title: Culturing mouse cerebellar granule neurons.
abstract: The cerebellum plays an important role in motor control, motor skill acquisition, memory and learning among other brain functions. In rodents, cerebellar development continues after birth, characterized by the maturation of granule neurons. Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) are the most abundant neuronal type in the central nervous system, and they provide an excellent model for investigating molecular, -cellular, and physiological mechanisms underlying neuronal development as well as neural circuitry linked to behavior. Here we describe a procedure to isolate and culture CGNs from postnatal day 6 mice. These cultures can be used to examine numerous aspects of CGN differentiation, electrophysiology, and function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Tharakeswari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Selvakumar
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology*; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*