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Alzheimer's Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia pp 141–153Cite as

Aβ Toxicity in Primary Cultured Neurons

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 670))

Abstract

The aggregation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) into soluble oligomers is considered an early event in Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, the presence of these aggregates seems to lead to neurodegeneration in the context of this disease. However, the mechanisms underlying Aβ-induced neurotoxicity are not completely understood. Primary cultures of pyramidal neurons have proven to be an excellent model system for the study of such mechanisms. These cultures provide a homogenous population of neurons that extend and differentiate axons and dendrites and that establish functional synapses among them. In addition, the neurotoxic effects of preaggregated Aβ can be easily analyzed both morphologically and biochemically. Here, we describe in detail the materials and methods used for the preparation and maintenance of primary cultures of hippocampal pyramidal neurons, as well as for the aggregation of and treatment with Aβ.

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Acknowledgments

Research in our laboratory is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NS39080), Alzheimer’s Association, and The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association to A.F.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Adriana Ferreira, Roxana C. Sinjoanu, Alexandra Nicholson & Sara Kleinschmidt

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  1. Adriana Ferreira
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  2. Roxana C. Sinjoanu
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  3. Alexandra Nicholson
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  4. Sara Kleinschmidt
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ctr. Neurodegeneration & Experimental Th, Depts. of Neurology and Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University Blvd. 1825, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA

    Erik D. Roberson

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© 2010 Humana Press

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Ferreira, A., Sinjoanu, R.C., Nicholson, A., Kleinschmidt, S. (2010). Aβ Toxicity in Primary Cultured Neurons. In: Roberson, E. (eds) Alzheimer's Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 670. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-744-0_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-744-0_11

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

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