Primary Neuron Culture and Isolation Service

Neurons are the most important cell type for nervous system function. Their basic function is to generate responses to stimuli and transmit signals throughout the body. This function is mediated by their unique electrical and chemical signaling capabilities.

Primary neuron culture models enable you to study the effect of your compound specifically on neurons, which are commonly prepared from embryonic or early postnatal mouse pups. Creative Biolabs also provides primary neurons from rat, monkey, and even human. Since the cells come directly from a living organism, primary culture models are the closest in vitro models to nature, making them the gold standard in neuroscience. Historically, this has been one of the most common platforms for both basic research and drug discovery. We have an in-depth explanation of primary neuron culture methods and our services here.

What We Can Provide

Primary neurons from various regions can also be provided depending on your specific requirement for research use.

Primary Hippocampal Neurons The hippocampus is an essential part of the brain that plays a key role in the processes of learning, memory formation, and navigating through space. These neurons are widely used to explore various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, temporal lobe epilepsy, amnesia, and the dementias.

Primary Cortical Neurons These neurons are located in the cerebral cortex, which is involved in higher-order brain functions like memory, attention, perception, awareness and consciousness. As such, primary cortical neurons enable researchers to explore brain function and dysfunction.

Applications

Disease Modeling

• Neurodegenerative Diseases: Primary neurons can be cultured to study conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease. For example, researchers can apply Aβ1-42 to induce toxicity in primary rat hippocampal neurons for AD research.
• Developmental Disorders: Studying primary neurons can provide insights into conditions like autism spectrum disorders or intellectual disabilities by modeling the effects of genetic mutations on neuronal development and function.
• Trauma and Injury: Primary neurons can be used to study the effects of trauma, such as neurotrauma or stroke, to understand the cellular response and the mechanisms behind neuronal injury and repair.

Mechanism Research

• Synaptic Function and Plasticity: Researchers can investigate the mechanisms underlying synaptic transmission and plasticity. By applying various stimuli or pharmacological agents, scientists can discern how neurons communicate and adapt under different conditions.
• Neurotransmitter Signaling: By using primary neurons, researchers can explore neurotransmitter receptor dynamics, signaling pathways, and the effects of various physiological and pathological conditions on synaptic function.
• Cellular Responses to Stress: Primary neurons can be exposed to oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, or other harmful conditions to uncover the cellular signaling pathways involved in neuroprotection and cell death.

Drug Discovery

Neurotoxicity Testing: Primary neurons can be used to evaluate the neurotoxic effects of potential drug candidates. By exposing these neurons to test compounds, researchers can assess cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and other adverse effects on neuronal health and function.

Downstream Testing

Due to the nature of neurons, much of the historical research conducted focused on characterizing their function. Listed below are common methods for functional analysis in neurons.

• MEA: The multielectrode array (MEA) assay is a cutting-edge tool that can measure the real-time electrical activity of a population of cells across several characteristics including firing rate, synchronicity, spikes, and bursts. Not limited to individual cells in the same way traditional methods of characterizing the electric behavior of neurons, MEA allows for insight into population-level responses to stimuli.
• Electrophysiology: Electrophysiology methods measure the electrical activity of single cells. Specifically, it measures the potential and current across the cell membrane. This classical method in neuroscience has been used to study the impact of vast numbers of proteins, drugs, and more on neuron health and behavior.
• Ca²⁺ Imaging: As one of the most common secondary messengers in the cell, calcium plays a critical role in neuronal function. Using a compound that fluoresces when bound to Ca²⁺, it is possible to observe Ca²⁺ dynamics within the cell. This is useful for studying the effects of knock-outs, drug treatments, and more.
• Neurotransmitter Evaluation: This is a collection of assays that evaluate the amounts of different neurotransmitters in a given sample using ELISA-like methods. These assays are useful for studying the effects of certain genes or drugs on neurotransmitter metabolism.

References

1. Soriano, Jordi. 2023. "Neuronal Cultures: Exploring Biophysics, Complex Systems, and Medicine in a Dish" Biophysica. 2023; 3(1):181-202. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0 without modification.
2. Harrill, Joshua A et al. "Ontogeny of biochemical, morphological and functional parameters of synaptogenesis in primary cultures of rat hippocampal and cortical neurons." Mol Brain. 2015;8:10. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0. The original image was modified.