Preparation and Maintenance of Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons in Compartmented Cultures

Summary

Here we describe the technique of preparing and maintaining compartmented chambers for culturing sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia.

Abstract

Neurons extend axonal processes that are far removed from the cell body to innervate target tissues, where target-derived growth factors are required for neuronal survival and function. Neurotrophins are specifically required to maintain the survival and differentiation of innervating sensory neurons but the question of how these target-derived neurotrophins communicate to the cell body of innervating neurons has been an area of active research for over 30 years. The most commonly accepted model of how neurotrophin signals reach the cell body proposes that signaling endosomes carry this signal retrogradely along the axon. In order to study retrograde transport, a culture system was originally devised by Robert Campenot, in which cell bodies are isolated from their axons. The technique of preparing these compartmented chambers for culturing sensory neurons recapitulates the selective stimulation of neuron terminals that occurs in vivo following release of target-derived neurotrophins. Retrograde signaling events that require long-range microtubule dependent retrograde transport have important implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Protocol

Preparation of reagents

1. Collagen coating: collagen coat p35 tissue culture plates and place in an oven at 37°C for 2 days before greasing the dividers. The final concentration of collagen should be at .71 mg/ml diluted in .001N HCl.  Then, add 1 ml of mixture per plate.
2. Grease loaders: In order to fill the grease loader, a 60mL syringe must first be filled with Corning vacuum grease. Use the syringe to fill the grease loader, wrap it in foil and then autoclave for 45 minutes.
3. Teflon dividers: the dividers can be re-used after each experiment but must first be properly cleaned. Remove the divider from the plate, wi....

Discussion

In this video, we have demonstrated how to prepare and maintain compartmented chambers for use in culturing DRG neurons. Done properly, this system allows separation of the cell body from the axon in order to study mechanisms by which neurotrophins signal across long axons. Since there is fluidic isolation between the compartments, it allows for selective stimulation or treatment of one compartment without the other compartments being affected. Compartmented chamber cultures can support other cell types including sympath.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
collagen	Reagent	BD Biosciences	354249
N2-methylcellulose 400CPS	Reagent	Sel-Win Chemicals
Teflon divider	Other	Tyler Research	CAMP10	many other types of dividers are available
Pin rake	Tool	Tyler Research	Camp-PR
Grease loader	Tool	Tyler Research	Camp-GLSS
DMEM	Reagent	Fisher Scientific	MT10017CV
NGF	Reagent	PeproTech Inc	450-01
BDNF	Reagent	PeproTech Inc	450-02
High vacuum grease	Reagent	Fisher Scientific	14-635-5D
AraC	Reagent	Sigma-Aldrich	C-1768
23 gauge luer stub adapter	Tool	Fisher Scientific	427565
90° angle hemostats	Tool	Roboz Surgical Instruments Co.	RS-7035