Imaging mouse embryonic development.
For the past three decades, methods for culturing mouse embryos ex vivo have been optimized in order to improve embryo viability and physiology throughout critical stages of embryogenesis. Combining advances made in the production of transgenic animals and in the development of different varieties of fluorescent proteins (FPs), time-lapse imaging is becoming more and more popular in the analysis of dynamic events during mouse development. Targeting FPs to specific cell types or subcellular compartments has enabled researchers to study cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and changes in cell morphology in living mouse embryos in real time. Here we provide a guide for time-lapse imaging of early stages of mouse embryo development.
Udan
Ryan S
RS
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Dickinson
Mary E
ME
D000818:Animals; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes