Astrocyte/Microglia Cocultures as a Model to Study Neuroinflammation

Methods Mol Biol. 2018:1727:127-137. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7571-6_10.

Abstract

Glial cell activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative disorders as well as in chronic and neuropathic pain. This chapter describes a model which allows one to assess the individual and combined contributions of astrocytes and microglia in response to a pro-inflammatory stimulus, with emphasis on ionotropic purinergic receptors.

Keywords: Astrocytes; Cell culture; Coculture; Microglia; Neuroinflammation; Rat.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Astrocytes / cytology*
  • Astrocytes / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques / methods*
  • Female
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Microglia / cytology*
  • Microglia / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Purinergic / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Purinergic