Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Isehara Research Laboratory, Technology and Development Division, Kanto Chemical Co., Inc, Suzukawa, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
Neuropsychopharmacol Rep. 2020 Sep;40(3):307-313. doi: 10.1002/npr2.12128. Epub 2020 Aug 5.
Organotypic brain slice culture preserves the geographical position of neurons and neuronal circuits. The slice cultures also maintain both non-neuronal cell types and the surrounding extracellular matrix. The interface method has been widely used for slice cultures, in which brain slices are placed on semiporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes. However, a low optical transparency of PTFE membrane makes it difficult to perform live imaging of deep regions of slice cultures using an inverted microscope. To overcome the issue, we evaluated the suitability of using collagen membranes for slice cultures, especially focusing on live imaging of the cellular dynamics of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing microglia.
Entorhinohippocampal slices were cultured on either collagen or PTFE membranes. The influence of membrane type on the ability to observe deep regions of slice cultures was examined by live imaging using an inverted microscope.
Collagen membranes were thinner and had better optical transparency compared with PTFE membranes. There were no differences in cell viability, density of neurons or microglia. The densify of visible short branches of microglia in live imaging was higher in collagen membranes than PTFE membranes.
Collagen membranes are suitable for live imaging of cellular dynamics in slice cultures using an inverted microscope.
器官型脑片培养保留了神经元和神经元回路的地理位置。切片培养还维持了非神经元细胞类型和周围的细胞外基质。接口方法已广泛应用于切片培养,其中脑片置于半多孔聚四氟乙烯(PTFE)膜上。然而,PTFE 膜的低光学透明度使得使用倒置显微镜对切片培养的深部区域进行活细胞成像变得困难。为了克服这个问题,我们评估了胶原膜用于切片培养的适用性,特别是特别关注表达绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)的小胶质细胞的细胞动力学的活细胞成像。
在胶原或 PTFE 膜上培养内嗅-海马脑片。通过使用倒置显微镜进行活细胞成像,检查膜类型对观察切片培养深部区域的能力的影响。
胶原膜比 PTFE 膜更薄,光学透明度更好。细胞活力、神经元或小胶质细胞的密度没有差异。在活细胞成像中,胶原膜中小胶质细胞可见短分支的密集度高于 PTFE 膜。
胶原膜适用于使用倒置显微镜对切片培养中的细胞动力学进行活细胞成像。