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Axon Degeneration pp 41–54Cite as

Assessing Axonal Degeneration in Embryonic Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons In Vitro

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Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB,volume 2143)

Abstract

The molecular players regulating the axon degeneration pathway have been identified using in vitro experimental models. Here, we describe an in vitro assay to assess the axonal fragmentation induced by mechanical injury to axons in cultured mouse embryonic dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. DRG neurons are pseudounipolar and therefore suitable for an assay of axonal degeneration after injury. In addition, the time course of the axonal fragmentation is stereotyped, enabling the identification of reagents that either expedite or impede the degeneration process. With an image-based quantification method, the in vitro degeneration assay can be utilized as a platform supporting high-throughput screens for pharmacological or genetic reagents delaying axon degeneration.

Key words

  • Axon degeneration
  • In vitro assay
  • Dorsal root ganglion
  • Axotomy
  • Image-based screening
  • Neurodegeneration

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant to J.E.S. (NRF-2017R1C1B2008356), Health Technology R&D Project to Y.C. (HI17C1459), and BK21 Plus project of the NRF to J.E.S. and Y.C.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Jung Eun Shin & Yongcheol Cho

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  1. Jung Eun Shin
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  2. Yongcheol Cho
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yongcheol Cho .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Ph.D. Elisabetta Babetto

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Shin, J.E., Cho, Y. (2020). Assessing Axonal Degeneration in Embryonic Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons In Vitro. In: Babetto, E. (eds) Axon Degeneration. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2143. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0585-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0585-1_4

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-0584-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-0585-1

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