Commissural Neuron Dissection
Commissural Neuron Dissection - Related Videos
12:23
Dissection and Culture of Commissural Neurons from Embryonic Spinal Cord
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Cited by 41 •
2010
This video demonstrates a method to dissect and culture commissural neurons from E13 rat dorsal spinal cord. Dissociated commissural neurons are useful to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of axon growth and guidance.
10:13
Dissection and Immunofluorescent Staining of Mushroom Body and Photoreceptor Neurons in Adult Drosophila melanogaster Brains
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Cited by 29 •
2017
This protocol describes the dissection and immunostaining of adult Drosophila melanogaster brain tissues. Specifically, this protocol highlights the use of Drosophila mushroom body and photoreceptor neurons as example neuronal subsets that can be accurately used to uncover general principles underlying many aspects of neuronal development.
09:28
Assaying the Ability of Diffusible Signaling Molecules to Reorient Embryonic Spinal Commissural Axons
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Cited by 4 •
2010
This assay assesses the ability of a signaling molecule, here Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 (BMP7), to reorient commissural axons. An explant of embryonic dorsal spinal cord is cultured adjacent to an aggregate of COS cells secreting the candidate growth factors. Reoriented commissural axons growing within the explant are visualized by immunohistochemistry.
26:22
Homarus Americanus Stomatogastric Nervous System Dissection
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Cited by 3 •
2009
We describe the fine dissection of the stomatogastric nervous system from the stomach of the American lobster (Homarus americanus).
18:37
Cancer Borealis Stomatogastric Nervous System Dissection
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Cited by 103 •
2009
The stomatogastric nervous system (STNS) of the Jonah crab (C. borealis) can be used for electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and cell culture studies. The STNS extraction is done in two parts: the gross and fine dissection.
FAQs
Its main mechanistic value is preserving commissural neurons or their pathways well enough to examine axon extension and neuronal structure. Researchers can then investigate the cellular signals that guide axons across the midline, linking anatomical observations with the processes that establish connections between the two sides of the nervous system.
Precise separation helps isolate relevant neural regions while preserving the neurons or pathways under study. This matters because structural observations, pathway visualization, and later analysis depend on retaining the relationship between commissural neurons and their axons. Microscopy supports this selection and examination during the dissection process.
They can show how altered cellular or molecular conditions affect commissural neurons, axon extension, or midline-guided connectivity. By examining these changes after dissection, investigators can connect molecular variation with differences in neuronal structure and pathway development. This makes the technique useful for studying mechanisms underlying neural circuit formation and developmental disorders.
The workflow begins with precise tissue dissection and often uses microscopy to identify and separate the relevant neural regions. Researchers aim to retain commissural neurons or their pathways during isolation, then prepare the material for visualization, culture, or analysis. The selected downstream approach determines whether the emphasis is on structure, growth, or cellular signaling.
Subsequent visualization can document neuronal structure and axon extension, whereas culture or analysis can support investigation of cellular signals involved in midline crossing. These outputs provide complementary information: researchers can examine what the pathway looks like, how its axons extend, and how molecular or genetic changes influence its development.
It is especially relevant when the research question concerns connections between the two sides of the nervous system, neural circuit formation, or developmental disorders. The approach also supports studies of connectivity by providing isolated neurons or pathways for examining structural organization and testing how genetic or molecular changes affect commissural development.