Isolation and Culture of Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Spinal Motor Neurons from Prenatal Islmn:GFP Transgenic Mice

J Vis Exp. 2019 Nov 12:(153):10.3791/60440. doi: 10.3791/60440.

Abstract

Oculomotor neurons (CN3s) and trochlear neurons (CN4s) exhibit remarkable resistance to degenerative motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) when compared to spinal motor neurons (SMNs). The ability to isolate and culture primary mouse CN3s, CN4s, and SMNs would provide an approach to study mechanisms underlying this selective vulnerability. To date, most protocols use heterogeneous cell cultures, which can confound the interpretation of experimental outcomes. To minimize the problems associated with mixed-cell populations, pure cultures are indispensable. Here, the first protocol describes in detail how to efficiently purify and cultivate CN3s/CN4s alongside SMNs counterparts from the same embryos using embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) IslMN:GFP transgenic mouse embryos. The protocol provides details on the tissue dissection and dissociation, FACS-based cell isolation, and in vitro cultivation of cells from CN3/CN4 and SMN nuclei. This protocol adds a novel in vitro CN3/CN4 culture system to existing protocols and simultaneously provides a pure species- and age-matched SMN culture for comparison. Analyses focusing on the morphological, cellular, molecular, and electrophysiological characteristics of motor neurons are feasible in this culture system. This protocol will enable research into the mechanisms that define motor neuron development, selective vulnerability, and disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology*
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Motor Neurons / cytology*
  • Motor Neurons / metabolism
  • Oculomotor Nerve / cytology*
  • Oculomotor Nerve / metabolism
  • Spinal Cord / cytology*
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Trochlear Nerve / cytology*
  • Trochlear Nerve / metabolism

Substances

  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins