Tissue engineering the monosynaptic circuit of the stretch reflex arc with co-culture of embryonic motoneurons and proprioceptive sensory neurons

    Authors

    X. F. Guo; J. E. Ayala; M. Gonzalez; M. Stancescu; S. Lambert;J. J. Hickman

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Biomaterials

    Keywords

    Proprioceptive sensory neurons; Dorsal root ganglion; Stretch reflex; arc; Motoneurons; DETA; Serum free; DORSAL-ROOT GANGLION; SKELETAL-MUSCLE COCULTURE; SPINAL-CORD-INJURY; SERUM-FREE MEDIUM; IN-VITRO; DEFINED SYSTEM; STEM-CELLS; ORGANOSILANE; SURFACE; HIPPOCAMPAL-NEURONS; SYNAPSE FORMATION; Engineering, Biomedical; Materials Science, Biomaterials

    Abstract

    The sensory circuit of the stretch reflex arc is composed of intrafusal muscle fibers and their innervating proprioceptive neurons that convert mechanical information regarding muscle length and tension into action potentials that synapse onto the homonymous motoneurons in the ventral spinal cord which innervate the extrafusal fibers of the same muscle. To date, the in vitro synaptic connection between proprioceptive sensory neurons and spinal motoneurons has not been demonstrated. A functional in vitro system demonstrating this connection would enable the understanding of feedback by the integration of sensory input into the spinal reflex arc. Here we report a co-culture of rat embryonic motoneurons and proprioceptive sensory neurons from dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in a defined serum-free medium on a synthetic silane substrate (DETA). Furthermore, we have demonstrated functional synapse formation in the co-culture by immunocytochemistry and electrophysiological analysis. This work will be valuable for enabling in vitro model systems for the study of spinal motor control and related pathologies such as spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy and spasticity by improving our understanding of the integration of the mechanosensitive feedback mechanism. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Biomaterials

    Volume

    33

    Issue/Number

    23

    Publication Date

    1-1-2012

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    5723

    Last Page

    5731

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000305597100007

    ISSN

    0142-9612

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