title: Simulating pancreatic neuroplasticity: in vitro dual-neuron plasticity assay.
abstract: Neuroplasticity is an inherent feature of the enteric nervous system and gastrointestinal (GI) innervation under pathological conditions. However, the pathophysiological role of neuroplasticity in GI disorders remains unknown. Novel experimental models which allow simulation and modulation of GI neuroplasticity may enable enhanced appreciation of the contribution of neuroplasticity in particular GI diseases such as pancreatic cancer (PCa) and chronic pancreatitis (CP). Here, we present a protocol for simulation of pancreatic neuroplasticity under in vitro conditions using newborn rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and myenteric plexus (MP) neurons. This dual-neuron approach not only permits monitoring of both organ-intrinsic and -extrinsic neuroplasticity, but also represents a valuable tool to assess neuronal and glial morphology and electrophysiology. Moreover, it allows functional modulation of supplied microenvironmental contents for studying their impact on neuroplasticity. Once established, the present neuroplasticity assay bears the potential of being applicable to the study of neuroplasticity in any GI organ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München; ekin.demir@tum.de.
authors.forename: Ihsan Ekin
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tieftrunk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern/Zweibrücken.
authors.forename: Karl-Herbert
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Friess
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München.
authors.forename: Güralp O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Ceyhan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000294:innervation; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation*; D051381:Rats