Method of derivation and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells generating synchronous neuronal networks.

Authors

Elena V Gazina
Emma Morrisroe
Gunarathna D C Mendis
Anna E Michalska
Joseph Chen
Christian M Nefzger
Benjamin N Rollo
Christopher A Reid
Martin Pera, The Jackson LaboratoryFollow
Steven Petrou

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2018

JAX Source

J Neurosci Methods 2018 Jan 1; 293:53-58.

Volume

293

First Page

53

Last Page

58

ISSN

1872-678X

PMID

28827162

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.08.018

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Stem cells-derived neuronal cultures hold great promise for in vitro disease modelling and drug screening. However, currently stem cells-derived neuronal cultures do not recapitulate the functional properties of primary neurons, such as network properties. Cultured primary murine neurons develop networks which are synchronised over large fractions of the culture, whereas neurons derived from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) display only partly synchronised network activity and human pluripotent stem cells-derived neurons have mostly asynchronous network properties. Therefore, strategies to improve correspondence of derived neuronal cultures with primary neurons need to be developed to validate the use of stem cell-derived neuronal cultures as in vitro models.

NEW METHOD: By combining serum-free derivation of ESCs from mouse blastocysts with neuronal differentiation of ESCs in morphogen-free adherent culture we generated neuronal networks with properties recapitulating those of mature primary cortical cultures.

RESULTS: After 35days of differentiation ESC-derived neurons developed network activity very similar to that of mature primary cortical neurons. Importantly, ESC plating density was critical for network development.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S): Compared to the previously published methods this protocol generated more synchronous neuronal networks, with high similarity to the networks formed in mature primary cortical culture.

CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that ESC-derived neuronal networks recapitulating key properties of mature primary cortical networks can be generated by optimising both stem cell derivation and differentiation. This validates the approach of using ESC-derived neuronal cultures for disease modelling and in vitro drug screening.

J Neurosci Methods 2018 Jan 1; 293:53-58.

Recommended Citation

Gazina E, Morrisroe E, Mendis G, Michalska A, Chen J, Nefzger C, Rollo B, Reid C, Pera M, Petrou S. Method of derivation and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells generating synchronous neuronal networks. J Neurosci Methods 2018 Jan 1; 293:53-58.