This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; KL 1415/3-2 and KL 1415/4-2).

1. Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Preparing the culture dishes
	<ol>
		<li>Thaw Collagen Type IV O/N at 4 &deg;C and dissolve it in 0.1% sterile acetic acid. The volume to use depends on the type and number of dishes in which the cells are to be seeded. Use 2 &mu;g/cm2.</li>
		<li>Incubate dishes at least for 1 hr at RT and wash twice with distilled water (A. tridest).</li>
		<li>Allow the dishes to dry properly.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Supplementation of medium
	<ol>
		<li>Increase the glucose level up to 4.5 g/L by adding 1.75 g glucose to 500 ml medium. To adjust the medium to 600 mosmol, add 100 mM NaCl and 100 mM urea, to increase the osmolarity by 200 mosmol and 100 mosmol, respectively.</li>
		<li>Add 1% non-essential amino acids, 1% ultroser, 500 &mu;M DBcAMP, 20 U/ml nystatin and 0.25 &mu;g/ml gentamicin (1:200 dilution of stock solution with a concentration of 50 &mu;g/ml) to 600 mosmol DMEM medium freshly on the day of preparation.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Enzyme solution
	<ol>
		<li>Add 1 mg/ml hyaluronidase and 2.2 mg/ml collagenase to DPBS-containing 0.25 &mu;g/ml gentamicin and nystatin. Prepare 1 ml of this enzyme solution for the digestion of 2 kidney inner medullae. The solution must be sterilized by filtration and is stored in 50 ml Falcon tubes.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Cultivation of Primary Rat Inner Medullary Collecting Duct (IMCD) Cells
All animal handling procedures are to be carried out in compliance with the local and federal legislation.
<ol>
	<li>Anaesthetize rats in CO2 (in a box saturated with CO2) or isoflurane (U-400 Anaesthesia unit, Univentor Ltd., Malta; air flow 350-400 ml/min with 2-2.5% isoflurane). Decapitate the animals for bleeding which permits exact detection of the border between the whitish inner and the darker outer medulla. In addition, the bleeding minimizes the number of isolated erythrocytes. Remove kidneys and wash them in sterile DPBS supplemented with gentamicin and nystatin (see above) on ice. All further steps are to be carried out under sterile clean bench conditions.</li>
	<li>Transfer kidneys from the DPBS solution onto a sterile compress to remove excessive liquid. Remove the fatty kidney capsule with sterile forceps and scissors.</li>
	<li>Having the kidney still fixed in the compress, cut slightly next to the longitudinal axis of the outer (cortical) side. Make sure not to cut through completely, but to leave it in one piece, connected in the renal pelvis.</li>
	<li>With curved scissors carefully dissect the whitish inner medullae, which are surrounded by the ros&eacute; shimmering outer medulla. Collect them in DPBS, containing gentamicin and nystatin in a 60 mm culture dish on ice.</li>
	<li>Once all medullae are isolated and collected on ice, reduce the volume of DPBS to a level where they are just covered with buffer. Use a sterile razorblade to cut the medullae into cubes of 5 mm3.</li>
	<li>Melt and round the sharp end of a sterile Pasteur pipette by holding it briefly into a flame. Make sure the pipette is cooled before continuing.</li>
	<li>Transfer the tissue suspension to the 50 ml Falcon tubes containing freshly prepared sterile enzyme solution with hyaluronidase and collagenase (see 1.3.1) by using the rounded Pasteur pipette. Close the lid tightly and incubate at 37 &deg;C under continuous agitation (220 rpm) in a regular tabletop water bath for 1.5 - 2 hr.</li>
	<li>For trituration of the suspension, pipette the mixture up and down several times with the round Pasteur pipette (see above) until the suspension becomes homogeneously turbid.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the suspension for 5 min at 300 x g and 16 &deg;C. Discard the supernatant, resuspend the pellet thoroughly in DPBS, containing gentamicin and nystatin and centrifuge again. Repeat this washing step once.</li>
	<li>Resuspend the cells in fully supplemented medium and seed them into culture dishes and/or micro-titer well plates. The preparation of 2 medullae (1 animal) will yield sufficient cells for one 60 mm culture dish.</li>
	<li>After 24 hr, wash cells twice with 600 mosmol DMEM and add fresh medium. During the next week the cells should be washed 2-3 times (Figure 1). 6-8 days after seeding, the IMCD cells can be used for experiments. Remember to incubate them in medium without DBcAMP and nystatin for 24 hr before starting the experiment. Otherwise AQP2 will be located exclusively in the plasma membrane.</li>
</ol>

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The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

We present a detailed protocol for the preparation and culturing of primary rat IMCD cells. The approach yields up to 21 cm2 of cells from one rat20. The experiment requires standard cell culture equipment and can be carried out by a single person within approximately 6 hr. Therefore, this approach is suitable as a standard laboratory method.
Primary rat IMCD cells can be seeded in culture dishes of different size, ranging from 96 well plates to 60 mm dishes. However, for...

A correction was made to <a href="http://www.jove.com/video/50366">Culturing Primary Rat Inner Medullary Collecting Duct Cells</a>. There was an error with an author's name. The author's last name had a typo and was corrected to: Enno Klussmann instead of: Enno Klussman

A correction to author list has been made for article Culturing Primary Rat Inner Medullary Collecting Duct Cells.

Erratum: Culturing Primary Rat Inner Medullary Collecting Duct Cells

In renal collecting duct principal cells, arginine-vasopressin (AVP) controls water reabsorption by stimulating the insertion of the water channel aquaporin-2 (AQP2) into the plasma membrane. AVP binds to the G protein-coupled vasopressin type-2 receptor (V2R) stimulating adenylyl cyclase and thereby cAMP formation. Initiation of this signaling cascade leads to activation of protein kinase A (PKA). PKA phosphorylates AQP2 at serine 256 (S256), which is the key trigger for its redistribution from intracellular vesicles into the plasma membrane. The membrane insertion facilitates water reabsorption along an osmotic gradient and fine-tunes body water homeostasis.
Dysregulation of AVP-mediated water reabsorption, due to aberrations of AVP secretion or AVP-activated signaling causes or is associated with severe diseases. Decreased water reabsorption caused by mutations of V2R or AQP2 leads to nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, whereas an elevated blood plasma AVP level is associated with excessive water reabsorption in cardiovascular diseases such as chronic heart failure and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH).
The significance of AVP-mediated water reabsorption stems not only from its implication in disease. The AVP-induced translocation of AQP2-bearing vesicles to and fusion with the plasma membrane represents a strictly cAMP-dependent exocytic process, which is currently not well understood. Other examples for a cAMP-dependent exocytosis are renin secretion in the kidney and H+ secretion in the stomach. Therefore, elucidation of molecular mechanisms governing the AQP2-translocation in renal principal cells not only helps to understand similar molecular processes in other cell types but may also pave the way to novel therapies for the treatment of diseases associated with disturbances of AVP-mediated water reabsorption.
Elucidating mechanisms controlling AQP2 requires collecting duct principal cell models. For this a number of different mammalian kidney cell lines are available. However, these models have several drawbacks. In many cell systems the protein level of AQP2 is low (Table 1; M1, HEK293, COS-7, MDCK, LLC-PK1)1-10, others ectopically overexpress human (MCD4, WT10)11,12 or rat (CD8)13 AQP2. In MCD4 and COS-7 cells the V2 receptor is not expressed. To our knowledge there is no permanent cell line as a model available, which is derived from the renal inner medullary collecting duct, that part of the kidney where AQP2 expression is most abundant, but from the cortical collecting duct1,11,13-16. Such cell models are for example the widely used immortalized mpkCCD (e.g.17) or the recently established mTERT-CCD14 cell lines. Both cell lines endogenously express AQP2 and V2R but since they are derived from the cortical collecting duct most likely contain a different proteome compared to inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells. They must for example express different Na+ transport systems.
Here, we present a protocol to culture primary IMCD cells expressing V2R and AQP2 endogenously. This model, therefore, represents most closely the physiological situation in the renal collecting duct. As establishing the culture requires only standard laboratory equipment other laboratories can easily adopt this approach.

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Name </td>
			<td>Company Catalog</td>
			<td>Number</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagen Type IV Mouse</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>356233</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hyaluronidase</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>H6254</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase type CLS-II</td>
			<td>Biochrom AG</td>
			<td>C2-22</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM + GlutMAX</td>
			<td>Invitrogen GIBCO</td>
			<td>21885108</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nystatin</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>N4014</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ultroser G</td>
			<td>Cytogen</td>
			<td>15950-017</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Non essential amino acids (NEA)</td>
			<td>Biochrom AG</td>
			<td>K0293</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gentamicin</td>
			<td>Invitrogen GIBCO</td>
			<td>15710</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DBcAMP</td>
			<td>BIOLOG</td>
			<td>D009</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

culturing primary rat inner medullary collecting duct cells

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) facilitates water reabsorption by renal collecting duct principal cells and thereby fine-tunes body water homeostasis. AVP binds to vasopressin V2 receptors (V2R) on the surface of the cells and thereby induces synthesis of cAMP. This stimulates cellular signaling processes leading to changes in the phosphorylation of the water channel aquaporin-2 (AQP2). Protein kinase A phoshorylates AQP2 and thereby triggers the translocation of AQP2 from intracellular vesicles into the plasma membrane facilitating water reabsorption from primary urine. Aberrations of AVP release from the pituitary or AVP-activated signaling in principal cells can cause central or nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, respectively; an elevated blood plasma AVP level is associated with cardiovascular diseases such as chronic heart failure and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion.
Here, we present a protocol for cultivation of primary rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells, which express V2R and AQP2 endogenously. The cells are suitable for elucidating molecular mechanisms underlying the control of AQP2 and thus to discover novel drug targets for the treatment of diseases associated with dysregulation of AVP-mediated water reabsorption. IMCD cells are obtained from rat renal inner medullae and are used for experiments six to eight days after seeding. IMCD cells can be cultured in regular cell culture dishes, flasks and micro-titer plates of different formats, the procedure only requires a few hours, and is appropriate for standard cell culture laboratories.

The successful cultivation of primary rat IMCD cells will result in a confluent monolayer 6-8 days after seeding (Figure 2). Per 60 mm culture dish there are approximately 6 x 106 cells. The cells tightly adhere to the culture dishes, as these were coated with collagen type IV, a basement membrane component18. Therefore, IMCD cells will not detach even during several thorough washing procedures. Up to 80% of the cultured cells express endogenously V2R and AQP2. These are the princip...

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Culturing Primary Rat Inner Medullary Collecting Duct Cells

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) controls fine-tuning of body water homeostasis through facilitating water reabsorption by renal principal cells. Here, we present a protocol for the cultivation of primary rat inner medullary collecting duct cells suitable for the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying AVP-mediated water reabsorption.

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) facilitates water reabsorption by renal collecting duct principal cells and thereby fine-tunes body water homeostasis. AVP ...

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14.7K Views.  Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine. Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) controls fine-tuning of body water homeostasis through facilitating water reabsorption by renal principal cells. Here, we present a protocol for the cultivation of primary rat inner medullary collecting duct cells suitable for the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying AVP-mediated water reabsorption.

Video: Culturing Primary Rat Inner Medullary Collecting Duct Cells

Protocol for Culturing Sympathetic Neurons from Rat Superior Cervical Ganglia (SCG)

The superior cervical ganglia (SCG) in rats are small, glossy, almond-shaped structures that contain sympathetic neurons.  These neurons provide sympathetic innervations for the head and neck regions and they constitute a well-characterized and relatively homogeneous population (4).  Sympathetic neurons are dependent on nerve growth factor (NGF) for survival, differentiation and axonal growth and the wide-spread availability of NGF facilitates their culture and experimental manipulation (2, 3, 6).  For these reasons, cultured sympathetic neurons have been used in a wide variety of studies including neuronal development and differentiation, mechanisms of programmed and pathological cell death, and signal transduction (1, 2, 5, and 6).  Dissecting out the SCG from newborn rats and culturing sympathetic neurons is not very complicated and can be mastered fairly quickly.  In this article, we will describe in detail how to dissect out the SCG from newborn rat pups and to use them to establish cultures of sympathetic neurons.  The article will also describe the preparatory steps and the various reagents and equipment that are needed to achieve this.

Protocol for Culturing Sympathetic Neurons from Rat Superior Cervical Ganglia SCG

This is a protocol describing how to isolate and culture primary sympathetic neurons from superior cervical ganglia (SCG) of newborn rat pups.

The superior cervical ganglia (SCG) in rats are small, glossy, almond-shaped structures that contain sympathetic neurons.  These neurons provide ...

Primary Culture of Adult Rat Heart Myocytes

Cultured primary adult rodent heart cells are an important model system for cardiovascular research. Nevertheless, establishment of robust, viable cultured adult myocytes can be a technically challenging, rate-limiting step for many researchers. Here we described a protocol to obtain a high yield of adult rat heart myocytes that remain viable in culture for several days. The heart is isolated and perfused with collagenase and protease under low Ca2+ conditions to recover single myocytes. Ca2+-tolerant cells are obtained by stepwise increases in extracellular Ca2+ concentration in three subsequent wash steps. Cells are filtered, resuspended in culture medium, and plated on laminin coated slips. Cultured myocytes obtained using this protocol are viable for up to four days and are suitable for most experiments including electrophysiology, biochemistry, imaging and molecular biology.

In this paper, we described a typical way to isolate and culture adult rat heart myocytes. Collagenase and protease are used to digest and isolate single myocytes. Myocytes cultured follow this protocol meet most experiment requirements.

Cultured primary adult rodent heart cells are an important model system for cardiovascular research.  Nevertheless, establishment of robust, viable ...

Primary Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Grown from Explants

Human bronchial epithelial cells are needed for cell models of disease and to investigate the effect of excipients and pharmacologic agents on the function and structure of human epithelial cells. Here we describe in detail the method of growing bronchial epithelial cells from bronchial airway tissue that is harvested by the surgeon at the times of lung surgery (e.g. lung cancer or lung volume reduction surgery). With ethics approval and informed consent, the surgeon takes what is needed for pathology and provides us with a bronchial portion that is remote from the diseased areas. The tissue is then used as a source of explants that can be used for growing primary bronchial epithelial cells in culture. Bronchial segments about 0.5-1cm long and &le;1cm in diameter are rinsed with cold EBSS and excess parenchymal tissue is removed. Segments are cut open and minced into 2-3mm3 pieces of tissue. The pieces are used as a source of primary cells. After coating 100mm culture plates for 1-2 hr with a combination of collagen (30 &mu;g/ml), fibronectin (10 &mu;g/ml), and BSA (10 &mu;g/ml), the plates are scratched in 4-5 areas and tissue pieces are placed in the scratched areas, then culture medium (DMEM/Ham F-12 with additives) suitable for epithelial cell growth is added and plates are placed in an incubator at 37&deg;C in 5% CO2 humidified air. The culture medium is changed every 3-4 days. The epithelial cells grow from the pieces forming about 1.5 cm diameter rings in 3-4 weeks. Explants can be re-used up to 6 times by moving them into new pre-coated plates. Cells are lifted using trypsin/EDTA, pooled, counted, and re-plated in T75 Cell Bind flasks to increase their numbers. T75 flasks seeded with 2-3 million cells grow to 80% confluence in 4 weeks. Expanded primary human epithelial cells can be cultured and allowed to differentiate on air-liquid interface. Methods described here provide an abundant source of human bronchial epithelial cells from freshly isolated tissues and allow for studying these cells as models of disease and for pharmacology and toxicology screening.

Here we describe a detailed method for growing primary human bronchial epithelial cells from explants of human bronchial airway tissue including differentiated growth on an air-liquid interface. This method provides an abundant source of primary cells for investigating the role of the airway epithelium in human lung health and disease.

Human bronchial epithelial cells are needed for cell models of disease and to investigate the effect of excipients and pharmacologic agents on the ...

Isolation of Basal Cells and Submucosal Gland Duct Cells from Mouse Trachea

The large airways are directly in contact with the environment and therefore susceptible to injury from toxins and infectious agents that we breath in 1. The large airways therefore require an efficient repair mechanism to protect our bodies. This repair process occurs from stem cells in the airways and isolating these stem cells from the airways is important for understanding the mechanisms of repair and regeneration. It is also important for understanding abnormal repair that can lead to airway diseases 2. The goal of this method is to isolate a novel stem cell population from the mouse tracheal submucosal gland ducts and to place these cells in in vitro and in vivo model systems to identify the mechanisms of repair and regeneration of the submucosal glands 3. This production shows methods that can be used to isolate and assay the duct and basal stem cells from the large airways 3.This will allow us to study diseases of the airway, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Currently, there are no methods for isolation of submucosal gland duct cells and there are no in vivo models to study the regeneration of submucosal glands.

Here we demonstrate our protocol for isolation of basal and submucosal gland duct cells from mouse tracheas. We also demonstrate the method of injecting stem cells into the dorsal mouse fat pad to create an in vivo model of submucosal gland regeneration.

The large airways are directly in contact with the environment and therefore susceptible to injury from toxins and infectious agents that we breath in 1. ...

Isolation and Primary Culture of Rat Hepatic Cells

Primary hepatocyte culture is a valuable tool that has been extensively used in basic research of liver function, disease, pathophysiology, pharmacology and other related subjects. The method based on two-step collagenase perfusion for isolation of intact hepatocytes was first introduced by Berry and Friend in 1969 1 and, since then, has undergone many modifications. The most commonly used technique was described by Seglenin 1976 2. Essentially, hepatocytes are dissociated from anesthetized adult rats by a non-recirculating collagenase perfusion through the portal vein. The isolated cells are then filtered through a 100 &mu;m pore size mesh nylon filter, and cultured onto plates. After 4-hour culture, the medium is replaced with serum-containing or serum-free medium, e.g. HepatoZYME-SFM, for additional time to culture. These procedures require surgical and sterile culture steps that can be better demonstrated by video than by text. Here, we document the detailed steps for these procedures by both video and written protocol, which allow consistently in the generation of viable hepatocytes in large numbers.

Primary hepatocytes provide a valuable tool to evaluate biochemical, molecular, and metabolic functions in a physiologically relevant experimental system. We describe a reliable protocol for rat in situ liver perfusion, which consistently generates viable hepatocytes up to 1.0 &times; 108 cells per preparation with cell viability between 88 ~ 96%.

Primary hepatocyte culture is a valuable tool that has been extensively used in basic research of liver function, disease, pathophysiology, pharmacology ...

Isolation of Immune Cells from Primary Tumors

Tumors create a unique immunosuppressive microenvironment (tumor microenvironment, TME) whereby leukocytes are recruited into the tumor by various chemokines and growth factors 1,2. However, once in the TME, these cells lose the ability to promote anti-tumor immunity and begin to support tumor growth and down-regulate anti-tumor immune responses 3-4. Studies on tumor-associated leukocytes have mainly focused on cells isolated from tumor-draining lymph nodes or spleen due to the inherent difficulties in obtaining sufficient cell numbers and purity from the primary tumor. While identifying the mechanisms of cell activation and trafficking through the lymphatic system of tumor bearing mice is important and may give insight to the kinetics of immune responses to cancer, in our experience, many leukocytes, including dendritic cells (DCs), in tumor-draining lymph nodes have a different phenotype than those that infiltrate tumors 5,6 . Furthermore, we have previously demonstrated that adoptively-transferred T cells isolated from the tumor-draining lymph nodes are not tolerized and are capable of responding to secondary stimulation in vitro unlike T cells isolated from the TME, which are tolerized and incapable of proliferation or cytokine production 7,8. Interestingly, we have shown that changing the tumor microenvironment, such as providing CD4+ T helper cells via adoptive transfer, promotes CD8+ T cells to maintain pro-inflammatory effector functions 5. The results from each of the previously mentioned studies demonstrate the importance of measuring cellular responses from TME-infiltrating immune cells as opposed to cells that remain in the periphery. To study the function of immune cells which infiltrate tumors using the Miltenyi Biotech isolation system9, we have modified and optimized this antibody-based isolation procedure to obtain highly enriched populations of antigen presenting cells and tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The protocol includes a detailed dissection of murine prostate tissue from a spontaneous prostate tumor model (TRansgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Mouse Prostate -TRAMP) 10 and a subcutaneous melanoma (B16) tumor model followed by subsequent purification of various leukocyte populations.

In this report, we describe a protocol for isolating highly purified populations of leukocytes that infiltrate tumors. This protocol is adapted from the Miltenyi Biotech protocol to enhance yield and purity for isolating cells from complex tumor tissue.

Tumors create a unique immunosuppressive microenvironment (tumor microenvironment, TME) whereby leukocytes are recruited into the tumor by various ...

Culturing of Human Nasal Epithelial Cells at the Air Liquid Interface

In vitro models using human primary epithelial cells are essential in understanding key functions of the respiratory epithelium in the context of microbial infections or inhaled agents. Direct comparisons of cells obtained from diseased populations allow us to characterize different phenotypes and dissect the underlying mechanisms mediating changes in epithelial cell function. Culturing epithelial cells from the human tracheobronchial region has been well documented, but is limited by the availability of human lung tissue or invasiveness associated with obtaining the bronchial brushes biopsies. Nasal epithelial cells are obtained through much less invasive superficial nasal scrape biopsies and subjects can be biopsied multiple times with no significant side effects. Additionally, the nose is the entry point to the respiratory system and therefore one of the first sites to be exposed to any kind of air-borne stressor, such as microbial agents, pollutants, or allergens. 
Briefly, nasal epithelial cells obtained from human volunteers are expanded on coated tissue culture plates, and then transferred onto cell culture inserts. Upon reaching confluency, cells continue to be cultured at the air-liquid interface (ALI), for several weeks, which creates more physiologically relevant conditions. The ALI culture condition uses defined media leading to a differentiated epithelium that exhibits morphological and functional characteristics similar to the human nasal epithelium, with both ciliated and mucus producing cells. Tissue culture inserts with differentiated nasal epithelial cells can be manipulated in a variety of ways depending on the research questions (treatment with pharmacological agents, transduction with lentiviral vectors, exposure to gases, or infection with microbial agents) and analyzed for numerous different endpoints ranging from cellular and molecular pathways, functional changes, morphology, etc. 
In vitro models of differentiated human nasal epithelial cells will enable investigators to address novel and important research questions by using organotypic experimental models that largely mimic the nasal epithelium in vivo.

Nasal epithelial cells, obtained through superficial scrape biopsy of human volunteers, are expanded and transferred onto tissue culture inserts. Upon reaching confluency, cells are grown at air liquid interface, yielding cultures of ciliated and non-ciliated cells. Differentiated nasal epithelial cell cultures provide viable experimental models for studying the respiratory mucosa.

In vitro models using human primary  epithelial cells are essential in understanding key functions of the respiratory  epithelium in the context of ...

A Method for Culturing Embryonic C. elegans Cells

C. elegans is a powerful model system, in which genetic and molecular techniques are easily applicable. Until recently though, techniques that require direct access to cells and isolation of specific cell types, could not be applied in C. elegans. This limitation was due to the fact that tissues are confined within a pressurized cuticle which is not easily digested by treatment with enzymes and/or detergents. Based on early pioneer work by Laird Bloom, Christensen and colleagues 1 developed a robust method for culturing C. elegans embryonic cells in large scale. Eggs are isolated from gravid adults by treatment with bleach/NaOH and subsequently treated with chitinase to remove the eggshells. Embryonic cells are then dissociated by manual pipetting and plated onto substrate-covered glass in serum-enriched media. Within 24 hr of isolation cells begin to differentiate by changing morphology and by expressing cell specific markers. C. elegans cells cultured using this method survive for up 2 weeks in vitro and have been used for electrophysiological, immunochemical, and imaging analyses as well as they have been sorted and used for microarray profiling.

A Method for Culturing Embryonic C. elegans Cells

We describe here a revised protocol for large-scale culture of embryonic C. elegans cells. Embryonic C. elegans cells cultured in vitro using this method, appear to differentiate and recapitulate the expression of genes in a cell specific manner. Techniques that require direct access to the cells or isolation of specific cell types from the other tissues can be applied on C. elegans cultured cells.

C. elegans is a powerful model system, in which genetic and molecular techniques are easily applicable. Until recently though, techniques that require ...

Trans-inner Cell Mass Injection of Embryonic Stem Cells Leads to Higher Chimerism Rates

In an effort to increase efficiency in the creation of genetically modified mice via ES Cell methodologies, we present an adaptation to the current blastocyst injection protocol. Here we report that a simple rotation of the embryo, and injection through Trans-Inner cell mass (TICM) increased the percentage of chimeric mice from 31% to 50%, with no additional equipment or further specialized training. 26 different inbred clones, and 35 total clones were injected over a period of 9 months. There was no significant difference in either pregnancy rate or recovery rate of embryos between traditional injection techniques and TICM. Therefore, without any major alteration in the injection process and a simple positioning of the blastocyst and injecting through the ICM, releasing the ES cells into the blastocoel cavity can potentially improve the quantity of chimeric production and subsequent germline transmission.

Here we present a protocol to increase chimera production without the use of new equipment. A simple orientation change of the embryo for injection can increase the number of embryos produced, and potentially reduce the timeline to germline transmission.

In an effort to increase efficiency in the creation of genetically modified mice via ES Cell methodologies, we present an adaptation to the current ...

Primary Culture of Rat Adrenocortical Cells and Assays of Steroidogenic Functions

The hormone which the adrenal cortex secretes is vital for animals against stress and diseases. The method described here is the procedure of primary cultured rat adrenal cells and related functional assays (immunofluorescence staining of lipid droplet surface protein, as well as corticosterone analysis). Unlike an in vivo model, the variation of interexperiments in adrenal monolayer cultures is less and the experimental condition is easy to control. Besides, the source of rats is also more stable than other animals, like bovine ones. There are also several human adrenal cell lines (NCI-H295, NCI-H295R, SW13, etc.) that can be used in adrenal studies. However, the steroid production of these lines will still be influenced by numerous factors, which include serum lot number, passage number, mutant/loss of distinct genes, etc. Except for lacking 17&#945;-hydroxylase, the primary culture of rat adrenocortical cells is a better and more convenient technique for studying adrenal physiology. In summary, primary rat adrenal cultures could be a good in vitro platform for researchers to investigate the mechanisms of the reagent of interest in the adrenal gland system.

The hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex is vital for animals against stress and diseases. Here, we present a protocol to culture the primary rat adrenal cells. It could be a good in vitro platform for investigating the mechanisms of the reagent of interest in adrenal steroidogenesis and lipid biosynthesis.

The hormone which the adrenal cortex secretes is vital for animals against stress and diseases. The method described here is the procedure of primary ...