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Abstract
The midbrain dopamine (mDA) system is composed of molecularly and functionally distinct neuron subtypes that mediate specific behaviours and are linked to various brain diseases. Considerable progress has been made in identifying mDA neuron subtypes, and recent work has begun to unveil how these neuronal subtypes develop and organize into functional brain structures. This progress is important for further understanding the disparate physiological functions of mDA neurons and their selective vulnerability in disease, and will ultimately accelerate therapy development. This Review discusses recent advances in our understanding of molecularly defined mDA neuron subtypes and their circuits, ranging from early developmental events, such as neuron migration and axon guidance, to their wiring and function, and future implications for therapeutic strategies.
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Jaumotte JD, Saarma M, Zigmond MJ. Protection of dopamine neurons by CDNF and neurturin variant N4 against MPP+ in dissociated cultures from rat mesencephalon. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245663. [PMID: 33534843 PMCID: PMC7857574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is associated with the loss of dopamine (DA) neurons in ventral mesencephalon. We have previously reported that no single neurotrophic factor we tested protected DA neurons from the dopaminergic toxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) in dissociated cultures isolated from the P0 rat substantia nigra, but that a combination of five neurotrophic factors was protective. We now report that cerebral DA neurotrophic factor (CDNF) and a variant of neurturin (NRTN), N4, were also not protective when provided alone but were protective when added together. In cultures isolated from the substantia nigra, MPP+ (10 μM) decreased tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells to 41.7 ± 5.4% of vehicle control. Although treatment of cultures with 100 ng/ml of either CDNF or N4 individually before and after toxin exposure did not significantly increase survival in MPP+-treated cultures, when the two trophic factors were added together at 100 ng/ml each, survival of cells was increased 28.2 ± 6.1% above the effect of MPP+ alone. In cultures isolated from the ventral tegmental area, another DA rich area, a higher dose of MPP+ (1 mM) was required to produce an EC50 in TH-positive cells but, as in the substantia nigra, only the combination of CDNF and N4 (100 ng/ml each) was successful at increasing the survival of these cells compared to MPP+ alone (by 22.5 ± 3.5%). These data support previous findings that CDNF and N4 may be of therapeutic value for treatment of PD, but suggest that they may need to be administered together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliann D. Jaumotte
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Pittsburgh Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Mart Saarma
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael J. Zigmond
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Pittsburgh Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
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Ucar B, Kajtez J, Foidl BM, Eigel D, Werner C, Long KR, Emnéus J, Bizeau J, Lomora M, Pandit A, Newland B, Humpel C. Biomaterial based strategies to reconstruct the nigrostriatal pathway in organotypic slice co-cultures. Acta Biomater 2021; 121:250-262. [PMID: 33242639 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Protection or repair of the nigrostriatal pathway represents a principal disease-modifying therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease (PD). Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) holds great therapeutic potential for PD, but its efficacious delivery remains difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of different biomaterials (hydrogels, microspheres, cryogels and microcontact printed surfaces) for reconstructing the nigrostriatal pathway in organotypic co-culture of ventral mesencephalon and dorsal striatum. The biomaterials (either alone or loaded with GDNF) were locally applied onto the brain co-slices and fiber growth between the co-slices was evaluated after three weeks in culture based on staining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Collagen hydrogels loaded with GDNF slightly promoted the TH+ nerve fiber growth towards the dorsal striatum, while GDNF loaded microspheres embedded within the hydrogels did not provide an improvement. Cryogels alone or loaded with GDNF also enhanced TH+ fiber growth. Lines of GDNF immobilized onto the membrane inserts via microcontact printing also significantly improved TH+ fiber growth. In conclusion, this study shows that various biomaterials and tissue engineering techniques can be employed to regenerate the nigrostriatal pathway in organotypic brain slices. This comparison of techniques highlights the relative merits of different technologies that researchers can use/develop for neuronal regeneration strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buket Ucar
- Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimer's Research, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Janko Kajtez
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (DTU Bioengineering), Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Bettina M Foidl
- Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimer's Research, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Dimitri Eigel
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden, Germany
| | - Carsten Werner
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden, Germany
| | - Katherine R Long
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Emnéus
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (DTU Bioengineering), Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Joëlle Bizeau
- SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices (CÚRAM), National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Mihai Lomora
- SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices (CÚRAM), National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Abhay Pandit
- SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices (CÚRAM), National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Ben Newland
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden, Germany; School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Humpel
- Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimer's Research, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
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Liu M, Shin EJ, Dang DK, Jin CH, Lee PH, Jeong JH, Park SJ, Kim YS, Xing B, Xin T, Bing G, Kim HC. Trichloroethylene and Parkinson's Disease: Risk Assessment. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:6201-6214. [PMID: 29270919 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0830-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of action and extent of selective dopaminergic neurodegeneration caused by exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) leading to the endogenous formation of the neurotoxin 1-trichloromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline (TaClo) in rodents. Beginning at 3 months of age, male C57BL/6 mice received oral TCE dissolved in vehicle for 8 months. Dopaminergic neuronal loss was assessed by nigral tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity. Selective dopaminergic neurodegeneration was determined based on histological analysis of non-dopaminergic neurons in the brain. Behavioral assays were evaluated using open field activity and rotarod tests. Mitochondrial complex I activity, oxidative stress markers, and microglial activation were also examined in the substantia nigra. The level of TaClo was detected using HPLC-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Dopaminergic neurotoxicity of TaClo was determined in midbrain organotypic cultures from rat pups. Following 8 months of TCE treatment, there was a progressive and selective loss of 50% of the dopaminergic neurons in mouse substantia nigra (SN) and about 50% loss of dopamine and 72% loss of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in the striatum, respectively. In addition, motor deficits, mitochondrial impairment, oxidative stress, and inflammation were measured. TaClo content was quantified in the brain after TCE treatment. In organotypic cultures, TaClo rather than TCE induced dopaminergic neuronal loss, similar to MPP+. TCE exposure may stimulate the endogenous formation of TaClo, which is responsible for dopaminergic neurodegeneration. However, even prolonged administration of TCE was insufficient for producing a greater than 50% loss of nigral dopamine neurons, indicating that additional co-morbid factors would be needed for mimicking the profound loss of dopamine neurons seen in Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Eun-Joo Shin
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology Program, College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Duy-Khanh Dang
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology Program, College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Chun-Hui Jin
- Department of Geriatrics, Wuxi Mental Health Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, 214151, China
| | - Phil Ho Lee
- National Creative Research Initiative Center for Catalytic Organic Reactions, Department of Chemistry, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hoon Jeong
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Joo Park
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology Program, College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, 24341, Republic of Korea
- Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, Anyang, 14066, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Sun Kim
- Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, Anyang, 14066, Republic of Korea
| | - Bin Xing
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Tao Xin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoying Bing
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
| | - Hyoung-Chun Kim
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology Program, College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
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Joost S, Kobayashi K, Wree A, Haas SJP. Optimisation of murine organotypic slice culture preparation for a novel sagittal-frontal co-culture system. J Neurosci Methods 2017; 285:49-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Berry JN, Saunders MA, Sharrett-Field LJ, Reynolds AR, Bardo MT, Pauly JR, Prendergast MA. Corticosterone enhances N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor signaling to promote isolated ventral tegmental area activity in a reconstituted mesolimbic dopamine pathway. Brain Res Bull 2015; 120:159-65. [PMID: 26631585 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2015.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Elevations in circulating corticosteroids during periods of stress may influence activity of the mesolimbic dopamine reward pathway by increasing glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor expression and/or function in a glucocorticoid receptor-dependent manner. The current study employed organotypic co-cultures of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) to examine the effects of corticosterone exposure on NMDA receptor-mediated neuronal viability. Co-cultures were pre-exposed to vehicle or corticosterone (CORT; 1 μM) for 5 days prior to a 24 h co-exposure to NMDA (200 μM). Co-cultures pre-exposed to a non-toxic concentration of corticosterone and subsequently NMDA showed significant neurotoxicity in the VTA only. This was evidenced by increases in propidium iodide uptake as well as decreases in immunoreactivity of the neuronal nuclear protein (NeuN). Co-exposure to the NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino-7-phosphonovaleric acid (APV; 50 μM) or the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist mifepristone (10 μM) attenuated neurotoxicity. In contrast, the combination of corticosterone and NMDA did not produce any significant effects on either measure within the NAcc. Cultures of the VTA and NAcc maintained without synaptic contact showed no response to CORT or NMDA. These results demonstrate the ability to functionally reconstitute key regions of the mesolimbic reward pathway ex vivo and to reveal a GR-dependent enhancement of NMDA receptor-dependent signaling in the VTA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N Berry
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Biomedical and Biological Sciences Research Building, 741 S. Limestone St., Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States.
| | - Meredith A Saunders
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Biomedical and Biological Sciences Research Building, 741 S. Limestone St., Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States
| | - Lynda J Sharrett-Field
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Biomedical and Biological Sciences Research Building, 741 S. Limestone St., Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States
| | - Anna R Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Biomedical and Biological Sciences Research Building, 741 S. Limestone St., Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States
| | - Michael T Bardo
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States
| | - James R Pauly
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Biomedical and Biological Sciences Research Building, 741 S. Limestone St., Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States
| | - Mark A Prendergast
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Biomedical and Biological Sciences Research Building, 741 S. Limestone St., Lexington, KY 40536-0509, United States
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7
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Humpel C. Organotypic brain slice cultures: A review. Neuroscience 2015; 305:86-98. [PMID: 26254240 PMCID: PMC4699268 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.07.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 271] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Revised: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In vitro cell cultures are an important tool for obtaining insights into cellular processes in an isolated system and a supplement to in vivo animal experiments. While primary dissociated cultures permit a single homogeneous cell population to be studied, there is a clear need to explore the function of brain cells in a three-dimensional system where the main architecture of the cells is preserved. Thus, organotypic brain slice cultures have proven to be very useful in investigating cellular and molecular processes of the brain in vitro. This review summarizes (1) the historical development of organotypic brain slices focusing on the membrane technology, (2) methodological aspects regarding culturing procedures, age of donors or media, (3) whether the cholinergic neurons serve as a model of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, (4) or the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons as a model of Parkinson’s disease and (5) how the vascular network can be studied, especially with regard to a synthetic blood–brain barrier. This review will also highlight some limits of the model and give an outlook on future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Humpel
- Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimer's Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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8
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Sygnecka K, Heider A, Scherf N, Alt R, Franke H, Heine C. Mesenchymal stem cells support neuronal fiber growth in an organotypic brain slice co-culture model. Stem Cells Dev 2014; 24:824-35. [PMID: 25390472 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2014.0262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been identified as promising candidates for neuroregenerative cell therapies. However, the impact of different isolation procedures on the functional and regenerative characteristics of MSC populations has not been studied thoroughly. To quantify these differences, we directly compared classically isolated bulk bone marrow-derived MSCs (bulk BM-MSCs) to the subpopulation Sca-1(+)Lin(-)CD45(-)-derived MSCs(-) (SL45-MSCs), isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting from bulk BM-cell suspensions. Both populations were analyzed with respect to functional readouts, that are, frequency of fibroblast colony forming units (CFU-f), general morphology, and expression of stem cell markers. The SL45-MSC population is characterized by greater morphological homogeneity, higher CFU-f frequency, and significantly increased nestin expression compared with bulk BM-MSCs. We further quantified the potential of both cell populations to enhance neuronal fiber growth, using an ex vivo model of organotypic brain slice co-cultures of the mesocortical dopaminergic projection system. The MSC populations were cultivated underneath the slice co-cultures without direct contact using a transwell system. After cultivation, the fiber density in the border region between the two brain slices was quantified. While both populations significantly enhanced fiber outgrowth as compared with controls, purified SL45-MSCs stimulated fiber growth to a larger degree. Subsequently, we analyzed the expression of different growth factors in both cell populations. The results show a significantly higher expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and basic fibroblast growth factor in the SL45-MSCs population. Altogether, we conclude that MSC preparations enriched for primary MSCs promote neuronal regeneration and axonal regrowth, more effectively than bulk BM-MSCs, an effect that may be mediated by a higher BDNF secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Sygnecka
- 1 Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine (TRM), University of Leipzig , Leipzig, Germany
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9
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Jaumotte JD, Zigmond MJ. Comparison of GDF5 and GDNF as neuroprotective factors for postnatal dopamine neurons in ventral mesencephalic cultures. J Neurosci Res 2014; 92:1425-33. [PMID: 24916473 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Loss of dopamine neurons is associated with the motor deficits that occur in Parkinson's disease. Although many drugs have proven to be useful in the treatment of the symptoms of this disease, none has been shown to have a significant impact on the development of the disease. However, we believe that several neurotrophic factors have the potential to reduce its progression. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily of neurotrophic factors, has been extensively studied in this regard. Less attention has been paid to growth/differentiation factor 5 (GDF5), another member of the same superfamily. This study compares GDNF and GDF5 in dissociated cultures prepared from ventral mesencephalon and in organotypic co-cultures containing substantia nigra, striatum, and neocortex. We report that both GDNF (10-500 ng/ml) and GDF5 (100-500 ng/ml) promoted the survival of dopamine neurons from the substantia nigra of postnatal rats, although GDNF was considerably more potent than GDF5. In contrast, neither factor had any significant effect on the survival of dopamine neurons from the rat ventral tegmental area. Using organotypic co-cultures, we also compared GDF5 with GDNF as chemoattractants for the innervation of the striatum and the neocortex by dopamine neurons from the substantia nigra. The addition of either GDF5 or GDNF (100-500 ng/ml) caused innervation by dopamine neurons into the cortex as well as the striatum, which did not occur in untreated cultures. Our results are consistent with similar findings suggesting that GDF5, like GDNF, deserves attention as a possible therapeutic intervention for Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliann D Jaumotte
- Department of Neurology, Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Heine C, Franke H. Organotypic slice co-culture systems to study axon regeneration in the dopaminergic system ex vivo. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1162:97-111. [PMID: 24838961 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0777-9_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Organotypic slice co-cultures are suitable tools to study axonal regeneration and development (growth or regrowth) of different projection systems of the CNS under ex vivo conditions.In this chapter, we describe in detail the reconstruction of the mesocortical and nigrostriatal dopaminergic projection system culturing tissue slices from the ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra (VTA/SN) with the prefrontal cortex (PFC) or the striatum (STR). The protocol includes the detailed slice preparation and incubation. Moreover, different application possibilities of the ex vivo model are mentioned; as an example, the substance treatment procedure and biocytin tracing are described to reveal the effect of applied substances on fiber outgrowth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Heine
- Rudolf Boehm Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, D-04107, Leipzig, Germany
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Ullrich C, Daschil N, Humpel C. Organotypic vibrosections: novel whole sagittal brain cultures. J Neurosci Methods 2011; 201:131-41. [PMID: 21835204 PMCID: PMC3176904 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2011] [Revised: 07/21/2011] [Accepted: 07/22/2011] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
In vitro cell culture models are of enormous importance in neuroscience research and organotypic brain slices are found to be a potent model very close to the in vivo situation. Brain slices can be cultured as single slices or as co-slices. However, there is need to culture whole brain sections, containing the complex functional architecture. The aim of the present study was to develop and characterize whole brain sagittal slice cultures (200μm organotypic vibrosections) from postnatal day 8 rats. We show that sagittal vibrosections can be cultured for several weeks and they maintain survival of cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons, as well as a strong capillary network. Partly long-distance cortico-striatal and cortico-hippocampal nerve fibers were found using Mini-Ruby neurotracing. Dopaminergic nerve fibers extended from the mesencephalon, but in the striato-nigral tract and in the striatum only strong dense varicosities were found. The model also allows to study pathological triggers, such as e.g. hydrogen peroxide markedly increased propidiumiodide-positive nuclei in the hippocampus. In conclusion, our novel model provides an easy potent whole sagittal brain culture system that allows to study cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons together but also in close interaction with all other cells of the brain and with capillaries. It will be a great challenge in future to use this model to re-construct whole pathways. This vibrosection model may partly represent a close adult in vivo situation, which allows to study neurodegeneration and neuroprotection of cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons, which plays an important role in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Ullrich
- Laboratory of Psychiatry and Exp. Alzheimeŕs Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innsbruck Medical University, Austria
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Grafted dopamine neurons: Morphology, neurochemistry, and electrophysiology. Prog Neurobiol 2010; 90:190-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2009] [Revised: 04/23/2009] [Accepted: 10/09/2009] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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13
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Cell death and proliferation in acute slices and organotypic cultures of mammalian CNS. Prog Neurobiol 2009; 88:221-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2008] [Revised: 12/09/2008] [Accepted: 01/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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14
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Thompson LH, Grealish S, Kirik D, Björklund A. Reconstruction of the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway in the adult mouse brain. Eur J Neurosci 2009; 30:625-38. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06878.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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15
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Cooper MA, Kobayashi K, Zhou R. Ephrin-A5 regulates the formation of the ascending midbrain dopaminergic pathways. Dev Neurobiol 2009; 69:36-46. [PMID: 19003794 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Dopaminergic neurons from the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area of the midbrain project to the caudate/putamen and nucleus accumbens, respectively, establishing the mesostriatal and the mesolimbic pathways. However, the mechanisms underlying the development of these pathways are not well understood. In the current study, the EphA5 receptor and its corresponding ligand, ephrin-A5, were shown to regulate dopaminergic axon outgrowth and influence the formation of the midbrain dopaminergic pathways. Using a strain of mutant mice in which the EphA5 cytoplasmic domain was replaced with beta-galactosidase, EphA5 protein expression was detected in both the ventral tegmental area and the substantia nigra of the midbrain. Ephrin-A5 was found in both the dorsolateral and the ventromedial regions of the striatum, suggesting a role in mediating dopaminergic axon-target interactions. In the presence of ephrin-A5, dopaminergic neurons extended longer neurites in in vitro coculture assays. Furthermore, in mice lacking ephrin-A5, retrograde tracing studies revealed that fewer neurons sent axons to the striatum. These observations indicate that the interactions between ephrin-A ligands and EphA receptors promote growth and targeting of the midbrain dopaminergic axons to the striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret A Cooper
- Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest P. Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
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Saavedra A, Baltazar G, Duarte EP. Driving GDNF expression: the green and the red traffic lights. Prog Neurobiol 2008; 86:186-215. [PMID: 18824211 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2008.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2007] [Revised: 06/18/2008] [Accepted: 09/03/2008] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is widely recognized as a potent survival factor for dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal pathway that degenerate in Parkinson's disease (PD). In animal models of PD, GDNF delivery to the striatum or the substantia nigra protects dopaminergic neurons against subsequent toxin-induced injury and rescues previously damaged neurons, promoting recovery of the motor function. Thus, GDNF was proposed as a potential therapy to PD aimed at slowing down, halting or reversing neurodegeneration, an issue addressed in previous reviews. However, the use of GDNF as a therapeutic agent for PD is hampered by the difficulty in delivering it to the brain. Another potential strategy is to stimulate the endogenous expression of GDNF, but in order to do that we need to understand how GDNF expression is regulated. The aim of this review is to do a comprehensive analysis of the state of the art on the control of endogenous GDNF expression in the nervous system, focusing mainly on the nigrostriatal pathway. We address the control of GDNF expression during development, in the adult brain and after injury, and how damaged neurons signal glial cells to up-regulate GDNF. Pharmacological agents or natural molecules that increase GDNF expression and show neuroprotective activity in animal models of PD are reviewed. We also provide an integrated overview of the signalling pathways linking receptors for these molecules to the induction of GDNF gene, which might also become targets for neuroprotective therapies in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Saavedra
- Department of Cell Biology, Immunology and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Carrer Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
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17
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Corner MA. Spontaneous neuronal burst discharges as dependent and independent variables in the maturation of cerebral cortex tissue cultured in vitro: a review of activity-dependent studies in live 'model' systems for the development of intrinsically generated bioelectric slow-wave sleep patterns. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 59:221-44. [PMID: 18722470 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2008.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2008] [Revised: 08/01/2008] [Accepted: 08/05/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
A survey is presented of recent experiments which utilize spontaneous neuronal spike trains as dependent and/or independent variables in developing cerebral cortex cultures when synaptic transmission is interfered with for varying periods of time. Special attention is given to current difficulties in selecting suitable preparations for carrying out biologically relevant developmental studies, and in applying spike-train analysis methods with sufficient resolution to detect activity-dependent age and treatment effects. A hierarchy of synchronized nested burst discharges which approximate early slow-wave sleep patterns in the intact organism is established as a stable basis for isolated cortex function. The complexity of reported long- and short-term homeostatic responses to experimental interference with synaptic transmission is reviewed, and the crucial role played by intrinsically generated bioelectric activity in the maturation of cortical networks is emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Corner
- Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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18
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Anwar MR, Andreasen CM, Lippert SK, Zimmer J, Martinez-Serrano A, Meyer M. Dopaminergic differentiation of human neural stem cells mediated by co-cultured rat striatal brain slices. J Neurochem 2008; 105:460-70. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.05164.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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19
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Snyder-Keller A, Tseng KY, Lyng GD, Graber DJ, O'Donnell P. Afferent influences on striatal development in organotypic cocultures. Synapse 2008; 62:487-500. [DOI: 10.1002/syn.20518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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20
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Bjerkén SA, Boger HA, Nelson M, Hoffer BJ, Granholm AC, Strömberg I. Effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor deletion on ventral mesencephalic organotypic tissue cultures. Brain Res 2007; 1133:10-9. [PMID: 17184739 PMCID: PMC2670563 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.11.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2006] [Revised: 11/01/2006] [Accepted: 11/14/2006] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is potent for survival and promotion of nerve fibers from midbrain dopamine neurons. It is also known to exert different effects on specific subpopulations of dopamine neurons. In organotypic tissue cultures, dopamine neurons form two diverse nerve fiber growth patterns, targeting the striatum differently. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of GDNF on the formation of dopamine nerve fibers. Organotypic tissue cultures of ventral mesencephalon of gdnf gene-deleted mice were studied. The results revealed that dopamine neurons survive in the absence of GDNF. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity demonstrated, in gdnf knockout and wildtype cultures, nerve fiber formation with two separate morphologies occurring either in the absence or the presence of astrocytes. The outgrowth that occurred in the absence of astrocytes was unaffected by gdnf deletion, whereas nerve fibers guided by the presence of astrocytes were affected in that they reached significantly shorter distances from the gdnf gene-deleted tissue slice, compared to those measured in wildtype cultures. Treatment with GDNF reversed this effect and increased nerve fiber density independent of genotype. Furthermore, migration of astrocytes reached significantly shorter distances from the tissue slice in GDNF knockout compared to wildtype cultures. Exogenous GDNF increased astrocytic migration in gdnf gene-deleted tissue cultures, comparable to lengths observed in wildtype tissue cultures. In conclusion, cultured midbrain dopamine neurons survive in the absence of GDNF, and the addition of GDNF improved dopamine nerve fiber formation - possibly as an indirect effect of astrocytic stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara af Bjerkén
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, S 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Heather A. Boger
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, S 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Matthew Nelson
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience and the Center on Aging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Barry J. Hoffer
- Cellular Neurophysiology, National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Ann-Charlotte Granholm
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience and the Center on Aging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Ingrid Strömberg
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, S 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
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21
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Zhang W, Shin EJ, Wang T, Lee PH, Pang H, Wie MB, Kim WK, Kim SJ, Huang WH, Wang Y, Zhang W, Hong JS, Kim HC. 3-Hydroxymorphinan, a metabolite of dextromethorphan, protects nigrostriatal pathway against MPTP-elicited damage both in vivo and in vitro. FASEB J 2007; 20:2496-511. [PMID: 17142799 DOI: 10.1096/fj.06-6006com] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the neuroprotective property of analogs of dextromethorphan (DM) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) models to identify neuroprotective drugs for Parkinson's disease (PD). In vivo studies showed that daily injections with DM analogs protected dopamine (DA) neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta and restored DA levels in striatum using two different models for PD. Of the five analogs studied, 3-hydroxymorphinan (3-HM), a metabolite of DM, was the most potent, and restored DA neuronal loss and DA depletion up to 90% of the controls. Behavioral studies showed an excellent correlation between potency for preventing toxin-induced decrease in motor activities and neuroprotective effects among the DM analogs studied, of which 3-HM was the most potent in attenuating behavioral damage. In vitro studies revealed two glia-dependent mechanisms for the neuroprotection by 3-HM. First, astroglia mediated the 3-HM-induced neurotrophic effect by increasing the gene expression of neurotrophic factors, which was associated with the increased acetylation of histone H3. Second, microglia participated in 3-HM-mediated neuroprotection by reducing MPTP-elicited reactive microgliosis as evidenced by the decreased production of reactive oxygen species. In summary, we show the potent neuroprotection by 3-HM in LPS and MPTP PD models investigated. With its high efficacy and low toxicity, 3-HM may be a novel therapy for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Neuropharmacology Section, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Chemistry, National Institute of Environmental Health Science/National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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22
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Lyng GD, Snyder-Keller A, Seegal RF. Dopaminergic development of prenatal ventral mesencephalon and striatum in organotypic co-cultures. Brain Res 2006; 1133:1-9. [PMID: 17196555 PMCID: PMC1850241 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.11.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2006] [Revised: 11/01/2006] [Accepted: 11/10/2006] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Using organotypic co-cultures of rat embryonic day 14 (E14) ventral mesencephalon (VM) and E21 striatum, we have described the developmental changes in (i) dopamine (DA) neurochemistry; (ii) numbers of DA neurons; and (iii) protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), DA transporter (DAT), and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD 65/67), over 17 days in vitro (DIV). Co-cultures demonstrated changes in DA development similar to those observed in vivo. The numbers of VM DA neurons remained relatively constant, while levels of VM DA progressively increased through 10 DIV. After 3 DIV, the levels of striatal DA increased substantially, through 10 DIV. Tissue levels of DA metabolites homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) reflected changes in tissue DA concentrations, indicating that release and metabolism of DA are similar to these characteristics observed in vivo. Western blot analysis of TH protein expression revealed large increases in VM TH after only 3 DIV, followed by a decline in levels through 17 DIV; levels of striatal TH, in contrast, increased through this period. Additionally, DAT and GAD 65/67 expression increased, in both the VM and striatum, over 17 DIV. By 17 DIV, many measures of DA function had decreased from those assessed at 10 DIV, thus providing an approximate limit to the effective duration of use of this co-culture model. Our results provide a much-needed description of the neurochemical changes that occur during the maturation of VM and striatum in organotypic co-cultures. Additionally, these results provide a foundation for future studies to assess toxic challenges of the developing nigrostriatal DA system, in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory D Lyng
- School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
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