This protocol demonstrates methodologies for a mouse model of open-skull traumatic brain injury and transplantation of cultured human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cells into the injury site. Behavioral and histologic tests of outcomes from these procedures are also described in brief.
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Method Article
Controlled Cortical Impact Model of Mouse Brain Injury with Therapeutic Transplantation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Cells
In This Article
Summary
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Disease pathology due to TBI progresses from the primary mechanical insult to secondary injury processes, including apoptosis and inflammation. Animal modeling has been valuable in the search to unravel injury mechanisms and evaluate potential neuroprotective therapies. This protocol describes the controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of focal, open-head TBI. Specifically, parameters for producing a mild unilateral cortical injury are described. Behavioral consequences of CCI are analyzed using the adhesive tape removal test of bilateral sensorimotor integration. Regarding experimental therapy for TBI pathology, this protocol also illustrates a process for transplanting cultured cells into the brain. Neural cell cultures derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were chosen for their potential to show superior functional restoration in human TBI patients. Chronic survival of hiPSCs in the host mouse brain tissue is detected using a modified DAB immunohistochemical process.
Introduction
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a general term for the acquired injury to the brain due to either indirect mechanical forces (rotational acceleration/deceleration or contra-coup) from blows to the head or direct damage from objects or blast waves. TBI has been estimated to be the cause of roughly 9% of worldwide deaths and observed in an estimated 50 million cases per year1,2. A 2017 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that in 2013, there were a total of 2.8 million hospital visits and deaths due to TBI in the United States3. Many milder TBIs go unreport....
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Protocol
All experiments described in this protocol were reviewed and approved by the Uniformed Services University Animal Care and Use Committee.
1. Craniectomy and controlled cortical impact
- Preparation of the controlled cortical impact device and surgical supplies.
- Load a 1 mL slip-tip syringe with 0.5 mL of sterile saline for wound irrigation. Attach a 25 G needle to the syringe to control irrigation.
- Prepare a dilute solution of CsA in DMSO to final concentration of 1 mg/mL. Load a second 1 mL slip-tip syringe with 0.5 mL of cyclosporine A (CsA) solution for immunosuppression. Attach a 25 G needle or lar....
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Results
Craniectomy surgery facilitates experimental brain injury and therapeutic cell transplantation: the controlled cortical impact model of brain injury and subsequent cell transplantation therapy require careful removal of the overlying skull. The craniectomy may be performed on any dorsal surface of the skull to permit manipulations to the brain region of interest. The diagram in Figure 1 depicts a 5 mm diameter craniectomy schematic to uncover primary somatosensory and motor .......
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Discussion
Mild CCI as a model system for testing experimental regenerative therapy
The CCI model is a valuable tool for investigating mechanisms of tissue dysfunction after mechanical injury to the cortex. The tunability of the injury parameters is an attractive feature of this model. Altering the Z depth of impact, the velocity, or dwell time can increase or decrease severity of the injury as desired by the investigator10,25. The mild CCI model of c.......
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Disclosures
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by a grant from the Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (CNRM, grant number G170244014). We appreciate the assistance of Mahima Dewan and Clara Selbrede in adhesive removal pilot studies. Kryslaine Radomski performed preliminary brain injury and cell transplantation surgeries. Amanda Fu and Laura Tucker of the USU CNRM Preclinical Studies core laboratory provided valuable advice on animal surgeries and behavior testing, respectively.
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Materials
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ml syringes | Becton Dickinson (BD) | 309659 | |
| 1.7 ml flip top test tubes | Denville | C2170 | |
| 10 microliter syringe | Hamilton | 7635-01 | |
| 25G Precision Glide syringe needles | Becton Dickinson (BD) | 305122 | |
| 70% ethanol | Product of choice; varies by region | ||
| acetaminophen oral suspension | Tylenol (Children's) | Dilute to 1 mg/ml in water | |
| anesthetic vaporizer | Vetland | 521-11-22 | |
| animal handling cloth | Purchase from department store | ||
| Betadine | Purdue Products | NDC-67618-151-32 | |
| compressed oxygen | Product of choice; varies by region | ||
| cyclosporine A | Sigma-Aldrich | 30024-100mg | |
| DAB staining kit | Vector Laboratories | SK-4100 | |
| dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) | Sigma-Aldrich | D8418-500ml | |
| DMEM | Invitrogen (ThermoFisher) | A14430-01 | |
| donkey anti-mouse IgG antibody, HRP conjugated | Jackson ImmunoResearch | 715-035-151 | |
| electrical tape | 3M Corporation | Purchase from department store | |
| fine tweezers | Fine Science Tools | 11254-20 | |
| forceps | Fine Science Tools | 91106-12 | |
| glass capillary pipettes, 1 mm OD, 0.58 mm ID | World Precision Instruments | 1B100F-3 | |
| High Speed Rotary Micromotor Kit | Foredom Electric Co. | K.1070 - K.107018 | |
| Ideal Micro Drill Burr Set Of 5 | Cell Point Scientific | 60-1000 | |
| Impact One Stereotaxic Impactor for CCI | Leica Biosystems | 39463920 | |
| isoflurane | Baxter | NDC-10019-360-60 | |
| lab bench timers | Fisher Scientific | 14-649-17 | |
| Micropipette puller | MicroData Instruments, Inc. | PMP-102 | Any puller will suffice |
| Microscope cover slips | Fisherbrand | 12-545-E | |
| Microscope slide mounting medium | Product of choice | ||
| mirror | Purchase from department store | ||
| mouse anti-human nuclear antigen antibody | Millipore | MAB1281 | |
| Mouse on Mouse blocking kit | Vector Laboratories | BMK-2202 | |
| needle holder hemostat | Fine Science Tools | 12002-12 | |
| ophthalmic ointment | Falcon Pharmaceuticals | NDC-61314-631-36 | |
| ophthalmic spring scissors | Fine Science Tools | 15018-10 | |
| plastic box | Purchase from department store | ||
| plastic cylinder | Purchase from department store | ||
| QSI motorized syringe pump | Stoelting | 53311 | |
| Removable needle compression fitting | Hamilton | 55750-01 | |
| small rodent stereotaxic frame | Stoelting | 51925 | |
| small scissors | Fine Science Tools | 14060-09 | |
| StemPro Accutase | Invitrogen (ThermoFisher) | A1110501 | |
| Sterile alcohol prep pads | Fisherbrand | 06-669-62 | |
| sterile cotton swabs/Kendall Q-tips | Tyco Healthcare | 540500 | |
| Sterile saline | Hospira | NDC-0409-1966-07 | |
| Stopwatches (2) | Fisher Scientific | 06-662-56 | |
| Superfrost Plus Gold microscope slides | Fisherbrand | 15-188-48 | |
| sutures - 5.0 silk with curved needle | Oasis | MV-682 |
References
- Maas, A. I. R., et al. Traumatic brain injury: integrated approaches to improve prevention, clinical care, and research. The Lancet Neurology. 16, 987-1048 (2017).
- Murray, C. J., et al.
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