Here, we present a protocol for live imaging of mouse secondary palate fusion using confocal microscopy. This protocol can be used in combination with a variety of fluorescent reporter mouse lines, and with pathway inhibitors for mechanistic insight. This protocol can be adapted for live imaging in other developmental systems.
The fusion of the secondary palatal shelves to form the intact secondary palate is a key process in mammalian development and its disruption can lead to cleft secondary palate, a common congenital anomaly in humans. Secondary palate fusion has been extensively studied leading to several proposed cellular mechanisms that may mediate this process. However, these studies have been mostly performed on fixed embryonic tissues at progressive timepoints during development or in fixed explant cultures analyzed at static timepoints. Static analysis is limited for the analysis of dynamic morphogenetic processes such a palate fusion and what types of dynamic cellular behaviors mediate palatal fusion is incompletely understood. Here we describe a protocol for live imaging of ex vivo secondary palate fusion in mouse embryos. To examine cellular behaviors of palate fusion, epithelial-specific Keratin14-cre was used to label palate epithelial cells in ROSA26-mTmGflox reporter embryos. To visualize filamentous actin, Lifeact-mRFPruby reporter mice were used. Live imaging of secondary palate fusion was performed by dissecting recently-adhered secondary palatal shelves of embryonic day (E) 14.5 stage embryos and culturing in agarose-containing media on a glass bottom dish to enable imaging with an inverted confocal microscope. Using this method, we have detected a variety of novel cellular behaviors during secondary palate fusion. An appreciation of how distinct cell behaviors are coordinated in space and time greatly contributes to our understanding of this dynamic morphogenetic process. This protocol can be applied to mutant mouse lines, or cultures treated with pharmacological inhibitors to further advance understanding of how secondary palate fusion is controlled.
Tissue fusion is an important step in the development of multiple organs. Major human birth defects such as cleft lip and palate, spina bifida and malformations of the heart can result from defects in tissue fusion1. Mouse secondary palate fusion has been extensively studied to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling tissue fusion in development2,3,4. In the mouse, secondary palate development starts at around E11.5 with the outgrowth of a secondary palatal shelf from each of the bilateral maxillary processes. Initial growth of the palatal shelves occurs vertically along the tongue, until approximately E14.0, at which time, the palatal shelves become elevated horizontally above the tongue. Medially-directed growth results in physical contact between the apposing epithelia of the two palatal shelves, forming the midline epithelial seam (MES) at E14.5. The intervening MES must be removed from between the secondary palatal shelves to allow mesenchymal confluence and the development of an intact, completely fused secondary palate by E15.53.
How a shared epithelial MES cell layer is formed between two separate palatal shelves, and then removed to achieve mesenchymal confluency, has been a central question in palate development. Based on mouse histological and electron microscopy (EM) studies, explant culture studies, and functional mouse genetics experiments, several fundamental cell behaviors have been implicated in this process. Filopodia-like projections from the medial edge epithelium MEE of each palatal shelf facilitates initial contact5,6, followed by intercalation of these epithelial cells to a shared single MES6,7. Removal of the resulting shared MES has been proposed to proceed by three non-exclusive mechanisms. Early studies employing histological observation and ex vivo lineage tracing with vital dyes indicated that the MES might be removed by epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of MES cells8,9, though more recently, genetic lineage tracing of epithelial cells has raised uncertainty as to the long-term contribution of epithelial cells to the palatal shelf mesenchyme10,11,12. Significant numbers of apoptotic cells, and a reduction in their number in some mutants that fail to undergo proper palate fusion has led to the idea that apoptosis may be a major driver of MES dissolution2,3. Finally, based initially on studies involving epithelial labeling and static observation at progressive timepoints, MES cells were proposed to migrate in the oronasal and anteroposterior dimensions11,13, but such dynamic cell behaviors were initially unconfirmed due to an inability to observe them in live palatal tissue. Recently, we were able to directly observe these behaviors by developing a new live imaging methodology that combines mouse genetic methods of fluorescent labeling with confocal live imaging of explanted palatal shelves.
First, to visualize dynamic cellular behaviors in palate epithelial cells during palate fusion, we generated an epithelial-specific reporter mouse by crossing ROSA26-mTmGflox mice with Keratin14-cre mice14,15. Confocal live imaging of palate explant culture of the resulting embryos confirmed some previously proposed cellular behaviors and identified novel events in the fusion process6. Epithelial cell membrane protrusions preceded initial cell-cell contact followed by epithelial convergence by cell intercalation and oronasal cell displacement. Notably, we also discovered that cell extrusion, a process reported to play important roles in epithelial homeostasis, was a major mechanism driving mouse secondary palate fusion6,16. This imaging method can be used with other reporter lines; we utilized Lifeact-mRFPruby transgenic mice17,18 to examine actin cytoskeletal dynamics during the fusion process. Other reporters can also be employed to observe other specific aspects of palate fusion and this method can be adapted either to laser scanning confocal microscopy or spinning disk confocal microscopy, depending on imaging needs and microscope availability. Live imaging is increasingly becoming a keystone approach in developmental biology. Particularly, craniofacial morphogenesis is complex and human birth defects that affect the face are common. This confocal live imaging method will help to enable an improved understanding of underlying basic developmental mechanisms as well as origins of human craniofacial abnormalities.
All animal experiments were performed in accordance with the protocols of the University of California at San Francisco Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
1. Preparation of Live Imaging Media
2. Preparation of Palate Explant Culture for Live Imaging
3. Confocal Time-lapse Imaging of Palate Explant
4. Data Image Analysis
NOTE: Here, Imaris was used. Similar data analyses may also be performed with ImageJ or Volocity software packages.
Live imaging of palate explant culture revealed multiple cellular processes mediating palate fusion6. Initial contacts between two epithelial cells are made by membrane protrusions (Figure 2B-2E). When two epithelial layers meet, they form a multi-cell layered MES followed by intercalation to make an integrated single cell-layer MES through epithelial convergence(Figure 2A-2E and Figure 2K-2O). Epithelial cells in deeper Z levels are also progressively displaced to the oral side of the MES contributing to the epithelial convergence process (Figure 2K). Posterior-directed cell migration was observed in middle palate MES (Figure 2F-2J). In addition, we found epithelial cell extrusion events during palate fusion suggesting that epithelial cells in the MES can be removed by this active process (Figure 2Q, 2T). The integrated epithelial seam will ultimately break down to achieve mesenchymal confluency (Figure 2S, 2T).
Lifeact-mRFPruby palate showed dynamic actin cytoskeletal rearrangements during palate fusion6. Filamentous actin became enriched at the border between epithelial and mesenchymal areas forming a cable-like structure along the anterior-posterior axis (Figure 2K-2T). Actomyosin contractility drives epithelial convergence and MES breakage because chemical inhibition of either myosin activity or actin polymerization blocked these dynamic processes6.
Software was used to trace cellular behaviors during palate fusion. The best method for cell tracking depends on the reporter signal. If a nuclear reporter mouse is used, the program can trace the center of fluorescent signals as cellular centers21. Nuclear GFP reporter mouse such as ROSA26GFP-NLS-lacZ (GNZ)22 can therefore be used to label epithelial cells using tissue-specific Cre lines; in our hands, this specific nuclear reporter exhibited faster bleaching over the long time-course used in live imaging. Therefore, we utilized the membrane-GFP reporter (ROSA26-mTmGflox) to follow epithelial cell movements in our studies. This required a method for identifying and tracing individual cells by a membrane signal. To solve this problem, we utilized a modified cell tracking method (Figure 3 and Protocol section 4).
Figure 1: Schematic view of mouse secondary palate dissection. (A) Side view of E14.5 mouse embryo. To dissect palatal shelves, the head was cut along the first white dotted line, #1. (B, C) The upper brain (above the second white line, #2) was removed. (D, E) Oral view of dissected head. Lower mandible (#3) was dissected and tongue (#4) was removed. (F) Posterior part of the head along the line #5 was cut out. (G-I) Both maxillae (#6, #7) and anterior part of upper jaw (#8) were removed. (J-L) Nasal septum (#9) was removed (M) GFP signals in the MES of dissected palate from a K14-cre; ROSA26mTmG mouse embryo. (N) Live imaging setup. The oral side of the palate explant was facing down to be imaged with inverted confocal microscope. MES is indicated with white arrowheads (F-I). The imaged area is indicated by white dotted boxes in L and M. Scale bars = 2 cm in A, 1 cm in B-I, 500 µm in J-M. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 2: Live imaging of palate explant cultures. (A-E) Live imaging of the anterior secondary palate from a K14-cre; ROSA26mTmG explant (5 µm depth). The white arrowhead shows a membrane protrusion from an epithelial cell (F-J) Live imaging of the middle palate from K14-cre; ROSA26mTmG explant (5 µm depth). White arrows indicate the direction of cell migrations from the anterior to posterior palate. (K-O) Live imaging of the anterior palate from Lifeact-mRFPruby explant (5 µm depth). Epithelial cell displacement (yellow arrow) to the oral surface and convergence to form an integrated MES with cable-like actin structures in the midline. (P-T) Live imaging of the anterior palate from Lifeact-mRFPruby explant (25 µm depth). The red arrow indicates a cell extrusion event (Q, T). Future breakage points of the seam are indicated by two vertical white arrows in S and T. Scale bars = 20 µm. All live imaging data in this figure is derived from experiments previously published in6. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 3: Data analysis. (A-D) To trace epithelial cells with membrane GFP signals from K14-cre; ROSA26mTmG palate explant (A), A surface was generated by volume rendering of the membrane GFP signal (B). Inverted images were generated after masking the created surface (C). Cellular centers were identified from the inverted images using a spots detection function in Imaris (D). (E) 3D reconstructions allow tracking cell movements in multiple directions. A: anterior, P: posterior, N: nasal, O: oral (F) 2D analysis generates a vantage plot showing cells migrating from anterior to posterior direction in middle palate MES. Scale bars = 20 µm in A-D, 10 µm in E-F. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Video Figure 1: Live imaging of K14-cre; ROSA26-mTmGflox anterior palate (5 µm depth). Images were captured every 10 min (10 min/frame) for 16 h 20 min, Scale bar = 25 µm. This video is a different Z-position of a movie previously published in reference6. Please click here to view this video. (Right-click to download.)
Video Figure 2: Live imaging of K14-cre; ROSA26-mTmGflox middle palate (5 µm depth). Images were captured every 15 min (15 min/frame) for 13 h 30 min, Scale bar = 25 µm. This video has been previously published in reference6. Please click here to view this video. (Right-click to download.)
Video Figure 3: Live imaging of Lifeact-mRFPruby anterior palate (5 µm depth).
Images were taken every 10 min (10 min/frame) for 7 h 50 min. Scale bar = 20 µm. This video has been previously published in reference6. Please click here to view this video. (Right-click to download.)
Video Figure 4: Live imaging of Lifeact-mRFPruby anterior palate (25 µm depth).
Images were taken every 10 min (10 min/frame) for 7 h 50 min. Scale bar = 20 µm. This video is a different Z-position of a movie previously published in reference6. Please click here to view this video. (Right-click to download.)
Live imaging of tissue morphogenesis with 3D organ explant culture can provide detailed information regarding cellular processes that cannot be shown in conventional staining analysis of fixed tissue sections. Using in vitro explant culture of mouse embryonic secondary palate, we observed several interesting cellular behaviors leading us to propose a novel mechanism of palate fusion that involves epithelial convergence and cell extrusion.
One common challenge in studies of this type is photobleaching by continuous laser excitations over a long time-course. In our studies, a white light confocal and a spinning disk confocal microscope were used. Some decrease in signal intensity over time could be corrected by bleaching corrections in the imaging software (LAS-AF) (Protocol 4.1). Because bleaching correction is limited, it is important to carefully optimize laser power and exposure time in each imaging system. We also checked that palate fusion occurs normally in the live imaging media after 3 day culture6.
A second common issue in live imaging is tissue drift. It is critical to minimize drift to get consistent images during live imaging because changes in the focal plane can confound an understanding of morphogenetic changes over time. Whereas controlling thermal drift can be achieved in many confocal microscopes (Definite focus in the microscope), the drift of the tissue relative to the glass bottom cannot be corrected by these methods. Utilization of agarose, as well as placing the explant against the glass-bottom helps to minimize this, but care still must be taken only to analyze those movies that maintain a relatively constant position. This can be determined by following multiple control points in the imaging field across time to determine if they remain constant, move with a similar trend, or move differently. To an extent, using post-processing functions allow a correction of some tissue drift in live imaging (Protocol 4.2).
Low melting agarose was used at a final concentration of 0.6% in the live imaging media to immobilize the explant tissues. When we tested higher concentrations of agarose, they appeared to impair tissue morphogenesis possibly due to mechanical constraint. It is therefore important to use the correct agarose concentration to minimize tissue drift while not disturbing morphogenesis.
Due to confocal imaging depth, this method does pose limits in examining very deep Z planes of palate fusion. Using both the WHITE LIGHT and spinning disk confocal microscopes, signal from 100 µm depths could be imaged successfully though the image began to become dull and faint beyond this limit. Because palate fusion is a progressive process in the oronasal and anteroposterior axes, we propose that imaging multiple positions effectively allows imaging of different depths of palate fusion, but two-photon or light sheet confocal microscopy may be employed in the future to improve depth of imaging. In most of our experiments, the oral side of palate explants was imaged. Imaging of the nasal side of the palate explant is difficult because the nasal septum is fused or very close to the secondary palatal shelves. In our attempts to image fusion from the nasal side, it was also necessary to remove the extra nasal tissue so it did not interfere with the signal from the palate epithelium. Though possible, imaging the nasal side of the palate explant was difficult because dissection of the nasal septum often caused damage to the palate explants.
Live imaging of reporter mouse tissue explants is a powerful method to study cellular mechanisms of tissue morphogenesis during embryonic development. Using confocal microscopy techniques and quantitative imaging analysis, basic developmental processes such as secondary palate fusion can be investigated at the cellular level.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
We thank M. Douglas Benson for initial conversations regarding secondary palate imaging. We also acknowledge David Castaneda-Castellanos (Leica) and Chris Rieken (Zeiss) for their help to adjust imaging conditions in confocal microscopy. We appreciate Lynsey Hamilton (Bitplane) for helpful suggestions for quantitative image analysis using Imaris software. This work was funded by NIH/NIDCR R01 DE025887.
Reagents | |||
DMEM/F12 | Life technology | 11330-032 | |
Fetal Bovine Serum | Life technology | 16000-044 | |
L-glutamine | Life technology | 25030-081 | |
L-Ascorbic acid | Sigma | A4544-100G | |
Pennicillin/Streptomycin | Life technology | 15140-122 | |
Low melting agarose | BioExpress | E-3111-125 | |
35mm glass bottom dish | MatTek | P35G-1.5-10-C | |
Petrolieum Jelly (Vaseline) | Sigma | 16415-1Kg | |
Mice | |||
Keratin14-cre | MGI: J:65294 | Allele = Tg(KRT14-cre)1Amc | |
ROSA26mTmG | MGI: J:124702 | Allele = Gt(ROSA)26Sortm4(ACTB-tdTomato,-EGFP)Luo | |
Lifeact-mRFPruby | MGI: J:164274 | Allele = Tg(CAG-mRuby)#Rows | |
Microscope | |||
White Light SP5 confocal microscope | Leica Microsystems | ||
Cell Observer spinning disk confocal microscope | Zeiss Microscopy |