Live Imaging of the Developing Mouse Mesonephros

Embryonic development is a highly dynamic process involving complex tissue interactions and movements. Recent progress in cell labeling, image acquisition, and image processing technologies has brought the study of embryo morphogenesis to another level. It is now possible to visualize in real time the dynamic morphogenetic changes occurring in vivo and to reconstitute and quantify them in 4D rendering. However, extended live embryo imaging remains challenging in terms of embryo survival and minimization of phototoxicity. Here, we describe a procedure to image the developing mesonephros for up to 16 h in intact mouse embryos. This method can easily be adapted to the imaging of other structures at similar developmental stages.