For fluorescent images, on days 3, 5 and 7 after transfection the mice were imaged at excitation 550nm, emission 600nm or excitation 600nm, emission 700nm using the In vivo Imaging System FX Pro (Bruker Biospin, Coventry, UK). Prior to imaging mice were anaesthetised with inhaled isoflurane. Mice were imaged for 60 seconds. To avoid autofluorescence at the imaging site, mice were shaved and depilated using a commercially available depilation cream (Veet sensitive, Reckitt Benckiser, Hull, UK).
For luminescence, after transfection with plasmid encoding luciferase, expression was visualized following intraperitoneal injection of Rediject D-Luciferin (Perkin Elmer, Waltham, MA, USA) in accordance with manufacturer’s specification. Light emission was measured for 4 minutes without binning and an X-ray was taken for 30 seconds, the two images were overlaid using MI SE software. Relative luminescence was quantified by using the software’s region of interest (ROI) analysis function, with background levels set using control, untransfected animals.
For luminescence, after transfection with plasmid encoding luciferase, expression was visualized following intraperitoneal injection of Rediject D-Luciferin (Perkin Elmer, Waltham, MA, USA) in accordance with manufacturer’s specification. Light emission was measured for 4 minutes without binning and an X-ray was taken for 30 seconds, the two images were overlaid using MI SE software. Relative luminescence was quantified by using the software’s region of interest (ROI) analysis function, with background levels set using control, untransfected animals.