BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium

Serum-free neurophysiological basal medium for improved neuronal function
概要
BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium is a serum-free neuronal basal medium. BrainPhys™ may be used to culture primary neurons or neurons derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Based on the formulation published by Cedric Bardy and Fred H. Gage (C Bardy et al. PNAS, 2015), BrainPhys™ is more representative of the central nervous system extracellular environment and increases the proportion of synaptically active neurons.

Applications of BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium include culture of primary neurons, differentiation and maturation of hPSC-derived neurons, microelectrode array-based recording of neuronal activity, live fluorescent imaging (including calcium imaging and optogenetics) and transdifferentiation of somatic cells to neurons.

To ensure cell survival in long-term serum-free culture, BrainPhys™ must be combined with an appropriate supplement. For your convenience, various BrainPhys™ kits are available for primary or hPSC-derived neurons. BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium and SM1 Kit (Catalog #05792) is recommended for culture of primary neurons. BrainPhys™ Primary Neuron Kit (Catalog #05794) is recommended for plating and culture of primary neurons. BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium N2-A & SM1 Kit (Catalog #05793) and BrainPhys™ hPSC Neuron Kit (Catalog #05795) are recommended for the differentiation and maturation of hPSC-derived neurons, in combination with lineage-specific growth factors and/or small molecules (if necessary).
Advantages
• More representative of the brain’s extracellular environment
• Improved neuronal function and a higher proportion of synaptically active neurons
• Perform functional assays without changing media and shocking cells
• Supports long-term culture of ES/iPS cell- and CNS-derived neurons
• Rigorous raw material screening and quality control ensure minimal lot-to-lot variability
Components
  • BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium and SM1 Kit (Catalog #05792)
    • BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium, 500 mL (Catalog #05790)
    • NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement, 10 mL (Catalog #05711)
  • BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium N2-A & SM1 Kit (Catalog #05793)
    • BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium, 500 mL (Catalog #05790)
    • NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement, 10 mL (Catalog #05711)
    • N2 Supplement-A, 5 mL (Catalog #07152)
  • BrainPhys™ Primary Neuron Kit (Catalog #05794)
    • NeuroCult™ Neuronal Plating Medium, 100 mL (Catalog #05713)
    • NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement, 10 mL (Catalog #05711)
    • BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium, 500 mL (Catalog #05790)
  • BrainPhys™ hPSC Neuron Kit (Catalog #05795)
    • BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium, 500 mL (Catalog #05790)
    • NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement, 10 mL (Catalog #05711)
    • N2 Supplement-A, 5 mL (Catalog #07152)
    • Human Recombinant BDNF, 10 µg (Catalog #78005)
    • Human Recombinant GDNF, 10 µg (Catalog #78058)
Subtype
Basal Media, Specialized Media
Cell Type
Neural Cells, PSC-Derived, Neurons, Pluripotent Stem Cells
Species
Human, Mouse, Rat
Application
Cell Culture, Differentiation, Maintenance
Brand
BrainPhys
Area of Interest
Disease Modeling, Drug Discovery and Toxicity Testing, Neuroscience, Stem Cell Biology
Formulation
Serum-Free
数据及文献

Data

Table 1. Properties of Culture Media (C Bardy et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2015)

Check-mark denotes physiological conditions

Check-mark denotes physiological conditions and supported activities according to C Bardy et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2015.

Rodent Neurons Matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium

Figure 1. Protocol for Plating and Culturing Primary Neurons with the SM1 Culture System

Primary rodent tissue dissociated in papain was plated in NeuroCult™ Neuronal Plating Medium, supplemented with NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement, L-Glutamine, and L-Glutamic Acid. On day 5, primary neurons were transitioned to BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium, supplemented with NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement, by performing half-medium changes every 3 - 4 days.

Rodent Neurons Matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium

Figure 2. Protocol for Culturing hPSCs with the SM1 Culture System

hPSCs were maintained in mTeSR™1 medium and then differentiated using the STEMdiff™ SMADi Neural Induction Kit. Following plating on PLO/laminin, half-medium changes were performed to transition to BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium for maturation and long-term culture.

Primary Neuronal Cultures Matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium Have Greater Numbers of Neurons

Figure 3. The SM1 Culture System Supports Long-Term Culture of Rodent Neurons

Primary E18 rat cortical neurons were cultured in the SM1 Culture System. A large number of viable neurons are visible after (A) 21 and (B) 35 days, as demonstrated by their bright neuronal cell bodies, and extensive neurite outgrowth and branching. Neurons are evenly distributed over the culture surface with minimal cell clumping.

Rodent Neuronal Cultures Matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium Show Improved Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Activity

Figure 4. Pre- and Post-Synaptic Markers are Expressed in Rodent Neurons Cultured in the SM1 Culture System

Primary E18 rat cortical neurons were cultured in the SM1 Culture System. At 21 DIV, neurons are phenotypically mature, as indicated by the presence of an extensive dendritic arbor, and appropriate expression and localization of pre-synaptic synapsin (A,C; green) and post-synaptic PSD-95 (A,B; red) markers. Synapsin is concentrated in discrete puncta distributed along the somata and dendritic processes, as defined by the dendritic marker MAP2 (A,D; blue).

Expression of Pre-Synaptic Markers in Rodent Neurons Matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium

Figure 5. The SM1 Culture System Supports Increased Cell Survival

(A) Primary E18 rat cortical neurons were cultured in the SM1 Culture System or a Competitor Culture System for 21 days. Neurons cultured in the SM1 Culture System have a significantly higher number of viable cells compared to the competitor culture system (n = 4; mean ± 95% CI; *p < 0.05). (B) Primary E18 rat cortical neurons were cultured in Neurobasal® supplemented with NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement (SM1) or competitor B27-like supplements (Competitor 1,2,3) for 21 days. Cultures supplemented with NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement have an equal number of neurons compared to competitor-supplemented cultures. Bars represent standard error of mean.

Rodent Neurons Matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium

Figure 6. Rodent Neuronal Cultures Matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium Show Improved Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Activity

(A,C) Primary rat E18 cortical neurons were plated in NeuroCult™ Neuronal Basal Medium (product superseded with NeuroCult™ Neuronal Plating Medium which is a part of the BrainPhys™ Primary Neuron Kit), supplemented with NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement. After 5 DIV, the cultures were transitioned to BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium, supplemented with NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement, by performing half-medium changes every 3 - 4 days. Neurons were cultured for 21 DIV. (B,D) Primary rat E18 cortical neurons were plated and matured in a competitor neuronal medium (Neurobasal®), supplemented with NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement for 21 DIV. (A,C) Neurons matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium showed spontaneous excitatory (AMPA-mediated; A) and inhibitory (GABA-mediated; C) synaptic events. The frequency and amplitude of spontaneous synaptic events is consistently greater in neuronal cultures matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium, compared to neurons plated and matured in a competitor neuronal medium (B,D). Traces are representative.

Rodent Neurons Matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium

Figure 7. Primary Neuronal Cultures Matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium Show Improved Electrical Activity in Microelectrode-Array Systems

Primary rat E18 cortical neurons were plated in a competitor neuronal medium (Neurobasal®) supplemented with NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement. After 5 DIV, half of the cultures were transitioned to BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium, supplemented with NeuroCult™ SM1 Neuronal Supplement, by performing half-medium changes every 3 - 4 days. The other half of the cultures were maintained in the competitor neuronal medium throughout. The electrical activities of the neuronal cultures were measured twice a week using a microelectrode array (MEA) system (Axion Biosystems). (A) The mean firing rate of neurons cultured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium increases over time, whereas the mean firing rate of neurons in the competitor neuronal medium condition remains low (n = 1; mean ± SEM, 128 electrodes). (B) The percentage of active electrodes (>0.005 Hz) of neurons matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium increases from 24% on day 14 to 69% on day 21, and then remains stable at 60 – 70% from days 21 – 44. In contrast, < 5% of electrodes was active in the competitor neuronal medium condition over the same 6-week period.

hPSC-Derived Neurons Generated in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium Express Markers of Neuronal Maturity After 14 and 44 Days of Differentiation

Figure 8. hPSC-Derived Neurons Generated in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium Express Markers of Neuronal Maturity After 14 and 44 Days of Differentiation

NPCs were generated from H9 cells using STEMdiff™ Neural Induction Medium in an embryoid body-based protocol. Next, NPCs were cultured in (A,C) BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium, supplemented with 2% NeuroCult™ SM1 Supplement, 1% N2 Supplement-A, 20 ng/mL GDNF, 20 ng/mL BDNF, 1 mM db-cAMP and 200 nM ascorbic acid to initiate neuronal differentiation, or (B,D) DMEM/F12 under the same supplementation conditions. After 14 and 44 days of differentiation and maturation, neurons express the synaptic marker Synapsin 1 (green) and the mature neuronal marker MAP2 (red). In this example, neurons matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium show increased Synapsin 1 staining. Scale bar= 100 µm

hPSC-Derived Neurons Generated in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium and NeuroCult™ SM1 and N2 Supplements are Healthy and Morphologically Normal

Figure 9. hPSC-Derived Neurons Generated in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium and NeuroCult™ SM1 and N2 Supplements are Healthy and Morphologically Normal

NPCs were generated from H9 cells using STEMdiff™ Neural Induction Medium in an embryoid body-based protocol. Next, NPCs were cultured for 44 DIV in (A) BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium, supplemented with 2% NeuroCult™ SM1 Supplement, 1% N2 Supplement-A, 20 ng/mL GDNF, 20 ng/mL BDNF, 1 mM db-cAMP and 200 nM ascorbic acid to initiate neuronal differentiation, or (B) DMEM/F12 under the same supplementation conditions. Neuronal cultures differentiated from NPCs in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium display extensive neurite outgrowth and reduced cellular debris compared to cultures differentiated in DMEM/F12. Scale bar= 100 µm.

hPSC-Derived Neurons Matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium Show Improved Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Activity

Figure 10. hPSC-Derived Neurons Matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium Show Improved Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Activity

NPCs were generated from H9 cells using STEMdiff™ Neural Induction Medium in an embryoid body-based protocol. Next, NPCs were cultured for 44 DIV in (A,C) BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium, supplemented with 2% NeuroCult™ SM1 Supplement, 1% N2 Supplement-A, 20 ng/mL GDNF, 20 ng/mL BDNF, 1 mM db-cAMP and 200 nM ascorbic acid to initiate neuronal differentiation, or (B,D) in DMEM/F12 under the same supplementation conditions. (A,C) Neurons matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium showed spontaneous excitatory (AMPA-mediated; A) and inhibitory (GABA-mediated; C) synaptic events. The frequency and amplitude of spontaneous synaptic events is consistently greater in neuronal cultures matured in BrainPhys™ Neuronal Medium, compared to neurons plated and matured in DMEM/F12 (B,D). Traces are representative.

Publications (52)

Viruses 2020 mar Modelling Lyssavirus Infections in Human Stem Cell-Derived Neural Cultures. V. Sundaramoorthy et al.
Abstract
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Abstract

Rabies is a zoonotic neurological infection caused by lyssavirus that continues to result in devastating loss of human life. Many aspects of rabies pathogenesis in human neurons are not well understood. Lack of appropriate ex-vivo models for studying rabies infection in human neurons has contributed to this knowledge gap. In this study, we utilize advances in stem cell technology to characterize rabies infection in human stem cell-derived neurons. We show key cellular features of rabies infection in our human neural cultures, including upregulation of inflammatory chemokines, lack of neuronal apoptosis, and axonal transmission of viruses in neuronal networks. In addition, we highlight specific differences in cellular pathogenesis between laboratory-adapted and field strain lyssavirus. This study therefore defines the first stem cell-derived ex-vivo model system to study rabies pathogenesis in human neurons. This new model system demonstrates the potential for enabling an increased understanding of molecular mechanisms in human rabies, which could lead to improved control methods.
Analytical chemistry 2020 One-Stop Microfluidic Assembly of Human Brain Organoids To Model Prenatal Cannabis Exposure. Z. Ao et al.
Abstract
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Abstract

Prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) influences human brain development, but it is challenging to model PCE using animals and current cell culture techniques. Here, we developed a one-stop microfluidic platform to assemble and culture human cerebral organoids from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) to investigate the effect of PCE on early human brain development. By incorporating perfusable culture chambers, air-liquid interface, and one-stop protocol, this microfluidic platform can simplify the fabrication procedure and produce a large number of organoids (169 organoids per 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm device area) without fusion, as compared with conventional fabrication methods. These one-stop microfluidic assembled cerebral organoids not only recapitulate early human brain structure, biology, and electrophysiology but also have minimal size variation and hypoxia. Under on-chip exposure to the psychoactive cannabinoid, $\Delta$-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cerebral organoids exhibited reduced neuronal maturation, downregulation of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) receptors, and impaired neurite outgrowth. Moreover, transient on-chip THC treatment also decreased spontaneous firing in these organoids. This one-stop microfluidic technique enables a simple, scalable, and repeatable organoid culture method that can be used not only for human brain organoids but also for many other human organoids including liver, kidney, retina, and tumor organoids. This technology could be widely used in modeling brain and other organ development, developmental disorders, developmental pharmacology and toxicology, and drug screening.
Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology 2020 Maturation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cerebellar Neurons in the Absence of Co-culture. T. P. Silva et al.
Abstract
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Abstract

The cerebellum plays a critical role in all vertebrates, and many neurological disorders are associated with cerebellum dysfunction. A major limitation in cerebellar research has been the lack of adequate disease models. As an alternative to animal models, cerebellar neurons differentiated from pluripotent stem cells have been used. However, previous studies only produced limited amounts of Purkinje cells. Moreover, in vitro generation of Purkinje cells required co-culture systems, which may introduce unknown components to the system. Here we describe a novel differentiation strategy that uses defined medium to generate Purkinje cells, granule cells, interneurons, and deep cerebellar nuclei projection neurons, that self-formed and differentiated into electrically active cells. Using a defined basal medium optimized for neuronal cell culture, we successfully promoted the differentiation of cerebellar precursors without the need for co-culturing. We anticipate that our findings may help developing better models for the study of cerebellar dysfunctions, while providing an advance toward the development of autologous replacement strategies for treating cerebellar degenerative diseases.
Advanced healthcare materials 2019 oct Soluble Signals and Remodeling in a Synthetic Gelatin-Based Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche. A. E. Gilchrist et al.
Abstract
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Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in the bone marrow within niches that provide microenvironmental signals in the form of biophysical cues, bound and diffusible biomolecules, and heterotypic cell-cell interactions that influence HSC fate decisions. This study seeks to inform the development of a synthetic culture platform that promotes ex vivo HSC expansion without exhaustion. A library of methacrylamide-functionalized gelatin (GelMA) hydrogels is used to explore remodeling and crosstalk from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) on the expansion and quiescence of murine HSCs. The use of a degradable GelMA hydrogel enables MSC-mediated remodeling, yielding dynamic shifts in the matrix environment over time. An initially low-diffusivity hydrogel for co-culture of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to MSCs facilitates maintenance of an early progenitor cell population over 7 days. Excitingly, this platform promotes retention of a quiescent HSC population compared to HSC monocultures. These studies reveal MSC-density-dependent upregulation of MMP-9 and changes in hydrogel mechanical properties ($\Delta$E = 2.61 ± 0.72) suggesting MSC-mediated matrix remodeling may contribute to a dynamic culture environment. Herein, a 3D hydrogel is reported for ex vivo HSC culture, in which HSC expansion and quiescence is sensitive to hydrogel properties, MSC co-culture, and MSC-mediated hydrogel remodeling.
Scientific reports 2019 oct Small extracellular vesicles convey the stress-induced adaptive responses of melanoma cells. M. Harmati et al.
Abstract
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Abstract

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), playing a crucial role in the intercellular communication in physiological as well as pathological processes. Here, we aimed to study whether the melanoma-derived sEV-mediated communication could adapt to microenvironmental stresses. We compared B16F1 cell-derived sEVs released under normal and stress conditions, including cytostatic, heat and oxidative stress. The miRNome and proteome showed substantial differences across the sEV groups and bioinformatics analysis of the obtained data by the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis also revealed significant functional differences. The in silico predicted functional alterations of sEVs were validated by in vitro assays. For instance, melanoma-derived sEVs elicited by oxidative stress increased Ki-67 expression of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs); cytostatic stress-resulted sEVs facilitated melanoma cell migration; all sEV groups supported microtissue generation of MSC-B16F1 co-cultures in a 3D tumour matrix model. Based on this study, we concluded that (i) molecular patterns of tumour-derived sEVs, dictated by the microenvironmental conditions, resulted in specific response patterns in the recipient cells; (ii) in silico analyses could be useful tools to predict different stress responses; (iii) alteration of the sEV-mediated communication of tumour cells might be a therapy-induced host response, with a potential influence on treatment efficacy.
Stem Cell Research 2019 oct Detection of all adult Tau isoforms in a 3D culture model of iPSC-derived neurons L. Miguel et al.
Abstract
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Abstract

Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the presence of pathological intracellular deposits of Tau proteins. Six isoforms of Tau are expressed in the adult human brain, resulting from alternative splicing of the MAPT gene. Tau splicing is developmentally regulated such that only the smallest Tau isoform is expressed in fetal brain, contrary to the adult brain showing the expression of all 6 isoforms. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) technology has opened up new perspectives in human disease modeling, including tauopathies. However, a major challenge to in vitro recapitulation of Tau pathology in iPSC-derived neurons is their relative immaturity. In this study, we examined the switch in Tau splicing from fetal-only to all adult Tau isoforms during the differentiation of iPSC-derived neurons in a new 3D culture system. First, we showed that iPSC-induced neurons inside Matrigel-coated alginate capsules were able to differentiate into cortical neurons. Then, using a new assay that allowed both the qualitative and the quantitative analysis of all adult MAPT mRNA isoforms individually, we demonstrated that BrainPhys-maintained neurons expressed the 6 adult MAPT mRNA transcripts from 25 weeks of maturation, making this model highly suitable for modeling Tau pathology and therapeutic purposes.
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