The authors acknowledge technical or editorial assistance from Taylor Wilt (Xona), Smita Paranjape (UNC-Chapel Hill), Joyce Ciechanowski (Xona) and Brad Taylor (Xona). The authors acknowledge support from Xona Microfluidics, LLC and the National Institute of Mental Health (R42 MH097377). Imaging was partially supported by the Confocal and Multiphoton Imaging Core Facility of NINDS Center Grant P30 NS045892 and NICHD Center Grant (U54 HD079124). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

NOTE: A schematic of the plastic multicompartment chip is shown in Figure 1A, B. The chip is the size of a standard microscope slide (75 mm &#215; 25 mm). The features of the chip, including main channels or compartments, wells, and microgrooves are labeled and are provided for future reference. Figure 1C is a photograph of the chip demonstrating the fluidic isolation of the compartments.
1. Preparation and Coating of the Multicompartment Chips
<ol>
	<li>In a bio-safety cabinet, place the chip into a Petri dish or other suitable sterile container.</li>
	<li>Add 100 &#181;L of pre-coating solution to the upper left well of the chip and allow it to flow through the main channel into the adjoining well. 
	NOTE: The pre-coating solution is used to pre-coat the microfluidic channels to eliminate the potential for trapping air bubbles within the chip.</li>
	<li>Fill the lower left well with 100 &#181;L of pre-coating solution. Wait 5 min to allow the solution to flow through the microgrooves.</li>
	<li>Add 100 &#181;L of pre-coating solution to the upper right well and allow it to flow through the main channel into the adjoining well. Fill the lower right well with 100 &#181;L of pre-coating solution.</li>
	<li>Aspirate the solution from each well. Aspirate away from the main channels to avoid removing liquid from the main channels (Figure 2A). Immediately add 150 &#181;L of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) to the upper left well. Wait 1.5 min. 
	CAUTION: Do not aspirate all liquid from the enclosed main channels.</li>
	<li>Add 150 &#181;L PBS to the lower left well. Wait 5 min to allow liquids to flow through the microgrooves. Add 150 &#181;L PBS to the upper right well. Add 150 &#181;L PBS to lower right well. Wait 10 min.</li>
	<li>Repeat steps 1.5-1.6 for a second PBS wash.</li>
	<li>Check the chip under a tissue culture microscope for bubbles in the main channels. If bubbles are present, perform the procedures below. If no bubbles are present, skip to step 1.9.
	<ol>
		<li>Aspirate PBS from the wells angling the pipet tip away from the channel opening (Figure 2A).</li>
		<li>Dispense 100 &#181;L of pre-coating solution into the upper well, angling the tip of the pipet near the channel opening (Figure 2B). The bubbles should move through the channel into the lower well. Wait 1.5 min.</li>
		<li>Repeat steps 1.3-1.8.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Aspirate PBS from the wells angling the pipet tip away from the channel opening (Figure 2A).</li>
	<li>Add 100 &#181;L of 0.5 mg/mL poly d-lysine (PDL) to the upper left well of the chip. Wait 1.5 min. Fill the lower left well with 100 &#181;L of PDL.</li>
	<li>Add 100 &#181;L of PDL to the upper right well of the chip. Wait 1.5 min. Add 100 &#181;L to the lower right well.</li>
	<li>Close the petri dish&#160;and place the chip in an incubator at 37 &#176;C for 1 h.</li>
	<li>Repeat PBS wash steps 1.5-1.6 twice to remove excess PDL.</li>
	<li>Aspirate the PBS from the device.</li>
	<li>Immediately add 100 &#181;L of cell culture media to the upper left well of the chip. Wait 1.5 min. Add media to the lower left well. Add media to the upper right well. Wait 1.5 min. Add 100 &#181;L medium to the lower right well of the chip.</li>
	<li>Place the chip in the 37&#176;C incubator until ready to plate cells.</li>
</ol>
2. Seeding Neurons into the Multicompartment Chips
<ol>
	<li>Prepare cell suspension of dissociated rat hippocampal neurons according to established protocols21,22 to yield a density of ~12 &#215; 106 cells/mL. 
	NOTE: Use of cell suspension densities between 3 and 12 &#215; 106 cells/mL is possible. If a lower density is used, the volume of cell suspension to be added to the chip may be increased (see below). The procedure described below is applicable for murine dissociated cortical or hippocampal neurons. Optimal cell densities for other neuron types may vary.</li>
	<li>Remove the majority of media in each well of the chip, leaving approximately 5&#160;&#181;L in each well. Aspirate away from the main channels to avoid removing liquid from the main channels (Figure 2A). 
	CAUTION: Do not aspirate liquid from the enclosed main channels. Air bubbles may become trapped in the chip if fluid is aspirated from the main channels.</li>
	<li>Load 5 &#181;L of cell suspension in the upper right well and another 5 &#181;L of cell suspension in the lower right well (~120,000 cells total). Load the cells by dispensing close to the main channel (Figure 2B). Check under a microscope to ensure the neurons are in the main channel. Wait for 5 min to allow the cells to attach. 
	NOTE: Neurons can be loaded into either compartment. For explanation purposes, the somatic compartment is the main channel on the right side, but either compartment can be used as the somatic compartment. Use of lower cell densities down to 60,000 cells per chip is possible. Up to 10 &#181;L of cell suspension may be added to each well of the somatic compartment in combination with a cell suspension with fewer cells than described above.</li>
	<li>Add approximately 150 &#181;L of neuronal culture media to each of the upper and lower right wells, and then add 150 &#181;L of media to each of the upper and lower left wells. Place the chip into humidified tray in a 5% CO2 37 &#176;C incubator.</li>
	<li>After 24 h, perform a media change by removing media from the wells. Make sure the main channel remains filled. Add 150 &#181;L of media to each top well, and then fill the bottom wells.</li>
	<li>Place the chip back in the incubator for the desired number of days. 
	NOTE: Monitor the media every couple of days to make sure it remains light pink. If the media is yellowish, replace 50% of it with fresh media. If the fluid level is low, make sure there is adequate humidity and appropriate secondary containment of the chips to prevent evaporation. Minimizing, or even eliminating, media changes is possible using secondary containment and/or covering the dish containing the chip with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-FEP film.</li>
</ol>
3. Retrograde Labeling of Neurons within the Chip
NOTE: Retrograde labeling can be performed using multiple techniques, including using modified cholera toxin and rabies virus. Below are instructions for labeling neurons using G-deleted Rabies-mCherry or -eGFP virus. Handle potentially infectious materials according to the local organization&#39;s guidelines. Additional training may be required.
<ol>
	<li>Warm fresh neuronal culture media to 37 &#176;C. Estimate ~400 &#181;L of media per chip.</li>
	<li>Dilute 100,000 viral units of modified rabies virus in a total of 50 &#181;L using media taken from either well of the axonal compartment. 
	NOTE: Dispose of tips and tubes in contact with the virus according to the organization-approved protocol.</li>
	<li>Gently pipet the remaining media from the wells of the axonal compartment and store in a centrifuge tube at 37 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Add 150 &#181;L of fresh warm media and the 50 &#181;L of diluted virus to the axonal compartment. Incubate for 2 h at 37 &#176;C incubator.</li>
	<li>Remove media containing virus and dispose of it properly. 
	NOTE: Air bubbles may become trapped in the chip if fluid is aspirated from the main channels.</li>
	<li>Gently add 75 &#181;L of fresh media to one axon well and allow it to flow to the other axon well.</li>
	<li>Remove flow-through from the second axon well and dispose properly.</li>
	<li>Repeat steps 3.6 and 3.7 once.</li>
	<li>Add back stored media to the axonal compartment. Add approximately 50 &#181;L fresh media, if necessary, to maintain adequate volume and return the cells to the incubator. 
	NOTE: Fluorescent protein expression is visible by 48 h and persists for up to 8 days. Neurons can be imaged for up to 30 min at room temperature in neuronal culture media. Culture media can also be replaced with warmed CO2-independent hibernate E with B27 and imaged for longer. Neurons can also be imaged within a well-humidified environmental chamber at 37 &#176;C and 5% CO2. In this case, humidification is critical for minimizing evaporative losses within the chips, which is exacerbated by heating and can compromise neuron health.</li>
</ol>
4. Fluidic Isolation of the Axonal Compartment within the Chip
<ol>
	<li>Remove 20 &#181;L from the lower left well of the axonal compartment and place into the upper right well of the somatic compartment. Wait 2 min for flow within each channel to equilibrate.</li>
	<li>Remove 50 &#181;L of media from the axonal compartment. Add 0.3 &#181;L of 1 mM Alexa Fluor 488 hydrazide to this media, mix via pipet and return back to the axonal compartment. The chip is ready for imaging. 
	NOTE: Other compounds of interest can be added. Adding a fluorescent dye with a similar molecular weight as the compound of interest is recommended in order to monitor fluidic isolation over time.</li>
</ol>
5. Performing Axotomy Within the Chip
<ol>
	<li>Remove media from the axonal compartment keeping the pipet tip away from the entrance of the main channel (Figure 2A) and store it in a centrifuge tube.</li>
	<li>Aspirate the axonal compartment completely, placing the aspiration pipet near either entrance of the main channel of the axonal compartment (Figure 2B). Continue aspiration for 1-2 min. Make sure that solution is completely removed from the compartment. 
	NOTE: The vacuum pressure for aspiration must be at least 18 inch-Hg for the axotomy procedure to work properly.</li>
	<li>Replace the axonal compartment with the stored media and confirm that the axons are&#160; severed by looking at the chip under a microscope. 
	NOTE: If bubbles form in the axonal compartment when replacing the media, repeat steps 5.1-5.2.</li>
	<li>Return the chip to the incubator.</li>
</ol>
6. Fluorescence Immunostaining within the Chip
<ol>
	<li>Prepare 4% formaldehyde fixation solution in PBS (4% formaldehyde, 1 &#181;M MgCl2, 0.1 &#181;m CaCl2, 120 mM sucrose)</li>
	<li>Remove most of the media in the wells of the chip (do not dry interior compartments).</li>
	<li>Immediately add 100 &#181;L of fixation solution to the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments.</li>
	<li>After 1 min, add 100 &#181;L of fixation solution to the bottom wells. Fix for 30 min at room temperature.</li>
	<li>Remove most of the solution from the wells of the chip (do not dry interior compartments). Immediately add 150 &#181;L of PBS to each of the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments. Wait 2 min for the PBS to flow into the bottom wells.</li>
	<li>Repeat step 6.5 twice.</li>
	<li>Remove most of the PBS from the wells of the chip. Immediately add 150 &#181;L of PBS with 0.25% TritonX-100 to each of the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments. Wait for 15 min.</li>
	<li>Remove most of the liquid from the wells of the chip and immediately add 150 &#181;L of blocking solution (10% normal goat serum in PBS) to each of the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments. Wait for 15 min. 
	NOTE: Effective blocking solutions should be specific to the secondary antibody, e.g., for a donkey anti-sheep secondary antibody, use donkey serum in the blocking solution.</li>
	<li>Remove most of the liquid from the wells of the chip and immediately add 100 &#181;L of primary antibody (or antibodies) in 1% normal goat serum in PBS to each of the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments. Cover to minimize evaporation and wait for 1 h at room temperature or 4 &#176;C overnight.</li>
	<li>Remove most of the solution from the wells of the chip (do not dry interior compartments). Immediately add 150 &#181;L of PBS to each of the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments. Wait 5 min for the PBS to flow into the bottom wells.</li>
	<li>Repeat step 6.10 twice.</li>
	<li>Remove most of the liquid from the wells of the chip and immediately add 100 &#181;L of secondary antibody (or antibodies) in PBS to each of the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments. Cover to minimize evaporation and wait for 1 h at room temperature. 
	NOTE: Refer to the manufacturer&#39;s instructions for the recommended dilution of secondary antibodies.</li>
	<li>Repeat steps 6.10-6.11.</li>
	<li>If imaging within 1 day of immunostaining, keep the chip filled with PBS. If chip will be stored longer than 1 day before imaging, wrap the dish containing the chip in paraffin film to prevent evaporation and store at 4 &#176;C until ready to image.</li>
	<li>For longer term storage of samples, mounting media (e.g., Fluoromount-G) can be used.
	<ol>
		<li>Remove most of the liquid from the wells of the chip. Use a 1 mL disposable plastic pipet to add 2 drops of mounting media to each of the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments.</li>
		<li>Tilt the chip to encourage the flow of the mounting media through the channels. After 5 min add 2 drops to the bottom wells. Wait for 1 h before imaging. 
		NOTE: After using mounting media it will not be possible to re-probe for other targets.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

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A.M.T. is an inventor of the microfluidic chamber/chip (US 7419822 B2) and is a member of Xona Microfluidics, LLC. V.P. is an employee of Xona Microfluidics, LLC. J.H. is a member of Xona Microfluidics, LLC. T.N. declares no competing financial interests.&#160;Open access publication of this article is sponsored by Xona Microfluidics.

Plastic multicompartment chips provide an easy-to-use option for compartmentalizing neurons, providing long-term neuronal cultures (&gt;3 weeks). This protocol details how to culture cortical and hippocampal murine neurons within these chips. The creation of soluble microenvironments and how to retrograde label neurons, perform axotomy, and perform immunocytochemistry were also discussed. Importantly, these chips are compatible with high-resolution, fluorescence, and live imaging. 
Plastic multicompartment chips provide many of the same functions as the PDMS-based compartmentalized devices, but have advantages, disadvantages, and some distinguishing features. Table 1 provides a feature comparison of both plastic chip and PDMS-based devices. First and foremost, the chips are pre-assembled and made permanently hydrophilic, which facilitates wetting, making them easier to use. The plastic is not gas permeable, unlike PDMS, so if bubbles unexpectedly form within the channels, they do not readily escape and must be removed. A pre-coating solution containing mainly ethanol and some other proprietary agents eliminates bubble formation. 
Live imaging of projections following transduction of fluorescent proteins was performed within the chips (Figure 4) and there was no detectable autofluorescence of the plastic. A caveat is that immersion oils used with the chip for high numerical aperture objectives must be silicone oil based, and not mineral oil based. Mineral oil can cause an adverse reaction with the cyclic olefin copolymer. For brightfield imaging, it is important to note that the microgrooves in the chip are rounded at the ends and there is a gradual tapering of the z-direction of the main channels towards the microgroove barrier causing some light refraction at either end of the microgrooves during brightfield imaging (Figure 3). Because the chip is pre-assembled, antibody penetration into the micron-sized microgrooves may be uneven (as with permanently bonded PDMS-based devices); thus, quantitative analysis following immunostaining should be performed in the channels/compartments. Immunostaining of neuronal projections within the microgrooves can be improved by creating a volume difference between the compartments to aid the flow of antibodies and fluorophores into the microgrooves.

Traditional neuron culture approaches result in random outgrowth of axons and dendrites, which prevent the study of neurons in their unique polarized morphology. Microfabricated multicompartment devices have become well-established and well-used research tools for neuroscientists in the last 10-15 years (selected high-profile publications are referenced1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17). These devices compartmentalize neurons and provide a method to physically and chemically manipulate subcellular regions of neurons, including somata, dendrites, axons, and synapses18,19. They also provide multiple experimental paradigms that are not possible using random cultures, including studies of axonal transport, axonal protein synthesis, axon injury/regeneration, and axon-to-soma signaling. The basic 2-compartment configuration consists of two parallel microfluidic channels separated by a series of smaller perpendicular microgrooves. Primary or stem cell-derived neurons are plated into one of the microfluidic channels, settle and attach to the bottom surface of the device, and extend neurites over the course of days. Many growth cones find their way into the microgrooves, which are small enough that they prevent cell bodies from entering. Because growth cones are physically restricted and unable to turn around within the microgrooves, they grow straight into the adjacent compartment (axonal compartment) where they are isolated.
Historically, these devices have been molded using poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) from a photolithographically patterned master mold and are either made in-house in investigators&#39; laboratories or purchased commercially. One of the main drawbacks of using PDMS is its hydrophobicity20. PDMS can be made hydrophilic temporarily, but then quickly becomes hydrophobic within hours in a non-aqueous environment20. Because of this, the devices must be attached to a glass coverslip or other suitable substrate at the time of use. Pre-assembled plastic multicompartment chips are now commercially available (e.g., XonaChips) in injection molded plastic. These chips are made permanently hydrophilic, simplifying device wetting and allowing the pre-assembly of the chip with a thin film of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) enclosing the microfluidic channels on the bottom. These chips are fabricated in an optically transparent plastic suitable for high-resolution fluorescence imaging.
The purpose of this protocol is to demonstrate the use of the pre-assembled plastic microfluidic chips for multiple experimental paradigms performed using murine hippocampal or cortical neurons. This protocol describes how to retrograde label neurons using a modified rabies virus within the chip. Axotomy for studies of axon injury and regeneration are also described. Lastly, this protocol shows how to perform fluorescence immunostaining with the device.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:652px;" width="651">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;">XonaChip</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Xona Microfluidics, LLC</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">XC150</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">150 &#181;m length microgroove barrier</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;"></td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Xona Microfluidics, LLC</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">XC450</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">450 &#181;m length microgroove barrier</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;"></td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Xona Microfluidics, LLC</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">XC900</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">900 &#181;m length microgroove barrier</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;">XC pre-coat&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Xona Microfluidics, LLC</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">XC Pre-Coat</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">included with XonaChips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">XonaPDL&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Xona Microfluidics, LLC</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">XonaPDL</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;">E17/E18 timed pregnant Sprague Dawley rats</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Charles River</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">24100564</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">neuronal culture media:</td>
			<td style="width:175px;"></td>
			<td style="width:109px;"></td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">- Neurobasal medium</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">21103049</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">-B-27 Plus Supplement (50x)</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">A3582801</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">-GlutaMAX Supplement</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">35050061</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;">-Antibiotic-Antimycotic (100x)</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">15240112</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;">fluorinated ethylene propylene film</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">American Durafilm</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">50A</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">0.5 mil thickness</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;">modified rabies virus</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Salk Institute for Biological Studies</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">G-deleted Rabies-eGFP</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">Material Transfer Agreement required</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:203px;"></td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Salk Institute for Biological Studies</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">G-deleted Rabies-mCherry</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">Material Transfer Agreement required</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">Alexa Fluor hydrazide 488</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">A10436</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">Fluoromount G</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">00-4958-02</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;">Glass Pasteur pipettes</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">CLS7095D5X SIGMA</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">5.75 in length</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">hibernate-E Medium</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">A1247601</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">Pierce 16% formaldehyde</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">28906</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">PBS (10x)</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">QVC0508</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">normal goat serum</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">16210064</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">triton X-100</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">28314</td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">anti-vGlut1 antibody</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">NeuroMab</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">75-066</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">clone N28/9, 1:100</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">anti-vGAT antibody</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Synaptic Systems</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">131 003</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">1:1000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:203px;">anti_beta-tubulin III</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Aves</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">TUJ</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">1:1000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;">Alexa Fluor secondary antibodies</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:109px;"></td>
			<td style="width:165px;">1:1000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:203px;">Incubator, 5% CO2 37 &#176;C</td>
			<td style="width:175px;"></td>
			<td style="width:109px;"></td>
			<td style="width:165px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;">Epifluorescence imaging system</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">EVOS Fluorescence imaging system</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">AMF4300</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">10x objective</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;">Spinning disk confocal imaging system</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Andor Technology</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">CSU-X1, iXon X3 EMCCD</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">60x silicone oil &#38; 20x objectives</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:203px;">Laser scanning confocal imaging system</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">FV3000RS</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">30x silicone oil objective</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

use of pre-assembled plastic microfluidic chips for compartmentalizing primary murine neurons

Microfabricated methods to compartmentalize neurons have become essential tools for many neuroscientists. This protocol describes the use of a commercially available pre-assembled plastic chip for compartmentalizing cultured primary rat hippocampal neurons. These plastic chips, contained within the footprint of a standard microscope slide, are compatible with high-resolution, live, and fluorescence imaging. This protocol demonstrates how to retrograde label neurons via isolated axons using a modified rabies virus encoding a fluorescent protein, create isolated microenvironments within one compartment, and perform axotomy and immunocytochemistry on-chip. Neurons are cultured for &gt;3 weeks within the plastic chips, illustrating the compatibility of these chips for long-term neuronal cultures.

After approximately 5-7 days of neuron growth within the chip, axonal growth is evident. The chips are compatible with phase-contrast imaging as demonstrated in Figure 3, which shows neuronal growth at 24 days. The chips are also compatible with fluorescence imaging (Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, and Figure&#160;7). Three days after rabies virus infection via the axonal compartment, mCherry-positive neurons with axons extending into the axonal compartment were imaged in the chip (Figure 4). To demonstrate the ability to fluidically isolate the compartments, a low molecular weight fluorescent dye (Alexa Fluor 488 hydrazide) was added to the axonal compartment. These results are comparable to PDMS-based chamber17 and demonstrate the suitability of the plastic chip for phase-contrast and fluorescence imaging.
To illustrate neuronal growth with the plastic chips and PDMS devices, we cultured neurons in both platforms and monitored neuronal growth over time. Figure 5 shows neuronal growth from 3 to 22 days in culture; these results are representative of 3 independent experiments. Neuronal growth is comparable within the two platforms up to 15 days in culture, but at longer culture ages (&#62;21 days) isolated axons within the plastic chip appear healthier with less beading (Figure 5A). To further visualize axons within the axonal compartments, we immunostained for &#946;-tubulin III which shows healthy axonal growth within the plastic chips at 22 days in culture (Figure 5B).
Axon injury and regeneration studies are common using microfluidic compartmentalized devices. To demonstrate the suitability of these studies using the chips, retrograde labeled neurons were imaged before and 24 h after axotomy (Figure 6). A retraction bulb and regenerating axon are both evident following axotomy. These results are equivalent to published data using PDMS-based devices14,17.
Immunocytochemistry is a common technique performed within multi-compartment devices to visualize protein localization. After 24 days in culture, neurons within the chips were fixed and stained for both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic markers, vGlut1 and vGat, respectively (Figure 7). Retrograde labeled mCherry neurons were also imaged (Figure 7C). Imaging was performed using spinning disk confocal with a 60&#215; silicone oil immersion objective, demonstrating the ability to perform high-resolution imaging. Importantly, dendritic spines were evident within a magnified region, demonstrating that the neurons cultured within the chips were forming mature synapses.
<img alt="Figure 1" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: A pre-assembled, plastic two-compartment microfluidic chip for compartmentalizing neurons. (A) Schematic representation of the multicompartment chip showing the locations of the upper and lower wells. (B) An enlarged schematic of the chip showing the main channels (or compartments) and microgrooves which connect the compartments. The main channels are approximately 1.5 mm &#215; 7 &#215; 0.060 mm (W &#215; L &#215; H). The width and height of the microgrooves are approximately 0.01 mm &#215; 0.005 mm, respectively. The length of the microgrooves varies depending on the configuration, 0.15 mm to 0.9 mm. (C) A photograph of a representative multicompartment chip containing food coloring dye in each main channel or compartment demonstrating the ability to fluidically isolate each channel. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 2" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig2.jpg" /> 
Figure 2: Pipetting techniques needed when using plastic multicompartment chips. (A) When adding and aspirating media for washes, the pipet tip should be angled away from the entrance of the main channel as shown. (B) When loading neurons or performing axotomy, the pipet tip should be angled towards the entrance of the main channel. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig2large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 3" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig3.jpg" /> 
Figure 3: A phase contrast micrograph showing typical neuronal growth within the chip at 24 days in culture. Embryonic hippocampal neurons were seeded into the right somatic compartment. Axon growth is visible in the axonal compartment beginning at 5-7 days. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig3large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 4" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig4.jpg" /> 
Figure 4: Retrograde labeled neurons express mCherry fluorescent protein and extend axons into a fluidically isolated axonal compartment. (A) A merged fluorescence micrograph showing live retrograde labeled neurons infected via a modified mCherry rabies virus briefly applied to the axonal compartment. Neurons were imaged 3 days post-infection at 21 days in culture. Creating an isolated microenvironment within the axonal compartment is demonstrated by application of a low molecular weight dye, Alexa Fluor 488 hydrazide. (B) A merged image of (A) including a differential interference contrast (DIC) image to visualize the microgrooves region of the chip. Images were acquired with laser scanning confocal microscope using a 30&#215;/1.05 N.A. silicone oil (ne = 1.406) objective lens. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig4large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 5" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig5.jpg" /> 
Figure 5: Side-by-side comparison of neuronal growth within multicompartment PDMS devices and plastic chips. (A) Phase contrast micrographs of both platforms taken at 3, 7, 15, and 22 days in culture. At the bottom, a higher magnification region taken from the images at 22 days is included to illustrate axonal growth at this age within both platforms. Axons within the chip are more continuous and appear healthier than in the PDMS device at this age. (B) An invert immunofluorescence micrograph of &#946;-tubulin III stained axons within the axonal compartment of both the PDMS device and plastic chip at 22 days in culture. Images were acquired with a spinning disk confocal imaging system using a 20x/0.45 N.A. objective lens. All scale bars are 100 &#181;m. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig5large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 6" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig6.jpg" /> 
Figure 6: Axotomy and regeneration of hippocampal neurons within the plastic multicompartment chip. (Top) Neurons were retrograde labeled using a modified mCherry rabies virus and then imaged before axotomy at 24 days in culture. Images were pseudocolored using the &#39;Fire&#39; color look-up table. (Bottom) The same neuron imaged in the top panel was imaged 24 h post-axotomy. White dashed lines show the edges of the microgroove barrier. Axotomy occurred at the location of the left dashed line. The white arrowhead shows a retraction bulb. The white arrow indicates a regenerating axon. Images were acquired with a spinning disk confocal imaging system using a 20&#215;/0.45 N.A. objective lens. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig6large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 7" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig7.jpg" /> 
Figure 7: Synapses form between hippocampal neurons cultured within plastic multicompartment chips. Immunostaining was performed at 24 days in culture and imaged within the somatic compartment using a 60&#215; silicone oil immersion lens. Neurons express (A) the excitatory synapse marker, vGlut1 (green) and (B) the inhibitory synapse marker, vGAT (blue). (C) Retrograde labeled mCherry neurons (red) were infected via modified rabies virus applied to the axonal compartment. (D) A merged fluorescence micrograph of vGlut1, vGat, and mCherry. (E) The magnified region in (D) indicated with a white box shows dendritic spines, the sites that receive synaptic input from other neurons. Images were acquired with a spinning disk confocal imaging system using a 60&#215;/1.3 N.A. silicone oil (ne = 1.406) objective lens. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/58421/58421fig7large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Plastic multicompartment chips</td>
			<td>PDMS multicompartment devices</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>isolate axons</td>
			<td>isolate axons</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>establish microenvironments</td>
			<td>establish microenvironments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>axotomize neurons</td>
			<td>axotomize neurons</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>optically transparent</td>
			<td>optically transparent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>compatible with high resolution imaging</td>
			<td>compatible with high resolution imaging</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>compatible with fluorescence microscopy</td>
			<td>compatible with fluorescence microscopy</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>fully assembled</td>
			<td>assembly to substrate required</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>healthy axons &#62;21 days</td>
			<td>healthy axons &#62;14 days</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>hydrophilic culturing surface</td>
			<td>hydrophobic</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>gas impermeable</td>
			<td>gas permeable</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>rounded microgrooves and channels</td>
			<td>straight microgrooves</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>fewer preparation steps</td>
			<td>top is removable for staining within microgrooves</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>not compatible with laser ablation</td>
			<td>absorption of small molecules &#38; organic solvents</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>not compatible with mineral oil-based immersion oils (silicone-based oils are fine)</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
Table 1:&#160;Comparison of plastic and PDMS multicompartment platforms for culturing neurons.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Use of Pre-Assembled Plastic Microfluidic Chips for Compartmentalizing Primary Murine Neurons at JoVE.com

Use of Pre-Assembled Plastic Microfluidic Chips for Compartmentalizing Primary Murine Neurons

This protocol describes the use of plastic chips to culture and compartmentalize primary murine neurons. These chips are preassembled, user-friendly, and compatible with high-resolution, live, and fluorescence imaging. This protocol describes how to plate rat hippocampal neurons within these chips and perform fluidic isolation, axotomy and immunostaining.

Microfabricated methods to compartmentalize neurons have become essential tools for many neuroscientists. This protocol describes the use of a ...

Microfluidic devices used to compartmentalize neurons have become a standard tool in neuroscience, enabling researchers to physically and chemically manipulate subcellular regions of neurons including somata, axons, dendrites and synapses. These compartmentalized culture devices can help answer numerous questions in the neuroscience field, such as, how axons extend during development to form synapses, how synapses remodel and reform following axon damage and how pathological conditions can trans-synaptically propagate in diseases such as Alzheimer's. This protocol describes the use of preassembled plastic multicompartment chip for compartmentalizing culture primary rat neurons.The main advantage of using these chips is that they provide an easy-to-use and highly reproducible method to compartmentalize neurons. Another advantage is that these chips yield healthier, long-term growth of neurons and isolated axons than previous silicon-based compartmentalized devices and are equally compatible with high resolution microscopy. Other model systems including human stem cells are also able to be cultured within the preassembled compartmentalize chip.To begin, place a sterile, multicompartment chip into a Petri dish. Add 100 microliters of a precoding solution to the upper-left well of the chip and allow it to flow through the main channel into the adjoining well. Next, fill the lower-left well of the chip with 100 microliters of the precoding solution.This time, wait five minutes to allow the solution to flow through the micro-grooves. Now, add 100 microliters of the precoding solution to the upper-right well and allow it to flow through the main channel into the adjoining well. After 90 seconds, fill the lower-right well with 100 microliters of the precoding solution and incubate the chip for 10 minutes.Carefully angle the pipette tip, away from the main channel and aspirate the solution from each well. Then, immediately add 150 microliters of PBS to the upper-left well and wait one and a half minutes. Next, add 150 microliters of PBS to the lower-left well and wait five minutes to allow the liquid to flow through the micro-grooves.Then, add 150 microliters of PBS to the upper-right and lower-right wells, in that order. After 10 minutes, again aspirate the PBS and repeat the wash steps a second time. Following the second wash, aspirate the PBS from the wells as before by angling the pipette tip, away from the channel opening.Then, add 100 microliters of 0.5 mix per mil Poly-D-Lysine solution, to the upper-left well of the chip. Wait one and a half minutes and then fill the lower-left well with 100 microliters of the Poly-D-Lysine solution. Repeat this process on the right half of the chip.Close the Petri dish. Then, place the chip in an incubator at 37 degrees Celsius for one hour. After incubation, rinse the chip twice with PBS as previously described.Next, aspirate the PBS from the device. Immediately, add 100 microliters of cell culture media to the upper-left well of the chip. After one and a half minutes, add media to the lower-left well.Wait five minutes to allow media to flow through the micro-grooves and then repeat the filling process on the right side of the chip. Prepare a cell suspension of dissociated rat hippocampal neurons according to established protocols. Remove the majority of media in each well of the chip but leave the channels filled.Next, immediately load five microliters of the cell suspension into the upper-right well and another five microliters of cell suspension in the lower-right well. When loading the cells, point the tip of the pipette towards the main channel. After loading the cells, transfer the chip to a microscope stage and to make sure that the neurons are in the main channel.After waiting five minutes for the cells to attach, add approximately, 150 microliters of neuronal culture media to each of the upper and lower-right wells. Then, add 150 microliters of media to each of the upper and lower-left wells. Cover the Petri dish and place the chip in a humidified tray in a 5%carbon dioxide, 37 degrees Celsius incubator.First, remove 20 microliters from the lower-left well of the axonal compartment and place it into the upper-right well of the somatic compartment. Wait two minutes for flow within each channel to equilibrate. Next, remove 50 microliters of media from the axonal compartment, and add 0.3 microliters of one millimolar Alexa Fluor 488 hydrazide to this media.Pipette up and down to mix the solution and then return the media containing the fluorescent dye back into the axonal compartment. At this point, place the chip onto the microscope and image as desired. To perform axotomy within the chip, first, remove the media from the axonal compartment, keeping the pipette tip away from the entrance of the main channel.Store the removed media in a centrifuge tube for now. Next, place the aspiration pipette near, either entrance of the main channel of the axonal compartment and aspirate the axonal compartment completely. Continue to aspirate the area for one to two minutes.Replace the axonal compartment with the stored media. Make sure that solution is completely removed from the compartment and the axons are severed by looking at the sample under a microscope. Then, cover the chip and return it to the incubator.To begin fluorescence immunostaining, remove most of the media from the chip, keeping the interior compartments hydrated. Immediately, add 100 microliters of fixation solution to the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments. After one minute, add 100 microliters of fixation solution to the bottom wells and fix the cells for 30 minutes at room temperature.Remove most of the solution from the wells and immediately, add 150 microliters of PBS to each of the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments. Wait two minutes for the PBS to flow into the bottom wells, then, remove the PBS and rinse the wells twice more using this same process. Following the last rinse, remove most of the PBS from the wells of the chip and immediately, add 150 microliters of PBS with 0.25%triton x-100 to each of the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments.Wait for 15 minutes and then, remove most of the liquid from the wells. Immediately, add 150 microliters of blocking solution to each of the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments. After 15 minutes, remove most of the liquid from the wells and immediately, add 100 microliters of the primary antibody solution, to each of the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments.Cover the chip to minimize evaporation and incubate the cells in the primary antibody for one hour at room temperature. Next, rinse the chip by removing most of the solution and immediately adding 150 microliters of PBS to each of the top wells of the axonal and sematic compartments. After five minutes, remove the PBS from both wells and repeat the rinse two more times.Now, remove most of the liquid from the wells and immediately, add 100 microliters of secondary antibody in PBS, to each of the top wells of the axonal and somatic compartments. Cover the chip to minimize evaporation and incubate the chip for one hour at room temperature. As previously shown, rinse the chip three times with PBS then, mount and image the chips as described in the accompanying text protocol.Shown here, is a side-by-side comparison of neurons grown on plastic chips and PDMS devices. Neuronal growth is comparable within the two platforms up to 15 days in culture, but at longer culture ages, isolated axons within the plastic chip, appear healthier with less beating. To further visualize axons within the axonal compartments, these samples were also immunostained for beta tubulin III, which shows healthy axonal growth within the plastic chips at 22 days in culture.Further staining with 24-day samples shows neurons grown in the plastic chips to express both the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic markers, vGlut1 and vGat. Here are the two synaptic markers combined with retrograde labeled mCherry neurons. To demonstrate the suitability of this chip for axon injury and regeneration studies, retrograde labeled neurons were imaged before and 24 hours after axotomy.A retraction bulb and regenerating axon are both evident following axotomy. These results are equivalent to published data using PDMS based devices. Classic multicompartment chips provide an easy-to-use option for compartmentalizing neurons providing long-term neuron cultures, which remain viable for longer than three weeks.While attempting this procedure, it is important to remember to seed appropriate number of neurons and make sure your incubator is well humidified during culture.

Use of Pre-Assembled Plastic Microfluidic Chips for Compartmentalizing Primary Murine Neurons

Abstract