Generation of cortical neurons from mouse embryonic stem cells. 2009

Nicolas Gaspard, and Tristan Bouschet, and Adèle Herpoel, and Gilles Naeije, and Jelle van den Ameele, and Pierre Vanderhaeghen
Institute of Interdisciplinary Research on Human and Molecular Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) constitute a tool of great potential in neurobiology, enabling the directed differentiation of specific neural cell types. We have shown recently that neurons of the cerebral cortex can be generated from mouse ESCs cultured in a chemically defined medium that contains no morphogen, but in the presence of the sonic hedgehog inhibitor cyclopamine. Corticogenesis from ESCs recapitulates the most important steps of cortical development, leading to the generation of multipotent cortical progenitors that sequentially produce cortical pyramidal neurons displaying distinct layer-specific identities. The protocol provides a most reductionist cellular model to tackle the complex mechanisms of cortical development and function, thereby opening new perspectives for the modeling of cortical diseases and the design of novel neurological treatments, while offering an alternative to animal use. In this protocol, we describe a method by which millions of cortical neurons can be generated in 2-3 weeks, starting from a single frozen vial of ESCs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009474 Neurons The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D002454 Cell Differentiation Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs. Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002540 Cerebral Cortex The thin layer of GRAY MATTER on the surface of the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES that develops from the TELENCEPHALON and folds into gyri and sulci. It reaches its highest development in humans and is responsible for intellectual faculties and higher mental functions. Allocortex,Archipallium,Cortex Cerebri,Cortical Plate,Paleocortex,Periallocortex,Allocortices,Archipalliums,Cerebral Cortices,Cortex Cerebrus,Cortex, Cerebral,Cortical Plates,Paleocortices,Periallocortices,Plate, Cortical
D003470 Culture Media Any liquid or solid preparation made specifically for the growth, storage, or transport of microorganisms or other types of cells. The variety of media that exist allow for the culturing of specific microorganisms and cell types, such as differential media, selective media, test media, and defined media. Solid media consist of liquid media that have been solidified with an agent such as AGAR or GELATIN. Media, Culture
D005455 Fluorescent Antibody Technique Test for tissue antigen using either a direct method, by conjugation of antibody with fluorescent dye (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, DIRECT) or an indirect method, by formation of antigen-antibody complex which is then labeled with fluorescein-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antibody (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, INDIRECT). The tissue is then examined by fluorescence microscopy. Antinuclear Antibody Test, Fluorescent,Coon's Technique,Fluorescent Antinuclear Antibody Test,Fluorescent Protein Tracing,Immunofluorescence Technique,Coon's Technic,Fluorescent Antibody Technic,Immunofluorescence,Immunofluorescence Technic,Antibody Technic, Fluorescent,Antibody Technics, Fluorescent,Antibody Technique, Fluorescent,Antibody Techniques, Fluorescent,Coon Technic,Coon Technique,Coons Technic,Coons Technique,Fluorescent Antibody Technics,Fluorescent Antibody Techniques,Fluorescent Protein Tracings,Immunofluorescence Technics,Immunofluorescence Techniques,Protein Tracing, Fluorescent,Protein Tracings, Fluorescent,Technic, Coon's,Technic, Fluorescent Antibody,Technic, Immunofluorescence,Technics, Fluorescent Antibody,Technics, Immunofluorescence,Technique, Coon's,Technique, Fluorescent Antibody,Technique, Immunofluorescence,Techniques, Fluorescent Antibody,Techniques, Immunofluorescence,Tracing, Fluorescent Protein,Tracings, Fluorescent Protein
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
D053595 Embryonic Stem Cells Cells derived from the BLASTOCYST INNER CELL MASS which forms before implantation in the uterine wall. They retain the ability to divide, proliferate and provide progenitor cells that can differentiate into specialized cells. Stem Cells, Embryonic,Cell, Embryonic Stem,Cells, Embryonic Stem,Embryonic Stem Cell,Stem Cell, Embryonic
D018929 Cell Culture Techniques Methods for maintaining or growing CELLS in vitro. Cell Culture,Cell Culture Technique,Cell Cultures,Culture Technique, Cell,Culture Techniques, Cell
D020133 Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction A variation of the PCR technique in which cDNA is made from RNA via reverse transcription. The resultant cDNA is then amplified using standard PCR protocols. Polymerase Chain Reaction, Reverse Transcriptase,Reverse Transcriptase PCR,PCR, Reverse Transcriptase,Transcriptase PCR, Reverse

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