Neuron, Astrocyte & Microglia Co-Culture Assay Service

Co-culture of neurons, astrocytes, and microglia is an invaluable tool for studying neurological diseases. It more accurately mimics the in vivo environment and reveals the complex interactions between neurons and glial cells, making it a great platform for both basic research and drug discovery. To learn more about our products and services, submit a project request, or request a quote, please contact us today.

Tri-culture systems vs. Co-culture and Mono-culture systems

Our neuroscientists have established a stable tri-culture system for the purpose of studying the interaction between glia and neurons. In comparison to primary cultures, which consist of one or two types of cells, the tri-culture system has the following advantages:

• Closely mimics physiological conditions: A tri-culture model offers a more accurate representation of the physiological environment than a primary culture consisting of a single cell type. The interplay between neurons, astrocytes, and microglia in the tri-culture model provides key insights into inflammatory signaling, energetics, and more.
• Improves the development and function of neurons: Astrocytes and microglia can support the growth and differentiation of neurons in co-culture. In co-culture, neurons take on both an improved morphology and improved electrical activity. Additionally, co-cultures survive for longer in comparison to mono-cultures. The robustness of these cultures allows for more aggressive approaches and further indicates the closeness of this model with in vivo conditions.
• Elucidate neuroinflammatory mechanisms: Due to the presence of both astrocytes and microglia in the tri-culture system, it is an excellent tool for studying the effects of inflammatory factors on neuronal function and survival, providing a deeper understanding of the mechanism of neuroinflammation.

Tri-Culture Model

Each cell type in the tri-culture was characterized, with neurons, astrocytes, and microglia all exhibiting normal morphology and expression profiles. Compared with individual primary cultures, however, microglia were less inflammatory, astrocytes were less reactive, and neurons showed a more mature morphology.

TRICULTURE MODEL = Neurons + Astrocytes + Microglia

Fig.1 Representative images of primary mouse cortical tri-culture model, NeuN (neuronal marker), GFAP (astrocyte marker) and Iba1 (microglia marker). Images were acquired using Zeiss LSM 980.

Downstream Assays and Evaluations of Tri-culture Systems

• Proteomic and Transcriptomic Evaluation: We offer a battery of methods for proteomic and transcriptomic characterization, including western blot, ELISA, qPCR, NGS, and more. Whether tracking the expression of a target protein or measuring inflammatory responses, our experts are prepared to provide you with an in-depth analysis tailored to your project.
• Microscopy: Through live cell imaging, fluorescence microscopy, and confocal microscopy, we can observe and evaluate the changes in cell morphology, viability, migration, phagocytosis, and more. Live cell imaging technology allows scientists to capture the dynamic changes of cells without destroying the cell structure, including changes in cell morphology, cell health status, and the process of cell migration and phagocytosis.
• Electrophysiology: Changes in neural activity can also be measured using our advanced electrophysiology platform, which enables simultaneous multi-well recordings of electrical activity for extended periods of time.
• Custom assays: We provide one-of-a-kind solutions designed to accelerate your research progress.

At Creative Biolabs, our tri-culture services employ cutting-edge technology to emulate the intricate neural milieu in vivo, offering a more authentic neural network research platform. We invite you to contact us to discuss your project plan in detail.