ORGANOTYPIC SLICE CULTURES AND USES THEREOF

摘要

The slice culture system allows for the long term survival of both mouse and rat sagittal sections. These sections can be kept viable for periods longer than 6 weeks in culture. Slice culture model systems provide a unique opportunity to monitor and lesion brain circuits in a dish. and cells can be tracked in real time. In addition, cell differentiation can be observed within these slices and the effects of morphogenetic proteins, e.g. extracellular matrix molecules, drugs or small molecules can be observed. This unique culture system provides a useful new method for screening cell and molecular therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.