Neurodegeneration, 2011 Methods and Protocols Methods in Molecular Biology Series, Vol. 793

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease are a growing burden on our society. Understanding and treating these common diseases is one of the major current challenges for the biomedical field. In Neurodegeneration: Methods and Protocols, experts in the field tackle this challenge and present cutting-edge analytical and technological approaches to study the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative processes. Organizes into five sections, chapters detail protocols for isolating and culturing cells from the nervous system, production and use of animal models, characterization of cell death, analytical tools to study disease mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches for neurodegeneration. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology?  series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and easily accessible, Neurodegeneration: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal guide to both novice and professional researchers in the field of neurodegeneration.

Introduction to Neurodegenerative Diseases and Related Techniques.- In vivo and In vitro Determination of Cell Death Markers in Neurons.- Degenerating Processes Identified by Electron Microscopic Immunocytochemical Methods.- Isolation and Culture of Neurons and Astrocytes from the Mouse Brain Cortex.- Isolation and Culture of Postnatal Spinal Motoneurons.- Converting Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Neural Tissue and Neurons to Model Neurodegeneration.- Neural Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.- Developing Yeast Models of Human Neurodegenerative Disorders.- Modeling Dopamine Neuron Degeneration in C. elegans.- Role of the Proteasome in Fly Models of Neurodegeneration.- Modeling Neurodegenerative Diseases in Zebrafish Embryos.- Practical Considerations of Genetic Rodent Models for Neurodegenerative Diseases.- Modeling Focal Cerebral Ischemia In vivo.- Pharmacological Models of Parkison's Disease in Rodents.- Behavioral Phenotyping of Mouse Models of Neurodegeneration.- Characterization of Amyloid Deposits in Neurodegenerative Diseases.- Detection of Protein Aggregates in Neurodegenerative Diseases.- Assessment of Proteasome Impairment and Accumulation/Aggregation of Ubiquitinated Proteins in Neuronal Cultures.- Measurements of Threshold of Mitochondrial Transition Pore Opening in Intact and Permeabilized Cells by Flash Photolysis of Caged Calcium.- Isolation and Functional Assessment of Mitochondria from Small Amounts of Mouse Brain Tissue.- Monitoring Mitophagy in Neuronal Cell Cultures.- Analysis of Vesicular Trafficking in Primary Neurons by Live Imaging.- Surface Trafficking of Sodium Channels in Cells and in Hippocampal Slices.- Imaging Presynaptic Exocytosis in Corticostriatal Slices.- Microscopic Imaging of Intracellular Calcium in Live Cells using Lifetime based Ratiometric Measurements of Oregon Green BAPTA-1.- Electrophysiological Characterization of Neuromuscular Synaptic Dysfunction in Mice.- Determination of Neurotransmitter Levels in Models of Parkinson’s Disease by HPLC-ECD.- Designing, Performing, and Interpreting a Microarray-based Gene Expression Study.- Adeno-associated Viral Gene Transfer for Neurodegenerative Diseases.- Specific Gene Silencing using RNAi in Cell Culture.- Stem Cell Transplantation for Spinal Cord Neurodegeneration.- Evaluation of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors as Therapeutics for Neurodegenerative Diseases.