In Vitro Myelination of Peripheral Axons in a Coculture of Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Explants and Schwann Cells

Summary

In the coculture system of dorsal root ganglia and Schwann cells, myelination of the peripheral nervous system can be studied. This model provides experimental opportunities to observe and quantify peripheral myelination and to study the effects of compounds of interest on the myelin sheath.

Abstract

The process of myelination is essential to enable rapid and sufficient signal transduction in the nervous system. In the peripheral nervous system, neurons and Schwann cells engage in a complex interaction to control the myelination of axons. Disturbances of this interaction and breakdown of the myelin sheath are hallmarks of inflammatory neuropathies and occur secondarily in neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we present a coculture model of dorsal root ganglion explants and Schwann cells, which develops a robust myelination of peripheral axons to investigate the process of myelination in the peripheral nervous system, study axon-Schwann cell interactions, and evaluate the potential effects of therapeutic agents on each cell type separately. Methodologically, dorsal root ganglions of embryonic rats (E13.5) were harvested, dissociated from their surrounding tissue, and cultured as whole explants for 3 days. Schwann cells were isolated from 3-week-old adult rats, and sciatic nerves were enzymatically digested. The resulting Schwann cells were purified by magnetic-activated cell sorting and cultured under neuregulin and forskolin-enriched conditions. After 3 days of dorsal root ganglion explant culture, 30,000 Schwann cells were added to one dorsal root ganglion explant in a medium containing ascorbic acid. The first signs of myelination were detected on day 10 of coculture, through scattered signals for myelin basic protein in immunocytochemical staining. From day 14 onward, myelin sheaths were formed and propagated along the axons. Myelination can be quantified by myelin basic protein staining as a ratio of the myelination area and axon area, to account for the differences in axonal density. This model provides experimental opportunities to study various aspects of peripheral myelination in vitro, which is crucial for understanding the pathology of and possible treatment opportunities for demyelination and neurodegeneration in inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases of the peripheral nervous system.

Introduction

In the peripheral nervous system (PNS), rapid information transduction is mediated by myelin-enwrapped axons. The myelination of axons is essential to enable the fast propagation of electric impulses, since the conduction velocity of the nerve fibers correlates to the axon diameter and myelin thickness¹. Sensory signaling from the periphery to the central nervous system (CNS) relies on the activation of first-order sensory neurons that reside in enlargements of the dorsal root, termed dorsal root ganglia (DRG). For the formation and maintenance of myelin, continuous communication between axons and Schwann cells, which are the myelinating Glia cells in the PNS, is mandatory².

Many diseases of the PNS disturb the transduction of information by either primary axonal or demyelinating damage, resulting in hypesthesia or dysesthesia. First-order sensory neurons have the ability to regenerate to an extent after neuronal damage, by a complex interaction between the neuron and surrounding Schwann cells³. In this case, Schwann cells can undergo cellular reprogramming to clear axonal as well as myelin debris and promote axonal regeneration, resulting in remyelination⁴. Understanding the mechanisms of myelination in health and disease is important, in order to find possible treatment options for demyelinating disorders of the PNS. Myelin can also be damaged by acute neurotrauma, and approaches to promote myelination to advance functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury are under investigation⁵.

Our knowledge of peripheral myelination has benefited largely from myelinating cocultures of Schwann cells and sensory neurons. Since the first approaches were applied^6,7,8, myelination has been studied intensely with the use of different coculture systems^9,10,11. Here, we provide a rapid and facile protocol for robust in vitro myelination of dorsal root ganglion axons. The protocol for Schwann cell preparation is based on the protocol by Andersen et al.¹², previously published in Pitarokoili et al.¹³. We use Schwann cells derived from juvenile rats and embryonic DRG explant cultures for the coculture, in which myelination occurs at around day 14. The goal of the method is to provide a system to investigate the formation of myelin as a result of direct axon-Schwann cell interaction, and to study modulators of PNS myelination. In comparison to dissociated neuronal cell cultures, DRG explants are more anatomically preserved and form long axonal processes. Quantification of the myelinated axon area provides a sufficient readout for myelination in the coculture. The method is a valuable tool to screen therapeutic compounds for their potential effect on PNS myelination, and can also be utilized in addition to in vivo studies in animal models¹⁴.

Protocol

All procedures were performed in accordance with the European Communities Council Directive for the care and use of laboratory animals. 1. Schwann cell culture Coating for Schwann cell culture Coat the cell culture dishes under sterile conditions. Apply 2 mL of 0.01% poly-L-lysine (PLL) to two 60 mm tissue culture (TC) dishes each and incubate overnight at 4 °C. Remove the PLL, wash the TC dishes 2x with distilled water, and incubate wit…

Representative Results

Myelination in the coculture was assessed on days 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20. The DRG explants and Schwann cells were stained for MBP, βIII-tubulin, and DAPI. The axonal network in the coculture was dense and did not change visibly in the time course of the observation. The first signs of myelin, in the form of small fragments, were detectable on day 10 and increased on day 12 (Figure 2). The MBP-positive areas increased over time until day 20 of culture. The myelination was quantified …

Discussion

Here, we present a rapid and facile protocol for the generation of in vitro myelination by merging two separate cell type cultures, Schwann cells and dorsal root ganglion explants.

A critical step of the protocol is the cultivation of DRG explants, especially in the first days of culture. DRG are very fragile before a strong axonal network is built and must be handled very carefully, for example, when taken out of the incubator or during a change of medium. DRG that detach from the bo…

Materials

Anti-MBP, rabbit	Novus Biologicals, Centannial, USA	ABIN446360
Anti-ßIII-tubulin, mouse	Biolegend, San Diego, USA	657402
Ascorbic acid	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	A4403-100MG
B27-supplement	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	17504-044
Biosphere Filter Tip, 100 µL	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	70760212
Biosphere Filter Tip, 1250 µL	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	701186210
Biosphere Filter Tip, 20 µL	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	701114210
Biosphere Filter Tip, 300 µL	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	70765210
Bovine serum albumin	Carl Roth, Karlsruhe, Germany	8076.4
Cell strainer, 100 µM	BD Bioscience, Heidelberg, Germany	352360
Centrifuge 5810-R	Eppendorf AG, Hamburg, Germany	5811000015
CO2 Incubator Heracell	Heraeus Instruments, Hanau, Germany	51017865
Coverslips 12 mm	Carl Roth, Karlsruhe, Germany	P231.1
Curved fine forceps	Fine Science Tools GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany	11370-42
DAPI fluoromount-G(R)	Biozol, Eching, Germany	SBA-0100-20
Dispase II	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	4942078001
Distilled water (Water Purification System)	Millipore, Molsheim, France	ZLXS5010Y
DMEM/F-12, GlutaMAX	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	31331093
DPBS (no Ca2+ and no Mg2+)	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	D8537-6X500ML
Ethanol	VWR, Radnor, USA	1009862500
FCS	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	F7524	FCS must be tested for Schwann cell culture
Fine forceps (Dumont #5)	Fine Science Tools GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany	11252-20
Forceps	Fine Science Tools GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany	11370-40
Forskolin	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	F6886-10MG
Gelatin	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	G1393-20ML
Gentamycin	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	5710064
Goat anti-mouse IgG Alexa Fluor 488	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	A11036
Goat anti-rabbit IgG Alexa Fluor 568	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	A11001
HBSS (no Ca2+ and no Mg2+)	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	14170138
HERAcell Incubator	Heraeus Instruments, Hanau, Germany	51017865
Heraguard ECO 1.2	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	51029882
Horse serum	Pan-Biotech, Aidenbach, Germany	P30-0712
Image J Software	HIH, Bethesda, USA
Laminin	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	L2020-1MG
Leibovitz´s L-15 Medium	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	11415064
L-Glutamine 200 mM	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	25030024
MACS Multistand	Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany	130042303
Microscissors	Fine Science Tools GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany	15000-08
Microscope	Motic, Wetzlar, Germany	Motic BA 400
Microscope Axio observer 7	Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany	491917-0001-000
Microscope slide	VWR, Radnor, USA	630-1985
MiniMACS separator	Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany	130091632
MS columns	Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany	130-042-201
Neubauer counting chamber	Assistant, Erlangen, Germany	40441
Neuregulin	Peprotech, Rocky Hill, USA	100-03
Neurobasal medium	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	21103049
NGF	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	N1408
Normal goat serum	Biozol, Eching, Germany	S-1000
Nunclon Δ multidishes, 4 well	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	D6789
Paraformaldehyde	Acros Organics, New Jersey, USA	10342243
Penicillin/Streptomycin	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	15140-122
Pipetboy	Eppendorf AG, Hamburg, Germany	4430000018
Pipettes	Eppendorf AG, Hamburg, Germany	2231300004
Poly-D-Lysin	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	P6407-5MG
Poly-L-Lysin	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	P4707-50ML
Reaction tubes, 15 mL	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	62554502
Reaction tubes, 50 mL	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	62547254
Reaction vessels, 1.5 mL	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	72690001
Safety Cabinet S2020 1.8	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	51026640
Scissors	Fine Science Tools GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany	14083-08
Serological pipette, 10 mL	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	861254025
Serological pipette, 25 mL	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	861685001
Serological pipette, 5 mL	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	861253001
Spatula	Fine Science Tools GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany	10094-13
Stereomicroscope Discovery.V8	Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany	495015-0012-000
Surgical scissors	Fine Science Tools GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany	14007-14
TC dish 100, cell +	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	833902300
TC dish 35, cell +	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	833900300
TC dish 60, cell +	Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany	833901300
Thy-1 Microbeads (MACS Kit)	Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany	130-094-523
Triton X-100	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	X100-500ML
Trypan Blue Solution 0.4%	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	15250061
Trypsin (2.5%), no phenol red	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	15090-046
Trypsin-EDTA (0.05%), phenol red	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schwerte, Germany	25300-054
Type I Collagenase	Sigma Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany	C1639
Water bath type 1008	GFL, Burgwedel, Germany	4285