Motor Neuron Spheroid Formation
Motor Neuron Spheroid Formation - Related Videos
13:37
Extracellularly Identifying Motor Neurons for a Muscle Motor Pool in Aplysia californica
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Cited by 23 •
2013
In animals with large identified neurons (e.g. mollusks), analysis of motor pools is done using intracellular techniques1,2,3,4. Recently, we developed a technique to extracellularly stimulate and record individual neurons in Aplysia californica5. We now describe a protocol for using this technique to uniquely identify and characterize motor neurons within a motor pool.
03:31
Intramuscular Injections Along the Motor End Plates to Shuttle Tracers Directly into Rat Motor Neurons
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2025
Source: Mohan, R., et al. Intramuscular Injections Along the Motor End Plates: A Minimally Invasive Approach to Shuttle Tracers Directly into Motor Neurons. J. Vis. Exp. (2015)This video demonstrates the targeted delivery of a fluorescent neuronal tracer into motor neurons via intramuscular injection at the motor end plates (MEPs). It outlines the steps involved in preparing the rat, injecting the tracer, and assessing labeled motor neurons for neurotherapeutic potential.
17:27
Preparation of Aplysia Sensory-motor Neuronal Cell Cultures
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Cited by 37 •
2009
Primary cultures of Aplysia sensory-motor neurons provide a model preparation for studying synapse formation and synaptic plasticity in vitro. This video demonstrates the identification and microdissection of sensory and motor neurons from Aplysia ganglia as well as the methods for establishing and maintaining sensory-motor neurons in culture.
11:24
Evaporation-reducing Culture Condition Increases the Reproducibility of Multicellular Spheroid Formation in Microtiter Plates
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Cited by 6 •
2017
The uneven loss of medium from microtiter plates affects the reproducibility of uniform multicellular tumor spheroid formation. Improving culture conditions to reduce significant medium loss will improve the reproducibility of spheroid formation and the results of spheroid-based assays using the liquid-overlay technique.
10:57
Intramuscular Injections Along the Motor End Plates: A Minimally Invasive Approach to Shuttle Tracers Directly into Motor Neurons
0 Views •
Cited by 20 •
2015
The efficacy of intramuscular uptake and retrograde transport of molecules to corresponding motor neurons depends on the location of the injection sites with respect to the motor end plates (MEPs). Here, we describe how to locate MEPs on skeletal muscles to optimise retrograde transport of tracers into motor neurons.
FAQs
Nonadherent or low-attachment culture conditions reduce the ability of motor neurons to spread across a surface, encouraging them to remain in suspension and contact one another. Cell–cell adhesion then drives controlled aggregation into compact clusters. This physical arrangement creates a shared local environment that supports analysis of neuronal organization and interactions in three dimensions.
Close cell–cell contact allows motor neurons to establish a shared microenvironment rather than developing as isolated cells. Within the cluster, neurons can form interconnected processes and exhibit coordinated organization. These features make spheroids useful for examining how cellular proximity relates to motor neuron differentiation, survival, and axonal growth.
Motor neuron spheroids place cells in a compact, tissue-like arrangement, whereas conventional two-dimensional cultures distribute them across a flat surface. The three-dimensional organization provides closer cell contact and a shared microenvironment, offering a more physiologically relevant complement to planar cultures when studying neuronal structure, function, and cellular interactions.
A typical workflow begins by placing motor neurons under nonadherent or low-attachment conditions so they cannot readily spread on a surface. Cells are then maintained while controlled aggregation and cell–cell adhesion bring them into compact clusters. The resulting spheroids can be examined for organization, interconnected processes, differentiation, survival, and axonal growth.
Researchers may select this approach when a study requires more than the organization provided by a two-dimensional culture. Spheroids support investigations of motor neuron differentiation, survival, axonal growth, and interactions in a three-dimensional setting. They are also relevant when modeling neurodegenerative disease mechanisms or evaluating responses to potential therapies.
These cultures can provide a reproducible model for observing changes in motor neuron organization, survival, differentiation, and axonal growth. In neurodegenerative disease research, they help investigate disease-related cellular mechanisms. Their consistent three-dimensional format also supports therapeutic-response studies and drug screening, complementing information obtained from conventional two-dimensional systems.