Dorsal root ganglia neurons and differentiated adipose-derived stem cells: an in vitro co-culture model to study peripheral nerve regeneration

Journal of Visualized Experiments : JoVE
A C de LucaAdam J Reid

Abstract

Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, located in the intervertebral foramina of the spinal column, can be used to create an in vitro system facilitating the study of nerve regeneration and myelination. The glial cells of the peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells (SC), are key facilitators of these processes; it is therefore crucial that the interactions of these cellular components are studied together. Direct contact between DRG neurons and glial cells provides additional stimuli sensed by specific membrane receptors, further improving the neuronal response. SC release growth factors and proteins in the culture medium, which enhance neuron survival and stimulate neurite sprouting and extension. However, SC require long proliferation time to be used for tissue engineering applications and the sacrifice of an healthy nerve for their sourcing. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) differentiated into SC phenotype are a valid alternative to SC for the set-up of a co-culture model with DRG neurons to study nerve regeneration. The present work presents a detailed and reproducible step-by-step protocol to harvest both DRG neurons and ASC from adult rats; to differentiate ASC towards a SC phenotype; and combines the two cell types in a dir...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 24, 2018·Photomedicine and Laser Surgery·Sajan GeorgeHeidi Abrahamse
Aug 9, 2018·Neurological Research·Ramazan ÜstünHasan Korkaya
May 31, 2017·Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine·A C de LucaS P Lacour
Mar 27, 2020·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Michael J RigbyLuigi Puglielli
Jun 28, 2018·Molecular Neurobiology·Alessandro FaroniValerio Magnaghi

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
dissecting
mechanical dissociation
scanning electron microscopy

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