Research Paper Spotlight
Neurite Outgrowth: Spatially Restricted Exposure of Toxins to Neurons and its Impact on Axonal Degeneration Using AXIS System.
Spatially Restricted Exposure of Toxins to Neurons and its Impact on Axonal Degeneration Using AXIS™ System.

Investigations into neurotoxic effects have been hampered by the lack of an in vitro test system capable of separating axons from their cell bodies. Using a novel microfluidic AXonal Isolation System (AXIS System) we were able to spatially isolate axons so they could be directly and specifically exposed to neurotoxins.
Neurotrophic Factors in Neural Development

Neurite Outgrowth

During development, neurons make connections by growing in response to axon guidance cues, in a process known as neurite outgrowth. Recent research has focused on how extracellular gradients affect asymmetric distribution and function of proteins driving neurite outgrowth. Neurotrophins are one family of factors directing axon growth. Neurite outgrowth during nervous system development results in a network of synaptic connections between participating neurons.

Understanding neurite outgrowth can improve therapeutics for nervous system developmental disorders and neurodegenerative disease. Millipore’s products for studying neurite outgrowth help determine the mechanisms of axon growth.


AXIS™ Axon Investigation System:

An advanced platform for spatially controlled neurite outgrowth and analysis
Neurite Outgrowth
N1E-115 cells clearly demonstrate neurite outgrowth through the AXIS channels (150µm) using the Milli-Mark™ FluoroPan neuronal marker (MAB2300X) shown in green, versus DAPI (blue).
 AXIS Axon Isolation Device is a two chamber system, each composed of two wells and an interconnected channel, separated by a set of microgrooves. The hydrostatic pressure formed by volume differential between chambers induces fluidic isolation of the solution on the low volume side of the device.


Featured Products

Neurite Outgrowth Quantification Assay

EMD Millipore’s NS230 Neurite Outgrowth Assay Plus Kit (3 µm) utilizes microporous tissue culture insert technology from EMD Millipore and is based on the use of Millicell inserts which contain a permeable membrane with 3-µm pores. The Millicell inserts utilized in this kit are appropriate for cells projecting neurites of up to 3 µm.

Neurite Outgrowth Assay for quantitative cell imaging (high content analysis)

EMD Millipore’s HCS226 High Content Analysis kit for neurite outgrowth and synaptic activity is comprised of high-quality, validated, target-specific detection reagents for profiling ßIII-tubulin and synaptophysin, enabling analysis of neurotoxicity, synaptotoxicity, neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis, neuronal morphology and neuronal development. The highly-validated reagents provided with this kit allow the user to standardize assays, minimize assay-to-assay variability.