Approval needs to be obtained from home institutions before commencement of the surgery and imaging study. Experiments described in this manuscript were performed in accordance with the guidelines and regulations from the University of California, Santa Cruz Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
1. Surgery
2. Thinned-skull Preparation
3. Immobilization
4. Imaging
5. Recovery
6. Reimaging
In YFP-H line mice25, yellow fluorescent protein expresses in a subset of layer V pyramidal neurons, which project their apical dendrites to the superficial layers in the cortex. Through the thinned-skull preparation, the fluorescently labeled dendritic segments can be repetitively imaged under two-photon microscope over various imaging intervals, ranging from hours to months. Here we show an example of a four-time imaging of the same dendrites over 8 days in the motor cortex of a 1 month old mouse, where individual spines as well as filopodia can be clearly visualized along the dendrite. Usually, the depth of image stacks is approximately 100-200 μm from the pial surface. Various analyses can be performed based on these images. For instance, the spine formation, elimination and turnover can be quantified by comparing images from different sessions. Spine density can be calculated by dividing the number of spines by the length of the dendritic segment. Changes of spine motility and morphology can also be analyzed.
Figure 1. Custom-made immobilization plates of thinned-skull preparation for two-photon in vivo imaging. (A) A photograph of the head plate, which is made of two or three razor blades glued together, with sharp edges covered by tapes. (B) A photograph of the holding plate, which consists of 1 stainless steel plate, 2 stainless steel blocks, 2 screws, and 2 spacers.
Figure 2. Transcranial two-photon imaging through a thinned-skull preparation in the mouse motor cortex, showing dynamics of dendritic spines over eight days. (A) A CCD image of the vasculature pattern with the thinned skull area (Map 1). The black box indicates the region where two-photon in vivo images were acquired. (B) A low-magnification maximum projection of dendritic branches in the motor cortex of a 1 month old mouse (Map 2). (C) Repetitive images of the same dendritic segment reveal newly formed spines (arrowheads), eliminated spines (arrows), and filopodia (stars) on day 0, 2, 4, and 8. The left panel is a higher-magnification view of the dendritic segment shown in the boxed region in (B). Scale bars: 500 μm (A), 20 μm (B), and 2 μm (C).
Ketamine | Bioniche Pharma | 67457-034-10 | Mixed with xylazine for anesthesia |
Xylazine | Lloyd laboratories | 139-236 | Mixed with ketamine for anesthesia |
Saline | Hospira | 0409-7983-09 | 0.9% NaCl for injection and imaging |
Razor blades | Electron microscopy sciences | 72000 | Double-edge stainless steel razor blades |
Alcohol pads | Fisher Scientific | 06-669-62 | Sterile alcohol prep pads |
Eye ointment | Henry Schein | 102-9470 | Petrolatum ophthalmic ointment sterile ocular lubricant |
High-speed micro drill | Fine Science Tools | 18000-17 | The high-speed micro drill is suitable for thinning the outer layer of compact bone and targeting a small area |
Micro drill steel burrs | Fine Science Tools | 19007-14 | 1.4 mm diameter |
Microsurgical blade | Surgistar | 6961 | The microsurgical blade is suitable for thinning the inner layer of compact bone and middler layer of spongy bone |
Cyanoacrylate glue | Fisher Scientific | NC9062131 | Fix the head plate onto the skull |
Suture | Havard Apparatus | 510461 | Non-absorbale, sterile silk suture, 6-0 monofilament |
Dissecting microscope | Olympus | SZ61 | |
CCD camera | Infinity | ||
Two-photon microscope | Prairie Technologies | Ultima IV | |
10X objective | Olympus | NA 0.30, air | |
60X objective | Olympus | NA 1.1, IR permeable, water immersion | |
Ti-sapphire laser | Spectra-Physics | Mai Tai HP |
In the mammalian cortex, neurons form extremely complicated networks and exchange information at synapses. Changes in synaptic strength, as well as addition/removal of synapses, occur in an experience-dependent manner, providing the structural foundation of neuronal plasticity. As postsynaptic components of the most excitatory synapses in the cortex, dendritic spines are considered to be a good proxy of synapses. Taking advantages of mouse genetics and fluorescent labeling techniques, individual neurons and their synaptic structures can be labeled in the intact brain. Here we introduce a transcranial imaging protocol using two-photon laser scanning microscopy to follow fluorescently labeled postsynaptic dendritic spines over time in vivo. This protocol utilizes a thinned-skull preparation, which keeps the skull intact and avoids inflammatory effects caused by exposure of the meninges and the cortex. Therefore, images can be acquired immediately after surgery is performed. The experimental procedure can be performed repetitively over various time intervals ranging from hours to years. The application of this preparation can also be expanded to investigate different cortical regions and layers, as well as other cell types, under physiological and pathological conditions.
In the mammalian cortex, neurons form extremely complicated networks and exchange information at synapses. Changes in synaptic strength, as well as addition/removal of synapses, occur in an experience-dependent manner, providing the structural foundation of neuronal plasticity. As postsynaptic components of the most excitatory synapses in the cortex, dendritic spines are considered to be a good proxy of synapses. Taking advantages of mouse genetics and fluorescent labeling techniques, individual neurons and their synaptic structures can be labeled in the intact brain. Here we introduce a transcranial imaging protocol using two-photon laser scanning microscopy to follow fluorescently labeled postsynaptic dendritic spines over time in vivo. This protocol utilizes a thinned-skull preparation, which keeps the skull intact and avoids inflammatory effects caused by exposure of the meninges and the cortex. Therefore, images can be acquired immediately after surgery is performed. The experimental procedure can be performed repetitively over various time intervals ranging from hours to years. The application of this preparation can also be expanded to investigate different cortical regions and layers, as well as other cell types, under physiological and pathological conditions.
In the mammalian cortex, neurons form extremely complicated networks and exchange information at synapses. Changes in synaptic strength, as well as addition/removal of synapses, occur in an experience-dependent manner, providing the structural foundation of neuronal plasticity. As postsynaptic components of the most excitatory synapses in the cortex, dendritic spines are considered to be a good proxy of synapses. Taking advantages of mouse genetics and fluorescent labeling techniques, individual neurons and their synaptic structures can be labeled in the intact brain. Here we introduce a transcranial imaging protocol using two-photon laser scanning microscopy to follow fluorescently labeled postsynaptic dendritic spines over time in vivo. This protocol utilizes a thinned-skull preparation, which keeps the skull intact and avoids inflammatory effects caused by exposure of the meninges and the cortex. Therefore, images can be acquired immediately after surgery is performed. The experimental procedure can be performed repetitively over various time intervals ranging from hours to years. The application of this preparation can also be expanded to investigate different cortical regions and layers, as well as other cell types, under physiological and pathological conditions.