Name: isolation and culture of dissociated sensory neurons from chick embryos
Uploaded: 2014-09-24T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation and Culture of Dissociated Sensory Neurons From Chick Embryos at JoVE.com

We would like to thank Alison Philbrook, Belinda Barbagallo and Michael Francis for insightful comments on this paper. Research reported in this publication was supported by an R15 AREA award 1R15NS070172-01A1 awarded to MLL.

1. Coverslip Preparation: Acid Wash and Bake
<ol>
	<li>At least 2&#160;days prior to dissection (step 2), begin the following steps to prepare coverslips. Perform the acid wash step to remove oils and thoroughly clean coverslips.</li>
	<li>Load coverslips in porcelain holder that vertically positions coverslips and prevents them from touching each other. Submerge holder and coverslips into glass histology container filled with 2 M hydrochloric acid (HCl). Alternatively, if porcelain holder is not available, spread ~20 ...

<ol>
	<li>Millet, L. J., Gillette, M. U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Over+a+century+of+neuron+culture:+from+the+hanging+drop+to+microfluidic+devices.">Over a century of neuron culture: from the hanging drop to microfluidic devices.</a> The Yale journal of biology and medicine. 85, 501-521 (2012).</li><li>Guan, W., Puthenveedu, M. A., Condic, M. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sensory+neuron+subtypes+have+unique+substratum+preference+and+receptor+expression+before+target+innervation.">Sensory neuron subtypes have unique substratum preference and receptor expression before target innervation.</a> The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 23, 1781-1791 (2003).</li><li>Kapitein, L. C., Hoogenraad, C. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Which+way+to+go?+Cytoskeletal+organization+and+polarized+transport+in+neurons.">Which way to go? Cytoskeletal organization and polarized transport in neurons.</a> Molecular and cellular neurosciences. 46, 9-20 (2011).</li><li>Kapitein, L. C., Yau, K. W., Hoogenraad, C. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microtubule+dynamics+in+dendritic+spines.">Microtubule dynamics in dendritic spines.</a> Methods in cell biology. 97, 111-132 (2010).</li><li>Snow, D. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pioneering+studies+on+the+mechanisms+of+axonal+regeneration.">Pioneering studies on the mechanisms of axonal regeneration.</a> Developmental neurobiology. 71, 785-789 (2011).</li><li>Melli, G., Hoke, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dorsal+Root+Ganglia+Sensory+Neuronal+Cultures:+a+tool+for+drug+discovery+for+peripheral+neuropathies.">Dorsal Root Ganglia Sensory Neuronal Cultures: a tool for drug discovery for peripheral neuropathies.</a> Expert opinion on drug discovery. 4, 1035-1045 (2009).</li><li>Condic, M. L., Letourneau, P. 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A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+sensory+neuron+growth+cone+and+filopodial+responses+to+structurally+diverse+aggrecan+variants,+in+vitro.">Comparison of sensory neuron growth cone and filopodial responses to structurally diverse aggrecan variants, in vitro.</a> Experimental neurology. 247, 143-157 (2013).</li><li>Condic, M. L., Snow, D. M., Letourneau, P. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Embryonic+neurons+adapt+to+the+inhibitory+proteoglycan+aggrecan+by+increasing+integrin+expression.">Embryonic neurons adapt to the inhibitory proteoglycan aggrecan by increasing integrin expression.</a> The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 19, 10036-10043 (1999).</li><li>Lemons, M. L., Barua, S., Abanto, M. L., Halfter, W., Condic, M. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adaptation+of+sensory+neurons+to+hyalectin+and+decorin+proteoglycans.">Adaptation of sensory neurons to hyalectin and decorin proteoglycans.</a> The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 25, 4964-4973 (2005).</li><li>Guan, W., Condic, M. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+Netrin-1,+Neogenin+and+cUNC-5H3+expression+during+chick+dorsal+root+ganglia+development.">Characterization of Netrin-1, Neogenin and cUNC-5H3 expression during chick dorsal root ganglia development.</a> Gene Expr Patterns. 3, 369-373 (2003).</li><li>Guan, W., Wang, G., Scott, S. A., Condic, M. 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L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Negative+guidance+factor-induced+macropinocytosis+in+the+growth+cone+plays+a+critical+role+in+repulsive+axon+turning.">Negative guidance factor-induced macropinocytosis in the growth cone plays a critical role in repulsive axon turning.</a> The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 29, 10488-10498 (2009).</li><li>Lemons, M. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Integrins+and+cAMP+mediate+netrin-induced+growth+cone+collapse.">Integrins and cAMP mediate netrin-induced growth cone collapse.</a> Brain research. 1537, 46-58 (2013).</li><li>Snow, D. M., Atkinson, P. B., Hassinger, T. D., Letourneau, P. C., Kater, S. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chondroitin+sulfate+proteoglycan+elevates+cytoplasmic+calcium+in+DRG+neurons.">Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan elevates cytoplasmic calcium in DRG neurons.</a> Developmental biology. 166, 87-100 (1994).</li><li>Snow, D. M., Brown, E. M., Letourneau, P. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Growth+cone+behavior+in+the+presence+of+soluble+chondroitin+sulfate+proteoglycan+(CSPG),+compared+to+behavior+on+CSPG+bound+to+laminin+or+fibronectin.">Growth cone behavior in the presence of soluble chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG), compared to behavior on CSPG bound to laminin or fibronectin.</a> Int J Dev Neurosci. 14, 331-349 (1996).</li><li>Snow, D. M., Lemmon, V., Carrino, D. A., Caplan, A. I., Silver, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sulfated+proteoglycans+in+astroglial+barriers+inhibit+neurite+outgrowth+in+vitro.">Sulfated proteoglycans in astroglial barriers inhibit neurite outgrowth in vitro.</a> Experimental neurology. 109, 111-130 (1990).</li><li>Snow, D. M., Letourneau, P. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neurite+outgrowth+on+a+step+gradient+of+chondroitin+sulfate+proteoglycan+(CS-PG).">Neurite outgrowth on a step gradient of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CS-PG).</a> Journal of neurobiology. 23, 322-336 (1992).</li><li>Snow, D. M., Mullins, N., Hynds, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nervous+system-derived+chondroitin+sulfate+proteoglycans+regulate+growth+cone+morphology+and+inhibit+neurite+outgrowth:+A+light,+epifluorescence,+and+electron+microscopy+study.">Nervous system-derived chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans regulate growth cone morphology and inhibit neurite outgrowth: A light, epifluorescence, and electron microscopy study.</a> Microsc Res Tech. 54, 273-286 (2001).</li><li>Barres, B. A., Silverstein, B. E., Corey, D. P., Chun, L. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunological,+morphological,+and+electrophysiological+variation+among+retinal+ganglion+cells+purified+by+panning.">Immunological, morphological, and electrophysiological variation among retinal ganglion cells purified by panning.</a> Neuron. 1, 791-803 (1988).</li><li>Firnhaber, C., Hammarlund, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuron-specific+feeding+RNAi+in+C.+elegans+and+its+use+in+a+screen+for+essential+genes+required+for+GABA+neuron+function.">Neuron-specific feeding RNAi in C. elegans and its use in a screen for essential genes required for GABA neuron function.</a> PLoS genetics. 9, e1003921 (2013).</li><li>Hamburger, V., Hamilton, H. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+series+of+normal+stages+in+the+development+of+the+chick+embryo.+1951.">A series of normal stages in the development of the chick embryo. 1951.</a> Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists. 195, 231-272 (1992).</li><li>Hollyday, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chick+wing+innervation.+I.+Time+course+of+innervation+and+early+differentiation+of+the+peripheral+nerve+pattern.">Chick wing innervation. I. Time course of innervation and early differentiation of the peripheral nerve pattern.</a> The Journal of comparative neurology. 357, 242-253 (1995).</li><li>Hollyday, M., Morgan-Carr, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chick+wing+innervation.+II.+Morphology+of+motor+and+sensory+axons+and+their+growth+cones+during+early+development.">Chick wing innervation. II. Morphology of motor and sensory axons and their growth cones during early development.</a> The Journal of comparative neurology. 357, 254-271 (1995).</li><li>Honig, M. G., Kueter, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+expression+of+cell+adhesion+molecules+on+the+growth+cones+of+chick+cutaneous+and+muscle+sensory+neurons.">The expression of cell adhesion molecules on the growth cones of chick cutaneous and muscle sensory neurons.</a> Developmental biology. 167, 563-583 (1995).</li><li>Tosney, K. W., Landmesser, L. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+the+major+pathways+for+neurite+outgrowth+in+the+chick+hindlimb.">Development of the major pathways for neurite outgrowth in the chick hindlimb.</a> Developmental biology. 109, 193-214 (1985).</li><li>Dontchev, V. D., Letourneau, P. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nerve+growth+factor+and+semaphorin+3A+signaling+pathways+interact+in+regulating+sensory+neuronal+growth+cone+motility.">Nerve growth factor and semaphorin 3A signaling pathways interact in regulating sensory neuronal growth cone motility.</a> The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 22, 6659-6669 (2002).</li><li>Munoz, L. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ephrin-A5+inhibits+growth+of+embryonic+sensory+neurons.">Ephrin-A5 inhibits growth of embryonic sensory neurons.</a> Developmental biology. 283, 397-408 (2005).</li><li>Roche, F. K., Marsick, B. M., Letourneau, P. 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Here we present detailed protocols for isolating and culturing dissociated sensory neurons from a chick embryo. This procedure generates an enriched population of robustly growing neurons in vitro7,8,10,16. Numerous cellular and molecular techniques can be applied to these cultured neurons, including immunocytochemistry, which is described here. This protocol was recently used to quantitatively assess the intensity of immunolabeled activated integrins in sensory growth cones8,16. In these p...

Neurons are complex cells that carry information essential for a variety of functions including sensation, vision, motor movement, learning, and memory. Unique from other cell types, neurons extend arm-like processes, called axons, to form essential neural highways for communication. During development specialized compartments located at the tips of growing axons, called growth cones, navigate through a concert of extracellular cues to lead the axon to its appropriate destination. The intricate molecular mechanisms that underlie growth cone navigation are not fully understood. To better understand these mechanisms, investigators have used cell culture models to study neurons in a defined and simplified in vitro environment. Studying neurons in culture1 has led to significant advances in our understanding of neuronal cell biology including: neuronal differentiation2, cytoskeletal dynamics, endocytosis and trafficking,&#160;dendrite regulation3,4,&#160;axonal regeneration5, and clinical conditions such as neuropathies6. In addition, cultured neurons are highly amenable to a wide range of research techniques including immunocytochemistry, cell surface co-immunoprecipitation, Western blot, transfection, RNAi, and live imaging such as timelapse analysis of growth cone motility. Thus, culturing primary neurons is a powerful approach to elucidate numerous aspects of the cell biology of neurons.
The cell culture model provides investigators with detailed control over environmental conditions and variables. For example, the substrata on which neurons are plated (and grow upon) can be easily manipulated. Here, we provide detailed instructions for generating two distinct substrata, one with a low laminin-1 concentration and the other with saturating concentrations of laminin-1. Surprisingly, different concentrations of the same molecule can have dramatic effects on the internal state of neurons as well as their cell surface composition. For example, intracellular levels of cAMP and surface levels of integrins are significantly different in neurons plated on these two substrata7,8. Additional studies have shown that other molecules, including fibronectin and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, impact the expression of cell surface molecules and neuronal motility7-11. In addition, soluble molecules such as neurotrophins and neurotropins also impact cell membrane composition and neuronal motility12-16 and can be easily and accurately manipulated in a cell culture model.
Here, we describe methods to isolate and culture dissociated sensory neurons from chick embryos. This procedure has been used to make significant breakthroughs in neurobiology, including axon outgrowth5,7,8,10,11,16-21 and was modified from a procedure designed to isolate ganglion cells22. There are several advantages to this approach. First, many features of chick dorsal root ganglion (DRG) development are well characterized including the time frame for birth, axon extension, and protein expression profiles2,23-28, thus providing an instructive basis upon which to build informative in vitro experiments. Second, dissociated neuronal cultures allow the investigator to more directly study neurons compared to alternative approaches using intact DRG explants (which contain neurons and non-neuronal cells) and/or mixed cultures containing both dissociated neurons and non-neuronal cells. Third, the procedure described here is straightforward, inexpensive and amenable to undergraduates. Therefore, this technique can be used for research as well as for teaching purposes. Furthermore, minor variations of this protocol should allow fast, high yield purification of neurons from sources other than DRGs. For example, this procedure could be modified to provide neuronally enriched cultures from other tissues such as embryonic forebrain or spinal cord.
Immunocytochemistry protocols have been optimized for these dissociated neuronal cultures and are described in detail here. The procedure for double immunocytochemistry against neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and &#946;1 integrins is provided. Data generated from these immunocytochemical methods have been used to examine the spatial patterning and intensity of several molecules in cultured neurons8,16.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="694">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">sterile small culture dishes (35mm)</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">430165</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">sterile large culture dishes (100mm)</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Falcon</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">353003</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">sterile large petri dishes (100mm)</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">89000-302</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">glass petri dish (100mm)</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">D108962&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">fine forceps</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">11251-10&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">standard forceps</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">1100-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">coverslips&#160; (22x22)</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">12 518 105K</td>
			<td>0.13-0.17 mm thickness is optimal for microscopy</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">porcelin coverslip holder</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Thomas scientific</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">8542E40</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Fetal Bovine serum</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">17502-048</td>
			<td>use 50ml aliquots per 500 mls of Ham&#39;s F12 media&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">HCL</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">VW3204-1</td>
			<td>use at 2M, can be used twice before discarding</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">NaCl</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">S9888</td>
			<td>use 5M NaCl solution for laminin-1 stock solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">laminin-1</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">23017-015</td>
			<td>Add 72ul of sterile 5M NaCl and aliquot into 50ul</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">15 ml conical tube</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">cell treat</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">229411</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">PBS CMF 10X</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">14200</td>
			<td>used at 1X, dilute with sterile millipore filtered water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">PBS 10X</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">14080</td>
			<td>used at 1X, dilute with sterile milliporee filtered water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ham&#39;s F12</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Lonza</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">12-615F</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Fetal Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">10438</td>
			<td>use in F12HS20 at 10%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">HEPES</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">H3375</td>
			<td>make sterile 1M solution in distilled water, dilute in F12 media to obtain final concentration of 10mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Penicillin streptomyocin</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">P0781</td>
			<td>use 5mls in 500mls of F12 media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">NT3</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">GF031</td>
			<td>Add 1ml of sterile millipore water, aliquot under sterile conditions, store at -20 0C, use at final concentration of 10ng/ml in F12H media, keep in -20 C&#160; non-defrosting freezer&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">N2</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">17502048</td>
			<td>&#160;aliquot under sterile conditions,stored at -20 0C,&#160; use 100ul per 10ml of F12H media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">NGF</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">RnD systems</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">256-GF</td>
			<td>Add 1ml of sterile 1X PBS with 0.1% BSA, aliquot under sterile conditions, store at -20 0C, usd at final concentration of 10 ng/ml in F12H media&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">l-glutamine</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">G7513</td>
			<td>aliquot under sterile conditions, store at -20 0C, use at final concentration of 200mM in F12H media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Trypsin</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">T4049</td>
			<td>aliquot under sterile conditions, store at -20 0C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">15260</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="231">
			<td height="231" style="height:231px;width:216px;">Other items needed:&#160; general dissection instruments, including&#160; glass pasteur pipettes, fertile white leghorn chicken eggs, check egg incubator (humidified, 37 degrees C), cell incubation chamber (humidified, 37&#160; degrees C), laminar flow hood, binocular stereovision dissecting scope</td>
			<td style="width:176px;"></td>
			<td style="width:135px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Immunocytochemistry Reagents Table</td>
			<td style="width:176px;"></td>
			<td style="width:135px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Sucrose</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">S9378</td>
			<td>used in fixative solution (4% paraformaldehye, 30% sucrose, 2X PBS)&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Triton-X 100</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">T-8787</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">P6148</td>
			<td>used in fixative solution (4% paraformaldehye, 30% sucrose, 2X PBS)&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Fluoromount G</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Southern Biotech</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">0100-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">normal goat serum</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">PCN500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">microscope slides</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">16004-430</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Primary Antibody Table</td>
			<td style="width:176px;"></td>
			<td style="width:135px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Antibody against NCAM</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">AB5032</td>
			<td>polyclonal</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Antibody against activated beta 1 ingegrin</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">MAB19294</td>
			<td>monoclonal</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Seconday Antibody Table</td>
			<td style="width:176px;"></td>
			<td style="width:135px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Goat anti-mouse IgG Alexa 488</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">A11001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Goat anti-rabbit IgG Alexa 548</td>
			<td style="width:176px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">A11036</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation and culture of dissociated sensory neurons from chick embryos

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.

The protocol described here enables investigators to culture an enriched population of dissociated embryonic sensory neurons with very few (e.g., &#60;5%) non-neuronal cells7,8,10,16. Numerous DRGs can be obtained from the lumbosacral, thoracic and cervical regions. Depending upon the needs of the investigator, DRGs from these distinct anatomical regions can be easily isolated. For example, Figure 1 shows images of the chick embryo through various stages of dissection with the lumbar ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation and Culture of Dissociated Sensory Neurons From Chick Embryos at JoVE.com

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 provided.

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

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

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The marine gastropod mollusk Aplysia californica has a venerable  history as a model of nervous system function, with particular significance in  studies ...

Production and Isolation of Axons from Sensory Neurons for Biochemical Analysis Using Porous Filters

Neuronal axons use specific mechanisms to mediate extension, maintain integrity, and induce degeneration. An appropriate balance of these events is ...

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

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Removal of Drosophila Muscle Tissue from Larval Fillets for Immunofluorescence Analysis of Sensory Neurons and Epidermal Cells

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Drosophila larval dendritic arborization (da) neurons are a popular model for investigating mechanisms of neuronal morphogenesis. Da neurons develop in ...

Zebrafish In Situ Spinal Cord Preparation for Electrophysiological Recordings from Spinal Sensory and Motor Neurons

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Zebrafish, first introduced as a developmental model, have gained popularity in many other fields. The ease of rearing large numbers of rapidly developing ...