Neurodegeneration Assays

Primary Neuronal Cell Culture Assays with Stress Paradigms

Neuronal cell death is the central pathological mechanism in many diseases of the CNS, including degenerative disorders, trauma and brain ischemia. We use cultured cortico-hippocampal neurons isolated from E16 mouse embryos to evaluate the potential effect of a genetic modification or pharmacological agent on the viability of the neurons in the various stress paradigms, such as:

•    Ceramide-Induced Apoptosis
•    Glutamate-NMDA Excitotoxisity
•    Lactacystin-Induced Apoptosis
•    Staurosporine-Induced Apoptosis
•    Vitamin K-Induced Necrosis

In Vivo Kainic Acid Challenge

Neuronal cell death is the central pathological mechanism in many diseases of the CNS, including degenerative disorders, trauma and brain ischemia. This is a model used to assess the effect of genetic modification or potential therapeutic agents on the severity of hippocampal neurodegeneration following in vivo administration of kainic acid. Kainic acid is an agonist for the kainate receptors which are ionotropic glutamate receptors. Kainic acid is a potent central nervous system stimulant, that induces neuronal excitotoxicity which subsequently leads to neurodegeneration. The pattern and intensity of neurodegeneration observed after administration of Kainic acid in an animal depends on the dose and route of administration. In this assay hipoocampal neurodegeneration is induced by systemic administration of Kainic acid.  

Back to Assay List