Determination of Mitochondrial Respiration and Glycolysis in Ex Vivo Retinal Tissue Samples

Summary

Described here is a detailed protocol for performing mitochondrial stress assay and glycolytic rate assay in ex vivo retinal tissue samples using a commercial bioanalyzer.

Abstract

Mitochondrial respiration is a critical energy-generating pathway in all cells, especially retinal photoreceptors that possess a highly active metabolism. In addition, photoreceptors also exhibit high aerobic glycolysis like cancer cells. Precise measurements of these metabolic activities can provide valuable insights into cellular homeostasis under physiological conditions and in disease states. High throughput microplate-based assays have been developed to measure mitochondrial respiration and various metabolic activities in live cells. However, a vast majority of these are developed for cultured cells and have not been optimized for intact tissue samples and for application ex vivo. Described here is a detailed step-by-step protocol, using microplate-based fluorescence technology, to directly measure oxygen consumption rate (OCR) as an indicator of mitochondrial respiration, as well as extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) as an indicator of glycolysis, in intact ex vivo retinal tissue. This method has been used to successfully assess metabolic activities in adult mouse retina and demonstrate its application in investigating cellular mechanisms of aging and disease.

Introduction

Mitochondria are essential organelle that regulates cellular metabolism, signaling, homeostasis, and apoptosis by coordinating multiple crucial physiological processes¹. Mitochondria serve as the powerhouse in the cell to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and provide energy that supports almost all cellular events. The majority of cellular oxygen is metabolized in mitochondria, where it serves as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain (ETC) during aerobic respiration. Low amounts of ATP can also be produced from glycolysis in the cytosol, where glucose is converted to pyruvate,....

Protocol

All mouse protocols were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the National Eye Institute (NEI ASP# 650). Mice were housed in 12 h light-dark conditions and cared for by following the recommendations of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, and the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

1. Hydrating sensor cartridge and preparation of the assay medium

1. The day before the experiment, add 1 mL of the calibration medium to each well of the utility plate. Place the Hydro-Booster cover on the top and lower the sensor cartridge ....

Results

The data reported here are representative mitochondrial stress assay showing OCR trace (Figure 1) and glycolytic rate assay showing OCR trace and ECAR trace (Figure 2), which were performed using freshly dissected 1 mm retinal punch disks from 4 months old transgenic Nrl-L-EGFP mice³⁶ (C57B/L6 background). These mice express GFP specifically in rod photoreceptors without altering normal retinal development, histology, and physiol.......

Discussion

Provided here are detailed instructions for performing microplate-based assays of mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis activity using ex vivo, freshly dissected retinal punch disks. The protocol has been optimized to: 1) ensure the use of a suitable assay medium for ex vivo retinal tissue; 2) employ proper size of retinal punch disks to obtain OCR and ECAR readings that fall within the machine's optimal detecting range; 3) coating mesh inserts to enhance the adhesiveness of retinal punch for sta.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
1X PBS	Thermo Fisher	14190-144
2-Deoxy glucose (2-DG), 500 mM stock solution	Sigma	D6134	Dissolve in Seahorse XF DMEM medium, prepare ahead of time
30-gauge needle	BD Precision Glide	305106
Antimycin A, 10 mM stock solution	Sigma	A8674	Dissolve in DMSO, prepare ahead of time
Bam15, 10 mM stock solution	TimTec	ST056388	Dissolve in DMSO, prepare ahead of time
Biopsy puncher, 1 mm	Integra Miltex	33-31AA
Cell-Tak	Corning Life Sciences	CB40240
CO2 asphyxiation chamber
Dissection forceps-Dumont #5	Fine Science Tools	11251-10	Stright tip
Dissection forceps-Dumont #7	Fine Science Tools	11274-20	Curved tip
Dissection microscope
DMSO	Sigma	D2438
Graefe forceps	Fine Science Tools	11051-10	Curved, Serrated tip
Microscissors	Fine Science Tools	15004-08	Curved tip
NaOH solution, 1 M	Sigma-Aldrich	S8263	Aqueous solution, prepare ahead of time
Rotenone, 10 mM stock solution	Sigma	R8875	Dissolve in DMSO, prepare ahead of time
Seahorse calibration medium	Agilent	100840-000
Seahorse XF 1.0 M glucose	Agilent	103577-100
Seahorse XF 100 mM pyruvate	Agilent	103578-100
Seahorse XF 200 mM glutamine	Agilent	103579-100
Seahorse XF DMEM medium	Agilent	103575-100	pH 7.4, with 5 mM HEPES
Seahorse XFe24 Islet Capture FluxPak	Agilent	103518-100	Containing Sensor Cartridge and Islet Capture microplate
Seahorse XFe24, Extra Cellular Flux Analyzer	Agilent
Sodium bicarbonate solution, 0.1 M	Sigma-Aldrich	S5761	Aqueous solution, prepare ahead of time
Superfine eyelash brush	Ted Pella	113