Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30010638›Full record

ArticleJournal of visualized experiments : JoVE2018

Tracing Gene Expression Through Detection of β-galactosidase Activity in Whole Mouse Embryos.

María José Blanco, Ana I R Learte, Miguel A Marchena, Emma Muñoz-Sáez, María Antonia Cid, Iván Rodríguez-Martín, Cristina Sánchez-Camacho

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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Mapping Shroom3 expression across the adult mouse.Gene expression patterns : GEP · 2025
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Stasimon/Tmem41b is required for cell proliferation and adult mouse survival.Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2024
    Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

María José BlancoFaculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid.
Ana I R LearteFaculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid.
Miguel A MarchenaFaculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid.
Emma Muñoz-SáezFaculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid.
María Antonia CidFaculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid.
Iván Rodríguez-MartínFaculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid.
Cristina Sánchez-CamachoCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC); School of Doctoral Studies and Research, Universidad Europea de Madrid; cristina.sanchez-camacho@universidadeuropea.es.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The Escherichia coli LacZ gene, encoding β-galactosidase, is largely used as a reporter for gene expression and as a tracer in cell lineage studies. The classical histochemical reaction is based on the hydrolysis of the substrate X-gal in combination with ferric and ferrous ions, which produces an insoluble blue precipitate that is easy to visualize. Therefore, β-galactosidase activity serves as a marker for the expression pattern of the gene of interest as the development proceeds. Here we describe the standard protocol for the detection of β-galactosidase activity in early whole mouse embryos and the subsequent method for paraffin sectioning and counterstaining. Additionally, a procedure for clarifying whole embryos is provided to better visualize X-gal staining in deeper regions of the embryo. Consistent results are obtained by performing this procedure, although optimization of reaction conditions is needed to minimize background activity. Limitations in the assay should be also considered, particularly regarding the size of the embryo in whole mount staining. Our protocol provides a sensitive and a reliable method for β-galactosidase detection during the mouse development that can be further applied to the cryostat sections as well as whole organs. Thus, the dynamic gene expression patterns throughout development can be easily analyzed by using this protocol in whole embryos, but also detailed expression at the cellular level can be assessed after paraffin sectioning.

Indexed as

Animalsbeta-GalactosidaseGene ExpressionMicebeta-Galactosidase

Identifiers

PMID30010638
PMCPMC6101999

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.