This work is supported by the National Institute for Health Research, Academy of Medical Sciences and the British Society for Surgery of the Hand. We also gratefully acknowledge the continuing supply of GGF-2 from Acorda Therapeutics, USA. The authors would finally like to acknowledge Prof. Giorgio Terenghi for his valuable support and guidance in our group over the past years that led to the development and optimization of this protocol.

NOTE: All the experiments involving animals were carried out in accordance with the U.K. Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986.
1. Experimental Set-up
<ol>
	<li>Prior to start tissue and cell harvest, check that all the tools are sterile. Whether necessary, autoclave a pair of sharp surgical scissors, a very fine forceps and a fine standard forceps. Also sterilize each substrate before cell seeding using UV sterilization, ethanol exposure or steam sterilization as appropriate.</li>
	<li>Preparation of media for stem cell harvest and differentiation
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare the stem cell growth medium, containing Minimum Essential Medium (&#945;-MEM) supplemented with 10 % fetal bovine serum (FBS), 200 mM L-glutamine, and 1 % penicillin-streptomycin (PS).</li>
		<li>Prepare a 10 mM stock solution of forskolin by dissolving 10 mg of forskolin in 2.436 ml of sterile dimethyl sulfoxyde. Use at final concentration of 14 &#956;M.</li>
		<li>Prepare a 35 mg/ml stock solution of retinoic acid by dissolving 50 mg in 1.43 ml of sterile dimethyl sulfoxyde. Use at final concentration of 350 ng/ml.</li>
		<li>Prepare platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stocks (100 &#956;g/ml) by dissolving 10 &#956;g of lyophilized powder in 100 &#956;l of distilled sterile water. Use at final concentration of 5 ng/ml.</li>
		<li>Prepare basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) stocks (100 &#956;g/ml) by dissolving 50 &#956;g of lyophilized powder in 500 &#956;l of distilled sterile water. Use at final concentration of 10 ng/ml.</li>
		<li>Prepare the stem cell differentiation medium, containing stem cell growth medium supplemented with 14 &#181;M forskolin, 126 ng/ml glial growth factor-2 (GGF-2), 5 ng/mL platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and 10 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Preparation of media and stock solutions for neuron harvest and dissociation
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare Bottenstein and Sato&#8217;s (BS) medium28, by adding 1 % PS and 1 % N2 supplement to Ham&#8217;s F12 medium. Calculate the final volume needed as 500 &#181;l per well (if using a 24-well plate).</li>
		<li>Prepare collagenase IV stocks in Ham&#8217;s F12 medium at the concentration of 1.25 % wt/v. Filter-sterilize the solution and store at -20 &#176;C as 200 &#181;l aliquots.</li>
		<li>Prepare bovine pancreatic trypsin stocks in Ham&#8217;s F12 medium at the concentration of 2.5 % wt/v, filter-sterilize and store at -20 &#176;C as 200 &#181;l aliquots.</li>
		<li>Prepare the nerve growth factor (NGF) stock solution at the concentration of 5 &#181;g/mL in a filter-sterilized 1 mg/ml fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution in F12 medium and store at -20 C as 200 &#181;l aliquots. Do not filter the NGF after reconstitution.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>In case no surface modification has been performed, coat coverslips/plates with poly-D-lysine (0.1 mg/ml for 15 min at RT) and/or laminin (2-10 &#181;g/cm2 for 2 hr at 37 &#176;C) to support neuron attachment and neurite outgrowth as appropriate.</li>
	<li>Always warm up media in a water bath at 37 &#176;C before using.</li>
</ol>
2. Adipose-derived Stem Cell (ASC) Harvest and Differentiation into a SC Phenotype
<ol>
	<li>ASC harvest from visceral and inguinal fat of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats
	<ol>
		<li>Prior to start, prepare a tube with 10-15 ml of Hanks&#8217; Balanced Saline Solution (HBSS) supplemented with 1% v/v of PS solution and store on ice until fat harvesting.</li>
		<li>Terminate the rat by cervical dislocation and decapitation. Shave the rat and make an incision through the abdominal skin, exposing the internal organs and avoiding bleeding. Remove the visceral fat encasing the stomach and intestines (usually characterized by a fatty yellow consistency) and the inguinal fat surrounding the testicles from an adult male Sprague-Dawley rat. Transfer the fat in the tube containing HBSS on ice.</li>
		<li>In a biological safety cabinet (class II) finely chop the fat using a pair of scissors and a sterile razor blade until fine consistency is reached and transfer it into a tube containing 15 ml of 0.2 % wt/v collagenase type I solution freshly prepared and filter-sterilized on the day.</li>
		<li>Transfer the tube in a water bath at 37 &#176;C and leave the fat tissue to digest in presence of the enzyme for 30 min-1 hr under continuous agitation. Monitor the digestion closely and stop before the tissue is fully dissociated, this will improve cell viability and cell yield. Filter theun-dissociated tissue through a 100 &#181;m cell strainer. 
		NOTE: Good tissue digestion will result in homogenous consistency of the fat, visible by eye when gently swirling the tube, acquiring a beige appearance.</li>
		<li>Neutralize the enzyme by adding 15 ml of stem cell growth medium containing fetal bovine serum at 37 &#176;C and centrifuge the solution at 160 g for 10 min in order to collect the stromal vascular fraction, including the stem cells, at the bottom of the tube.</li>
		<li>At this stage, the pellet can be resuspended in 1 ml of red blood cells lysis buffer to remove blood cell contamination. After resuspension and pipetting for 1 min, add 10 ml of fresh stem cell growth medium and centrifuge at 160 g for 10 min.</li>
		<li>Carefully aspirate the supernatant from the tube, taking care of the deposited cell pellet at the bottom. Resuspend the cells in 10 ml of stem cell growth medium, transfer them into a 75 cm2 flasks and incubate at 37 &#176;C, 5 % CO2. Maintain the cells at sub-confluent levels until passage 1-2, changing medium every 3 days.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>ASC differentiation to a SC phenotype
	<ol>
		<li>At passage 1-2, remove the stem cell growth medium from the 75 cm2 flask and replace it with 10 ml of fresh medium containing 1 mM &#946;-mercaptoethanol freshly prepared and filter-sterilized on the day. Incubate the cells at 37 &#176;C, 5 % CO2 for 24 hr. At this stage, it is important that the cells are seeded at low density (30 %) before starting the differentiation.</li>
		<li>Wash the cells carefully with HBSS, aspirate and replace it with 10 ml of medium containing 350 ng/ml retinoic acid. Incubate the cells at 37 &#176;C, 5 % CO2 for 72 hr. Try to minimize exposure of cell medium to light.</li>
		<li>After 3 days, wash the cells carefully with HBSS, aspirate and replace it with 10 ml of stem cell differentiation medium (see step 1.2.6). Maintain the cells at sub-confluent levels, changing medium every 3 days. 
		NOTE: Following 2 weeks of incubation, ASC are differentiated into SC-like ASC, expressing their characteristic phenotype (as demonstrated by Kingham et al.5). They can then be used up until the 10th passage without noticeable changes in behavior29 .</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Harvest and Dissociation of Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) Neurons
<ol>
	<li>Terminate the rat by cervical dislocation and decapitation. Shave the rat and lift the skin to expose the spinal column. Using sharp scissors, excide the spinal column taking extra care of the confined organs and blood vessels. Transfer the spinal column in a biological safety cabinet (class II) using a Petri dish and remove any dorsal part.</li>
	<li>Divide the spinal column in half along the longitudinal axis using sterile and sharp surgical scissors to expose the cord tissue. At this point, it is helpful to cut the spinal column in two smaller segments below the level of the rib cage, to make it easier to handle during the DRG neuron harvest. Using fine forceps, gently remove all the cord tissue, paying attention to not pull and remove the DRG roots. This way the DRG and roots will be exposed within the vertebral canals, still encased in the column. Observe DRG as white filaments coming out directly from the canals.</li>
	<li>Pull out the entire DRG root (not just the DRG) from the vertebral canals by using very fine forceps, going deep into the vertebral canals and paying attention not to damage the roots of the ganglia. Transfer the DRG into a small petri dish (60 mm2) containing 3-4 ml of Ham&#8217;s F12 medium supplemented with 1% PS. If using different animals, use separate dishes.</li>
	<li>Under a dissecting microscope, clean the DRG of any excess of nerve roots surrounding the ganglia using sterile forceps and a scalpel to reduce glial cell contamination. Transfer the DRG into a small petri dish (35 mm2) with 1.8 ml of fresh F12 medium.</li>
	<li>Add 200 &#181;l of 1.25 % wt/v collagenase type IV stock solution (final concentration of 0.125%) and incubate the DRG at 37 &#176;C, 5 % CO2 for 1 hr. Carefully aspirate the medium with a glass pipette, paying attention not to aspirate or damage the DRG. Add fresh F12 medium supplemented with 0.125 % wt/v collagenase type IV enzyme and incubate for 1 hr as previously described.</li>
	<li>Aspirate the medium and gently wash the DRG with F12 medium. Add then 1.8 ml of F12 medium and 200 &#181;l of trypsin (final concentration of 0.25 % wt/v) and incubate at 37 &#176;C, 5 % CO2 for 30 min.</li>
	<li>Remove trypsin and add 1 ml of F12 medium supplemented with 500 &#181;l of FBS to arrest the enzymatic reaction. Aspirate the medium and gently wash the DRG with F12 medium for three times to remove traces of serum.</li>
	<li>Add 2 ml of fresh F12 medium and carefully transfer the DRG with the medium into a 15 ml tube using a glass pipette. Gently dissociate the DRG neurons by pipetting up and down (about 8-10 times) with the glass pipette (plastic tips can be used as alternative).</li>
	<li>Allow the pellet to settle at the bottom of the tube and collect the medium in a new tube. Add 2 ml of fresh F12 medium to the tube containing the pellet and repeat the mechanical dissociation with the glass pipette. Repeat this step until the suspension becomes homogeneous (about 3-4 times) and collect all the dissociated DRG in the new tube. This method reduces the stress deriving from the mechanical dissociation and improves the viability of the neurons.</li>
	<li>Filter the resulting homogenized suspension into a new 15 ml tube using a 100 &#181;m cell strainer to remove un-dissociated neurons and other debris. At this stage, it might be convenient to first filter the cell suspension into a 50 ml tube and then transfer the solution into the smaller tube using a glass pipette. Centrifuge the suspension at 110 g for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Prepare a 15 % bovine serum albumin (BSA) by adding 500 &#181;l of a 30 % BSA solution to 500 &#181;l of F12 medium. Slowly pipette the solution down the wall of a 15 ml tube to create a gradual protein trail. At this stage, it is helpful to hold the tube at a 45&#176; angle and slowly release the BSA using the numbers on the falcon tube as a reference for the forming &#8220;track&#8221;.</li>
	<li>Aspirate the supernatant from step 3.10 leaving 500 &#181;l at the bottom of the tube and resuspend the cell pellet in the same medium. Slowly pipette the suspension along the protein trail previously prepared in step 3.11 (use the numbers on the tube as a reference) and centrifuge at 500 g for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Aspirate the supernatant and resuspend the pellet in 1 ml of modified BS medium (or a mixed medium for the SC-like ASC/DRG co-culture, as described below in step 4.5. 
	NOTE: The volume to re-suspend the DRG neurons can be made up to the actual volume required, depending on the final cell concentration desired and the number of samples to be seeded. One animal will provide enough cells for a 24-well plate experiment.</li>
	<li>Incubate the seeded samples at 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2 for 2 hr to allow cell attachment and finally add fresh BS medium supplemented with 50 ng/ml of nerve growth factor (NGF).</li>
</ol>
4. Direct Co-culture of SC-like ASC and DRG Neurons
<ol>
	<li>Maintain SC-like ASC in culture at sub-confluent levels as described in step 2.2.3. Twenty-four hr prior to DRG harvest, aspirate the stem cell differentiation medium and wash the cells with HBSS. Aspirate and incubate in 3 ml of trypsin at 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2 for 3 min.</li>
	<li>Check under a light microscope that all the cells have detached from the flask. Gently tap the flask to help detachment. Add 7 ml of medium to stop the trypsin reaction, collect the cell suspension in a 15 ml tube and centrifuge at 110 g for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Aspirate the supernatant and resuspend the cell pellet in 5 ml of stem cell differentiation medium. Count the cells using a hemocytometer and dilute the cell suspension according to the final concentration required. Ideally, seeding 20,000 SC-like ASC/cm2 would guarantee a confluent layer of cells.</li>
	<li>Seed the SC-like ASC on the substrate and incubate at 37 &#176;C, 5 % CO2 for 24 hr to allow cell attachment.</li>
	<li>After 24 hr incubation, aspirate the medium and add the DRG neurons on top of the cells as described in step 3.14 and 3.15. Change the medium to a mixed medium containing 50 % of stem cell differentiation medium and 50 % of BS medium. In addition, reducing the FBS concentration to 1-2.5 % in the final mixed medium helps avoiding the proliferation of contaminating satellite cells derived from the DRG dissociation.</li>
	<li>Incubate the co-cultured samples at 37 &#176;C, 5 % CO2 and maintain in culture for the required time for future tests.</li>
</ol>

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C., Faroni, A., Downes, S., Terenghi, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differentiated+adipose-derived+stem+cells+act+synergistically+with+RGD-modi+fi+ed+surfaces+to+improve+neurite+outgrowth+in+a+co-culture+model.">Differentiated adipose-derived stem cells act synergistically with RGD-modi fi ed surfaces to improve neurite outgrowth in a co-culture model.</a> J Tissue Eng Regen Med. , (2013).</li><li>Summa, P. G., Kalbermatten, D., Raffoul, W., Terenghi, G., Kingham, 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=Extracellular+Matrix+Molecules+Enhance+the+Neurotrophic+Effect+of+Schwann+Cell-Like+Differentiated.">Extracellular Matrix Molecules Enhance the Neurotrophic Effect of Schwann Cell-Like Differentiated.</a> Tissue Eng. 19 (3-4), 368-379 (2013).</li><li>Fudge, N. J., Mearow, K. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Extracellular+matrix-associated+gene+expression+in+adult+sensory+neuron+populations+cultured+on+a+laminin+substrate.">Extracellular matrix-associated gene expression in adult sensory neuron populations cultured on a laminin substrate.</a> BMC Neurosci. 14 (15), 1-19 (2013).</li><li>Stabenfeldt, S. E., LaPlaca, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Variations+in+rigidity+and+ligand+density+influence+neuronal+response+in+methylcellulose-laminin+hydrogels.">Variations in rigidity and ligand density influence neuronal response in methylcellulose-laminin hydrogels.</a> Acta Biomater. 7 (12), 4102-4108 (2011).</li><li>Terenghi, G., Wiberg, M., Kingham, 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=Chapter+21:+Use+of+stem+cells+for+improving+nerve+regeneration.">Chapter 21: Use of stem cells for improving nerve regeneration.</a> Inl Revi Neurobiol. 87 (09), 393-403 (2009).</li><li>Richardson, J. a., Rementer, C. W., Bruder, J. M., Hoffman-Kim, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Guidance+of+dorsal+root+ganglion+neurites+and+Schwann+cells+by+isolated+Schwann+cell+topography+on+poly(dimethyl+siloxane)+conduits+and+films.">Guidance of dorsal root ganglion neurites and Schwann cells by isolated Schwann cell topography on poly(dimethyl siloxane) conduits and films.</a> J Neural Eng. 8 (4), 046015 (2011).</li><li>Seggio, a. M., Narayanaswamy, A., Roysam, B., Thompson, 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=Self-aligned+Schwann+cell+monolayers+demonstrate+an+inherent+ability+to+direct+neurite+outgrowth.">Self-aligned Schwann cell monolayers demonstrate an inherent ability to direct neurite outgrowth.</a> J Neural Eng. 7 (4), 046001 (2010).</li><li>Xu, F. J., Wang, Z. H., Yang, W. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Surface+functionalization+of+polycaprolactone+films+via+surface-initiated+atom+transfer+radical+polymerization+for+covalently+coupling+cell-adhesive+biomolecules.">Surface functionalization of polycaprolactone films via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization for covalently coupling cell-adhesive biomolecules.</a> Biomaterials. 31 (12), 3139-3147 (2010).</li><li>Armstrong, S. J., Wiberg, M., Terenghi, G., Kingham, 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=ECM+molecules+mediate+both+Schwann+cell+proliferation+and+activation+to+enhance+neurite+outgrowth.">ECM molecules mediate both Schwann cell proliferation and activation to enhance neurite outgrowth.</a> Tissue Eng. 13 (12), 2863-2870 (2007).</li></ol>

The authors confirm that there are no conflicts of interest associated with this publication.

DRG neurons are frequently used among neuronal cells for primary culture to study the regeneration of neurons after axotomy in vivo. Here an accurate protocol for DRG harvest from adult rats is presented, aimed at reducing the population of satellite cells in the surrounding environment without compromising the neuronal survival. As ASC differentiated into a SC-like phenotype are a valid alternative to SC for cell therapies, a SC-like ASC/DRG co-culture system is also described in detail.
It is widely known that laminin (or laminin-derived peptide sequences) have a beneficial effect on neuron survival and neurite formation31&#8211;33. When performing DRG neuron cultures it is therefore advised to previously coat each substrate with laminin in order to avoid any loss of functionality of the neuronal cells. The concept of laminin coatings also applies to biomaterial substrates for the design of tissue engineering constructs, such as poly--caprolactone (PCL) frequently used for the fabrication of nerve conduits30. Also, previous work demonstrated that fibrin matrices are suitable materials for neuronal cultures in three dimension11.
In addition to protein coating, co-culture models provide valuable conditions for DRG neuron survival and a suitable environment to study the interactions that occur between neurons and SC in the peripheral nervous system following injury. Cells can also be transplanted in vivo by using neural devices in order to shorten the recruitment time of autologous cells at the injury site. This is particularly important in severe injuries, which can lead to cell senescence/death and muscle atrophy. Although SC are the most important glial cells involved in the process of peripheral nerve regeneration and myelination, their limited availability and their slow proliferation rate makes them unsuitable for tissue engineering applications34. ASC are a valid alternative due to their abundance and ability to differentiate into the SC phenotype, expressing specific glial markers and showing functional similarities to native SC19. ASC are also able to produce proteins and growth factors5 that can be beneficial to the formation and extension of neurites by DRG neurons in a co-culture system. However, two different co-culture systems can be set up as function of the experimental needs. The method proposed in this paper is a revised version of a well-established protocol in our laboratory11 and it involves a direct contact between the two cell types (direct co-culture), in which the second cell type (DRG neurons) are seeded on the top of the others (SC-like ASC). This approach is based on previous findings that demonstrated the importance of the presence of a glial cell layer on the substrate when seeding neuronal cultures35&#8211;37. This effect is likely due to cell-cell interactions through DRG integrins and ECM molecules deposited from ASC and other cues on the stem cell surface. It was also observed that a reduction of protein serum in the medium reduced the proliferation of contaminating satellite cells that can derive from the dissociation of DRG neurons, without affecting ASC functions. However, satellite cells, including a small population of SC, are hard to completely eliminate from cultures of DRG neurons and few remaining cells will also be present in the co-culture system. It is therefore important to note that these small sub-populations can also participate to myelination processes during in vitro studies, recalling the autologous cells that are present in vivo after injury. The second approach (not presented here) involves the use of cell culture inserts, avoiding a direct contact between the two different cell types (indirect co-culture). However, it is not representative of the in vivo conditions during nerve regeneration (reduced ability of neuronal cells to develop long neurites), but it is used to investigate the effect of released diffusible factors in the medium by a certain cell population onto the other38.

Peripheral nerve injuries are common with approximately 9,000 cases in the UK occurring each year in a predominantly young and working population1. Despite microsurgical nerve repair techniques, normal restoration of function is unattainable with resulting impaired hand sensation, reduced motor function and frequent pain and cold intolerance2. Such injuries have a profound and permanent impact on the patient and their ability to perform activities of daily living, with less than 60 % returning to work3.
Following injury, the phenotype and the morphology of neurons and Schwann cells (SC) change in order to create a suitable environment to allow the axon sprouting. In case of transection, the nerve is divided into proximal and distal stumps; the proximal stump being the point from which the regenerative process takes place, whilst the distal stump undergoes Wallerian degeneration whereupon the SC detach from the injured axons, de-differentiate and proliferate. This is fundamental towards removing myelin debris and preparing the distal stump for nerve re-generation 4,5. Axon sprouting is supported by the production of neurotrophic factors and chemokines released by SC at the distal stump, and guided by the basal lamina left behind following Wallerian degeneration6,7. SC align alongside the regenerating axon forming the bands of B&#252;ngner, which aid the axon growth towards the target organ, reducing branching outside the endoneurial tube. Following reinnervation, SC form the new myelin sheath wrapping the regenerated axons, but sensory and motor function is only partially restored8.
Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are structures located in the intervertebral foramina of the spinal column, containing the sensory neuronal cells innervating the peripheral organs. When dissociated, they can be used as a suitable in vitro model for the study of nerve regeneration9&#8211;11, including investigations of myelin formation. In particular, adult DRG neurons mimic the in vivo characteristics of these cells and provide a formidable tool to study new strategies for peripheral nerve repair in tissue engineering.
Co-cultures represent a dynamic system that simulates in vitro the interplay of two (or more) cell types in a particular in vivo environment. One of the advantages of these cell co-culture models is the flexibility and high control that can be exerted on the extracellular environment. DRG neurons have been used frequently in co-culture systems with SC to mimic the actual interactions that occur between the two cell types in the peripheral nervous system10,12&#8211;14. It was demonstrated that SC secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and growth factors that can remarkably improve the ability of DRG neurons to survive and sprout neurites15,16. However, SC require lengthy periods of time to proliferate and, despite the advances in cell culture technique, it is still hard to generate a suitable number of cells for tissue engineering applications. In addition, the sacrifice of a healthy nerve is necessitated to harvest autologous SC. Therefore, the difference in sourcing SC is important for both tissue engineering and in vitro testing of nerve regeneration. In this view, ASC can be considered a valuable alternative for the development of a tissue-engineered construct to be used for peripheral nerve repair17,18. Previous work demonstrated the ability of these cells to differentiate into SC-like ASC, expressing characteristic glial-markers, such as S-100, p75 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)19, as well as the myelin protein zero (P0)20. The secretion of glial growth factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) was also observed21,22. Therefore, SC-like ASC can be used as promoter of peripheral nerve regeneration, as demonstrated by both in vitro and in vivo studies23&#8211;26. In addition, ASC can be harvested through minimally-invasive procedures in higher number compared to other stem cell types; the frequency of stem cells in adipose tissue is 100- to 1,000-fold higher than in bone marrow27,and they have a higher proliferation rate compared to SC and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.
This work aims to provide a detailed protocol to perform high efficient harvests of dissociated DRG neurons and ASC respectively, the latter being differentiated into SC-like cells. The co-culture of these two cell types will therefore provide a very practical system that can be used for future studies on the ability of DRG neurons to sprout neurites and the mechanisms of myelin formation on different scaffold for nerve tissue engineering.

<table><tbody><tr><td>100 &amp;micro;m cell strainer</td><td>BD Biosciences</td><td>352360</td><td>70 &amp;mu;m strainers (ref. 352350) can be used as alternative</td></tr><tr><td>15 ml plastic tubes</td><td>Sarstedt</td><td>62.554.002</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>50 ml plastic tubes</td><td>Sarstedt</td><td>62.547.004</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>75 cm&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; flasks</td><td>Corning</td><td>BC301</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Retinoic Acid &gt;98% HPLC</td><td>Sigma</td><td>R2625</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>ARA-C supplement</td><td>Sigma</td><td>C6645</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Recombinant Human FGF-basic (154 aa)</td><td>Peprotech</td><td>100-18B</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)</td><td>Sigma</td><td>A9205</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Collagenase type I</td><td>Gibco</td><td>17100-017</td><td>Note: this collagenase is only used for fat tissue digestion</td></tr><tr><td>Collagenase type IV</td><td>Worthington Biochemical</td><td>LS004188</td><td>Note: this collagenase is only used to dissociate DRG explants</td></tr><tr><td>Foetal Bovine Serum (FBS)</td><td>Biosera</td><td>FB-1001</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Forskolin&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>F3917</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Glass pipettes</td><td>Fisher Scientific</td><td>FB50253</td><td>Sharp material to be disposed accordingly</td></tr><tr><td>Glial Growth Factor-2 (GGF-2)</td><td>Acorda Therapeutics</td><td></td><td>GGF-2 was kindly donated by Acorda Therapeutics. For a commercially available alternative, we recommend NRG1-&amp;beta;1 (R &amp;amp; D Systems, Abingdon) for stem cell differentiation to be used at the final concentration of 200 ng/ml</td></tr><tr><td>Nutrient Mix F12 HAM</td><td>Sigma</td><td>N6658</td><td>Warm at 37 &amp;deg;C in a water bath unless specified</td></tr><tr><td>Hank&amp;rsquo;s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS)</td><td>Sigma</td><td>H9394</td><td>Warm at 37 &amp;deg;C in a water bath unless specified</td></tr><tr><td>N-2 supplement (100x)</td><td>Invitrogen</td><td>17502</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nerve Growth Factor 2.5s Protein, Mouse Submaxillary Glands&amp;nbsp; (NGF)</td><td>Millipore</td><td>NC011</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Penicillin-Streptomycin (PS)</td><td>Sigma</td><td>P0781</td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4">[header]</td></tr><tr><td>Petri dishes</td><td>Corning</td><td>430165</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Recombinant Human PDGF-AA</td><td>Peprotech</td><td>100-13A</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Trypsin&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Invitrogen</td><td>25200-056</td><td>Warm at 37 &amp;deg;C in a water bath. This is used for cell detachment from tissue culture flasks</td></tr><tr><td>Trypsin (2x bovine pancreatic)</td><td>Worthington Biochemical</td><td>LS003703</td><td>This is used for DRG dissociation</td></tr><tr><td>Minimum Essential Medium Eagle (MEM)</td><td>Sigma</td><td>M8042</td><td>Warm at 37 &amp;deg;C in a water bath unless specified</td></tr><tr><td>2-mercaptoethanol</td><td>Sigma</td><td>M3148</td><td>Prepare the solution in the biological cabinet</td></tr></tbody></table>

dorsal root ganglia neurons and differentiated adipose-derived stem cells: an in vitro co-culture model to study peripheral nerve regeneration

Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, located in the intervertebral foramina of the spinal column, can be used to create an in vitro system facilitating the study of nerve regeneration and myelination. The glial cells of the peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells (SC), are key facilitators of these processes; it is therefore crucial that the interactions of these cellular components are studied together. Direct contact between DRG neurons and glial cells provides additional stimuli sensed by specific membrane receptors, further improving the neuronal response. SC release growth factors and proteins in the culture medium, which enhance neuron survival and stimulate neurite sprouting and extension. However, SC require long proliferation time to be used for tissue engineering applications and the sacrifice of an healthy nerve for their sourcing. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) differentiated into SC phenotype are a valid alternative to SC for the set-up of a co-culture model with DRG neurons to study nerve regeneration. The present work presents a detailed and reproducible step-by-step protocol to harvest both DRG neurons and ASC from adult rats; to differentiate ASC towards a SC phenotype; and combines the two cell types in a direct co-culture system to investigate the interplay between neurons and SC in the peripheral nervous system. This tool has great potential in the optimization of tissue-engineered constructs for peripheral nerve repair.

Cultures of dissociated DRG neurons represent a suitable in vitro model for the study of nerve regeneration. However, untreated substrates do not provide a suitable environment for DRG attachment and extension of neurites. SC-like ASC are able to produce growth factors and chemokines19 which can improve the ability of DRG neurons to sprout neurites when they are released in the culture medium. The presence of SC-like ASC in the culture system can therefore play an important role in regulating the DRG functions.
This protocol (Figure 1) illustrates the procedure to perform a direct co-culture of SC-like ASC and DRG neurons, during which neuronal cells get in direct contact with previously seeded SC-like ASC. The main difficulty associated with this procedure is the high variability of the number of DRG neurons harvested from different animals. For this reason, results can be sometimes hard to compare and a particular attention should be paid during the seeding procedure in order to obtain always a comparable cell density in each experiment. The protocol has been optimized to reduce at least the number of satellite cells remaining from the DRG neuron dissociation using the BSA gradient (step 3.11). In addition, cytosine-arabinose (ARA-C) supplement can be added to the BS medium in order to further minimize the satellite cell population, as described by Kingham et al.11. However, the choice of the treatment time needs to be carefully balanced with the DRG and SC-like ASC vitality, also affected by the presence of ARA-C supplement in the culture medium. Therefore, it is very hard to accomplish a satellite cell free-system.
Figure 2 shows the importance of SC-like ASC for DRG neurite sprouting in a co-culture model using untreated and chemically-modified poly--caprolactone (PCL) films as substrates. DRG neurons were maintained in culture for 3 days in presence or absence of SC-like ASC, using a mixed solution containing 50 % of BS medium and 50 % of stem cell differentiation medium, as described in step 4.5. Following this period, cells were fixed in 4 % paraformaldehyde and stained with &#946;-tubulin III (DRG neurons) and S100 (SC-like ASC) to investigate cell morphology and to study the ability of DRG neurons to protrude neurites. No neurites were observed on untreated surfaces in absence of SC-like ASC (Figure 2A), whilst the formation of neurites was clearly improved in the co-culture system (Figure 2C). On average, the number of neurites per cell body significantly increased from 0 to 3 in presence of stem cells. Confirmation of these results was also given by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, shown in Figure 3. In particular, the SEM images show that the ability of DRG neurons to sprout neurites occurs preferentially in conjunction with SC-like ASC, as indicated by the yellow arrows in Figure 3C.
It should be pointed out that the use of laminin-modified substrates (including laminin-derived peptides) in culture systems containing DRG neurons has been frequently defined as a suitable condition for neuronal cell culture, having remarkable effects on neurite formation and extension30&#8211;32. However, the results shown in Figure 2D and Figure 3D demonstrates that the combination of chemical and biological cues can further enhance the response of DRG neurons.
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/52543/52543fig1highres.jpg" /> 
Figure 1.&#160;Preparation of the direct DRG-SC-like ASC co-culture system. DRG neurons and ASC are derived respectively from the spinal column and the visceral and inguinal fat of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. After the digestion of the adipose tissue through a cascade of enzymatic reactions, ASC are differentiated into SC-like cells and maintained in sub-confluent conditions until needed. SC-like ASC are pre-seeded on each substrate 24 hr prior the DRG harvest. On the day, DRG neurons are extracted and dissociated through a series of enzymatic and mechanical actions. The neurons are then seeded on the top of the previously seeded SC-like ASC and maintained in culture until assayed (mixed medium: containing 50 % of stem cell differentiation medium and 50 % of modified BS medium). <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/52543/52543fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/52543/52543fig2highres.jpg" /> 
Figure 2.&#160;Fluorescence images of DRG neurons in diverse culture conditions. (A) untreated PCL films; (B) RGD-modified PCL films; (C) co-cultured with SC-like ASC on untreated PCL films; (D) co-cultured with SC-like ASC on RGD-modified PCL films. Cells were maintained in culture for 3 days using a mixed solution containing 50 % of modified BS medium and 50 % of stem cell differentiation medium. After this time, cells were fixed in 4 % paraformaldehyde, permeabilized in a Triton-X solution, and non-specific binding sites were blocked with 1 % BSA. Neuronal cells were then stained against &#946;-tubulin III (FITC; green) and SC-like ASC against S-100 (AlexaFluor568; red) antibodies. Finally nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Images were acquired using a fluorescence microscope (Olympus BX60, Japan). (Re-print with permission from de Luca et al.30. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/52543/52543fig2large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 3" src="/files/ftp_upload/52543/52543fig3highres.jpg" /> 
Figure 3.&#160;SEM images of DRG neurons indiverse culture conditions. (A) untreated PCL films (B) RGD-modified PCL films; (C) co-cultured with SC-like ASC on untreated PCL films; (D) co-cultured with SC-like ASC on RGD-modified PCL films. The yellow arrows indicate the contact points between SC-like ASC and DRG, confirming their direct interaction in the co-culture system. Cells were maintained in culture for 3 days and fixed in 2.5 % glutaraldehyde. Following dehydration in graded ethanol series (50 %, 70 %, 90 %, 100 %), cells were finally rinsed in hexamethyldisilazane and dried before mounting on stubs and gold sputtering for SEM analysis. Images were acquired using a SEM (Zeiss EVO60, UK) with an accelerating voltage of 10kV. (Re-print with permission from de Luca et al.30. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/52543/52543fig3large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons and Differentiated Adipose-derived Stem Cells: An In Vitro Co-culture Model to Study Peripheral Nerve Regeneration at JoVE.com

Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons and Differentiated Adipose-derived Stem Cells: An In Vitro Co-culture Model to Study Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are structures containing the sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system. When dissociated, they can be co-cultured with SC-like adipose-derived stem cells (ASC), providing a valuable model to study in vitro nerve regeneration and myelination, mimicking the in vivo environment at the injury site.

Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons and Differentiated Adipose-derived Stem Cells: An In Vitro Co-culture Model to Study Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, located in the intervertebral foramina of the spinal column, can be used to create an in vitro system facilitating the ...

dorsal-root-ganglia-neurons-differentiated-adipose-derived-stem-cells

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21.2K Views.  EPFL | STI | IMT/IBI | LSBI. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are structures containing the sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system. When dissociated, they can be co-cultured with SC-like adipose-derived stem cells (ASC), providing a valuable model to study in vitro nerve regeneration and myelination, mimicking the in vivo environment at the injury site.

Video: Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons and Differentiated Adipose-derived Stem Cells: An In Vitro Co-culture Model to Study Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Study Glial Cell Heterogeneity Influence on Axon Growth Using a New Coculture Method

In the central nervous system of all mammals, severed axons after injury are unable to regenerate to their original targets and functional recovery is very poor 1. The failure of axon regeneration is a combined result of several factors including the hostile glial cell environment, inhibitory myelin related molecules and decreased intrinsic neuron regenerative capacity 2. Astrocytes are the most predominant glial cell type in central nervous system and play important role in axon functions under physiology and pathology conditions 3. Contrast to the homologous oligodendrocytes, astrocytes are a heterogeneous cell population composed by different astrocyte subpopulations with diverse morphologies and gene expression 4. The functional significance of this heterogeneity, such as their influences on axon growth, is largely unknown.
To study the glial cell, especially the function of astrocyte heterogeneity in neuron behavior, we established a new method by co-culturing high purified dorsal root ganglia neurons with glial cells obtained from the rat cortex. By this technique, we were able to directly compare neuron adhesion and axon growth on different astrocytes subpopulations under the same condition.
In this report, we give the detailed protocol of this method for astrocytes isolation and culture, dorsal root ganglia neurons isolation and purification, and the co-culture of DRG neurons with astrocytes. This method could also be extended to other brain regions to study cellular or regional specific interaction between neurons and glial cells.

In this protocol, we described a new method to study the influence of glial cell heterogeneity on axon growth with an in vitro co-culture system. Rat cortical glial cells were cultured to confluence and cocultured with highly purified rat dorsal root ganglia neurons. Different glial cell influence on neurons adhesion and axon growth was compared directly in the same culture. This method provides a new way to directly study the glial cell heterogeneity influence on neuron adhesion and axon growth.

In the central nervous system of all mammals, severed axons after injury are unable to regenerate to their original targets and functional recovery is ...

Genetic Study of Axon Regeneration with Cultured Adult Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

It is well known that mature neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) cannot regenerate their axons after injuries due to diminished intrinsic ability to support axon growth and a hostile environment in the mature CNS1,2. In contrast, mature neurons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) regenerate readily after injuries3. Adult dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are well known to regenerate robustly after peripheral nerve injuries. Each DRG neuron grows one axon from the cell soma, which branches into two axonal branches: a peripheral branch innervating peripheral targets and a central branch extending into the spinal cord. Injury of the DRG peripheral axons results in substantial axon regeneration, whereas central axons in the spinal cord regenerate poorly after the injury. However, if the peripheral axonal injury occurs prior to the spinal cord injury (a process called the conditioning lesion), regeneration of central axons is greatly improved4. Moreover, the central axons of DRG neurons share the same hostile environment as descending corticospinal axons in the spinal cord. Together, it is hypothesized that the molecular mechanisms controlling axon regeneration of adult DRG neurons can be harnessed to enhance CNS axon regeneration. As a result, adult DRG neurons are now widely used as a model system to study regenerative axon growth5-7.
Here we describe a method of adult DRG neuron culture that can be used for genetic study of axon regeneration in vitro. In this model adult DRG neurons are genetically manipulated via electroporation-mediated gene transfection6,8. By transfecting neurons with DNA plasmid or si/shRNA, this approach enables both gain- and loss-of-function experiments to investigate the role of any gene-of-interest in axon growth from adult DRG neurons. When neurons are transfected with si/shRNA, the targeted endogenous protein is usually depleted after 3-4 days in culture, during which time robust axon growth has already occurred, making the loss-of-function studies less effective. To solve this problem, the method described here includes a re-suspension and re-plating step after transfection, which allows axons to re-grow from neurons in the absence of the targeted protein. Finally, we provide an example of using this in vitro model to study the role of an axon regeneration-associated gene, c-Jun, in mediating axon growth from adult DRG neurons9.

An in vitro model for genetic study of axon regeneration using cultured adult mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons is described. The method includes a re-suspension/re-plating step to allow axon re-growth from neurons undergoing genetic manipulation. This approach is especially useful for loss-of-function studies of axon regeneration using RNAi-based protein knockdown.

It is well known that mature neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) cannot regenerate their axons after injuries due to diminished intrinsic ability ...

Isolation, Culture, and Adipogenic Induction of Neural Crest Original Adipose-Derived Stem Cells from Periaortic Adipose Tissue

An excessive amount of adipose tissue surrounding the blood vessels (perivascular adipose tissue, also known as PVAT) is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease. ADSCs derived from different adipose tissues show distinct features, and those from the PVAT have not been well characterized. In a recent study, we reported that some ADSCs in the periaortic arch adipose tissue (PAAT) descend from the neural crest cells (NCCs), a transient population of migratory cells originating from the ectoderm.
In this paper, we describe a protocol for isolating red fluorescent protein (RFP)-labeled NCCs from the PAAT of Wnt-1 Cre+/-;Rosa26RFP/+ mice and inducing their adipogenic differentiation in vitro. Briefly, the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is enzymatically dissociated from the PAAT, and the RFP+ neural crest derived ADSCs (NCADSCs) are isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). The NCADSCs differentiate into both brown and white adipocytes, can be cryopreserved, and retain their adipogenic potential for ~3&#8211;5 passages. Our protocol can generate abundant ADSCs from the PVAT for modeling PVAT adipogenesis or lipogenesis in vitro. Thus, these NCADSCs can provide a valuable system for studying the molecular switches involved in PVAT differentiation.

We present a protocol for the isolation, culture, and adipogenic induction of neural crest derived adipose-derived stem cells (NCADSCs) from the periaortic adipose tissue of Wnt-1 Cre+/-;Rosa26RFP/+ mice. The NCADSCs can be an easily accessible source of ADSCs for modeling adipogenesis or lipogenesis in vitro.

An excessive amount of adipose tissue surrounding the blood vessels (perivascular adipose tissue, also known as PVAT) is associated with a high risk of ...

Developmental Biology

Dorsal Root Ganglion Injection and Dorsal Root Crush Injury as a Model for Sensory Axon Regeneration

Achieving axon regeneration after nervous system injury is a challenging task. As different parts of the central nervous system (CNS) differ from each other anatomically, it is important to identify an appropriate model to use for the study of axon regeneration. By using a suitable model, we can formulate a specific treatment based on the severity of injury, the neuronal cell type of interest, and the desired spinal tract for assessing regeneration. Within the sensory pathway, DRG neurons are responsible for relaying sensory information from the periphery to the CNS. We present here a protocol that uses a DRG injection with a viral vector and a concurrent dorsal root crush injury in the lower cervical spinal cord of an adult rat as a model to study sensory axon regeneration. As demonstrated using a control virus, AAV5-GFP, we show the effectiveness of a direct DRG injection in transducing DRG neurons and tracing sensory axons into the spinal cord. We also show the effectiveness of the dorsal root crush injury in denervating the forepaw as an injury model for evaluating axon regeneration. Despite the requirement for specialized training to perform this invasive surgical procedure, the protocol is flexible, and potential users can modify many parts to accommodate their experimental requirements. Importantly, it can serve as a foundation for those in search of a suitable animal model for their studies. We believe that this article will help new users to learn the procedure in a very efficient and effective manner.

This protocol presents the use of a dorsal root ganglion (DRG) injection with a viral vector and a concurrent dorsal root crush injury in an adult rat as a model to study sensory axon regeneration. This model is suitable for investigating the use of gene therapy to promote sensory axon regeneration.

Achieving axon regeneration after nervous system injury is a challenging task. As different parts of the central nervous system (CNS) differ from each ...

Adult Mouse DRG Explant and Dissociated Cell Models to Investigate Neuroplasticity and Responses to Environmental Insults Including Viral Infection

This protocol describes an ex vivo model of mouse-derived dorsal root ganglia (DRG) explant and in vitro DRG-derived co-culture of dissociated sensory neurons and glial satellite cells. These are useful and versatile models to investigate a variety of biological responses associated with physiological and pathological conditions of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) ranging from neuron-glial interaction, neuroplasticity, neuroinflammation, and viral infection. The usage of DRG explant is scientifically advantageous compared to simplistic single cells models for multiple reasons. For instance, as an organotypic culture, the DRG explant allows ex vivo transfer of an entire neuronal network including the extracellular microenvironment that play a significant role in all the neuronal and glial functions. Further, DRG explants can also be maintained ex vivo for several days and the culture conditions can be perturbed as desired. In addition, the harvested DRG can be further dissociated into an in vitro co-culture of primary sensory neurons and satellite glial cells to investigate neuronal-glial interaction, neuritogenesis, axonal cone interaction with the extracellular microenvironment, and more general, any aspect associated with the neuronal metabolism. Therefore, the DRG-explant system offers a great deal of flexibility to study a wide array of events related to biological, physiological, and pathological conditions in a cost-effective manner.

In this report, the advantages of organotypic cultures and dissociated primary cultures of mouse-derived dorsal root ganglia are highlighted to investigate a wide range of mechanisms associated with neuron-glial interaction, neuroplasticity, neuroinflammation, and response to viral infection.

This protocol describes an ex vivo model of mouse-derived dorsal root ganglia (DRG) explant and in vitro DRG-derived co-culture of dissociated sensory ...

Advanced In Vitro Model for Studying Neuronal Hypersensitivity in DRG Cultures

Harvesting, Embedding, and Culturing Dorsal Root Ganglia in Multi-compartment Devices to Study Peripheral Neuronal Features

The most common peripheral neuronal feature of pain is a lowered stimulation threshold or hypersensitivity of terminal nerves from the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). One proposed cause of this hypersensitivity is associated with the interaction between immune cells in the peripheral tissue and neurons. In vitro models have provided foundational knowledge in understanding how these mechanisms result in nociceptor hypersensitivity. However, in vitro models face the challenge of translating efficacy to humans. To address this challenge, a physiologically and anatomically relevant in vitro model has been developed for the culture of intact dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) in three isolated compartments in a 48-well plate. Primary DRGs are harvested from adult Sprague Dawley rats after humane euthanasia. Excess nerve roots are trimmed, and the DRG is cut into appropriate sizes for culture. DRGs are then grown in natural hydrogels, enabling robust growth in all compartments. This multi-compartment system offers anatomically relevant isolation of the DRG cell bodies from neurites, physiologically relevant cell types, and mechanical properties to study the interactions between neural and immune cells. Thus, this culture platform provides a valuable tool for investigating treatment isolation strategies, ultimately leading to an improved screening approach for predicting pain.

Author Spotlight: In Vitro and In Vivo Models to Enhance Chronic Pain Treatment Efficacy

This protocol provides a technique to harvest and culture explanted dorsal root ganglion (DRG) from adult Sprague Dawley rats in a multi-compartment (MC) device.

The most common peripheral neuronal feature of pain is a lowered stimulation threshold or hypersensitivity of terminal nerves from the dorsal root ganglia ...

Bioengineering

In Vitro Myelination of Peripheral Axons in a Coculture of Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Explants and Schwann Cells

The process of myelination is essential to enable rapid and sufficient signal transduction in the nervous system. In the peripheral nervous system, neurons and Schwann cells engage in a complex interaction to control the myelination of axons. Disturbances of this interaction and breakdown of the myelin sheath are hallmarks of inflammatory neuropathies and occur secondarily in neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we present a coculture model of dorsal root ganglion explants and Schwann cells, which develops a robust myelination of peripheral axons to investigate the process of myelination in the peripheral nervous system, study axon-Schwann cell interactions, and evaluate the potential effects of therapeutic agents on each cell type separately. Methodologically, dorsal root ganglions of embryonic rats (E13.5) were harvested, dissociated from their surrounding tissue, and cultured as whole explants for 3 days. Schwann cells were isolated from 3-week-old adult rats, and sciatic nerves were enzymatically digested. The resulting Schwann cells were purified by magnetic-activated cell sorting and cultured under neuregulin and forskolin-enriched conditions. After 3 days of dorsal root ganglion explant culture, 30,000 Schwann cells were added to one dorsal root ganglion explant in a medium containing ascorbic acid. The first signs of myelination were detected on day 10 of coculture, through scattered signals for myelin basic protein in immunocytochemical staining. From day 14 onward, myelin sheaths were formed and propagated along the axons. Myelination can be quantified by myelin basic protein staining as a ratio of the myelination area and axon area, to account for the differences in axonal density. This model provides experimental opportunities to study various aspects of peripheral myelination in vitro, which is crucial for understanding the pathology of and possible treatment opportunities for demyelination and neurodegeneration in inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases of the peripheral nervous system.

In the coculture system of dorsal root ganglia and Schwann cells, myelination of the peripheral nervous system can be studied. This model provides experimental opportunities to observe and quantify peripheral myelination and to study the effects of compounds of interest on the myelin sheath.

The process of myelination is essential to enable rapid and sufficient signal transduction in the nervous system. In the peripheral nervous system, ...

Isolation of DRG Neurons and Coculture with Schwann Cell Precursors to Generate Schwann Cells

Source: Tsui, Y, et al. <a href="https://app.jove.com/v/55794">Hypoxic Preconditioning of Marrow-derived Progenitor Cells as a Source for the Generation of Mature Schwann Cells.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (2017).
This video demonstrates a procedure for isolating dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from rat embryos and co-culturing them with Schwann cell precursors to generate mature Schwann cells. The isolated DRGs are processed to isolate neurons and glial cells. The isolated cells are cultured to purify the neurons, which are then co-cultured with Schwann cell-like cells (SCLCs) in a co-culture medium. Interaction with the DRG neurons leads to the maturation of SCLCs into Schwann cells.

Generation of Fate-committed Schwann Cells via Coculture with DRG Neurons
1. Preparation of purified rat DRG neurons

	Autoclave all dissection tools ...

JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments

Neuronal Culture Techniques

Co-culture and Interaction Studies

Co-culturing of a Dorsal Root Ganglion Explant with Schwann Cells for Neuron Myelination

Source: Blusch, A. et al., <a href="https://app.jove.com/v/64768">In Vitro Myelination of Peripheral Axons in a Coculture of Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Explants and Schwann Cells.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (2023)
This video demonstrates the coculturing model of a dorsal root ganglion explant and Schwann cells. In coculture conditions, ascorbic acid promotes the differentiation of Schwann cells into myelinating forms. Myelinating Schwann cells wrap the axons multiple times to create a myelin sheath, which is essential for nerve function.

All procedures involving animal samples have been reviewed and approved by the appropriate animal ethical review committee. 
1. Schwann cell culture

	...

A Technique for Harvesting and Dissociating Dorsal Root Ganglia for Neuronal Cultures

Source: de Luca, A. C., et al., <a href="https://app.jove.com/v/52543">Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons and Differentiated Adipose-derived Stem Cells: An In Vitro Co-culture Model to Study Peripheral Nerve Regeneration.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (2015).
This video demonstrates a method for harvesting neurons from the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). DRG from a rat&#39;s spinal column is isolated, treated with enzymes, and then mechanically dissociated to obtain a single-cell suspension. The neurons are separated from glial cells using density gradient centrifugation and cultured in a growth medium.

All procedures involving sample collection have been performed in accordance with the institute&#39;s IRB guidelines.
1. Experimental Set-up

	Prior to ...

Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons and Differentiated Adipose-derived Stem Cells: An In Vitro Co-culture Model to Study Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Summary

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Chapters in this video

Study Glial Cell Heterogeneity Influence on Axon Growth Using a New Coculture Method

Genetic Study of Axon Regeneration with Cultured Adult Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

Isolation, Culture, and Adipogenic Induction of Neural Crest Original Adipose-Derived Stem Cells from Periaortic Adipose Tissue

Dorsal Root Ganglion Injection and Dorsal Root Crush Injury as a Model for Sensory Axon Regeneration

Adult Mouse DRG Explant and Dissociated Cell Models to Investigate Neuroplasticity and Responses to Environmental Insults Including Viral Infection

Harvesting, Embedding, and Culturing Dorsal Root Ganglia in Multi-compartment Devices to Study Peripheral Neuronal Features

In Vitro Myelination of Peripheral Axons in a Coculture of Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Explants and Schwann Cells

Isolation of DRG Neurons and Coculture with Schwann Cell Precursors to Generate Schwann Cells

Co-culturing of a Dorsal Root Ganglion Explant with Schwann Cells for Neuron Myelination

A Technique for Harvesting and Dissociating Dorsal Root Ganglia for Neuronal Cultures