Harvesting, Embedding, and Culturing Dorsal Root Ganglia in Multi-compartment Devices to Study Peripheral Neuronal Features

Our research seeks to understand some of the underlying mechanisms that contribute to chronic musculoskeletal pain, so we can develop novel targeted treatments. Thus, we have developed in vitro and in vivo models of chronic low back pain and neuronal sensitization. Current therapeutics that work in vivo in animal models often fail clinical trials due to mechanistic differences between animal models and human subject chronic pain phenotype.

In vitro test by that model nociceptor hypersensitivity present in chronic pain have the potential to identify more promising treatments for chronic pain in humans. Our protocol clearly demonstrates how to isolate primary dorsal root ganglia, and culture them in a multi-compartment device. By keeping intact primary dorsal root ganglia, we maintain native support cells and culture them in a multi compartment device, allowing anatomically relevant isolation between neuronal somas and peripheral neurites.