Microinjection of membrane-impermeable molecules into single neural stem cells in brain tissue

Nat Protoc. 2014 May;9(5):1170-82. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2014.074. Epub 2014 Apr 24.

Abstract

This microinjection protocol allows the manipulation and tracking of neural stem and progenitor cells in tissue at single-cell resolution. We demonstrate how to apply microinjection to organotypic brain slices obtained from mice and ferrets; however, our technique is not limited to mouse and ferret embryos, but provides a means of introducing a wide variety of membrane-impermeable molecules (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, hydrophilic compounds) into neural stem and progenitor cells of any developing mammalian brain. Microinjection experiments are conducted by using a phase-contrast microscope equipped with epifluorescence, a transjector and a micromanipulator. The procedure normally takes ∼2 h for an experienced researcher, and the entire protocol, including tissue processing, can be performed within 1 week. Thus, microinjection is a unique and versatile method for changing and tracking the fate of a cell in organotypic slice culture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / cytology*
  • Ferrets
  • Fluorescence
  • Mice
  • Microinjections / methods*
  • Micromanipulation / methods
  • Microscopy, Phase-Contrast
  • Neural Stem Cells / metabolism*