Abstract
Planarian regeneration involves a complex series of cellular events, precisely choreographed in space and time. Time-lapse imaging can provide powerful insights into tissue dynamics, as variously demonstrated in other model systems. However, time-lapse imaging of planarians has proven to be a challenge. Especially the requisite immobilization of the animals over extended periods of time is difficult, owing to their photophobic behavior and soft body architecture. Here, we describe a new embedding method using 2% (w/v) low melting agarose, and demonstrate that this method can effectively immobilize animals as long as 7 days. In combination with cell-permeable fluorescent dyes, this immobilization method allows for the time-lapse imaging of planaria during regeneration and other physiological processes.
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Shen, W., Shen, Y., Lam, Y.W., Chan, D. (2018). Live Imaging of Planaria. In: Rink, J. (eds) Planarian Regeneration. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1774. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7802-1_22
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7802-1_22
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Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7800-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7802-1
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