Name: Ovarian Tissue Culture to Visualize Phenomena in Mouse Ovary (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2018-06-19T14:30:00.000+00:00
Duration: 4 min 30 s
Description: Learn ovarian tissue culture to visualize follicle development, ovulation, and atresia in mouse ovaries. This method enables real-time observation of reproductive processes under controlled conditions.

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5 minutes

We thank Dr. Naojiro Minami (Kyoto University) for providing the Oog1pro3.9 mice. This research was supported by the JSPS (KAKENHI # JP15H06275) and the Nitto Foundation.

Mice were housed in an environmentally controlled room at 23 &#177;1 &#176;C with a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle. Animal care protocols and experiments were conducted in accordance with the Guidelines for Animal Experimentation at Aichi Medical University and were approved by the incumbent Animal Care and Use Committee.
1. Preparation of Culture Medium and Dishes
<ol>
	<li>To prepare basic culture medium, add fetal bovine serum (FBS, 5% v/v), FSH (100 mIU/mL), LH (10 mU/mL), and penicillin-streptomycin (penicillin, 100 U/mL; streptomycin, 100 mg/mL) to minimum essential medium alpha (MEM-alpha) and mix in 50 mL tubes. 
	NOTE: Total volumes of required culture media vary between experiments, but 1 mL of culture medium is generally sufficient for 3.5 cm glass-bottom culture dishes.</li>
	<li>Pour 1 mL aliquots of mixed culture medium into 3.5 cm glass-bottom culture dishes and set place 30 mm cell culture inserts into dishes. Pre-warm media and dishes in an incubator (5% CO2 and 37 &#176;C).</li>
</ol>
2. Preparation of Ovarian Tissue
<ol>
	<li>Pre-warm phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (&#8722;) and MEM-alpha containing 5% FBS, 100 U/mL penicillin, and 100 mg/mL streptomycin in an incubator (5% CO2 and 37 &#176;C). 
	&#8203;NOTE: About 3 mL aliquots of PBS (&#8722;) per ovary are sufficient for use during ovary dissections, and 1 mL aliquots of MEM-alpha are sufficient for transient storage of single ovaries in 3.5 cm dishes.</li>
	<li>Excise ovaries from 4-week old female ICR (named after Institute of Cancer Research) mice and trim the tissues surrounding the ovary using scissors and tweezers under a stereoscopic microscope. Reserve the removed ovaries in culture medium (see step 2.1) until use.
	<ol>
		<li>Place single ovaries onto filter paper moistened with pre-warmed PBS (&#8722;) (see step 2.1) and slice into 4 pieces using a microtome blade under a stereoscopic microscope. 
		NOTE: Ovaries of 4-week old ICR mice are about 2 mm in diameter. The number of pieces depends on the ovary size; however, about 500 &#181;m thick pieces allow for proper follicle observations (in pieces thicker than 500 mm, tissue transparency is decreased; in pieces thinner than 500 mm, many antral follicles are broken and lost).</li>
		<li>After dissection, place the sliced ovary specimens into pre-warmed culture medium in 3.5 cm dishes (see step 2.1).</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Ovarian Tissue Culture
<ol>
	<li>Drop approximately 0.5 &#181;L of culture medium per sliced ovarian tissue on the cell culture insert where the ovarian tissue will be set using a micropipette.</li>
	<li>Place each sliced specimen into a drop of culture medium on the cell culture inserts using tweezers.</li>
	<li>Culture the ovary tissues in 5% CO2 at 37 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Replace the culture medium with fresh pre-warmed medium every 2 days. 
	&#8203;NOTE: The schedule for medium changes for the culture of ovary sections from 4-week old ICR mice is presented in Figure 1.
	<ol>
		<li>To reproduce the LH surge, treat cultured 4-week old ICR mice ovaries with the medium containing 100 mU/mL FSH and LH for 12 h every 4 days (Figure 1).</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
4. Microscope Images of Cultured Ovaries
<ol>
	<li>Start imaging the cultured ovaries after day 1 when the tissues have adhered onto the cell culture inserts, and perform confocal or inverted microscope analyses at 24 h intervals to allow sufficient follicle growth between time points. 
	NOTE: Confocal microscopy is superior to inverted microscopy for observing follicles in whole cultured ovaries.</li>
</ol>
5. Time-lapse Imaging of Cultured Ovaries
<ol>
	<li>Optimize the time-lapse imaging conditions, including laser intensities and exposure times, for the imaging system (Table 1).
	<ol>
		<li>Select paired ovary specimens from single mice for use as treatment and control groups. Vary laser intensities and exposure time to achieve the best images (Table 1).</li>
		<li>Compare follicle growth under each culture condition by measuring follicle areas in images of control samples at 24 h intervals and in time-lapse imaging samples (see step 6). Concurrently, count the number of ovulated oocytes in each ovary set and choose the optimal time-lapse imaging conditions.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Capture images at 30 min intervals using the time-lapse imaging system under the determined conditions (Table 1).</li>
</ol>
6. Follicle Growth Analysis
<ol>
	<li>To analyze the follicle development, measure the follicle areas in the captured images using ImageJ software (http://resbweb.nih.gov/ij/).
	<ol>
		<li>Initially, set the scale of the image by clicking &#34;Set Scale&#34; under &#34;Analyze&#34; in the tool bar. Enter the side lengths of the captured image and the corresponding numbers of pixels in the blank fields of &#34;Known distance&#34; and &#34;Distance in pixels&#34;, respectively.</li>
		<li>Click &#34;Free hand&#34; in the tool bar and outline the follicles in the captured bright field images.</li>
		<li>Click &#34;Measure&#34; under &#34;Analyze&#34; in the tool bar. 
		NOTE: If other measurement data are desired, click &#34;Set measurement&#34; under &#34;Analyze&#34; in the tool bar, and check the appropriate boxes in the list.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
7. Analysis of Follicle Development Using Transgenic Mice
<ol>
	<li>Collect ovaries from postnatal days 0 and 4 (P0 and P4) female transgenic mice containing the transgenes Oog1pro3.9 and R26-H2B-mCherr, and culture on inserts as described in steps 1.1&#8211;3.2, except do not slice the P0 and P4 ovaries.</li>
	<li>Replace the culture medium with fresh, pre-warmed medium in 3.5 cm dishes in an incubator containing 5% CO2 at 37 &#176;C every 2 days. 
	NOTE: The concentration of LH in the culture medium of P0 and P4 ovaries can remain constant because LH surges do not occur in P0 and P4 mice.</li>
	<li>Set the microscope to visualize only AcGFP1-positive primary follicles in cultured P4 ovaries (Table 1). 
	NOTE: Only primordial and primary follicles are present in P4 female mouse ovaries.</li>
	<li>Capture images of cultured P0 Oog1pro3.9/R26-H2B-mCherry transgenic mice ovaries at 30 min intervals using the settings used for P4 ovaries (see step 5.2).</li>
	<li>Trace and analyze follicle development using AcGFP1 and H2B-mCHerry signals.</li>
</ol>

<ol><li>Myers, M., Britt, K. L., Wreford, N. G., Ebling, F. J., Kerr, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Methods+for+quantifying+follicular+numbers+within+the+mouse+ovary%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Reproduction%22%5BJournal%5D)">Methods for quantifying follicular numbers within the mouse ovary.</a> Reproduction. 127 (5), 569-580 (2004).</li>
<li>Adams, G. P., Jaiswal, R., Singh, J., Malhi, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Progress+in+understanding+ovarian+follicular+dynamics+in+cattle%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Theriogenology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Progress in understanding ovarian follicular dynamics in cattle.</a> Theriogenology. 69 (1), 72-80 (2008).</li>
<li>Palma, G. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Biology+and+biotechnology+of+follicle+development%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Sci+World+J%22%5BJournal%5D)">Biology and biotechnology of follicle development.</a> Sci World J. , (2012).</li>
<li>Knight, P. G., Glister, C. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16885529">TGF-beta superfamily members and ovarian follicle development.</a> Reproduction. 132 (2), 191-206 (2006).</li>
<li>Picton, H. M., Harris, S. E., Muruvi, W., Chambers, E. L. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19074213">The in vitro growth and maturation of follicles.</a> Reproduction. 136 (6), 703-715 (2008).</li>
<li>Spears, N., de Bruin, J. P., Gosden, R. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+establishment+of+follicular+dominance+in+co-cultured+mouse+ovarian+follicles%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Reprod+Fertil%22%5BJournal%5D)">The establishment of follicular dominance in co-cultured mouse ovarian follicles.</a> J Reprod Fertil. 106 (1), 1-6 (1996).</li>
<li>Baker, S. J., Srsen, V., Lapping, R., Spears, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Combined+effect+of+follicle-follicle+interactions+and+declining+follicle-stimulating+hormone+on+murine+follicle+health+in+vitro%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Biol+Reprod%22%5BJournal%5D)">Combined effect of follicle-follicle interactions and declining follicle-stimulating hormone on murine follicle health in vitro.</a> Biol Reprod. 65 (4), 1304-1310 (2001).</li>
<li>Komatsu, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Analysis+of+the+Effect+of+Leukemia+Inhibitory+Factor+on+Follicular+Growth+in+Cultured+Murine+Ovarian+Tissue%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Biol+Reprod%22%5BJournal%5D)">Analysis of the Effect of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor on Follicular Growth in Cultured Murine Ovarian Tissue.</a> Biol Reprod. 93 (1), 18(2015).</li>
<li>Komatsu, K., Masubuchi, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+concentration-dependent+effect+of+progesterone+on+follicle+growth+in+the+mouse+ovary%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Reprod+Dev%22%5BJournal%5D)">The concentration-dependent effect of progesterone on follicle growth in the mouse ovary.</a> J Reprod Dev. 63 (3), 271-277 (2017).</li>
<li>Murase, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Follicle+dynamics%3A+visualization+and+analysis+of+follicle+growth+and+maturation+using+murine+ovarian+tissue+culture%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Assist+Reprod+Genet%22%5BJournal%5D)">Follicle dynamics: visualization and analysis of follicle growth and maturation using murine ovarian tissue culture.</a> J Assist Reprod Genet. , 1-5 (2017).</li>
<li>Ishida, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+promoter+of+the+oocyte-specific+gene%2C+Oog1%2C+functions+in+both+male+and+female+meiotic+germ+cells+in+transgenic+mice%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22PLoS+One%22%5BJournal%5D)">The promoter of the oocyte-specific gene, Oog1, functions in both male and female meiotic germ cells in transgenic mice.</a> PLoS One. 8 (7), 68686(2013).</li>
<li>Minami, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Oogenesin+is+a+novel+mouse+protein+expressed+in+oocytes+and+early+cleavage-stage+embryos%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Biol+Reprod%22%5BJournal%5D)">Oogenesin is a novel mouse protein expressed in oocytes and early cleavage-stage embryos.</a> Biol Reprod. 69 (5), 1736-1742 (2003).</li>
<li>Nilsson, E. E., Skinner, M. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Growth+and+differentiation+factor-9+stimulates+progression+of+early+primary+but+not+primordial+rat+ovarian+follicle+development%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Biol+Reprod%22%5BJournal%5D)">Growth and differentiation factor-9 stimulates progression of early primary but not primordial rat ovarian follicle development.</a> Biol Reprod. 67 (3), 1018-1024 (2002).</li>
<li>Nilsson, E. E., Kezele, P., Skinner, M. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Leukemia+inhibitory+factor+%28LIF%29+promotes+the+primordial+to+primary+follicle+transition+in+rat+ovaries%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Mol+Cell+Endocrinol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) promotes the primordial to primary follicle transition in rat ovaries.</a> Mol Cell Endocrinol. 188 (1-2), 65-73 (2002).</li>
<li>Nilsson, E. E., Skinner, M. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Bone+morphogenetic+protein-4+acts+as+an+ovarian+follicle+survival+factor+and+promotes+primordial+follicle+development%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Biol+Reprod%22%5BJournal%5D)">Bone morphogenetic protein-4 acts as an ovarian follicle survival factor and promotes primordial follicle development.</a> Biol Reprod. 69 (4), 1265-1272 (2003).</li>
<li>Nilsson, E. E., Skinner, M. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Kit+ligand+and+basic+fibroblast+growth+factor+interactions+in+the+induction+of+ovarian+primordial+to+primary+follicle+transition%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Mol+Cell+Endocrinol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Kit ligand and basic fibroblast growth factor interactions in the induction of ovarian primordial to primary follicle transition.</a> Mol Cell Endocrinol. 214 (1-2), 19-25 (2004).</li>
<li>Abe, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Establishment+of+conditional+reporter+mouse+lines+at+ROSA26+locus+for+live+cell+imaging%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Genesis%22%5BJournal%5D)">Establishment of conditional reporter mouse lines at ROSA26 locus for live cell imaging.</a> Genesis. 49 (7), 579-590 (2011).</li>
<li>Lan, Z. J., Xu, X., Cooney, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Differential+oocyte-specific+expression+of+Cre+recombinase+activity+in+GDF-9-iCre%2C+Zp3cre%2C+and+Msx2Cre+transgenic+mice%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Biol+Reprod%22%5BJournal%5D)">Differential oocyte-specific expression of Cre recombinase activity in GDF-9-iCre, Zp3cre, and Msx2Cre transgenic mice.</a> Biol Reprod. 71 (5), 1469-1474 (2004).</li>
<li>Payer, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Generation+of+stella-GFP+transgenic+mice%3A+a+novel+tool+to+study+germ+cell+development%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Genesis%22%5BJournal%5D)">Generation of stella-GFP transgenic mice: a novel tool to study germ cell development.</a> Genesis. 44 (2), 75-83 (2006).</li>
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</ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

In this study, we developed two new methods for studying follicle development in mouse ovaries. The first method involves culture of sliced ovarian adult mice tissues followed by analyses of follicle development, and the second involves the use of time-lapse imaging to visualize early follicle development during the gonadotropin-independent stage. Previously, we used the present ovary tissue culture method to assess the effect of leukemia inhibitory factor and progesterone on follicle development8...

Female mouse ovaries contain several thousand follicles1, and periodic ovulation matures approximately ten oocytes at each estrus cycle. Follicles are classified into several developmental stages: primordial, primary, secondary, antral, and Graafian follicles, depending on the form of the granulosa cellular layer surrounding each oocyte. Most primordial follicles are dormant, and some of them are activated and grow into primary follicles at each estrus cycle2. After the secondary follicular stage, follicle development is mainly regulated by gonadotropins, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). However, primordial and primary follicle development is independent of gonadotropin, and the regulatory mechanisms that govern these stages remain poorly inderstood3,4,5. In addition to growth factors and hormones, the primordial and primary follicle is regulated by the interactions among follicles6,7. Therefore, we performed analyses of follicle dynamics in mouse ovary tissues, and investigated the associated regulatory mechanisms using ovarian tissue cultures8,9,10.
Herein, we introduce two ovarian tissue culture model methods. The first is used to analyze follicle development by measurement of follicular areas, and the second is used to study the regulatory mechanism during early follicle development from primordial to secondary follicle stage with transgenic mice. For follicle development analysis, we mainly used ovaries of 4-week old female mice because they allow for easy visualization of follicles. To induce periodical ovulation and model in vivo follicle development, we reproduced LH surge and observed ovulation, follicle atresia, and secretion of estradiol under tissue culture conditions. Images of the cultured ovaries were captured, and the follicle development processes were analyzed by tracing changes in the follicular area. However, in bright field microscopy analyses, the distinction between primordial and early primary follicles was unclear. Thus, we developed a method to detect small follicles, and distinguish between the primordial, primary, and secondary follicle in cultured ovarian tissues using Oogenesin1 (Oog1) pro3.9 and R26-H2B-mCherry transgenic mice ovaries at days 0 and 4 after birth11. Oog1 expression is detectable in oocytes after entry into meiosis, and gradually increases with follicle development, allowing observation of the transition from primordial to primary follicles using time-lapse images of cultured ovary tissue11,12. Although morphological methods have been used to study factors that activate dormant primordial follicles13,14,15,16, physiological follicle development in ovaries is difficult to observe, and the effects of various factors remain uncharacterized. The present culture methods were designed to address this paucity in real time analyses of target factors.
In the present study, we tracked follicular development using a time-lapse imaging method and characterized the process of follicle development. Our novel methods offer an unprecedented tool for investigating the physiology of ovaries.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Follicle stimulating hormone from human pituitary</td><td>SIGMA</td><td>F4021</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Lutenizing hormone from equine pituitary</td><td>SIGMA</td><td>L9773</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Penicillin-streptomycin solution</td><td>Wako Pure Chemical Industries</td><td>168-23191</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>MEM a, GlutaMax, no nucleotides</td><td>Thermo Fisher</td><td>32561037</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Glass bottom dish</td><td>MatTek</td><td>P35G-0-10-C</td><td>35mm dish, No. 0 coverslip, 10mm glass diameter</td></tr><tr><td>Millicell cell culture insert</td><td>Merck Millipore</td><td>PICM0RG50</td><td>Diameter: 315 mm, pore size: 0.4 mm, material: hydrophilic PTTE</td></tr><tr><td>3.5cm cell culture dishes</td><td>greiner bio-one</td><td>627160</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>50ml / centrifuge tube with triple seal cap</td><td>IWAKI</td><td>2345-050</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Low-profile disposable blades 819</td><td>Leica</td><td>14035838925</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>LSM 710</td><td>Carl Zeiss</td><td></td><td>Confocal microscope</td></tr><tr><td>CellVoyager, CV1000</td><td>Yokogawa Electric Corporation</td><td></td><td>Time-lapse imaging</td></tr><tr><td>BZ-X700</td><td>KEYENCE</td><td></td><td>Time-lapse imaging</td></tr></tbody></table>

ovarian tissue culture to visualize phenomena in mouse ovary

Ovarian Tissue Culture to Visualize Phenomena in Mouse Ovary

Mammalian females periodically ovulate an almost constant number of oocytes during each estrus cycle. To sustain such regularity and periodicity, regulation occurs at the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis level and on developing follicles in the ovary. Despite active studies, follicle development mechanisms are not clear because of the several steps involved from the dormant primordial follicle activation to ovulation, and because of the regulation complexity that differs at each follicular stage. To investigate the mechanisms of follicle development, and the dynamics of follicles throughout the estrus cycle, we developed a mouse ovarian tissue culture model that can be used to observe follicle development using a microscope. Systematic follicle development, periodical ovulation, and follicle atresia can all be reproduced in the cultured ovary model, and the culture conditions can be experimentally modulated. Here, we demonstrate the usefulness of this method in the study of the regulatory mechanisms of follicle development and other ovarian phenomena.

Figure 1 shows the protocol for changes in media during ovarian tissue culture. Following this program, 4-week-old ICR mice ovaries were cultured and imaged at 24-h intervals using confocal microscopy (Figure 2). During culture of ovary tissues for 3 weeks, most antral and secondary follicles were degenerated by follicle atresia and some were ovulated (Figure 2D and Table 2</...

Ovarian tissue cultures can be used as models of follicle development, ovulation, and follicle atresia and indicate regulatory mechanisms of dynamic ovarian processes.

Mammalian females periodically ovulate an almost constant number of oocytes during each estrus cycle. To sustain such regularity and periodicity, ...

ovarian-tissue-culture-to-visualize-phenomena-in-mouse-ovary

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Learn ovarian tissue culture to visualize follicle development, ovulation, and atresia in mouse ovaries. This method enables real-time observation of reproductive processes under controlled conditions.

Ovarian Tissue Culture to Visualize Phenomena in Mouse Ovary

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