Cortical Slice Cultures
Cortical Slice Cultures - Related Videos
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.
02:58
Transplantation of Stem Cell-Derived Neuronal Progenitors into Human Cortical Slices
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2025
Source: Palma-Tortosa, S., et.al. Organotypic Cultures of Adult Human Cortex as an Ex vivo Model for Human Stem Cell Transplantation and Validation. J. Vis. Exp. (2022)This video demonstrates the transplantation of stem cell-derived neuronal progenitor cells into human cortical tissue slices. The procedure involves isolating and resuspending progenitor cells in a basement membrane matrix, followed by their injection into a cortical slice placed on a transwell assembly. After incubation to allow...
18:02
Preparation of Dissociated Mouse Cortical Neuron Cultures
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Cited by 146 •
2007
This video shows a procedure for generating neuronal cultures from late embryo and early postnatal mouse cortex. These cultures can be used for immunocytochemistry, biochemistry, electrophysiology, calcium and sodium imaging and provide a platform to study the neuronal development of transgenic animals that carry a postnatal lethal gene mutation.
03:10
Generation of Spontaneous and On-Demand Ictal Events in Mouse Brain Cortical Slices
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2025
This video demonstrates the induction of ictal events in coronal cortical slices from a transgenic mouse expressing light-activated cation channels in cortical excitatory pyramidal neurons. The slice is placed in a recording chamber, and a recording electrode is inserted into the superficial cortical layer. Upon perfusion with a seizure-inducing drug that blocks potassium channels, the neurons become hyperexcitable and generate spontaneous ictal events. To generate on-demand ictal events, a...
11:25
Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes
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Cited by 460 •
2013
Astrocytes have been recognized to be versatile cells participating in fundamental biological processes that are essential for normal brain development and function, and central nervous system repair. Here we present a rapid procedure to obtain pure mouse astrocyte cultures to study the biology of this major class of central nervous system cells.
FAQs
Preserved tissue organization keeps cortical cells positioned within local circuits rather than separating them into isolated populations. This arrangement helps researchers examine how cellular mechanisms influence synaptic transmission and network activity in a structured setting. The model therefore connects observations at the level of individual cells with circuit-level responses while remaining more experimentally accessible than intact brain tissue.
These controlled conditions support the continued viability of cells and local circuits after tissue preparation. Nutrient media supplies the surrounding chemical environment, while regulated temperature and gas exchange help maintain conditions required for tissue function. Because experimental factors are introduced within this controlled system, researchers can relate changes in cortical activity or cellular responses to defined manipulations.
Cortical slice cultures occupy an intermediate position between dissociated-cell preparations and studies in living organisms. They retain aspects of native tissue organization that dissociated cells lose, yet provide greater experimental accessibility and control than in vivo work. This combination makes them useful for linking cellular processes to local circuit behavior while complementing, rather than replacing, other neuroscience models.
Researchers can vary experimental factors and examine their effects on synaptic transmission, neuronal development, and network activity. The same framework also supports studies of neurotoxicity and responses to injury. Measuring these outcomes in organized cortical tissue helps reveal how local cellular changes influence circuit function and whether different conditions produce distinct effects across these biological processes.
The workflow begins with preparing thin sections of cerebral cortex, followed by placing the tissue in nutrient media under controlled laboratory conditions. Researchers regulate temperature and gas exchange during maintenance so that cortical cells and local circuits remain viable. Once sustained, the slices provide an accessible preparation in which experimental factors can be manipulated and responses examined.
They are particularly useful when a study requires both tissue-level organization and direct experimental access. Applications include examining synaptic transmission, neuronal development, network activity, neurotoxicity, and injury responses. By preserving aspects of cortical structure while allowing controlled manipulation, the preparation helps researchers investigate mechanisms that connect cellular events with local circuit function.