Skip to main content

Aggregating Neural Cell Cultures

  • Protocol
Protocols for Neural Cell Culture

Part of the book series: Springer Protocols Handbooks ((SPH))

Abstract

Aggregating brain cell cultures are primary, three-dimensional cell cultures consisting of even-sized, spherical structures that are maintained in suspension by constant gyratory agitation. Because of the avidity of freshly dissociated embryonic cells to attach to their counterparts, cell aggregates form spontaneously and rapidly under appropriate culture conditions. The reaggregated cells are able to migrate within the formed structures, and to interact with each other by direct cell-cell contact, as well as through exchange of nutritional and signaling factors. This tissue-specific environment enables aggregating neural cells to differentiate, and to develop specialized structures (e.g., synapses, myelinated axons) resembling those of brain tissue in situ. Aggregating cell cultures are therefore classified as organotypic cultures (Doyle et al., 1994).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Further Reading

  • Adams, J. (1981), Heavy metal intensification of DAB-based HRP reaction product. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 29, 775.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Appel, K., Honegger, P., and Gebicke-Haerter, P. (1995), Expression of interleukin-3 and tumor necrosis factor-b mRNA in cultured microglia. J. Neuroimmunol. 60, 83–91.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashwell, K. (1990), The distribution of microglia and cell death in the developing mouse cerebellum. Dev. Brain Res. 55, 219–230.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bardoscia, M. T., Amstad, P., and Honegger, P. (1992), Expression of the proto-oncogene c-fos in three-dimensional fetal brain cell cultures and the lack of correlation with maturation-inducing stimuli. Mol. Brain Res. 12, 23–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bignami, A. and Aschner, R. (1992), Some observations on the localization of hyaluronic acid in adult, newborn and embryonal rat brain. Int. J. Dev. Neurosci. 10, 45–57.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradford, M. M. (1976), A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilising the principle of protein dye binding. Analyt. Biochem. 72, 248–254.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, H. K., Won, L., and Heller, A. (1993), Dopaminergic neurons grown in three-dimensional reaggregate culture for periods of up to one year. J. Neurosci. Methods 46, 233–244.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chomczynski, P. and Sacchi, N. (1987), Single-step method of RNA isolation by acid guanidinium thiocyanatephenol-chloroform extraction. Analyt. Biochem. 162, 156–159.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corthésy-Theulaz, I., Merillat, A.-M., Honegger, P., and Rossier, B. C. (1990), Na+-K+-ATPase gene expression during in vitro development of rat fetal forebrain. Am. J. Physiol. 258 (Cell Physiol. 27), C1062–C1069.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DeLong, G. R. and Sidman, R. L. (1970), Alignment defect of reaggregating cells in cultures of developing brains of reeler mutant mice. Dev. Biol. 22, 584–599.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Downs, T. R. and Wilfinger, W. W. (1983), Fluorimetric quantification of DNA in cells and tissues. Analyt. Biochem. 131, 538–547.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doyle, A., Griffiths, J. B., and Newell, D. G. (Principal Editors) (1994), Cell and Tissue Culture: Laboratory Procedures. Wiley, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guentert-Lauber, B., Monnet-Tschudi, E., Omlin, F. X., Favrod, P., and Honegger, P. (1985), Serum-free aggregate cultures of rat CNS glial cells: biochemical, immunocytochemical and morphological characterization. Dev. Neurosci. 7, 33–44.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Honegger, P., Lenoir, D., and Favrod, P. (1979), Growth and differentiation of aggregating fetal brain cells in a serum-free defined medium. Nature 282, 305–308.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Honegger, P. and Pardo, B. (1999), Separate neuronal and glial Na+,K+-ATPase isoforms regulate glucose utilization in response to membrane depolarization and elevated extracellular potassium. J. Cerebr. Blood FlowMetabol. 19, 1051–1059.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Honegger, P. and Richelson, E. (1976), Biochemical differentiation of mechanically dissociated mammalian brain in aggregating cell culture. Brain Res. 109, 335–354.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Honegger, P. and Richelson E. (1977), Biochemical differentiation of aggregating cell cultures of different fetal rat brain regions. Brain Res. 133, 329–339.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Honegger, P and Richelson, E. (1979), Neurotransmitter synthesis, storage and release by aggregating cell cultures of rat brain. Brain Res. 162, 89–101.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Honegger, P. and Schilter, B. (1992), Serum-free aggregate cultures of fetal rat brain and liver cells: methodology and some practical applications in neurotoxicology, in: The Brain in Bits and Pieces. In vitro Techniques in Neurobiology, Neuropharmacology and Neurotoxicology, Zbinden, G., ed., MTC Verlag, Zollikon, Switzerland, pp. 51–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Honegger, P. and Werffeli, P. (1988), Use of aggregating cell cultures for toxicological studies. Experientia 44, 817–823.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huber, G. and Matus, A. (1984), Differences in the cellular distribution of two microtubule-associated proteins, MAPI and MAP2, in rat brain. J. Neurosci. 4, 151–160.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Juurlink, B. H., Schousboe, A., Jorgensen, O. S., and Hertz, L. (1981), Induction by hydrocortisone of glutamine synthetase in mouse primary astrocytes. J. Neurochem. 36, 136–142.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kerlero de Rosbo, N., Honegger, P., Lassmann, H., and Matthieu, J.-M. (1990), Demyelination induced in aggregating brain cell cultures by a monoclonal antibody against myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. J. Neurochem. 55, 583–587.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lennette, D. A. (1978), An improved mounting medium for immunofluorescence microscopy. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 69, 647,648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenoir, D. and Honegger, P. (1983), Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF I) stimulates DNA synthesis in fetal rat brain cell cultures. Dev. Brain Res. 7, 205–213.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Linington, C., Webb, M., and Woodhams, P. L. (1984), A novel myelin-associated glycoprotein defined by a mouse monoclonal antibody. J. Neuroimmunol. 6, 387–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthieu, J.-M., Honegger, P., Favrod, P., Gautier, E., and Dolivo, M. (1979), Biochemical characterization of a myelin fraction isolated from rat brain aggregating cell cultures. J. Neurochem. 32, 869–881.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monnet-Tschudi, F., Zurich, M.-G., Pithon, E., van Melle, G., and Honegger, P. (1995), Microglial responsiveness as a sensitive marker for trimethyltin (TMT) neurotoxicity. Brain Res. 690, 8–14.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moscona, A. A. (1961), Rotation-mediated histogenetic aggregation of dissociated cells: a quantifiable approach to cell interactions in vitro. Exp. Cell Res. 22, 455–475.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pan, L. C. and Price, P. A. (1984), The effect of transcriptional inhibitors on the bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein response to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in osteosarcoma cells. J. Biol. Chem. 259, 5844–5847.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riederer, B., Cohen, R., and Matus, A. (1986), MAP5: a novel microtubule-associated protein under strong developmental regulation. J. Neurocytol. 15, 763–775.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riederer, B. M., Monnet-Tschudi, F., and Honegger, P. (1992), Development and maintenance of the neuronal cytoskeleton in aggregated cell cultures of fetal rat telencephalon and influence of elevated K+ concentrations. J. Neurochem. 58, 649–658.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riederer, B. M., Porchet, R., Marugg, R. A., and Binder, L. I. (1993), Solubility of cytoskeletal protein in immunohistochemistry and the influence of fixation. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 41, 609–616.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rose, S. P. R. (1965), Preparation of enriched fractions from cerebral cortex containing isolated, metabolically active neuronal cells. Nature (London) 206, 621,622.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrier, B. K. (1973), Surface culture of fetal mammalian brain cells: effect of subculture on morphology and choline acetyltransferase. J. Neurobiol. 4, 117–124.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seeds, N. W. (1971), Biochemical differentiation in reaggregating brain cell culture. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 68, 1858–1861.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Streit, W. J. and Kreutzberg, G. W. (1987), Lectin binding by resting and reactive microglia. J. Neurocytol. 16, 249–260.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, V, Miescher, G. C., Pfarr, S., Honegger, P., Breitschopf, H., Lassmann, H., and Steck, A. J. (1994), Expression and developmental regulation of Ehk-1, a neuronal Elk-like receptor tyrosine kinase in brain. Neuroscience 63, 163–178.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varon, S. and Raiborn, C. W., Jr. (1969), Dissociation, fractionation, and culture of embryonic brain cells. Brain Res. 12, 180–199.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, S. H., Schrier, B. K., Farber, J.-L., Thompson, E. J., Rosenberg, R. N., Blume A. J., and Nierenberg, M. W. (1972), Markers for gene expression in cultured cells from the nervous system. J. Biol. Chem. 247, 3159–3169.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Honegger, P., Monnet-Tschudi, F. (2001). Aggregating Neural Cell Cultures. In: Fedoroff, S., Richardson, A. (eds) Protocols for Neural Cell Culture. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-207-4:199

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-207-4:199

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-902-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-207-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics