A novel method of labeling and characterizing migrating neurons in the developing central nervous system

Neuronal migration, a discrete event in the developing nervous system, is currently being intensively investigated using a variety of anatomical and molecular approaches. Using 4-chloromethyl benzoyl amino tetramethyl rhodamine (CMTMR) coated particles, we describe here a novel and efficient method of tracer labeling to investigate cell migration in embryonic and postnatal brain. Further, we demonstrate that application of CMTMR facilitates the labeling of a large number of migrating cells and enables the characterization of their phenotypes with immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization techniques. We also illustrate that CMTMR labeling is ideally suited for time-lapse imaging of the behavior and dynamics of migrating cells.