This protocol describes the isolation of fibroblasts from mouse embryos. Mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells are used as a feeder layer for the culture of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to help maintain them as pluripotent stem cells. The inhibition of ES-cell differentiation provided by the MEF feeders appears to be due to their production of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). - [Read Isolation and Freezing of Primary Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts (MEF) For Feeder Plates]
Aggregation of ES cells and eight cell stage embryos- http://web.archive.org/web/20021020163836/grimwade.biochem.unimelb.edu.au/bowtell/cellbiol/sect65.htm#Aggregation%20of%20ES%20cells%20and%20eight%20cell%20stage%20embryos
Protocol describes how to remove the gonads, determine the sex ofmouse embryos 13.5 days post coitum and visualize the germ cells, through use of an alkaline phosphatase staining. - [Read Mouse Gonad Removal and Germ Cell Staining Protocol]
Protocol describes oviduct transfer of mouse embryos. It is based on the Whittingham method, which applied a well described procedure for the rat to the mouse. It is best to practice this procedure first on a cadaver and then on an anesthetized 0.5-dpc pseudopregnant mouse using a dye solution or blue Affigel beads rather than embryos to gain experience in finding the opening of the oviduct (infundibulum). - [Read Oviduct Transfer Protocol]
Early embryos (0-17 hours or until cuticle formation) are treated with a mixture of organic solvents, formaldehyde, and alcohols, as described here. The cuticles of late-stage embryos are usually opened by sonication. Tissues from more advanced stages of development are normally dissected by hand and then fixed and stained in a standard paraformaldehyde/detergent combination - [Read Preparing Early Whole-Mount Drosophila Embryos for Immunostaining Protocol]
FISH protocols for Drosophila. Includes: RNA Probe Preparation; Embryo Collection and Fixation; Single FISH on Drosophila embryos; Post-Fixation, Hybridization and Post-Hybridization Washes; Development of FISH Signal; Storage, Mounting and Viewing of Samples; Double FISH on Drosophila Embryos; RNA-Protein Double Labeling; FISH on Dissected Tissues. - [Read FISH Protocols for Drosophila]
Early and late embryos are treated with a mixture of organic solvents, formaldehyde, and alcohols. The cuticles of late-stage embryos (17-22 hours or until hatching) are usually opened by sonication, as described here. Tissues from later stages of development are normally dissected by hand and then fixed and stained in a standard paraformaldehyde/detergent combination. - [Read Preparing Late Whole-Mount Drosophila Embryos for Immunostaining Protocol]
Protocol describes a useful way to observe the development of embryos, as well as meristems & young primordia developing at the shoot apex by confocal microscopy after staining the nuclei with propidium iodide. The number of cells can be exactly quantified in a meristem or in young primordia. Because embryonic & meristematic cells are largely filled out by their nuclei, it is easier to image only the nuclei. This method allows analysis of whole-mount material, which is more easily reconstructed. - [Read Protocol for Nuclear Staining of Plants for Confocal Microscopy]
Protocol provides methods and tips for sectioning mouse embryos and transferring the sections to a microscope slide. - [Read Sectioning Mouse Embryos Protocol]
Protocol applies EFs to cells in vitro but has been modified and to use electrotactic chambers to accommodate cells growing in planar culture or in three-dimensional (3D) gels, en bloc tissue cultures in 3D and possible small embryos, such as that from frog and zebra fish. The EF is applied to the cells or tissues cultured in a customer designed electrotactic chamber via agar salt bridges, Steinberg’s solution and Ag/AgCl electrodes. - [Read Application of Direct Current Electric Fields to Cells and Tissues in vitro]
Protocol to Count Cell Number of Preimplantation Embryos
using Nuclear Staining with Hoechst 33342 or DAPI. Includes: Preparation of Embryos; Preparation of Hoechst 33342 dye; Preparation of DAPI; Staining the Embryo; Mounting Embryos to Slides; What to Do When There are Too Many Cells to Count. - [Read Protocol to Count Cell Number of Preimplantation Embryos]
A single step RNA isolation protocol using Phenol Chloroform Extraction and Acid Guanidinium Thiocyanate. This RNA isolation method uses the fact that guanidinium thiocyanate can simultaneously lyse the cells and inactive cellular RNAses during the initial RNA isolation step allow a single step in the method.