This work is supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research grants to A.J.-A.

This protocol is based on modifications of procedures that have been described previously 18,24,25,26,27. This protocol is approved by the Animal Care Committee at McGill University.
1. Experimental Preparation
NOTE: The following stock solutions can be prepared and maintained until use.
<ol>
	<li>Dissection Solution
	<ol>
		<li>Dissolve 3.62 g of sodium chloride (NaCl), 0.2 g of potassium chloride (KCl), 0.069 g of sodium phosphate (NaH2PO4 &#8729; H2O), and 1.306 g of D-(+)-Glucose in 500 mL of distilled H2O. Then add 12.5 mL of HEPES Buffer, 450 &#181;L of Phenol red solution, and 20 mL of BSA fraction V to the solution. Adjust to pH 7.4 using 1 N sodium hydroxide (NaOH).</li>
		<li>Sterilize with a 0.22 &#181;m filter and store at 4 &#176;C. This solution will remain stable for up to one week to 10 days.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Trypsin
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare a stock solution at a concentration of 25 g/L of trypsin in 0.9% sodium chloride. Store the solution at -20 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Trypsin Inhibitor
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare a stock with a concentration of 10 mg/mL by dissolving 1 g of chicken egg white trypsin inhibitor in 100 mL of 1 mM HCl. Store this solution at -20 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>DNase
	<ol>
		<li>Dissolve 100 mg of DNase 1 in 10 mL of sterile water to generate a 10 mg/mL stock. Store the solution at -20 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>MgSO4
	<ol>
		<li>Add 6.02 g of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) to 50 mL of distilled water (H2O) to generate a 1 M stock. Store the solution at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>CaCl 2
	<ol>
		<li>Dissolve 0.735 g of calcium chloride (CaCl2&#8729; 2H2O) in 50 mL of distilled H2O to a stock concentration of 100 mM. Store solution at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>KCl
	<ol>
		<li>Dissolve 3.7275 g of KCl in 50 mL of distilled H2O to a stock concentration of 1 M. Store solution at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>D-(+)-Glucose
	<ol>
		<li>Dissolve 1.802 g of D-(+)-glucose in 50 mL of distilled H2O to a stock concentration of 100 mM. Store solution at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Cell Culture Media
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare cell culture media as follows: 5 mL of heat inactivated dialyzed Fetal Bovine Serum, 500 &#181;L of 200 mM L-Glutamine, 100 &#181;L of 50 mg/mL Gentamycin and 1 mL of 1.0 M KCL should be added to 45 mL of filter sterilized Eagle&#39;s minimal essential media (E-MEM) that is supplemented with 1.125 g/L D-Glucose to generate 50 mL of cerebellar granule neuron culture media. Store media at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Cytosine Beta-D- Arabino Furanoside
	<ol>
		<li>Dissolve 48 mg of cytosine beta-D-arabino furanoside in 10 mL of growth media to a stock concentration of 20 mM. Store solution at -20 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Poly-D-Lysine
	<ol>
		<li>To generate a 2 mg/mL poly D-lysine stock, add 10 mL of sterile H2O to 20 mg of poly D-lysine. Stock poly D-lysine should be stored at -80 &#176;C in 100 &#181;L aliquots.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>NOTE: The following solutions should be prepared prior to dissection and maintained at 4 &#176;C until use.</li>
	<li>MgSO4 Supplemented Dissection Solution
	<ol>
		<li>Add 300 &#181;L of stock MgSO4 to 250 mL of dissection solution.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Trypsin Dissection Solution
	<ol>
		<li>Add 100 &#181;L of stock trypsin and 12 &#181;L of stock MgSO4 to 10 mL of dissection solution.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Trypsin Inhibitor Solution 1
	<ol>
		<li>Add 164 &#181;L of stock trypsin inhibitor, 250 &#181;L of stock DNase 1 and 12 &#181;L of stock MgSO4 to 10 mL of dissection solution.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Trypsin Inhibitor Solution 2
	<ol>
		<li>Add 1040 &#181;L of stock trypsin inhibitor, 750 &#181;L of stock DNase 1 and 12 &#181;L of stock MgSO4 to 10 mL of dissection solution.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>CaCl 2 supplemented dissection solution
	<ol>
		<li>Add 10 &#181;L of stock CaCl2 and 25 &#181;L of stock MgSO4 to 10 mL of dissection solution.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Poly D-Lysine Coated Culture Dishes
	<ol>
		<li>To coat culture dishes, dilute 100 &#181;L of stock poly D-lysine in 40 mL of sterile H2O. For 35 mm Nunc culture dishes, add 2 mL of diluted poly D-Lysine solution. For 4 well plates, add 300 &#181;L of diluted poly D-Lysine to each well.</li>
		<li>Let the poly D-lysine sit for 1 h before aspirating and washing each well with 4 mL or 600 &#181;L (for 35 mm culture dishes or 4 well plates, respectively) of sterile H2O. Then aspirate the H2O and let the dishes air dry for 1 h.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Brain Extraction and Isolation of Cerebellum
<ol>
	<li>Decapitate a 6-7 day old mouse pup using decapitation scissors. Perform the dissection of the brain in a sterile tissue culture hood.</li>
	<li>To remove the brain, grasp the head using a pair of forceps and cut through the skin toward the anterior of the head using microdissection scissors as demonstrated in Figure 1. Then cut through the skull bone using a new pair of scissors to minimize risk of contamination. Remove the skull covering the brain using forceps and tease out the brain using forceps or a spatula.
	<ol>
		<li>As needed, cut through the optic nerve to facilitate getting the brain out as a whole.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Place the brain in the dissection solution which is supplemented with MgSO4. Keep the solution and the brain on ice.</li>
	<li>Following brain removal, under a dissection microscope, dissect out the cerebellum from the brain while still in MgSO4 supplemented dissection solution, and remove the meninges using fine forceps. Turn the cerebellum to its ventral side and insure removal of the choroid plexus.</li>
	<li>Pool the cerebella into a 35-mm dish containing ~1 mL of MgSO4 supplemented dissection solution.</li>
	<li>Chop the tissue into small pieces and transfer into a 50 mL tube containing 30 mL of MgSO4 buffered dissection solution.</li>
</ol>
3. Mouse Cerebellar Granule Neuron Isolation and Culturing
<ol>
	<li>Centrifuge the 50 mL tube containing the chopped cerebral tissue for 5 min at 644 x g and 4 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Remove the supernatant and add 10 mL of trypsin dissection solution. Then shake the tube at high speed for 15 min at 37 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Add 10 mL of trypsin inhibitor solution 1 to the tube and rock gently for 2 min.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the tube for 5 min at 644 x g and 4 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Remove the supernatant and add 2 mL of trypsin inhibitor solution 2, and then transfer to a 15 mL tube.</li>
	<li>Triturate the tissue in the 15 mL tube until the solution becomes murky. Then let settle for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Remove the clear supernatant and transfer the supernatant to a new tube containing 1 mL of CaCl2 supplemented dissection solution.</li>
	<li>Add another mL of trypsin inhibitor solution 2 to the bottom of the tube containing the pellet from step 3.6. Triturate again and let settle for 5 min. Remove the supernatant and add it to the tube containing the supernatant from step 3.7 (That is a repeat of steps 3.6-3.7). Repeat this process until most of the tissue is mechanically dissociated.</li>
	<li>Add 0.3 mL of CaCl2 supplemented dissection solution to the supernatant collection for every mL of supernatant.</li>
	<li>Mix the contents of the tube and then centrifuge for 5 min at 644 x g.</li>
	<li>Remove the supernatant and add 10 mL of fresh media to the pellet and mix.</li>
	<li>Cells may then be counted and diluted to a concentration of 1.5 x 106 cells/mL. Please note that in general 10 million cells are expected from each dissected brain, dependent on trypsinization time and efficiency of dissection.Plate cells on previously made poly D-lysine plates. For 4-well plates, plate 0.5 mL, giving 7.5 x 105 cells per well. For 35-mm dishes, plate 4 mL, giving 6 x 106 cells per plate.</li>
	<li>After 24 h, add cytosine-&#946;-arabino furanoside (AraC) to the plates to reduce glial contamination. For each mL of media 0.5 &#181;L of 20 mM AraC is required. Addition of AraC does not require a media change. If cells are to be maintained for 7-8 days, repeat this treatment on day 3.</li>
	<li>Maintain cultures in a 5% CO2 incubator at 37 &#176;C and feed with 100 &#181;L of 100 mM glucose added to the culture for every 2 mL of media every 2 days past 5 days. A complete media change is not required.</li>
</ol>
4. Lentivirus Packaging, Purification and Titration
NOTE: The protocol for the packaging, concentration, purification and titration of lentivirus has previously been described in detail without the use of a kit 28, including alternative methods for titration, such as flow cytometry 29. Here we briefly present the protocol used in our lab for the production of lentivirus to study neuronal injury using speedy virus purification solution and a qPCR lentiviral titration kit.
<ol>
	<li>Plate Hek293T cells in 10 cm culture dishes with Dulbecco&#39;s modified Eagle&#39;s minimal essential medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% FBS. For obtaining a high viral titer, grow at least 5 plates of Hek293T cells for each transfection. Make sure on the day of transfection cells are 70% confluent. Change media three hours prior to transfection.</li>
	<li>For each transfection, prepare two tubes. In tube 1 add 1.5 mL MEM-reduced serum media and 41 &#181;L of transfection reagent, mix well. In tube 2, add 1.5 mL of MEM-reduced serum media and 6 &#181;g of transfer plasmid, 6 &#181;g of pCMV-dR8.2 vector (packaging plasmid), 3 &#181;g pCMV-VSV-G vector (envelope plasmid), and 35 &#181;L of p3000 enhancer reagent (supplied with lipofectamine). Mix well, and combine tubes 1 and 2, vortex and incubate for 15 min.</li>
	<li>Remove 50% of the media from Hek293T plates and add DNA-lipid complexes to cells. Incubate for 6 h at 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2. Remove media and replace with 5 mL of fresh DMEM, incubate overnight.</li>
	<li>At 24 h post-transfection, collect the first batch of viral supernatant from each plate. Keep the viral media at 4 &#176;C and add 5 mL of fresh media into each plate of Hek293T cells. Incubate overnight.</li>
	<li>48 h post-transfection, collect the second batch of viral supernatant, combine it with the first batch and centrifuge combined viral supernatant for 10 min at 600 x g.</li>
	<li>Filter the supernatant through a filter with 45 &#181;m pore size.</li>
	<li>Purify the virus using a speedy virus purification solution. For every 45 mL of viral supernatant, add 5 mL of lentiviral binding solution, mix, and centrifuge for 10 min at &#62;5,000 x g and 4 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Remove supernatant carefully so as not to disturb the pellet.</li>
	<li>Add 20-40 &#181;L of medium and re-suspend the pellet. Aliquot and store at -80 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>To obtain the lentiviral titer, a qPCR lentiviral titration kit is used. Dilute 2 &#181;L of purified virus in 500 &#181;L of PBS. Add 2 &#181;L of the diluted virus to 18 &#181;L of virus lysis buffer (provided in the kit).</li>
	<li>Set up three different RT-q-PCR reactions in triplicates and label them as, viral lysate, positive control 1 (STD1), and positive control 2 (STD2). For each reaction add, 12.5 &#181;L of 2x qPCR MasterMix, 2.5 &#181;L of either viral lysate or STD1 (provided in the kit) or STD2 (provided in the kit), and 10 &#181;L of reagent-mix (provided in the kit) in 0.2 mL PCR tubes.</li>
	<li>Set the PCR program as follows: 20 min at 42 &#176;C for reverse transcription, 10 min at 95 &#176;C for enzyme activation, 40 cycles of 15 s at 95 &#176;C for denaturation and 1 min at 60 &#176;C for annealing/extension.</li>
	<li>Calculate the viral titer using this formula: 
	Titer of viral lysate = 5 x 107/23(Ctx-Ct1)/(Ct2-Ct1). 
	Ctx = average Ct value of unknown sample, Ct1 = average value of STD1, Ct2 = average value of STD2. 
	NOTE: CGNs can be best transduced with lentiviruses or infected with adenoviruses depending on the mode of injury being studied. Addition of lentiviruses at an MOI of 2-3 to cell culture solution at the time of plating is used to study NMDA induced signalling at day 7 of the culture. This results in more than 80% transduction and is appropriate to pursue with biochemical analyses of these neurons (Figure 2). Addition of adenoviruses at day 5 of culture (at MOI 50) and studying NMDA induced signalling at day 7-8 is used for other techniques such as imaging. This treatment results in less than 10% infection of neurons, making it ideal for imaging and co-localization of proteins. Adenoviruses can be used at the time of plating to study DNA damage induced cell death by addition of camptothecin at day 2-3 or oxidative stress by addition of hydrogen peroxide. The presence of fluorescence proteins (GFP, RFP, CFP or YFP) tagged to the gene of interest can be used to estimate percent transduction and potential toxicity. With the recommended MOI, we see minimal toxicity and maximum transduction (Figure 3).</li>
</ol>
5. Modeling Neuronal Injury
<ol>
	<li>To induce NMDA induced neuronal excitotoxicity, following 7 days in vitro, treat CGNs with 100 &#181;M NMDA and 10 &#181;M glycine for 1 h. Replace all the medium with conditioned medium from parallel cultures with no treatment. This concentration results in 50% cell death at 24 h post treatment (Figure 3C). Mitochondrial fragmentation is evident at 6-8 h post treatment (See Jahani-Asl et al.26,27).</li>
	<li>To induce ROS-induced cell death (oxidative stress), treat neurons with 75-100 &#181;M hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and switch to conditioned media from parallel cultures following 5 min exposure to H2O2. Note, due to the instability of H2O2, optimize the concentration to a level that induces 50-70% cell death in culture following 24 h of treatment.</li>
	<li>To induce DNA damage induced cell death, treat CGNs with 10 &#181;M camptothecin. This concentration induces more than 50% cell death in 24 h. Mitochondrial fragmentation and early apoptotic signalling occurs 2-3 h after addition of camptothecin at this concentration (See Jahani-Asl et al.18)</li>
	<li>To induce low K+ induced neuronal apoptosis in CGNs, change media containing 25 mM K+ to low potassium media with 5 mM K+ following 7 days in vitro.</li>
</ol>

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J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Production+of+lentiviral+vectors+for+transducing+cells+from+the+central+nervous+system.">Production of lentiviral vectors for transducing cells from the central nervous system.</a> J Vis Exp. (63), e4031 (2012).</li><li>Wang, X., McManus, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lentivirus+production.">Lentivirus production.</a> J Vis Exp. (32), (2009).</li><li>Lee, H. Y., Greene, L. A., Mason, C. A., Manzini, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+and+culture+of+post-natal+mouse+cerebellar+granule+neuron+progenitor+cells+and+neurons.">Isolation and culture of post-natal mouse cerebellar granule neuron progenitor cells and neurons.</a> J Vis Exp. (23), (2009).</li><li>Holubowska, A., Mukherjee, C., Vadhvani, M., Stegmuller, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetic+manipulation+of+cerebellar+granule+neurons+in+vitro+and+in+vivo+to+study+neuronal+morphology+and+migration.">Genetic manipulation of cerebellar granule neurons in vitro and in vivo to study neuronal morphology and migration.</a> J Vis Exp. (85), (2014).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Here we provide a simple method for the culturing of primary mouse cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs), loss and gain of function studies, and modeling different mechanisms of cell death. Several factors affect the reproducibility of the results using this procedure which require close monitoring. These include the purity of the culture including the elimination of glial cells in the culture, the confluence of the culture, and maintaining healthy cells. Introducing variability in these factors can bias the results and chal...

Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) are well characterized in culture and have served as an effective model to study neuronal death and development 1,2,3,4,5,6. The early expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in CGN cultures in vitro makes them an attractive model to study NMDA-induced signalling. Activation of these receptors with NMDA in conjunction with membrane depolarization is used to model physiological neuronal activity stimulation, and has allowed for research into the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity 7,8. On the contrary, over-stimulation of these receptors by NMDA ligand can be used to model excitotoxicity, a major mechanism of neuronal loss in acute brain damage and neurodegenerative diseases 9. One mechanism for the induction of excitotoxicity is through ATP starvation with reduced oxygen, as seen with acute neuronal injury. This results in membrane depolarization and elevated levels of glutamate release at the synapse. The subsequent overstimulation of the NMDA receptor by elevated glutamate results in excessive Ca2+ influx via these receptors, which in turn activates several pathways including Ca2+-activated proteases, phospholipases, and endonucleases, resulting in the uncontrolled degradation of critical cellular components and cell death. Additionally, high intracellular Ca2+ leads to the generation of oxygen free radicals and mitochondrial damage 10,11.
While the majority of neuronal loss following NMDA-induced neuronal excitotoxicity is due to calcium influx and is Bax/Bak independent, other mechanisms of cell death cannot be excluded from this model. The appearance of both necrotic and apoptotic like cell death due to excitotoxicity is partially due to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage caused by high intracellular Ca2+ levels 12. DNA damage results in neuronal death through apoptotic mechanisms, being correlated with hallmarks of apoptotic cell death, such as the appearance of chromatin masses and apoptotic bodies. Induction of apoptosis is mediated through the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria, and has been shown to be dependent on Bax/Bak oligomerization 13. Bax/Bak oligomerization promotes pore formation in the outer mitochondrial membrane, resulting in cytochrome c release and the activation of pro-apoptotic regulators as seen with mild ischemic injury 14.
Generation of ROS is a significant issue in the brain due to the low endogenous levels of antioxidants, coupled with the large oxygen requirement for neuronal functioning 15. When exposed to an ischemic event, nitric oxide synthase is upregulated , producing nitric oxide and increasing reactive oxygen species 14. The increased concentration of oxygen radicals can result in DNA damage and indirectly cause energy starvation. High levels of DNA double-stranded breaks are remedied by the activation of poly ADP-ribose polymerase-1 (PARP-1), an eukaryotic chromatin-bound protein responsible for catalyzing the transfer of ADP-ribose units from NAD+, a process integral to DNA repair 16. However, with excessive damage due to oxidative stress, PARP-1 activation can cause energy starvation due to the increased drain on NAD+, a necessary substrate for ATP production through oxidative phosphorylation. Ultimately, oxidative stress will trigger apoptosis in a Bax/Bak dependant manner leading to mitochondrial cytochrome c release, and has been shown to induce mitochondrial remodelling in CGNs 17.
Finally, changes in concentration of potassium chloride (KCl) in CGN cultures can be used to model low potassium/depolarization mediated apoptosis 18,19,20. When exposed to low levels of K+, CGNs undergo distinct physiological changes, resulting in reductions of both mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis, attributed to decreased cellular demand 21, as well as reduction in levels of nuclear factor-&#954;B (NF&#954;B) which regulates activities including inflammation and synaptic transmission 22. This model is of particular interest for the study of cell death during neuronal development. The low K+ environment more closely resembles physiological conditions, and causes hallmarks of cell death seen during neuronal development 23.
In summary, CGNs provide a longstanding model to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of neuronal death and degeneration. The following protocol will allow isolation and culturing of CGNs, expression or repression of a particular genetic pathway using viruses and the induction of neuronal death via different mechanisms representing neuronal injury and degeneration.

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modeling neuronal death and degeneration in mouse primary cerebellar granule neurons

Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) are a commonly used neuronal model, forming an abundant homogeneous population in the cerebellum. In light of their post-natal development, abundance, and accessibility, CGNs are an ideal model to study neuronal processes, including neuronal development, neuronal migration, and physiological neuronal activity stimulation. In addition, CGN cultures provide an excellent model for studying different modes of cell death including excitotoxicity and apoptosis. Within a week in culture, CGNs express N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, a specific ionotropic glutamate receptor with many critical functions in neuronal health and disease. The addition of low concentrations of NMDA in conjunction with membrane depolarization to rodent primary CGN cultures has been used to model physiological neuronal activity stimulation while the addition of high concentrations of NMDA can be employed to model excitotoxic neuronal injury. Here, a method of isolation and culturing of CGNs from 6 day old pups as well as genetic manipulation of CGNs by adenoviruses and lentiviruses are described. We also present optimized protocols on how to stimulate NMDA-induced excitotoxicity, low-potassium-induced apoptosis, oxidative stress and DNA damage following transduction of these neurons.

With careful dissection, the intact brain should be removed with minimal damage as seen in Figure 1A-B. Effort should be taken to minimize damage to the brain during removal, particularly damage to the cerebellum. Damaging the cerebellum makes for more difficult identification and complete removal of the meninges, and increases the likelihood of contamination of the neuronal culture. Once the meninges have been removed, the cerebellum can be ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Modeling Neuronal Death and Degeneration in Mouse Primary Cerebellar Granule Neurons at JoVE.com

Modeling Neuronal Death and Degeneration in Mouse Primary Cerebellar Granule Neurons

This protocol describes a simple method for isolating and culturing primary mouse cerebral granule neurons (CGNs) from 6-7 day old pups, efficient transduction of CGNs for loss and gain of function studies, and modelling NMDA-induced neuronal excitotoxicity, low-potassium-induced cell death, DNA-damage, and oxidative stress using the same culture model.

Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) are a commonly used neuronal model, forming an abundant homogeneous population in the cerebellum. In light of their ...

modeling-neuronal-death-degeneration-mouse-primary-cerebellar-granule

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

8.0K Views.  Jewish General Hospital. Dit protocol beschrijft een eenvoudige methode om te isoleren en primaire muisknop cerebrale submodule neuronen (CGNs) van 6-7 dag oud pups, efficiënte transductie van CGNs voor verlies en winst van functie studies, kweken en modellering NMDA-geïnduceerde neuronale excitotoxicity, lage-kalium-veroorzaakte celdood, DNA-schade en oxidatieve stress met behulp van de zelfde cultuur-model.

Video: Modeling Neuronal Death and Degeneration in Mouse Primary Cerebellar Granule Neurons

In utero Electroporation followed by Primary Neuronal Culture for Studying Gene Function in Subset of Cortical Neurons

In vitro study of primary neuronal cultures allows for quantitative analyses of neurite outgrowth. In order to study how genetic alterations affect neuronal process outgrowth, shRNA or cDNA constructs can be introduced into primary neurons via chemical transfection or viral transduction. However, with primary cortical cells, a heterogeneous pool of cell types (glutamatergic neurons from different layers, inhibitory neurons, glial cells) are transfected using these methods. The use of in utero electroporation to introduce DNA constructs in the embryonic rodent cortex allows for certain subsets of cells to be targeted: while electroporation of early embryonic cortex targets deep layers of the cortex, electroporation at late embryonic timepoints targets more superficial layers. Further, differential placement of electrodes across the heads of individual embryos results in the targeting of dorsal-medial versus ventral-lateral regions of the cortex. Following electroporation, transfected cells can be dissected out, dissociated, and plated in vitro for quantitative analysis of neurite outgrowth. Here, we provide a step-by-step method to quantitatively measure neuronal process outgrowth in subsets of cortical cells.
The basic protocol for in utero electroporation has been described in detail in two other JoVE articles from the Kriegstein lab 1, 2. We will provide an overview of our protocol for in utero electroporation, focusing on the most important details, followed by a description of our protocol that applies in utero electroporation to the study of gene function in neuronal process outgrowth.

In utero Electroporation followed by Primary Neuronal Culture for Studying Gene Function in Subset of Cortical Neurons

In utero electroporation is a valuable method for transfecting neuronal progenitor cells in vivo. Depending upon the placement of the electrodes and the developmental timepoint of electroporation, certain subsets of cortical cells can be targeted. Targeted cells can then be analyzed in vivo or in vitro for effects of genetic alteration.

In vitro study of primary neuronal cultures allows for quantitative analyses of neurite outgrowth. In order to study how genetic alterations affect ...

Nucleofection and Primary Culture of Embryonic Mouse Hippocampal and Cortical Neurons

Hippocampal and cortical neurons have been used extensively to study central nervous system (CNS) neuronal polarization, axon/dendrite outgrowth, and synapse formation and function. An advantage of culturing these neurons is that they readily polarize, forming distinctive axons and dendrites, on a two dimensional substrate at very low densities. This property has made them extremely useful for determining many aspects of neuronal development. Furthermore, by providing glial conditioning for these neurons they will continue to develop, forming functional synaptic connections and surviving for several months in culture. In this protocol we outline a technique to dissect, culture and transfect embryonic mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons. Transfection is accomplished by electroporating DNA into the neurons before plating via nucleofection. This protocol has the advantage of expressing fluorescently-tagged fusion proteins early in development (~4-8hrs after plating) to study the dynamics and function of proteins during polarization, axon outgrowth and branching. We have also discovered that this single transfection before plating maintains fluorescently-tagged fusion protein expression at levels appropriate for imaging throughout the lifetime of the neuron (&gt; 2 months in culture). Thus, this methodology is useful for studying protein localization and function throughout CNS development with little or no disruption of neuronal function.

This protocol outlines the steps required to dissect, transfect via electroporation and culture mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons. Short-term cultures may be used for studies of axon outgrowth and guidance, while long-term cultures can be used for studies of synaptogenesis and dendritic spine analysis.

Hippocampal and cortical neurons have been used extensively to study central nervous system (CNS) neuronal polarization, axon/dendrite outgrowth, and ...

Quantitative Analysis of Synaptic Vesicle Pool Replenishment in Cultured Cerebellar Granule Neurons using FM Dyes

After neurotransmitter release in central nerve terminals, SVs are rapidly retrieved by endocytosis. Retrieved SVs are then refilled with neurotransmitter and rejoin the recycling pool, defined as SVs that are available for exocytosis1,2. The recycling pool can generally be subdivided into two distinct pools - the readily releasable pool (RRP) and the reserve pool (RP). As their names imply, the RRP consists of SVs that are immediately available for fusion while RP SVs are released only during intense stimulation1,2. It is important to have a reliable assay that reports the differential replenishment of these SV pools in order to understand 1) how SVs traffic after different modes of endocytosis (such as clathrin-dependent endocytosis and activity-dependent bulk endocytosis) and 2) the mechanisms controlling the mobilisation of both the RRP and RP in response to different stimuli.
FM dyes are routinely employed to quantitatively report SV turnover in central nerve terminals3-8. They have a hydrophobic hydrocarbon tail that allows reversible partitioning in the lipid bilayer, and a hydrophilic head group that blocks passage across membranes. The dyes have little fluorescence in aqueous solution, but their quantum yield increases dramatically when partitioned in membrane9. Thus FM dyes are ideal fluorescent probes for tracking actively recycling SVs. The standard protocol for use of FM dye is as follows. First they are applied to neurons and are taken up during endocytosis (Figure 1). After non-internalised dye is washed away from the plasma membrane, recycled SVs redistribute within the recycling pool. These SVs are then depleted using unloading stimuli (Figure 1). Since FM dye labelling of SVs is quantal10, the resulting fluorescence drop is proportional to the amount of vesicles released. Thus, the recycling and fusion of SVs generated from the previous round of endocytosis can be reliably quantified.
Here, we present a protocol that has been modified to obtain two additional elements of information. Firstly, sequential unloading stimuli are used to differentially unload the RRP and the RP, to allow quantification of the replenishment of specific SV pools. Secondly, each nerve terminal undergoes the protocol twice. Thus, the response of the same nerve terminal at S1 can be compared against the presence of a test substance at phase S2 (Figure 2), providing an internal control. This is important, since the extent of SV recycling across different nerve terminals is highly variable11.
Any adherent primary neuronal cultures may be used for this protocol, however the plating density, solutions and stimulation conditions are optimised for cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs)12,13.

A live fluorescence imaging technique to quantify the replenishment and mobilisation of specific synaptic vesicle (SV) pools in central nerve terminals is described. Two rounds of SV recycling are monitored in the same nerve terminals providing an internal control.

After neurotransmitter release in central nerve terminals, SVs are rapidly retrieved by endocytosis.  Retrieved SVs are then refilled with ...

Genetic Manipulation of Cerebellar Granule Neurons In Vitro and In Vivo to Study Neuronal Morphology and Migration

Developmental events in the brain including neuronal morphogenesis and migration are highly orchestrated processes. In vitro and in vivo analyses allow for an in-depth characterization to identify pathways involved in these events. Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) that are derived from the developing cerebellum are an ideal model system that allows for morphological analyses. Here, we describe a method of how to genetically manipulate CGNs and how to study axono- and dendritogenesis of individual neurons. With this method the effects of RNA interference, overexpression or small molecules can be compared to control neurons. In addition, the rodent cerebellar cortex is an easily accessible in vivo system owing to its predominant postnatal development. We also present an in vivo electroporation technique to genetically manipulate the developing cerebella and describe subsequent cerebellar analyses to assess neuronal morphology and migration.

Genetic Manipulation of Cerebellar Granule Neurons In Vitro and In Vivo to Study Neuronal Morphology and Migration

Neuronal morphogenesis and migration are crucial events underlying proper brain development. Here, we describe methods to genetically manipulate cultured cerebellar granule neurons and the developing cerebellum for the assessment of morphology and migratory characteristics of neurons.

Developmental events in the brain including neuronal morphogenesis and migration are highly orchestrated processes. In vitro and in vivo analyses allow ...

Primary Culture of Mouse Dopaminergic Neurons

Dopaminergic neurons represent less than 1% of the total number of neurons in the brain. This low amount of neurons regulates important brain functions such as motor control, motivation, and working memory. Nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons selectively degenerate in Parkinson&#39;s disease (PD). This progressive neuronal loss is unequivocally associated with the motors symptoms of the pathology (bradykinesia, resting tremor, and muscular rigidity). The main agent responsible of dopaminergic neuron degeneration is still unknown. However, these neurons appear to be extremely vulnerable in diverse conditions. Primary cultures constitute one of the most relevant models to investigate properties and characteristics of dopaminergic neurons. These cultures can be submitted to various stress agents that mimic PD pathology and to neuroprotective compounds in order to stop or slow down neuronal degeneration. The numerous transgenic mouse models of PD that have been generated during the last decade further increased the interest of researchers for dopaminergic neuron cultures. Here, the video protocol focuses on the delicate dissection of embryonic mouse brains. Precise excision of ventral mesencephalon is crucial to obtain neuronal cultures sufficiently rich in dopaminergic cells to allow subsequent studies. This protocol can be realized with embryonic transgenic mice and is suitable for immunofluorescence staining, quantitative PCR, second messenger quantification, or neuronal death/survival assessment.

Dopaminergic neurons play a vital regulatory role in the brain. Their loss is associated with Parkinson's disease. In this video, we show how to generate primary cultures of central dopaminergic neurons from embryonic mouse mesencephalon. Such cultures are useful to study the extreme vulnerability of these neurons to various stresses.

Dopaminergic neurons represent less than 1% of the total number of neurons in the brain. This low amount of neurons regulates important brain functions ...

Ex Vivo Imaging of Postnatal Cerebellar Granule Cell Migration Using Confocal Macroscopy

During postnatal development, immature granule cells (excitatory interneurons) exhibit tangential migration in the external granular layer, and then radial migration in the molecular layer and the Purkinje cell layer to reach the internal granular layer of the cerebellar cortex. Default in migratory processes induces either cell death or misplacement of the neurons, leading to deficits in diverse cerebellar functions. Centripetal granule cell migration involves several mechanisms, such as chemotaxis and extracellular matrix degradation, to guide the cells towards their final position, but the factors that regulate cell migration in each cortical layer are only partially known. In our method, acute cerebellar slices are prepared from P10 rats, granule cells are labeled with a fluorescent cytoplasmic marker and tissues are cultured on membrane inserts from 4 to 10 hr before starting real-time monitoring of cell migration by confocal macroscopy at 37 &#176;C in the presence of CO2. During their migration in the different cortical layers of the cerebellum, granule cells can be exposed to neuropeptide agonists or antagonists, protease inhibitors, blockers of intracellular effectors or even toxic substances such as alcohol or methylmercury to investigate their possible role in the regulation of neuronal migration.

Ex Vivo Imaging of Postnatal Cerebellar Granule Cell Migration Using Confocal Macroscopy

During postnatal cerebellum development, immature granule cells originating from the germinal zone exhibit distinct modalities of migration to reach their final destination and to establish neuronal networks. This protocol describes the preparation of cerebellar slices and the confocal macroscopic approach used to investigate the factors that regulate neuronal migration.

During postnatal development, immature granule cells (excitatory interneurons) exhibit tangential migration in the external granular layer, and then ...

Assessment of Neuronal Viability Using Fluorescein Diacetate-Propidium Iodide Double Staining in Cerebellar Granule Neuron Culture

Primary cultured Cerebellar Granule Neurons (CGNs) have been widely used as an in vitro model in neuroscience and neuropharmacology research. However, the co-existence of glial cells and neurons in CGN culture might lead to biases in the accurate assessment of neuronal viability. Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and Propidium Iodide (PI) double staining has been used to measure cell viability by simultaneously evaluating the viable and dead cells. We used FDA-PI double staining to improve the sensitivities of the colorimetric assays and to evaluate neuronal viability in CGNs. Furthermore, we added blue fluorescent DNA stains (e.g., Hoechst) to improve the accuracy. This protocol describes how to improve the accuracy of assessment of neuronal viability by using these methods in CGN culture. Using this protocol, the number of glial cells can be excluded by using fluorescence microscopy. A similar strategy can be applied to distinguish the unwanted glial cells from neurons in various mixed cell cultures, such as primary cortical culture and hippocampal culture.

This protocol describes how to accurately measure neuronal viability using Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and Propidium Iodide (PI) double staining in cultured cerebellar granule neurons, a primary neuronal culture used as an in vitro model in neuroscience and neuropharmacology research.

Primary cultured Cerebellar Granule Neurons (CGNs) have been widely used as an in vitro model in neuroscience and neuropharmacology research. However, the ...

Rapid and Specific Immunomagnetic Isolation of Mouse Primary Oligodendrocytes

The efficient and robust isolation and culture of primary oligodendrocytes (OLs) is a valuable tool for the in vitro study of the development of oligodendroglia as well as the biology of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Pelizaeus-Merzbacher-like disease (PMLD). Here, we present a simple and efficient selection method for the immunomagnetic isolation of stage three O4+ preoligodendrocytes cells from neonatal mice pups. Since immature OL constitute more than 80% of the rodent-brain white matter at postnatal day 7 (P7) this isolation method not only ensures high cellular yield, but also the specific isolation of OLs already committed to the oligodendroglial lineage, decreasing the possibility of isolating contaminating cells such as astrocytes and other cells from the mouse brain. This method is a modification of the techniques reported previously, and provides oligodendrocyte preparation purity above 80% in about 4 h.

We describe the immunomagnetic isolation of primary mouse oligodendrocytes, which allows the rapid and specific isolation of the cells for in vitro culture.

The efficient and robust isolation and culture of primary oligodendrocytes (OLs) is a valuable tool for the in vitro study of the development of ...

Modeling Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease In Vitro by Transfecting Mouse Primary Motoneurons

Neurodegeneration of spinal motoneurons (MNs) is implicated in a large spectrum of neurological disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and spinal muscular atrophy, which are all associated with muscular atrophy. Primary cultures of spinal MNs have been used widely to demonstrate the involvement of specific genes in such diseases and characterize the cellular consequences of their mutations. This protocol models a primary MN culture derived from the seminal work of Henderson and colleagues more than twenty years ago. First, we detail a method of dissecting the anterior horns of the spinal cord from a mouse embryo and isolating the MNs from neighboring cells using a density gradient. Then, we present a new way of efficiently transfecting MNs with expression plasmids using magnetofection. Finally, we illustrate how to fix and immunostain primary MNs. Using neurofilament mutations that cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2, this protocol demonstrates a qualitative approach to expressing proteins of interest and studying their involvement in MN growth, maintenance, and survival.

Modeling Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease In Vitro by Transfecting Mouse Primary Motoneurons

The goal of this technique is to prepare a highly enriched culture of primary motoneurons (MNs) from murine spinal cord. To evaluate the consequences of mutations causing MN diseases, we describe here the isolation of these isolated MNs and their transfection by magnetofection.

Neurodegeneration of spinal motoneurons (MNs) is implicated in a large spectrum of neurological disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ...

Ballistic Labeling of Pyramidal Neurons in Brain Slices and in Primary Cell Culture

It has been reported that the size and shape of dendritic spines is related to their structural plasticity. To identify the morphological structure of pyramidal neurons and dendritic spines, a ballistic labeling technique can be utilized. In the present protocol, pyramidal neurons are labeled with DilC18(3) dye and analyzed using neuronal reconstruction software to assess neuronal morphology and dendritic spines. To investigate neuronal structure, dendritic branching analysis and Sholl analysis are performed, allowing researchers to draw inferences about dendritic branching complexity and neuronal arbor complexity, respectively. The evaluation of dendritic spines is conducted using an automatic assisted classification algorithm integral to the reconstruction software, which classifies spines into four categories (i.e., thin, mushroom, stubby, filopodia). Furthermore, an additional three parameters (i.e., length, head diameter, and volume) are also chosen to assess alterations in dendritic spine morphology. To validate the potential of wide application of the ballistic labeling technique, pyramidal neurons from in vitro cell culture were successfully labeled. Overall, the ballistic labeling method is unique and useful for visualizing neurons in different brain regions in rats, which in combination with sophisticated reconstruction software, allows researchers to elucidate the possible mechanisms underlying neurocognitive dysfunction.

We present a protocol to label and analyze pyramidal neurons, which is critical for evaluating potential morphological alterations in neurons and dendritic spines that may underlie neurochemical and behavioral abnormalities.

It has been reported that the size and shape of dendritic spines is related to their structural plasticity. To identify the morphological structure of ...

Modeling Neuronal Death and Degeneration in Mouse Primary Cerebellar Granule Neurons

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