KU Leuven - University of Leuven

4 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Biology

A Highly Reproducible and Straightforward Method to Perform In Vivo Ocular Enucleation in the Mouse after Eye Opening

Jeroen Aerts^*1, Julie Nys^*1, Lutgarde Arckens¹

¹Department of Biology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven

The removal of eyes, also called enucleation, provides a useful strategy to study aspects of visual, cross-modal, and developmental plasticity along the mammalian visual system since it induces irreversible partial (monocular) or complete (binocular) vision loss. Here we describe a highly reproducible and straightforward approach to perform in vivo enucleation.

Neuroscience

In Vivo Electrophysiological Measurement of Compound Muscle Action Potential from the Forelimbs in Mouse Models of Motor Neuron Degeneration

Eveliina Pollari^1,2, Robert Prior^1,2, Wim Robberecht^1,2,3, Philip Van Damme^1,2,3, Ludo Van Den Bosch^1,2

¹Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, ²Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB, ³Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven

The measurement of nerve conduction is a useful tool to assess mouse models of neurodegeneration but it is frequently only applied to stimulate the sciatic nerve in hindlimbs. Here, we describe a technique to measure compound muscle action potential (CMAP) in vivo in the mouse forelimb muscles innervated by the brachial plexus.

Neuroscience

Generation of Human Motor Units with Functional Neuromuscular Junctions in Microfluidic Devices

Katarina Stoklund Dittlau^1,2, Emily N. Krasnow^1,2, Laura Fumagalli^1,2, Tijs Vandoorne^1,2, Pieter Baatsen^3,4, Axelle Kerstens^3,4, Giorgia Giacomazzi⁵, Benjamin Pavie^3,4, Elisabeth Rossaert^1,2, Jimmy Beckers^1,2, Maurilio Sampaolesi⁵, Philip Van Damme^1,2,6, Ludo Van Den Bosch^1,2

¹Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, ²VIB Bio Imaging Core, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, ³Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, ⁴Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven

We describe a method to generate human motor units in commercially available microfluidic devices by co-culturing human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons with human primary mesoangioblast-derived myotubes resulting in the formation of functionally active neuromuscular junctions.

Current Methods In ALS Research

Yvonne E. Klingl^1,2, Sandrine Da Cruz³, Ludo Van Den Bosch^1,2

¹Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, ²Laboratory of Neurobiology, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), ³VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute

Current Methods In ALS Research