Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-8-2015
Abstract
Multiciliated ependymal cells line the ventricles in the adult brain. Abnormal function or structure of ependymal cilia is associated with various neurological deficits. The current ex vivo live imaging of motile ependymal cilia technique allows for a detailed study of ciliary dynamics following several steps. These steps include: mice euthanasia with carbon dioxide according to protocols of The University of Toledo’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC); craniectomy followed by brain removal and sagittal brain dissection with a vibratome or sharp blade to obtain very thin sections through the brain lateral ventricles, where the ependymal cilia can be visualized. Incubation of the brain’s slices in a customized glass-bottom plate containing Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM)/High-Glucose at 37 °C in the presence of 95%/5% O2/CO2 mixture is essential to keep the tissue alive during the experiment. A video of the cilia beating is then recorded using a high-resolution differential interference contrast microscope. The video is then analyzed frame by frame to calculate the ciliary beating frequency. This allows distinct classification of the ependymal cells into three categories or types based on their ciliary beating frequency and angle. Furthermore, this technique allows the use of high-speed fluorescence imaging analysis to characterize the unique intracellular calcium oscillation properties of ependymal cells as well as the effect of pharmacological agents on the calcium oscillations and the ciliary beating frequency. In addition, this technique is suitable for immunofluorescence imaging for ciliary structure and ciliary protein localization studies. This is particularly important in disease diagnosis and phenotype studies. The main limitation of the technique is attributed to the decrease in live motile cilia movement as the brain tissue starts to die.
Recommended Citation
Al Omran, A. J., Saternos, H. C., Liu, T., Nauli, S. M., AbouAlaiwi, W. A. Live Imaging of the Ependymal Cilia in the Lateral Ventricles of the Mouse Brain. J. Vis. Exp. (100), e52853, doi:10.3791/52853 (2015).
Copyright
Journal of Visualized Experiments
Included in
Animals Commons, Animal Structures Commons, Cell Anatomy Commons, Cell Biology Commons, Diagnosis Commons, Nervous System Commons, Neurosciences Commons
Comments
This article, as well as the accompanying video, were published in Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE), volume 100, in April 2015. DOI: 10.3791/52853
Note: To view the video, one must have a subscription to JoVe.