embryos Protocols

Category: RNAi Technology Protocols: RNAi Mouse Embryos and Oocytes Protocols

Protocol describes in vitro transcription with the SP6 polymerase.  For other polymerases (T3, T7), simply use the appropriate buffer and desired RNA polymerase instead of the SP6 polymerase. - [Read Preparation of dsRNA Molecules for RNAi in Mouse Oocytes and Early Embryos Protocol]

Category: Developmental Biology: Sea Urchin Developmental Biology

Preparation of fixed Sea Urchin embryos for immunocytochemistry and AP staining. Cebra-Thomas. Swathmore. - [Read Preparation of fixed Sea Urchin embryos for immunocytochemistry and AP staining]

Category: Drosophila Protocols: Drosophila Staining Protocols

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]

Category: Stem Cell Protocols

Ths protocol describes the preparation of ES cells, which can then be aggregated with diploid or tetraploid embryos to produce aggregation chimeras. - [Read Preparing Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells for Aggregation Protocol]

Category: Drosophila Protocols: Drosophila Staining Protocols

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]

Category: Mouse Protocols: Mouse Embryology Protocols

Protocol describes a method for preparing siliconized pipettes. Such pipettes minimize the loss of embryos or embryonic tissues during transfer. - [Read Preparing Siliconized Pipettes Protocol]

Category: Developmental Biology: Embryology Protocols

Procedures for in vitro production of bovine embryos. Includes: Collection of Ovaries; Oocyte Collection; Preparation of IVF Medium; In Vitro Fertilization; Culture of Embryos. - [Read Procedures for In Vitro Production of Bovine Embryos]

Category: Stem Cell Protocols: Stem Cell Isolation Protocols

Protocol for the production of completely ES cell-derived fetuses by aggregation with tetraploid embryos. Includes: Recovery of 2-cell stage embryos; Production of tetraploid embryos; Preparation of aggregation plate; Removal of Zona Pellucida; ES cells/ tetraploid embryo "SANDWICH" aggregation; Transfer of embryos. - [Read Production of Completely ES Cell-Derived Fetuses by Aggregation with Tetraploid Embryos]

Category: Avian Bird Protocols

Protocol describes the production of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from fragments of cDNAs of candidate genes. The cDNA fragments must be cloned in plasmids with a flanking SP6 and T7 promoter (e.g., pSP72 or pCRII). The plasmid is linearized and sense and antisense RNAs are produced separately by in vitro transcription. After purification, the RNA strands are annealed to yield a dsRNA molecule suitable for RNAi in avian embryos. - [Read Production of dsRNA for RNAi in Avian Embryos Protocol]

Category: RNAi Technology Protocols: RNAi Avian Embryos Protocols

Protocol describes the production of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from fragments of cDNAs of candidate genes.  The cDNA fragments must be cloned in plasmids with a flanking SP6 and T7 promoter (e.g., pSP72 or pCRII).  The plasmid is linearized and sense and antisense RNAs are produced separately by in vitro transcription. - [Read Production of dsRNA for RNAi in Avian Embryos Protocol]

Category: Mouse Protocols: Assembling Chimeras Mouse Protocols

Protocol describes the production of tetraploid embryos by electrofusion. - [Read Production of Tetraploid Embryos Protocol]

Category: Transfection Protocols: Electroporation Sonoporation Protocols

Protocol describes a method for introducing gene constructs into mouse embryos by electroporation. Gene constructs can be quickly tested for tissue-specific transcriptional activity or can be used to overexpress gene products. - [Read Protocol Electroporation]

Category: Microscopy Protocols: Confocal Microscopy Protocols

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]

Category: Microscopy Protocols: In Vivo Imaging Protocols

To image early cleavages and chromatin dynamics, it is convenient to use histone H2B fused to GFP or lamin::GFP. Time-lapse movies can be obtained using conventional confocal microscope systems and their included software. Early embryos dissected from transgenic hermaphrodites are placed with egg salts on agar pads. Chromatin dynamics can be followed easily, and wild-type embryonic cells can be compared with mutants or RNAi-treated embryos. - [Read Protocol Live Imaging of Caenorhabditis Elegans]

Category: Developmental Biology: Embryology Protocols

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]

Category: Mouse Protocols: Assembling Chimeras Mouse Protocols

Protocol describes a simple method for removal of the zona pellucida of preimplantation mouse embryos using an acidified Tyrode’s solution. - [Read Removal of Zona Pellucida Protocol]

Category: RNAi Technology Protocols: RNAi Mouse Embryos and Oocytes Protocols

Protocol describes the use of RT-PCR to confirm knockdown of a gene of interest in RNAi-treated mouse oocytes and early embryos.  All of the solutions used during RNA isolation and reverse transcription must be Rnase-free - [Read RNA Isolation and RT-PCR from dsRNA-Treated Mouse Oocytes and Early Embryos Protocol]

Category: Mouse Protocols: Mouse Embryology Protocols

Protocol provides methods and tips for sectioning mouse embryos and transferring the sections to a microscope slide. - [Read Sectioning Mouse Embryos Protocol]

Category: Stem Cell Protocols: Stem Cell Culture Protocols

Protocol describes how to set up microdrop cultures to produce embryos which can then be used for making chimeras. The microdrop culture should be set up several hours to 1 day before the experiment to permit temperature and gas equilibration. - [Read Setting Up Microdrop Cultures Protocol]

Category: RNAi Technology Protocols: RNAi Avian Embryos Protocols

Protocol describes a method to stain nerve fibers in tissue slices of avian embryos using an antibody against the 160-kD subunit of neurofilaments.  This allows the comparison of the branching pattern of motor and sensory neurons between control and experimental embryos.  The tissue is cut in slices using a vibratome or tissue slicer.  The protocol is suitable for older embryos after approximately stage 33 and regions that are not accessible by whole-mount analysis. - [Read Staining of Tissue Slices for Analysis of Axonal Pathfinding in dsRNA-Treated Avian Embryos]

Category: Avian Bird Protocols

Protocol describes a method to stain nerve fibers in tissue slices of avian embryos using an antibody against the 160-kD subunit of neurofilaments. This allows the comparison of the branching pattern of motor and sensory neurons between control and experimental embryos. The tissue is cut in slices using a vibratome or tissue slicer. The protocol is suitable for older embryos after approximately stage 33 and regions that are not accessible by whole-mount analysis. - [Read Staining of Tissue Slices for Analysis of Axonal Pathfinding in dsRNA-Treated Avian Embryos Protocol]

Category: Neuroscience Protocols: Neuronal Stains Protocols

Protocol for staining of tissue slices for analysis of axonal pathfinding in dsRNA-treated avian embryos. - [Read Staining of Tissue Slices for Analysis of Axonal Pathfinding in dsRNA-Treated Avian Embryos Protocol]

Category: Primary Cell Isolation and Culture Protocols

This protocol describes a method for static culture of early postimplantation mouse embryos on a microscope stage. Embryos between 6.5 and 9.5 days post coitum (dpc) can be cultured and imaged for 24 hours, with very little growth retardation. - [Read Static Culture of Postimplantation Embryos for Imaging Protocol]

Category: Mouse Protocols: Mouse Cell Culture Protocols

Protocol describes a method for static culture of early postimplantation mouse embryos on a microscope stage. Embryos between 6.5 and 9.5 days post coitum (dpc) can be cultured and imaged for 24 hours, with very little growth retardation. - [Read Static Culture of Postimplantation Embryos for Imaging Protocol]

Category: Cell Culture Protocols

Protocol describes static culture of postimplantation embryos, an alternative to the roller method. The static method is best suited to 6.0 to 7.0 days post coitum (dpc) embryos followed for 24 hours (7.0 dpc embryos) to 48 hours (6.0 dpc embryos) of development. It allows repetitive real-time observation with minimal handling of the embryo. It is especially useful if single or small groups of embryos need to be distinguished from each other. - [Read Static Culture of Postimplantation Embryos Protocol]