Organotypic Entorhino-Hippocampal Slice Cultures—A Tool to Study the Molecular and Cellular Regulation of Axonal Regeneration and Collateral Sprouting In Vitro

  • Domenico Del Turco
  • Thomas Deller
Protocol
Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB, volume 399)

Abstract

Organotypic slice cultures of the brain are widely used as a tool to study fundamental questions in neuroscience. In this chapter, we focus on a protocol based on organotypic slice cultures of mouse entorhinal cortex and hippocampus that can be employed to study axonal regeneration and collateral sprouting in the central nervous system in vitro. Using pharmacological as well as genetic approaches, axonal regeneration and sprouting can be influenced, and some of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in these processes can be identified. The protocol describes in detail (1) the generation of organotypic entorhino-hippocampal slice cultures, (2) the conditions needed for the analysis of axonal regeneration and collateral sprouting, respectively, (3) the lesioning technique, (4) tracing techniques to visualize regenerating entorhinal axons, and (5) an immunohistochemical technique to visualize sprouting fibers.

Key Words

Hippocampus dentate gyrus entorhinal cortex lesion mossy cells axonal regeneration axonal sprouting plasticity calretinin NeuN mini-ruby 
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Copyright information

© Humana Press Inc. 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  • Domenico Del Turco
    • 1
  • Thomas Deller
    • 1
  1. 1.Institute of Clinical NeuroanatomyJ. W. Goethe-UniversityFrankfurtGermany

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