We thank Dr. Michael Wooten for his help in preparing the manuscript. This work was supported by NIH 2RO1NS033661 (MWW).

1. Set-up Prior to Harvest
<ol>
 <li>To generate prenatal pups for neuron harvest, schedule breeding between adult mice 19 days prior to the day of neuron isolation. (C57BL/6 mice ages 2-8 months were used in matings for the purposes of developing this protocol). Successful mating can be confirmed by detection of a vaginal plug in the female, palpitation or visual confirmation of pregnancy.</li>
 <li>The day prior to neuron isolation:
 <ol class="ualpha">
 <li>For immunofluorescence applications, coat glass c...

<ol>
	<li>Banker, G. A., Cowan, W. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rat+hippocampal+neurons+in+dispersed+cell+culture.">Rat hippocampal neurons in dispersed cell culture.</a> Brain Res. 126, 397-442 (1977).</li><li>Brewer, G. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Serum-free+B27/neurobasal+medium+supports+differentiated+growth+of+neurons+from+the+striatum,+substantia+nigra,+septum,+cerebral+cortex,+cerebellum,+and+dentate+gyrus.">Serum-free B27/neurobasal medium supports differentiated growth of neurons from the striatum, substantia nigra, septum, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and dentate gyrus.</a> J. Neurosci. Res. 42, 674-683 (1995).</li><li>Brewer, G. J. <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+adult+rat+hippocampal+neurons.">Isolation and culture of adult rat hippocampal neurons.</a> J. Neurosci. Methods. 71, 143-155 (1997).</li><li>Brewer, G. J., Torricelli, J. R., Evege, E. K., Price, P. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Optimized+survival+of+hippocampal+neurons+in+B27-supplemented+Neurobasal,+a+new+serum-free+medium+combination.">Optimized survival of hippocampal neurons in B27-supplemented Neurobasal, a new serum-free medium combination.</a> J. Neurosci. Res. 35, 567-576 (1993).</li><li>Burwell, R. D., Saddoris, M. P., Bucci, D. J., Wiig, K. 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Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gliogenesis+in+the+striatum+of+the+adult+rat:+alteration+in+neural+progenitor+population+after+psychostimulant+exposure.">Gliogenesis in the striatum of the adult rat: alteration in neural progenitor population after psychostimulant exposure.</a> Brain Res. Dev. Brain Res. 130, 41-51 (2001).</li><li>Mao, L., Wang, J. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Upregulation+of+preprodynorphin+and+preproenkephalin+mRNA+expression+by+selective+activation+of+group+I+metabotropic+glutamate+receptors+in+characterized+primary+cultures+of+rat+striatal+neurons.">Upregulation of preprodynorphin and preproenkephalin mRNA expression by selective activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in characterized primary cultures of rat striatal neurons.</a> Brain Res. Mol. Brain Res. 86, 125-137 (2001).</li><li>Oorschot, D. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+fluorodeoxyuridine+on+neurons+and+non-neuronal+cells+in+cerebral+explants.">Effect of fluorodeoxyuridine on neurons and non-neuronal cells in cerebral explants.</a> Exp. Brain Res. 78, 132-138 (1989).</li><li>Price, P. J., Brewer, G. J., Federoff, S., Richardson, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Serum+-free+media+for+neural+cell+cultures.">Serum -free media for neural cell cultures.</a> Protocols for Neural Cell Culture. , (2001).</li><li>Shen, J., Watanabe, S., Kaneko, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+dissociation+with+papain+reduces+the+density+of+cGMP-activated+channels+of+the+retinal+rod.">Cell dissociation with papain reduces the density of cGMP-activated channels of the retinal rod.</a> Jpn. J. Physiol. 45, 151-164 (1995).</li><li>Stratmann, G., Sall, J. W., May, L. D., Loepke, A. W., Lee, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Beyond+anesthetic+properties:+The+effects+of+isoflurane+on+brain+cell+death,+neurogenesis+and+long-term+neurocognitive+function.">Beyond anesthetic properties: The effects of isoflurane on brain cell death, neurogenesis and long-term neurocognitive function.</a> Anesthesia and Analgesia. 110, 431-437 (2009).</li><li>Wallace, T. L., Johnson, E. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cytosine+arabinoside+kills+postmitotic+neurons:+evidence+that+deoxycytidine+may+have+a+role+in+neuronal+survival+that+is+independent+of+DNA+synthesis.">Cytosine arabinoside kills postmitotic neurons: evidence that deoxycytidine may have a role in neuronal survival that is independent of DNA synthesis.</a> J. Neurosci. 9, 115-124 (1989).</li></ol>

Hippocampal cultures have been used in molecular biology for more than 20 years. While in principle, neuronal cultures can be made from any part of the brain, hippocampal cultures have proven to be the most popular due to the relatively simple architecture of the nerve cell population in the hippocampus7. Hippocampal cultures are typically made from late-stage embryonic tissue. This tissue is easier to dissociate and contains fewer glial cells than does mature brain tissue1. Isolation of hippocampal...

<table border="1">
<tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Name of Reagent</td>
 <td>Vendor</td>
 <td>Catalog Number</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Rat Tail Collagen 1</td>
 <td>BD Biosciences</td>
 <td>354236</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Poly-D-lysine Solution</td>
 <td>Chemicon</td>
 <td>A-003-E</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Hanks Balanced Salt Solution</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>14175-095</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Trypsin Solution (1X) 0.25%, liquid</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>15050-065</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>NeuroBasal Medium (1X) liquid</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>21103-049</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>B27 Supplement (50X) liquid</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>17504-044</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>L-Glutamine 200 mM (100X) liquid</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>25030-149</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Penicillin (10,000 units/ml) / Streptomycin (10,000 &mu;g/ml)</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>15140-148</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>HI-Donor Horse Serum</td>
 <td>Atlanta Biologicals</td>
 <td>S12150H</td>
 </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

isolation and culture of hippocampal neurons from prenatal mice

Primary cultures of rat and murine hippocampal neurons are widely used to reveal cellular mechanisms in neurobiology. By isolating and growing individual neurons, researchers are able to analyze properties related to cellular trafficking, cellular structure and individual protein localization using a variety of biochemical techniques. Results from such experiments are critical for testing theories addressing the neural basis of memory and learning. However, unambiguous results from these forms of experiments are predicated on the ability to grow neuronal cultures with minimum contamination by other brain cell types. In this protocol, we use specific media designed for neuron growth and careful dissection of embryonic hippocampal tissue to optimize growth of healthy neurons while minimizing contaminating cell types (i.e. astrocytes). Embryonic mouse hippocampal tissue can be more difficult to isolate than similar rodent tissue due to the size of the sample for dissection. We show detailed dissection techniques of hippocampus from embryonic day 19 (E19) mouse pups. Once hippocampal tissue is isolated, gentle dissociation of neuronal cells is achieved with a dilute concentration of trypsin and mechanical disruption designed to separate cells from connective tissue while providing minimum damage to individual cells. A detailed description of how to prepare pipettes to be used in the disruption is included. Optimal plating densities are provided for immuno-fluorescence protocols to maximize successful cell culture. The protocol provides a fast (approximately 2 hr) and efficient technique for the culture of neuronal cells from mouse hippocampal tissue.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation and Culture of Hippocampal Neurons from Prenatal Mice at JoVE.com

Isolation and Culture of Hippocampal Neurons from Prenatal Mice

We provide a protocol for the culture of highly purified hippocampal neurons from prenatal mouse brains without the use of a feeder glial cell layer.

Primary cultures of rat and murine hippocampal neurons are widely used to reveal cellular mechanisms in neurobiology. By isolating and growing individual ...

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69.6K Views.  Auburn University. We provide a protocol for the culture of highly purified hippocampal neurons from prenatal mouse brains without the use of a feeder glial cell layer.

Video: Isolation and Culture of Hippocampal Neurons from Prenatal Mice

We provide a protocol for the culture of highly purified hippocampal neurons from prenatal mouse brains without the use of a feeder glial cell...

using live&#45;cell imaging to measure the effects of pathological proteins on axonal transport in primary hippocampal neurons

Author Spotlight: Understanding the Impact of Pathological Proteins on Axonal Transport in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Here, we demonstrate how to combine transfection of primary hippocampal rodent neurons with live-cell confocal imaging to analyze pathological protein-induced effects on axonal transport and identify mechanistic pathways mediating these...

Using Live&#45;Cell Imaging to Measure the Effects of Pathological Proteins on Axonal Transport in Primary Hippocampal Neurons

Visualizing Proteins in Primary Hippocampal Neurons by Live&amp;#45;Cell Imaging

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primary culture of neurons isolated from embryonic mouse cerebellum

Primary Culture of Neurons Isolated from Embryonic Mouse Cerebellum

Conducting in vitro experiments to reflect in vivo conditions as adequately as possible is not an easy task. The use of primary cell cultures is an important step toward understanding cell biology in a whole organism. The provided protocol outlines how to successfully grow and culture embryonic mouse cerebellar...

tracking drug-induced changes in receptor post-internalization trafficking by colocalizational analysis

Tracking Drug-induced Changes in Receptor Post-internalization Trafficking by Colocalizational Analysis

Receptor trafficking modulates signaling and cell responsiveness to ligands and is, itself, responsive to cell conditions, including ligand-induced signaling. Here, we describe a powerful and flexible technique for quantitatively assessing drug-induced receptor trafficking using immunolabeling and colocalizational...

a simplified method for ultra-low density, long-term primary hippocampal neuron culture

A Simplified Method for Ultra-Low Density, Long-Term Primary Hippocampal Neuron Culture

Low density cultures of primary hippocampal neurons usually require glia feeder layer to supply neurotrophic factors and sustain longevity. We describe here a simplified method to culture ultra-low density neurons on glass coverslips in the presence of a high density neuronal feeder layer, which facilitates investigation of specific neuronal-autonomous mechanisms.

an antibody feeding approach to study glutamate receptor trafficking in dissociated primary hippocampal cultures

An Antibody Feeding Approach to Study Glutamate Receptor Trafficking in Dissociated Primary Hippocampal Cultures

This article presents a method to study glutamate receptor (GluR) trafficking in dissociated primary hippocampal cultures. Using an antibody-feeding approach to label endogenous or overexpressed receptors in combination with pharmacological approaches, this method allows for the identification of molecular mechanisms regulating GluR surface expression by modulating internalization or recycling...

isolation and culture of oculomotor, trochlear, and spinal motor neurons from prenatal islmn:gfp transgenic mice

Isolation and Culture of Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Spinal Motor Neurons from Prenatal Islmn:GFP Transgenic Mice

This work presents a protocol to yield homogeneous cell cultures of primary oculomotor, trochlear, and spinal motor neurons. These cultures can be used for comparative analyses of the morphological, cellular, molecular, and electrophysiological characteristics of ocular and spinal motor...

Isolation and Culture of Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Spinal Motor Neurons from Prenatal Islmn:GFP Transgenic Mice

an optical assay for synaptic vesicle recycling in cultured neurons overexpressing presynaptic proteins

An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins

We describe an optical assay for synaptic vesicle (SV) recycling in cultured neurons. Combining this protocol with double transfection to express a presynaptic marker and protein of interest allows us to locate presynaptic sites, their synaptic vesicle recycling capacity, and determine the role of the protein of...

rapid genotyping of animals followed by establishing primary cultures of brain neurons

Rapid Genotyping of Animals Followed by Establishing Primary Cultures of Brain Neurons

We describe procedures for labeling and genotyping newborn mice and generating primary neuronal cultures from them. The genotyping is rapid, efficient and reliable, and allows for automated nucleic-acid extraction. This is especially useful for neonatally lethal mice and their cultures that require prior completion of...

spinal cord neurons isolation and culture from neonatal mice

Spinal Cord Neurons Isolation and Culture from Neonatal Mice

This study presents a technique for the isolation of neurons from WT neonatal mice. It requires the careful dissection of the spinal cord from the neonatal mouse, followed by the separation of neurons from the spinal cord tissue through mechanical and enzymatic...

primary culture of hippocampal neurons from p0 newborn rats

Primary Culture of Hippocampal Neurons from P0 Newborn Rats

The dissection and growth of cells from an individual brain area facilitates investigation of cellular and physiological parameters. We describe a method for primary cell culturing that produces neuron-enriched cultures in a serum-free...

isolation and whole-cell patch-clamp recording of hippocampal microglia from adult mice

Author Spotlight: Accurate Isolation and Whole-Cell Recording Techniques for In-Depth Functional Analysis in Native Brain Environments

The present protocol describes how to isolate and purify primary hippocampal microglia from adult mice, followed by instructions for conducting whole-cell patch-clamp recordings on these acutely isolated...

Isolation and Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Recording of Hippocampal Microglia from Adult Mice

dissociating and culturing neurons from hippocampal tissue samples

This video demonstrates the dissociation and culture of hippocampal neurons from hippocampal tissue samples using enzymatic and mechanical dissociations. The treatment with Ara-C inhibits the growth of non-neuronal cells, facilitating the selective growth of hippocampal...

Dissociating and Culturing Neurons from Hippocampal Tissue Samples

nucleofection and primary culture of embryonic mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons

Nucleofection and Primary Culture of Embryonic Mouse Hippocampal and Cortical Neurons

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...

a technique to culture mouse hippocampal neurons

The video demonstrates a method for culturing neurons from murine hippocampi. Initially, the hippocampi undergo enzymatic digestion to break down the extracellular tissue matrix. Subsequently, the digested tissue is mechanically disrupted to isolate individual neurons. Finally, these neurons are cultured on glial feeder...

A Technique to Culture Mouse Hippocampal Neurons

isolation and culture of dissociated sensory neurons from chick embryos

Isolation and Culture of Dissociated Sensory Neurons From Chick Embryos

Cell culture models provide detailed control over environmental conditions and thus provide a powerful platform to elucidate numerous aspects of neuronal cell biology. We describe a rapid, inexpensive, and reliable method to isolate, dissociate, and culture sensory neurons from chick embryos. Details of substrata preparation and immunocytochemistry are also...

isolation and culture of primary neurons and glia from adult rat urinary bladder

Isolation and Culture of Primary Neurons and Glia from Adult Rat Urinary Bladder

This protocol attempts to establish a repeatable protocol for primary neurons and glia isolation from rat bladder for further cellular...

isolation and culture of oculomotor, trochlear, and spinal motor neurons from a mouse embryo

The video demonstrates the isolation of oculomotor, trochlear, and spinal motor neurons from a transgenic mouse embryo. The embryo expresses motor neurons labeled with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) for easy visualization and identification. The motor neurons are surgically isolated under a fluorescence microscope and maintained in a culture...

Isolation and Culture of Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Spinal Motor Neurons from a Mouse Embryo

isolation and culture of chick ciliary ganglion neurons

Isolation and Culture of Chick Ciliary Ganglion Neurons

Chick ciliary ganglia (CG) are part of the parasympathetic nervous system. Neuronal cultures of chick CG neurons were shown to be effective cell models in the study of nerve muscle interactions. We describe a detailed protocol for the dissection, dissociation and in vitro culture of CG neurons from chick...

Dissection and Culture of Commissural Neurons from Embryonic Spinal Cord

Commissural neurons have been widely used to investigate the mechanisms underlying axon guidance during embryonic spinal cord development. The cell bodies of these neurons are located in the dorsal spinal cord and their axons follow stereotyped trajectories during embryonic development. Commissural axons initially project ventrally towards the floorplate. After crossing the midline, these axons turn anteriorly and project towards the brain. Each of these steps is regulated by the action of several guidance cues. Cultures highly enriched in commissural neurons are ideally suited for many experiments addressing the mechanisms of axon pathfinding, including turning assays, immunochemistry and biochemistry. Here, we describe a method to dissect and culture commissural neurons from E13 rat dorsal spinal cord. First, the spinal cord is isolated and dorsal strips are dissected out. The dorsal tissue is then dissociated into a cell suspension by trypsinization and mechanical disruption. Neurons are plated onto poly-L-lysine-coated glass coverslips or tissue-culture dishes. After 30 hours in vitro, most neurons have extended an axon. The purity of the culture (Yam et al. 2009), typically over 90%, can be assessed by immunolabeling with the commissural neuron markers DCC, LH2 and TAG1 (Helms and Johnson, 1998). This neuronal preparation is a useful tool for in vitro studies of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of commissural axon growth and guidance during spinal cord development.

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.

Commissural neurons have been widely used to investigate the mechanisms underlying axon guidance during embryonic spinal cord development. The cell bodies ...

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 ...

Calcium Phosphate Transfection of Primary Hippocampal Neurons

Calcium phosphate precipitation is a convenient and economical method for transfection of cultured cells. With optimization, it is possible to use this method on hard-to-transfect cells like primary neurons. Here we describe our detailed protocol for calcium phosphate transfection of hippocampal neurons cocultured with astroglial cells.

Calcium phosphate precipitation is a convenient and economical method for transfection of cultured cells. With optimization, it is possible to use this ...

Neurons are multifaceted cells that carry information essential for a variety of functions including sensation, motor movement, learning, and memory. Studying neurons in vivo can be challenging due to their complexity, their varied and dynamic environments, and technical limitations. For these reasons, studying neurons in vitro can prove beneficial to unravel the complex mysteries of neurons. The well-defined nature of cell culture models provides detailed control over environmental conditions and variables. Here we describe how to isolate, dissociate, and culture primary neurons from chick embryos. This technique is rapid, inexpensive, and generates robustly growing sensory neurons. The procedure consistently produces cultures that are highly enriched for neurons and has very few non-neuronal cells (less than 5%). Primary neurons do not adhere well to untreated glass or tissue culture plastic, therefore detailed procedures to create two distinct, well-defined laminin-containing substrata for neuronal plating are described. Cultured neurons are highly amenable to multiple cellular and molecular techniques, including co-immunoprecipitation, live cell imagining, RNAi, and immunocytochemistry. Procedures for double immunocytochemistry on these cultured neurons have been optimized and described here.

Cell culture models provide detailed control over environmental conditions and thus provide a powerful platform to elucidate numerous aspects of neuronal cell biology. We describe a rapid, inexpensive, and reliable method to isolate, dissociate, and culture sensory neurons from chick embryos. Details of substrata preparation and immunocytochemistry are also provided.

Neurons are multifaceted cells that carry information essential for a variety of functions including sensation, motor movement, learning, and memory. ...

Isolation, Culture and Long-Term Maintenance of Primary Mesencephalic Dopaminergic Neurons From Embryonic Rodent Brains

Degeneration of mesencephalic dopaminergic (mesDA) neurons is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson&#8217;s diseae. Study of the biological processes involved in physiological functions and vulnerability and death of these neurons is imparative to understanding the underlying causes and unraveling the cure for this common neurodegenerative disorder. Primary cultures of mesDA neurons provide a tool for investigation of the molecular, biochemical and electrophysiological properties, in order to understand the development, long-term survival and degeneration of these neurons during the course of disease. Here we present a detailed method for the isolation, culturing and maintenance of midbrain dopaminergic neurons from E12.5 mouse (or E14.5 rat) embryos. Optimized cell culture conditions in this protocol result in presence of axonal and dendritic projections, synaptic connections and other neuronal morphological properties, which make the cultures suitable for study of the physiological, cell biological and molecular characteristics of this neuronal population.

The causes of degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons during Parkinson&#8217;s disease are not fully understood. Cellular culture systems provide an essential tool for study of the neurophysiological properties of these neurons. Here we present an optimized protocol, which can be utilized for in vitro modeling of neurodegeneration.

Degeneration of mesencephalic dopaminergic (mesDA) neurons is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson&#8217;s diseae. Study of the biological processes ...

We present a protocol for the isolation and culture of spinal cord neurons. The neurons are obtained from neonatal C57BL/6 mice and are isolated on postnatal day 1-3. A mouse litter, usually 4-10 pups born from one breeding pair, is gathered for one experiment, and spinal cords are collected individually from each mouse after euthanasia with isoflurane. The spinal column is dissected out and then the spinal cord is released from the column. The spinal cords are then minced to increase the surface area of delivery for an enzymatic protease that allows for the neurons and other cells to be released from the tissue. Trituration is then used to release the cells into solution. This solution is subsequently fractionated in a density gradient to separate the various cells in solution, allowing for neurons to be isolated. Approximately 1-2.5 x 106 neurons can be isolated from one litter group. The neurons are then seeded onto wells coated with adhesive factors that allow for proper growth and maturation. The neurons take approximately 7 days to reach maturity in the growth and culture medium and can be used thereafter for treatment and analysis.

This study presents a technique for the isolation of neurons from WT neonatal mice. It requires the careful dissection of the spinal cord from the neonatal mouse, followed by the separation of neurons from the spinal cord tissue through mechanical and enzymatic cleavage.

We present a protocol for the isolation and culture of spinal cord neurons. The neurons are obtained from neonatal C57BL/6 mice and are isolated on ...

Oculomotor neurons (CN3s) and trochlear neurons (CN4s) exhibit remarkable resistance to degenerative motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) when compared to spinal motor neurons (SMNs). The ability to isolate and culture primary mouse CN3s, CN4s, and SMNs would provide an approach to study mechanisms underlying this selective vulnerability. To date, most protocols use heterogeneous cell cultures, which can confound the interpretation of experimental outcomes. To minimize the problems associated with mixed-cell populations, pure cultures are indispensable. Here, the first protocol describes in detail how to efficiently purify and cultivate CN3s/CN4s alongside SMNs counterparts from the same embryos using embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) IslMN:GFP transgenic mouse embryos. The protocol provides details on the tissue dissection and dissociation, FACS-based cell isolation, and in vitro cultivation of cells from CN3/CN4 and SMN nuclei. This protocol adds a novel in vitro CN3/CN4 culture system to existing protocols and simultaneously provides a pure species- and age-matched SMN culture for comparison. Analyses focusing on the morphological, cellular, molecular, and electrophysiological characteristics of motor neurons are feasible in this culture system. This protocol will enable research into the mechanisms that define motor neuron development, selective vulnerability, and disease.

This work presents a protocol to yield homogeneous cell cultures of primary oculomotor, trochlear, and spinal motor neurons. These cultures can be used for comparative analyses of the morphological, cellular, molecular, and electrophysiological characteristics of ocular and spinal motor neurons.

Oculomotor neurons (CN3s) and trochlear neurons (CN4s) exhibit remarkable resistance to degenerative motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral ...

The lower urinary tract has two main functions, namely, periodic urine storage and micturition; these functions are mediated through central and peripheral neuroregulation. Although extensive research on the lower urinary tract nervous system has been conducted, most studies have focused on primary culture. This protocol introduces a method for the isolation and culture of bladder neurons and glia from Sprague&#8211;Dawley rats. In this method, the neurons and glia were incubated in a 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2 incubator for 5&#8211;7 days. As a result, they grew into mature shapes suitable for related subsequent immunofluorescence experiments. Cells were morphologically observed using an optical microscope. Neurons, synaptic vesicles, and glia were identified by &#946;-III-tubulin and MAP-2, Synapsin-1, and GFAP staining, respectively. Meanwhile, immunocytochemistry was performed on several neurotransmitter-related proteins, such as choline acetyltransferase, DYNLL2, and SLC17A9.

This protocol attempts to establish a repeatable protocol for primary neurons and glia isolation from rat bladder for further cellular experiments.

The lower urinary tract has two main functions, namely, periodic urine storage and micturition; these functions are mediated through central and ...

Minimizing Hypoxia in Hippocampal Slices from Adult and Aging Mice

Acute hippocampal slices have enabled generations of neuroscientists to explore synaptic, neuronal, and circuit properties in detail and with high fidelity. Exploration of LTP and LTD mechanisms, single neuron dendritic computation, and experience-dependent changes in circuitry, would not have been possible without this classical preparation. However, with a few exceptions, most basic research using acute hippocampal slices has been performed using slices from rodents of relatively young ages, ~P20-P40, even though synaptic and intrinsic excitability mechanisms have a long developmental tail that reaches past P60. The main appeal of using young hippocampal slices is preservation of neuronal health aided by higher tolerance to hypoxic damage. However, there is a need to understand neuronal function at more mature stages of development, further accentuated by the development of various animal models of neurodegenerative diseases that require an aging brain preparation. Here we describe a modification to an acute hippocampal slice preparation that reliably delivers healthy slices from adult and aging mouse hippocampi. The protocol&#8217;s critical steps are transcardial perfusion and cutting with ice-cold sodium-free NMDG-aSCF. Together, these steps attenuate the hypoxia-induced drop in ATP upon decapitation, as well as cytotoxic edema caused by passive sodium fluxes. We demonstrate how to cut transversal slices of hippocampus plus cortex using a vibrating microtome. Acute hippocampal slices obtained in this way are reliably healthy over many hours of recording, and are appropriate for both field-recordings and targeted patch-clamp recordings, including targeting of fluorescently labeled neurons.

This is a protocol for acute slice preparation from adult and aging mouse hippocampi that takes advantage of transcardial perfusion and slice cutting with ice-cold NMDG-aCSF to reduce hypoxic damage to the tissue. The resulting slices stay healthy over many hours, and are suitable for long-term patch-clamp and field-recordings.

Acute hippocampal slices have enabled generations of neuroscientists to explore synaptic, neuronal, and circuit properties in detail and with high ...

Chick ciliary ganglia (CG) are part of the parasympathetic nervous system and are responsible for the innervation of the muscle tissues present in the eye. This ganglion is constituted by a homogenous population of ciliary and choroidal neurons that innervate striated and smooth muscle fibers, respectively. Each of these neuronal types regulate specific eye structures and functions. Over the years, neuronal cultures of the chick ciliary ganglia were shown to be effective cell models in the study of muscle-nervous system interactions, which communicate through cholinergic synapses. Ciliary ganglion neurons are, in its majority, cholinergic. This cell model has been shown to be useful comparatively to previously used heterogeneous cell models that comprise several neuronal types, besides cholinergic. Anatomically, the ciliary ganglion is localized between the optic nerve (ON) and the choroid fissure (CF). Here, we describe a detailed procedure for the dissection, dissociation and in vitro culture of ciliary ganglia neurons from chick embryos. We provide a step-by-step protocol in order to obtain highly pure and stable cellular cultures of CG neurons, highlighting key steps of the process. These cultures can be maintained in vitro for 15 days and, hereby, we show the normal development of CG cultures. The results also show that these neurons can interact with muscle fibers through neuro-muscular cholinergic synapses.

Chick ciliary ganglia (CG) are part of the parasympathetic nervous system. Neuronal cultures of chick CG neurons were shown to be effective cell models in the study of nerve muscle interactions. We describe a detailed protocol for the dissection, dissociation and in vitro culture of CG neurons from chick embryos.

Chick ciliary ganglia (CG) are part of the parasympathetic nervous system and are responsible for the innervation of the muscle tissues present in the ...