Membrane Insert Culture

Membrane insert culture is a laboratory technique that grows cells on a porous membrane insert to create controlled, two-compartment culture environments. It matters in neuroscience because it allows researchers to study cellular communication and barrier behavior without fully mixing interacting cell populations. The membrane supports cells while its pores permit diffusion of nutrients, soluble signaling molecules, and, when appropriate, cellular processes between apical and basolateral compartments. This arrangement helps distinguish direct-contact effects from factors released into the shared medium. In neuroscience, membrane insert cultures support investigations of neuron-glia signaling, neural barriers, cellular responses to treatments, and disease-related communication, providing a more physiologically organized alternative to conventional mixed cultures.

Membrane Insert Culture - Related Videos

Research

JoVE Journal - Neuroscience

Imaging pHluorin-tagged Receptor Insertion to the Plasma Membrane in Primary Cultured Mouse Neurons

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Cited by 8 •

2012

By tagging the extracellular domains of membrane receptors with superecliptic pHluorin, and by imaging these fusion receptors in cultured mouse neurons, we can directly visualize individual vesicular insertion events of the receptors to the plasma membrane. This technique will be instrumental in elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing receptor insertion to the plasma membrane.

Research

JoVE Journal - Neuroscience
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Isolation and Quantification of Axonal mRNAs Using Porous Membrane Inserts and RTddPCR

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Cited by 1 •

2026

This study presents a robust method to isolate axonal mRNAs using porous membrane inserts, enabling total neuron vs. neurite separation and RNA purification. Combined with RTddPCR, the approach allows absolute quantification of low-copy transcripts, facilitating studies of mRNA transport and local translation with high sensitivity, reproducibility, and broad experimental applicability.

A Permeable Membrane Insert-Based Infection System to Study the Impact of Bacterial Toxins

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2025

This video demonstrates a permeable membrane insert-based infection system to assess the impact of secreted bacterial toxins. By eliminating direct contact between the bacterial pathogen and the host cells using a permeable membrane, this technique allows for studying the effect of toxins secreted by pathogenic bacteria on mammalian host cells.

Education

JoVE Core - Cell Biology

Porin Insertion in the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane

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2023

Porins are beta-barrel proteins translocated to the mitochondrial outer membrane through the TOM complex into the intermembrane space. Porin precursors bind TIM chaperones within the intermembrane space and are guided to the Sorting and Assembly Machinery complex or SAM complex on the outer mitochondrial membrane. Three models describe the assembly of porins by the SAM complex and their insertion into the outer membrane. Model 1 suggests that porins are assembled outside the SAM channel as the...

Research

JoVE Journal - Biology
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Fabrication and Operation of an Oxygen Insert for Adherent Cellular Cultures

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Cited by 1 •

2010

Fabrication and validation of an add-on platform that offers enhanced control over the spatial and temporal oxygenation in a 6-well plate. The device is adaptable to a number of culture systems and can be used to investigate the effects of oxygen on wound healing.

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