Bioluminescence Imaging of an Immunocompetent Mouse Model for Glioblastoma

Begin with an anesthetized immunocompetent mouse with luciferase-expressing tumor cells implanted in the brain tissue.

The mouse is also administered with luciferin, a substrate for the luciferase enzyme.

The luciferin circulates in the bloodstream, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and reaches the luciferase-expressing tumor cells.

Set up the imaging system with parameters to measure bioluminescent signals from luciferase-expressing tumor cells.

Place the anesthetized mouse in the bioluminescence imaging chamber and acquire images.

Luciferin enters the cell and interacts with the luciferase enzyme, producing a bioluminescent signal proportional to the tumor cell count.

Use the region of interest tool to define a signal area and quantify the bioluminescent signal.

To assess the tumor growth, repeat imaging over several days and measure the luminescence signal from the same area.

Over time, cells expressing luciferase begin to proliferate, forming a glioblastoma or tumor.

The increase in luminescence signals confirms glioblastoma growth.

To image the growth of the intracranial tumor, first, initialize the imaging station as just demonstrated.

Next, after confirming the appropriate level of sedation by tail pinch, set up the imaging system parameters as just demonstrated, with the exception of selecting Auto for the exposure time. When the imaging system is ready, place the mice onto the imaging station and select Acquire to obtain images of the luciferase expression. When the image has been successfully acquired, select the region of interest tool from the tool palette and Auto from the circle icon.

Encircle the areas of signal to define the regions of interest. And then obtain measurements of the regions as units of photons per second per steradian per square centimeter. Finally, remove the mice from the imaging chamber, and monitor the tumor-bearing animals until they are fully recovered.