This video demonstrates New culture, a method by which chick embryos are cultured outside the egg for up to 24 hr. This method enables one to study early development (primitive streak to 14 som.), a period corresponding to E7-9 in mouse. Applications of this technique include electroporation, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.
Abstract
The chick embryo is a valuable tool in the study of early embryonic development. Its transparency, accessibility and ease of manipulation, make it an ideal tool for studying the formation and patterning of brain, neural tube, somite and heart primordia. Applications of chick embryo culture include electroporation of DNA or RNA constructs in order to analyze gene function, grafts of growth factor coated beads such as FGFs and BMPs , as well as whole mount in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. This video demonstrates the different steps in chick embryo culture; First, the embryo is explanted in saline. Then, the embryo is centered on a glass ring. The membranes surrounding the embryo are lifted along the walls of the ring. The ring is then placed in a culture dish containing a pool of albumine. The culture dish is sealed and placed in a humid chamber, where the embryo is cultured for up to 24 hrs. Finally, the embryo is removed from the ring, fixed and processed for further applications. A troubleshooting guide is also presented.
Protocol
Part 1: Bench set up A humid chamber is prepared by placing Kimwipe/ddH2O in plastic chamber. A Falcon tube to collect albumin, dishes for culture, rings, watchglass and waste disposal are placed on bench. Pyrex dish is filled with 1.4 l saline (see notes [a]). Part 2: Embryo is explanted in saline Eggs are removed from the incubator after 16 hrs (stage 4). The egg is opene by tapping the shell with forceps. Shell pieces are rem…
Discussion
The New culture method 2 can be used for a wide variety of applications, ranging from grafts of growth factor containing beads 3, to whole mount in situ hybridization and whole mount immunohistochemistry 4. Culture over a 24 hr period enables the continuous monitoring of embryonic development in applications such as time lapse cell movement analysis 5 or monitoring of GFP containing electroporated constructs 6.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Margaret M. Alkek Foundation to RHF.
Materials
Material Name
Type
Company
Catalogue Number
Comment
Eggs
Animal
Charles River Laboratories
Premium Fertile
Stereomicroscope
Microscope
Leica Microsystems
MZ9.5 or similar
Marsh Automatic Incubator
Tool
Lyon
RX
Hybridization Incubator
Tool
Robbins Scientific
M1000
Pyrex dish (2)
Tool
Watchmaker’s glass 50mm
Tool
VWR
66112-060
Glass rings
Tool
Physical Plant facility
cut 4 mm thick sections of glass tubing (27 mm outer diam, 25 mm inner diam). Do not fine polish.
Curved Forceps (1)
Surgery
Electron Microscopy Sciences
72991-4C
Forceps (2)
Surgery
Fine Science Tools
11002-13
blunt ended using sharpening Stone and 100ul mineral oil
Sharpening Stone Dan’s Black Arkansas
Surgery
Electron Microscopy Sciences
62082-00
Fine scissors
Surgery
Fine Science Tools
14161-10
Plastic dishes
Tool
Falcon
353001
Rubber Bulb
Tool
Electron Microscopy Sciences
70980
Pasteur Capillary Pipette
Tool
Electron Microscopy Sciences
70950-12
round edge under flame
Microcapillary tube
Surgery
Sigma
P1049-1PAK
Pull using vertical micropipette puller; blunt end with fine forceps
Microdissecting knife
Surgery
Fine Science Tools
10056-12
Use to puncture cavities prior to in situ hybridization
Minuten pins 0.2mm diam
Surgery
Fine Science Tools
26002-20
Sylgard 184 Silicon Elastomer Curing Agent and Base
Reagent
Dow Corning
0001986475
Mix 1 part Curing Agent, 9 parts Base; set O/N at 37C