Journal Article

Long-Term Imaging of Caenorhabditis elegans Using Nanoparticle-Mediated Immobilization

Fang-Yen, Christopher, Kim, Eric, Gabel, Christopher V., Sun, Lin

2013

Overview

One advantage of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism is its suitability for in vivo optical microscopy. Imaging C. elegans often requires animals to be immobilized to avoid movement-related artifacts. Immobilization has been performed by application of anesthetics or by introducing physical constraints using glue or specialized microfluidic devices. Here we present a method for immobilizing C. elegans using polystyrene nanoparticles and agarose pads. Our technique is technically simple, does not expose the worm to toxic substances, and allows recovery of animals. We evaluate the method and show that the polystyrene beads increase friction between the worm and agarose pad. We use our method to quantify calcium transients and long-term regrowth in single neurons following axotomy by a femtosecond laser.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Anesthetics / Animals / Automation / Axotomy / Axotomy - instrumentation / Axotomy - methods / Beads / Biocompatibility / Bioengineering / Biology / Biophysics / Caenorhabditis elegans / Caenorhabditis elegans - metabolism / Calcium / Calcium Signaling / Femtosecond / Femtosecond lasers / Immobilization / Immobilization - instrumentation / Immobilization - methods / Light microscopy / Materials Science / Medical research / Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Microfluidics / Microscopy / Microscopy - methods / Movement / Nanoparticles / Nanoparticles - chemistry / Nanotechnology - methods / Nematodes / Neurons / Neurons - metabolism / Optical microscopy / Optics / Physiological aspects / Physiology / Polystyrene / Polystyrene resins / Polystyrenes - chemistry / Regrowth / Roundworms / Sepharose - chemistry / Studies / Toxic substances / Worms