Montreal Neurological Institute

8 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Biology

Dissecting the Non-human Primate Brain in Stereotaxic Space

Mark W. Burke¹, Shahin Zangenehpour², Denis Boire³, Maurice Ptito²

¹Department of Physiology, University of Montreal, ²School of Optometry, University of Montreal, ³Département de chimie-biologie , Université du Québes à Trois-Rivières

The non-human primate is an important translational species for our understanding of the normal processing of the brain. The anatomical organization of the primate brain can provide important insights into normal and pathological conditions in humans.

Biology

Brain Banking: Making the Most of your Research Specimens

Mark W. Burke¹, Shahin Zangenehpour², Maurice Ptito²

¹Department of Physiology, University of Montreal, ²School of Optometry, University of Montreal

Brain banking and systematic sampling of biological material provides the basis for unbiased stereology and maximizes the potential data obtained from each specimen.

Biology

The Gateway to the Brain: Dissecting the Primate Eye

Mark Burke¹, Shahin Zangenehpour², Joseph Bouskila², Denis Boire³, Maurice Ptito²

¹Department of Physiology, University of Montreal, ²School of Optometry, University of Montreal, ³Departement de chimie-biologie, Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres

The non-human primate is an important translational species for our understanding of development and aging. The anatomical organization of the primate retina may provide important insights into normal and pathological conditions in humans.

Biology

Knowing What Counts: Unbiased Stereology in the Non-human Primate Brain

Mark Burke¹, Shahin Zangenehpour², Peter R. Mouton³, Maurice Ptito²

¹Department of Physiology, University of Montreal, ²Ecole d’optometrie, University of Montreal, ³Stereology Resource Center

The anatomical organization of the primate brain can provide important insights into normal and pathological conditions in humans. Unbiased stereology is a method for accurately and efficiently estimating the total neuron number (or other cell type) in a given reference space¹.

Biology

Batch Immunostaining for Large-Scale Protein Detection in the Whole Monkey Brain

Shahin Zangenehpour^1,2, Mark W. Burke², Avi Chaudhuri³, Maurice Ptito²

¹Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, ²Ècole d’Optomètrie, Universitè de Montrèal, ³Department of Psychology, McGill University

Large-scale immunodetection of target proteins across the entire primate brain is possible by employing novel tissue embedding and sectioning methods combined with the use of creative apparatus for batch staining of multiple free-floating sections at a given time.

Neuroscience

Dissection and Culture of Commissural Neurons from Embryonic Spinal Cord

Sébastien D. Langlois^*1,2, Steves Morin^*1, Patricia T. Yam^1,3,4, Frédéric Charron^1,2,5,6,7

¹Molecular Biology of Neural Development, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, ²Division of Experimental Medicine and Program in Neuroengineering, McGill University, ³Program in Neuroengineering, McGill University, ⁴Montreal Neurological Institute, ⁵Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, ⁶Department of Biology, McGill University, ⁷Department of Medicine, Universite de Montreal - University of Montreal

This video demonstrates a method to dissect and culture commissural neurons from E13 rat dorsal spinal cord. Dissociated commissural neurons are useful to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of axon growth and guidance.

Biology

Assessment of Selective mRNA Translation in Mammalian Cells by Polysome Profiling

Mame Daro Faye¹, Tyson E Graber², Martin Holcik³

¹Apoptosis Research Centre, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute and Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, ²Montreal Neurological Institute, ³Apoptosis Research Centre, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa

The ability of cells to adapt to stress is crucial for their survival. Regulation of mRNA translation is one such adaptation strategy, providing for rapid regulation of the proteome. Here, we provide a standardized polysome profiling protocol to identify specific mRNAs that are selectively translated under stress conditions.

Neuroscience

Rewiring Neuronal Circuits: A New Method for Fast Neurite Extension and Functional Neuronal Connection

Margaret H. Magdesian^1,2,3, Madeleine Anthonisen¹, G. Monserratt Lopez-Ayon¹, Xue Ying Chua¹, Matthew Rigby¹, Peter Grütter¹

¹Department of Physics, McGill University, ²Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, ³Ananda Devices

This procedure describes how to rapidly initiate, extend and connect neurites organized in microfluidic chambers using poly-D-lysine-coated beads fixed to micropipettes that guide neurite elongation.