In Vivo Luciferin FAQs

Q:How much luciferin should I give each mouse?

According to our In Vivo Luciferin Handbook, the recommended dosage is 10 µl of a 15 mg/ml luciferin stock solution per gram of body weight (10 µl/g). For example, a 20 g mouse (average adult weight ranges from 17–25 g) would typically receive about 200 µl for a standard 150 mg/kg injection.

Q:How many mice can I dose from one aliquotted tube of luciferin?

This depends on how the luciferin is aliquotted. As noted above, the typical volume for one mouse is about 200 µl of the stock solution. You could prepare individual 200 µl aliquots for single-animal use, or prepare larger aliquots of 1–2 ml to treat multiple animals from the same tube.

Q:How many animals will one batch of luciferin stock treat?

Following our preparation guidelines, a 15 mg/ml stock is made by dissolving 1 g of luciferin in 66.6 ml of DPBS. The final volume stays close to 66.6 ml, so we’ll use that figure:

· For a 20 g mouse, dose 200 µl of the stock.

· 66.6 ml = 66,600 µl total.

· 66,600 µl ÷ 200 µl = approximately 333 mice.

Q:What are the injection routes for in vivo applications?

There are three primary methods:

· Intraperitoneal (IP): Injection into the peritoneal cavity.

· Intravenous (IV): Direct injection into the tail vein.

· Subcutaneous (SQ): Injection beneath the skin into the subcutis, located under the dermis and epidermis.

Our In Vivo Luciferin Handbook describes each technique in detail, including step-by-step procedures and recommended imaging timeframes after each route.

Q:How much luciferin should I order if this is my first in vivo experiment?

If you’re new to luciferin use in an in vivo setting, starting with the smallest pack size (100 mg) is often best. This allows you to assess the product quality and run small-scale pilot tests. You can also calculate your needs based on your experimental plan and the expected duration of the study.

When deciding on quantity, keep in mind:

· Storage & stability: D-Luciferin potassium and sodium salts can be stored in powder form at –20 °C (protected from light) for at least one year. Desiccation further extends shelf life. Prepared stock solutions remain stable for at least five freeze–thaw cycles.

· Usage per animal & animal numbers: Refer back to section 1 for the per-mouse volume and section 3 for the approximate number of animals per gram of luciferin.

Q:How long does imaging take?

It’s better to think in terms of stages rather than total time:

1. Prepare fresh stock or thaw an aliquot.

2. Inject the animals.

3. Kinetic curves for luciferase activity in each model to determine peak signal time for imaging. Continuous images are taken every 5-10 minutes for up to 40-60 minutes for IP and SQ models. IV injected models should be imaged every 1-5 minutes for up to 20-30 minutes.

4. Determine the best point for imaging based on the kinetic curve. Most models reach peak signal time between 10-520 minutes post IP or SQ luciferin injection and only 2-5 minutes post IV luciferin injection.

5. Once the kinetic curve and imaging point is determined, begin these phases for your actual experiment.

Q:Is luciferin made from real fireflies?

Our luciferin is recombinant, meaning no fireflies are used or harmed in its production.

Q:Which cell lines are compatible?

Any cell line expressing firefly luciferase is compatible with Aladdin’s D-Luciferin potassium or sodium formulations.

Q:Which form is better for in vivo work — potassium or sodium?

The difference is mainly in physical properties. Sodium luciferin is slightly more granular and dissolves more easily than potassium luciferin. Most researchers opt for the potassium salt in in vivo studies, but both perform equally well.

Aladdin: https://www.aladdinsci.com/