Generation of Neuron-enriched Cultures (Method 2)

Neuron-enriched cultures are a useful tool to study neuronal development and the molecular pathways that come in to play during neuronal death in various neurological disorders. This protocol is for generating midbrain neuronal cultures from late embryo rodent brain. This method uses Neurobasal medium and B27 serum-free supplement. The long-lasting (> 4 weeks) midbrain neuron-enriched cultures generated following this protocol have been wildly used to study the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease, the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder. The neuron-enriched cultures prepared following this protocol will contain < 10% astroglia. The usage of B27 serum-free supplement will definitively increase the cost. This protocol has been developed and improved over the years by various researchers in Dr. Hong’s lab, especially Dr. Bin Liu.