General considerations for live imaging of developing hippocampal neurons in culture

Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2012 Mar 1;2012(3):312-8. doi: 10.1101/pdb.ip068221.

Abstract

Dissociated cell cultures of the rodent hippocampus have become a standard model for studying many facets of neural development, including the development of polarity, axonal and dendritic growth, and synapse formation. The cultures are quite homogeneous--∼90% of the cells are pyramidal neurons--and it is relatively easy to express green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged proteins by transfection. This article describes the cultures and the key features of the system used to image them. It also includes suggestions on labeling cells with GFP-tagged proteins. It concludes with a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of this culture system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytological Techniques / methods*
  • Hippocampus / cytology*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Time-Lapse Imaging / methods