Protocol for Detecting and Scavenging Gas-phase Free Radicals in Mainstream Cigarette Smoke
Long-Xi Yu1, Boris G. Dzikovski2, Jack H. Freed3, 2
1CDCF-AOX Lab, 2National Biomedical Center for Advanced ESR Technology (ACERT), Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, 3ACERT Research, Center Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University
Spin-trapping ESR spectroscopy was used to study the effect of plant antioxidants lycopene, pycnogenol and grape seed extract on scavenging gas-phase free radicals in cigarette smoke.
How to Measure Cortical Folding from MR Images: A Step-by-step Tutorial to Compute Local Gyrification Index
Marie Schaer1, Meritxell Bach Cuadra2, 3, Nick Schmansky4, Bruce Fischl4, Jean-Philippe Thiran2, Stephan Eliez1
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, 2Signal Processing Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 3Department of Radiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, 4Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
Measuring gyrification (cortical folding) at any age represents a window into early brain development. Hence, we previously developed an algorithm to measure local gyrification at thousands of points over the hemisphere1. In this paper, we detail the computation of this local gyrification index.
The Use of Thermal Infra-Red Imaging to Detect Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
Hani H. Al-Nakhli1, Jerrold S. Petrofsky1, 2, Michael S. Laymon2, Lee S. Berk1
1Loma Linda University, 2Azusa Pacific University
The purpose of this investigation was to assess whether using an infra-red thermal camera is a valid tool for detecting and quantifying the muscle soreness after exercising.
