Name: spinal cord neurons isolation and culture from neonatal mice
Uploaded: 2017-07-11T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Spinal Cord Neurons Isolation and Culture from Neonatal Mice at JoVE.com

The authors have no acknowledgements.

The care and treatment of animals in this procedure were conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the University of Colorado.
1. Preparing Solutions
<ol>
	<li>Prepare and store all solutions at appropriate temperatures, as shown in Table 1.</li>
</ol>
2. Coating Wells and Slides
NOTE: Neurons do not adhere well to plastic or glass surfaces.
<ol>
	<li>One day prior t...

<ol>
	<li>Qayumi, A. K., 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=Animal+model+for+investigation+of+spinal+cord+injury+caused+by+aortic+cross-clamping.">Animal model for investigation of spinal cord injury caused by aortic cross-clamping.</a> J Invest Surg. 10 (1-2), 47-52 (1997).</li><li>Fang, B., 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=Ischemic+preconditioning+protects+against+spinal+cord+ischemia-reperfusion+injury+in+rabbits+by+attenuating+blood+spinal+cord+barrier+disruption.">Ischemic preconditioning protects against spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbits by attenuating blood spinal cord barrier disruption.</a> Int J Mol Sci. 14 (5), 10343-10354 (2013).</li><li>Taira, Y., Marsala, M. <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+proximal+arterial+perfusion+pressure+on+function,+spinal+cord+blood+flow,+and+histopathologic+changes+after+increasing+intervals+of+aortic+occlusion+in+the+rat.">Effect of proximal arterial perfusion pressure on function, spinal cord blood flow, and histopathologic changes after increasing intervals of aortic occlusion in the rat.</a> Stroke. 27 (10), 1850-1858 (1996).</li><li>Stoppini, L., Buchs, P. -. 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T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Purification+and+culture+of+spinal+motor+neurons+from+rat+embryos.">Purification and culture of spinal motor neurons from rat embryos.</a> Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2013 (4), 319-326 (2013).</li><li>Anderson, K. N., Potter, A. C., Piccenna, L. G., Quah, A. K., Davies, K. E., Cheema, S. S. <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+motor+neurons+from+the+newborn+mouse+spinal+cord.">Isolation and culture of motor neurons from the newborn mouse spinal cord.</a> Brain Res Prot. 12 (3), 132-136 (2004).</li><li>Gingras, M., Gagnon, V., Minotti, S., Durham, H. D., Berthod, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Optimized+protocols+for+isolation+of+primary+motor+neurons,+astrocytes+and+microglia+from+embryonic+mouse+spinal+cord.">Optimized protocols for isolation of primary motor neurons, astrocytes and microglia from embryonic mouse spinal cord.</a> J Neurosci Methods. 163 (1), 111-118 (2007).</li><li>Brewer, G. J., 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=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 (5), 567-576 (1993).</li><li>Fang, B., 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=Ischemic+preconditioning+protects+against+spinal+cord+ischemia-reperfusion+injury+in+rabbits+by+attenuating+blood+spinal+cord+barrier+disruption.">Ischemic preconditioning protects against spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbits by attenuating blood spinal cord barrier disruption.</a> Int J Mol Sci. 14 (5), 10343-10354 (2013).</li><li>Su, M., Zhong, W., Ren, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dose-dependent+protection+of+reseveratrol+against+spinal+cord+ischemic-reperfusion+injury+in+rats.">Dose-dependent protection of reseveratrol against spinal cord ischemic-reperfusion injury in rats.</a> Trop J Pharm Res. 15 (6), 1225-1233 (2016).</li><li>Haapanen, H., 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=Remote+ischemic+preconditioning+protects+the+spinal+cord+against+ischemic+insult:+An+experimental+study+in+a+porcine+model.">Remote ischemic preconditioning protects the spinal cord against ischemic insult: An experimental study in a porcine model.</a> J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 151 (3), 777-785 (2016).</li><li>Conrad, M. F., Ye, J. Y., Chung, T. K., Davison, J. K., Cambria, R. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spinal+cord+complications+after+thoracic+aortic+surgery:+long-term+survival+and+functional+status+varies+with+deficit+severity.">Spinal cord complications after thoracic aortic surgery: long-term survival and functional status varies with deficit severity.</a> J Vasc Surg. 48 (1), 47-53 (2008).</li><li>Wong, D. R., 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=Delayed+spinal+cord+deficits+after+thoracoabdominal+aortic+aneurysm+repair.">Delayed spinal cord deficits after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.</a> Ann Thorac Surg. 83 (4), 1345-1355 (2007).</li><li>Freeman, K. 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This technique allows for the reliable culture of spinal cord neurons. Once proficiency in the technique is achieved, it takes approximately 3.5 h to complete. We have been able to carry out the isolation of neurons from 2 separate litters (16 mice total) in approximately 4 h. The key step in feasibility is being able to proficiently extract the spinal cords from the mice. The yield allows for plating several wells and for the ability to test the neurons under various conditions. We have been able to treat the neurons af...

Understanding spinal cord pathology requires the use of various models, both on the macroscopic and microscopic levels. Large and small animal models1,2,3 are used for in vivo investigations of spinal cord disease and injury. While studying these issues in vivo has its merits, analysis of the spinal cord is limited to whole spinal cord homogenate or to tissue sections4. This creates some ambiguity when trying to isolate specific responses and targets in the spinal cord among its resident neurons and surrounding glia. The increasing availability of genetically manipulated mice allows for more detailed investigations of the biology at cellular and molecular levels. Thus, a neonatal mouse model is used here, allowing for the study of the unique properties and biology of spinal cord neurons in vitro.
The isolation and maintenance of neurons in vitro is not particularly straightforward. There is a relative abundance of techniques for neuron isolation from the cortical tissue of adult rodents that seem to result in a substantial number of isolated neurons (i.e.&#160;millions)5,6,7. In contrast, the yield of neurons from spinal cord tissue is lower8,9,10, in part due to the smaller mass of tissue. Furthermore, in mice, there is a relative paucity of techniques for the isolation of neonatal spinal cord neurons, and existing methods are limited by lower neuron yields (i.e.&#160;hundreds)9 or laborious and resource-heavy techniques requiring the isolation of embryonic mice10.
In this protocol, we use a technique that allows for the cost- and resource-effective isolation of a substantial number of neurons from the spinal cords of neonatal mice. As is common in previously published techniques, we use papain as an enzymatic protease, allowing for the release of neurons from the spinal cord tissue5,6 . In addition, we use a density gradient for refined cell separation, which has previously been shown to be effective6,10. While the medium in which the cells are incubated can vary, in our experience and as previously published11, supplementation with fresh B27 culture medium supplement has proven to be critical for neuron longevity. The neurons are typically viable for up to 10 days, allowing for treatment to be carried out.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1357">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:331px;">Hibernate A Medium - 500 mL</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">A1247501</td>
			<td style="width:805px;">https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/A1247501</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Hibernate A Minus Calcium - 500 mL</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Brainbits</td>
			<td>HA-Ca</td>
			<td>http://www.brainbitsllc.com/hibernate-a-minus-calcium/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glutamax 100X - 100 mL</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td>35050061</td>
			<td>https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/35050079</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">B27 Supplement 50X - 10 mL</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td>17504044</td>
			<td>https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/17504044</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Papain, Lyophilized - 100 mg</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Worthington</td>
			<td>LS003119</td>
			<td>http://www.worthington-biochem.com/pap/cat.html</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Neurobasal A Medium - 500 mL</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td>10888022</td>
			<td>https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/10888022</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Penicillin-Streptomycin (10,000 U/mL)</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td>15140122</td>
			<td>https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/15140122</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Poly-D-lysine hydrobromide - 5 mg</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P6407-5MG</td>
			<td>http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sigma/p6407?lang=en&#38;region=US</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Mouse Laminin - 1 mg</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td>23017015</td>
			<td>https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/23017015</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Trypan Blue - 20 mL</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T8154-20ML</td>
			<td>http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sigma/t8154?lang=en&#38;region=US</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">OptiPrep Density Gradient Medium - 250 mL</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D1556-250ML</td>
			<td>http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sigma/d1556?lang=en&#38;region=US</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Dichlorodimethylsilane (DMDCS, Sigma Silicoat)</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>440272-100ML</td>
			<td>http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/440272?lang=en&#38;region=US</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Chloroform</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>288306-1L</td>
			<td>http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sial/288306?lang=en&#38;region=US</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:331px;">Glass Pippette - 9&#34;</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">13-678-20C</td>
			<td>http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sigma/cls7095d9?lang=en&#38;region=US</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Pipette bulb - 5 mL</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>Z186678-3EA</td>
			<td>http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/z186678?lang=en&#38;region=US&#38;cm_sp=Insite-_-prodRecCold_xviews-_-prodRecCold10-1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">BRAND&#174;&#160;Petri dish, glass - 60x15 mm</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>BR455717-10EA</td>
			<td>http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/br455717?lang=en&#38;region=US</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sterile 24 Well Cell Culture Plate</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>M8812-100EA</td>
			<td>http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sigma/m8812?lang=en&#38;region=US</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">Hausser Hemacytometer (glass counting chamber)</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Fischer Scientific</td>
			<td>02-671-6</td>
			<td>https://www.fishersci.com/shop/products/hausser-bright-line-phase-hemacytometer-hemacytometer/026716</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Glass Slides - 12 mm sterile cover glass - uncoated</td>
			<td>Neuvitro</td>
			<td>GG-12-1.5-Pre</td>
			<td>http://www.neuvitro.com/german-coverslip-12mm-diameter.htm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">NeuN Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody - 100 &#181;L</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Abcam</td>
			<td>ab177487</td>
			<td>After fixing in paraformaldehyde and blocking with 5% BSA, cells on a 12 mm coverslip were incubated in the antibody diluded to 1:200 for 18 hours in 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">MAP-2 Mouse Monoclonal Antibody - 50 &#181;L</td>
			<td style="width:116px;">Abcam</td>
			<td>ab11267</td>
			<td>After fixing in paraformaldehyde and blocking with 5% BSA, cells on a 12 mm coverslip were incubated in the antibody diluded to 1:500 for 18 hours in 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

spinal cord neurons isolation and culture from neonatal mice

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.

Using this technique, a single litter (4-10 pups) allows for the isolation of 1-2.5 106 neurons suitable for seeding onto culture plates. Typically, 4-8 wells are seeded at the concentration mentioned above (i.e.&#160;300,000 cells/mL). Figure 3 demonstrates the appearance of neurons at this concentration after a week in culture at low- (a) and high- (b) magnification light microscopy. However, we have als...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Spinal Cord Neurons Isolation and Culture from Neonatal Mice at JoVE.com

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 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 ...

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