In utero Electroporation of the Embryonic Mouse Retina

Abstract

This protocol is useful to manipulate gene expression in the embryonic retina and compare the result with the contralateral non electroporated retina. In addition, the electroporation of a membrane or cytoplasmic tagged GFP allows to determine the effects of gene manipulation on the outgrowth of retinal ganglion cell axons (Garcia-Frigola et al., 2007) or simply to follow axon outgrowth in mutant embryos. DNA can be directed to different quadrants of the retina (ventral or dorsally) by modifying the position of the electrodes (Petros et al., 2009; Sánchez-Arrones et al., 2013). After the procedure, embryos are left developing to the desired stage, including postnatal stages.