Visualization of Tangential Cell Migration in the Developing Chick Optic Tectum

Summary

We describe the methods for fluorescent labeling of tangentially migrating cells by electroporation, and for time-lapse imaging of the labeled cell movement in a flat-mount culture in order to visualize migrating cell behavior in the developing chick optic tectum.

Abstract

Time-lapse imaging is a powerful method to analyze migrating cell behavior. After fluorescent cell labeling, the movement of the labeled cells in culture can be recorded under video microscopy. For analyzing cell migration in the developing brain, slice culture is commonly used to observe cell migration parallel to the slice section, such as radial cell migration. However, limited information can be obtained from the slice culture method to analyze cell migration perpendicular to the slice section, such as tangential cell migration. Here, we present the protocols for time-lapse imaging to visualize tangential cell migration in the developing chick optic tectum. A combination of cell labeling by electroporation in ovo and a subsequent flat-mount culture on the cell culture insert enables detection of migrating cell movement in the horizontal plane. Moreover, our method facilitates detection of both individual cell behavior and the collective action of a group of cells in the long term. This method can potentially be applied to detect the sequential change of the fluorescent-labeled micro-structure, including the axonal elongation in the neural tissue or cell displacement in the non-neural tissue.

Introduction

The study of cell migration has been progressing with the advancing technique of live imaging. After fluorescent cell labeling, the temporal movement of labeled cells in a culture dish or in vivo can be recorded under video microscopy. In the study of neural development, the morphological changes of migrating cells or elongating axons have been analyzed using time-lapse imaging. For effective imaging, it is essential to apply a suitable method for fluorescent cell labeling and tissue preparation, based on the purpose of the experiment and analysis. For analyzing cell migration in the developing brain, slice culture has been commonly used to observe cell migra....

Protocol

1 . Electroporation In Ovo

1. Prepare the expression plasmid DNA for fluorescent labeling in high concentration. Isolate DNA from 200 mL of bacterial culture by the alkaline lysis method using anion-exchange columns according to the manufacturer's protocol (Table of Materials). Mix pCAGGS-EGFP and pCAGGS-mCherryNuc at a final concentration of 4 µg/µL each.
   NOTE: Endotoxin-free plasmid DNA purification may be preferred for electroporation.
2. Incubate fertile chicken eggs horizontally at 38 °C in 70% relative humidity.
3. After 2.5 days, eliminate 5 mL of albumen (egg white) from the pointed sid....

Results

Figure 2 shows the visualized superficial tangential migration in a flat-mount culture at an elapsed time (0, 9, 18, 27 h) after onset of recording. Movie 1 is a time-lapse movie of 10 min-intervals over a period of 28 h and 50 min. The frame is selected for focusing on the migrating cells from the labeled lower-left corner of the frame to the unlabeled space (Figure 3A). The mass movement of the.......

Discussion

The protocol described above is optimized for detecting cell migration in superficial layers^6,8. It is applicable for detecting middle layer migration streams (Movie 5)^6,7, just by shifting the timing of the electroporation (E5.5 to E4.5) and the onset of culture and imaging (E7.0 to E6.0).

The presented procedure is composed of cell labeling b.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Materials
NucleoBond Xtra Midi Plus EF	MACHEREY-NAGEL	740422.5	endotoxin-free plasmid DNA purification kit
20 ml syringe	TERUMO	SS-20ESZ
18 gauge needle	TERUMO	NN-1838R
Fast Green	Wako	061-00031
100x penicillin and streptomycin	Gibco	15140-122
glass capillary tube	Narishige	G-1
cell culture insert	Millipore	Millicell CM-ORG
Laminin	SIGMA	L2020	coating of culture insert
poly-L-Lysine	Peptide Institute	3075	coating of culture insert
glass bottom dish	Matsunami	D11130H
Opti-MEM	Gibco	31985-070	culture medium
F12	Gibco	11765-054	culture medium
fetal bovine serum	Gibco	12483	culture medium
chick serum	Gibco	16110082	culture medium
10xHBSS	Gibco	14065-056
microsurgical knife	Surgical specialties cooperation	72-1501
Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Equipment
curved scissors	AS ONE	No.11
micropipette processor	SUTTER INSTRUMENT	P97/IVF
forceps-type electrode	BEX	LF646P3x3
pulse generator	BEX	CUY21EX	electroporator
fluorescence stereoscopic microscope	Leica	MZ16F
inverted fluorescence microscope	Olympus	IX81
gas controller	Tokken	MIGM/OL-2
temperature controller	Tokai Hit	MI-IBC
laser confocal unit	Olympus	FV300