Identification of Cilia in Different Mouse Tissues

Abstract

Cilia are microtubule-based hair-like organelles that extend from the cell surface. However, the existence and distribution of cilia in each organ and tissue at the postnatal stage in vivo remain largely unknown. In this study, we defined cilia distribution and arrangement and measured the ciliary lengths and the percentage of ciliated cells in different organs and tissues in vivo by using cilium dual reporter-expressing transgenic mice. Cilia were identified by the presence of ARL13B with an mCherry+ signal, and the cilium basal body was identified by the presence of Centrin2 with a GFP+ signal. Here, we provide in vivo evidence that chondrocytes and cells throughout bones have cilia. Most importantly, we reveal that: 1. primary cilia are present in hepatocytes; 2. no cilia but many centrioles are distributed on the apical cell surface in the gallbladder, intestine, and thyroid epithelia; 3. cilia on the cerebral cortex are well oriented, pointing to the center of the brain; 4. ARL13B+ inclusion is evident in the thyroid and islets of Langerhans; and 5. approximately 2% of cilia show irregular movement in nucleus pulposus extracellular fluid. This study reveals the existence and distribution of cilia and centrioles in different tissues and organs, and provides new insights for further comprehensive study of ciliary function in these organs and tissues.