Dissociated Hippocampal Cultures
Dissociated Hippocampal Cultures - Related Videos
03:35
Dissociating and Culturing Neurons from Hippocampal Tissue Samples
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2025
This video demonstrates the dissociation and culture of hippocampal neurons from hippocampal tissue samples using enzymatic and mechanical dissociations. The treatment with Ara-C inhibits the growth of non-neuronal cells, facilitating the selective growth of hippocampal neurons.
05:13
Co-culturing of Ventral Hippocampal and Nucleus Accumbens
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2025
This video demonstrates the process of preparing ventral hippocampal and nucleus accumbens tissues from mouse brains for co-culture. Neurons extend projections to form synaptic connections between the ventral hippocampal and nucleus accumbens tissues. This method allows studying neuronal interactions between these two brain regions, offering insights into cognition, behavior, and neurological disorders.
08:20
Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures
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Cited by 52 •
2011
We describe a method to prepare organotypic hippocampal slices that can be easily adapted to other brain regions. Brain slices are laid on porous membranes and culture media is allowed to form an interface. This method preserves the gross architecture of the hippocampus for up to 2 weeks in culture.
08:11
Stripe Assay to Study the Attractive or Repulsive Activity of a Protein Substrate Using Dissociated Hippocampal Neurons
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Cited by 7 •
2016
Axon guidance molecules regulate neuronal migration and targeted growth-cone navigation. We present a powerful method, the stripe assay, to assess the ability of guidance molecules to attract or repulse neurons. In this protocol, we demonstrate the stripe assay by showing FLRT2's ability to repel cultured hippocampal neurons.
03:48
A Technique to Culture Mouse Hippocampal Neurons
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2025
The video demonstrates a method for culturing neurons from murine hippocampi. Initially, the hippocampi undergo enzymatic digestion to break down the extracellular tissue matrix. Subsequently, the digested tissue is mechanically disrupted to isolate individual neurons. Finally, these neurons are cultured on glial feeder cells.
FAQs
Enzymatic and mechanical dissociation act together to release neurons and glial cells from hippocampal tissue. Enzymatic treatment helps separate cells, while mechanical forces further disperse the tissue into a preparation suitable for plating. The balance of these steps determines whether the resulting culture contains separated cells that can develop into an observable neuronal network.
After plating on an appropriate substrate, the separated cells remain under controlled laboratory conditions while neuronal processes and connections develop. This organization allows researchers to examine neuronal morphology, synapse formation, and electrophysiological activity as related features of network development. The culture therefore supports observations ranging from individual cell structure to emerging communication among neurons.
These cultures provide greater experimental accessibility than intact-brain preparations for live-cell imaging and controlled perturbation. Researchers can observe cellular responses while manipulating the surrounding laboratory conditions, then use the findings to complement studies performed in intact brains. This relationship is especially valuable when connecting cellular and synaptic observations with broader neuroscience questions.
Preparation begins with hippocampal tissue, followed by enzymatic and mechanical dissociation to release neurons and glial cells. The resulting cells are plated on an appropriate substrate and maintained under controlled laboratory conditions. Once developing networks and synaptic connections are present, the cultures can be examined through imaging, electrophysiological measurements, or controlled experimental treatments.
Researchers can assess several complementary outcomes, including neuronal morphology, synapse formation, and electrophysiological activity. Live-cell imaging makes it possible to follow cellular features under accessible experimental conditions, while controlled perturbations reveal responses to drugs or injury. Together, these measurements connect structural changes, synaptic development, and functional activity in the same in vitro model.
Hippocampal cultures allow researchers to investigate cellular and synaptic mechanisms underlying learning and memory in a controlled setting. Their developing neuronal networks can be examined for structural and electrophysiological changes, while drugs or injury provide defined perturbations. Findings from these experiments complement work in intact brains by linking accessible cellular observations to broader memory-related mechanisms.