Abstract
Developing nerve growth factor (NGF)-dependent sympathetic neurons are one of the best-studied in vitro models of neuronal apoptosis and have been used to identify key components of the neuronal cell death pathway. This chapter describes how to prepare purified cultures of primary sympathetic neurons and how to induce apoptosis by NGF deprivation. In addition, a simple method for measuring neuronal viability based on the live/dead assay is also described. This can be used for assessing the effect of small molecule inhibitors of protein kinases, caspases and other enzymes, on NGF withdrawal-induced death.
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© 2004 Humana Press Inc.
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Whitfield, J., Neame, S.J., Ham, J. (2004). Methods for Culturing Primary Sympathetic Neurons and for Determining Neuronal Viability. In: Brady, H.J.M. (eds) Apoptosis Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 282. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-812-9:157
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-812-9:157
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-873-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-812-0
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