Viewing cell movements in the developing neuroendocrine brain

Many studies suggest that migratory guidance cues within the developing brain are diverse across many regions. To better understand the early development and differentiation of select brain regions, an in vitro method was developed using selected inbred and transgenic strains of embryonic mice. In particular, organotypic slices are used to test factors that influence the movements of neurons during brain development. Thick 250 μm slices cut on a vibrating microtome are prepared and maintained in vitro for 0-3 days. Nissl stain analyses often show a uniform distribution of cells in the regions of interest on the day of plating (embryonic days 12-15). After 3 days in vitro, cellular aggregation suggesting nuclear formation or the changing position of cells with a defined phenotype show that reasonably normal cell movements occur in several regions. Movements in vitro that mimic changes in vivo suggest that key factors reside locally within the plane of the slices. Video microscopy studies are used to follow the migration of fluorescently labeled cells in brain slices from mice maintained in serum-free media for 1 to 3 days. Transgenic mice with selective promoter driven expression of fluorescent proteins allow us to view specific cell types (e.g., neurons expressing gonadotropin-releasing hormone). The accessibility of an in vitro system that provides for relatively normal brain development over key brief windows of time allows for the testing of important mechanisms.