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Culturing Mouse Cerebellar Granule Neurons

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Neural Development

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1018))

Abstract

The cerebellum plays an important role in motor control, motor skill acquisition, memory and learning among other brain functions. In rodents, cerebellar development continues after birth, characterized by the maturation of granule neurons. Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) are the most abundant neuronal type in the central nervous system, and they provide an excellent model for investigating molecular, ­cellular, and physiological mechanisms underlying neuronal development as well as neural circuitry linked to behavior. Here we describe a procedure to isolate and culture CGNs from postnatal day 6 mice. These cultures can be used to examine numerous aspects of CGN differentiation, electrophysiology, and function.

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Abbreviations

CGNs:

Cerebellar granule neurons

CGNPs:

Cerebellar granule neuron progenitors

EGL:

External germinal layer

PMZ:

Premigratory zone

NB:

Neurobasal

PLY:

Poly-d-lysine

Shh:

Sonic hedgehog

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Tharakeswari Selvakumar & Daniel L. Kilpatrick

  2. Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Tharakeswari Selvakumar & Daniel L. Kilpatrick

Authors
  1. Tharakeswari Selvakumar
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  2. Daniel L. Kilpatrick
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Frelinghuysen Road 164, Piscataway, 08854, New Jersey, USA

    Renping Zhou

  2. , Inst. Molecular Medicine & Genetics, Georgia Health Sciences University, 15th Street 1120, Augusta, 30912, Georgia, USA

    Lin Mei

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Selvakumar, T., Kilpatrick, D.L. (2013). Culturing Mouse Cerebellar Granule Neurons. In: Zhou, R., Mei, L. (eds) Neural Development. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1018. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-444-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-444-9_5

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-443-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-444-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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