Abstract
Primary neuronal culture and transient transfection offer a pair of crucial tools for neuroscience research, providing a controlled environment to study the behavior, function, and interactions of neurons in vitro. These cultures can be used to investigate fundamental aspects of neuronal development and plasticity, as well as disease mechanisms. There are numerous methods of transient transfection, such as electroporation, calcium phosphate precipitation, or cationic lipid transfection. In this protocol, we used electroporation for neurons immediately before plating and cationic lipid transfection for neurons that have been cultured for a few days in vitro. In our experience, the transfection efficiency of electroporation can be as high as 30%, and cationic lipid transfection has an efficiency of 1%-2%. While cationic lipid transfection has much lower efficiency than electroporation, it does offer the advantage of a higher expression level. Therefore, these transfection methods are suitable for different stages of neurons and different expression requirements. Key features • Culture of primary neurons from the CNS. • Electroporation for freshly isolated neurons in suspension. • Cationic lipid transfection for adherent neurons.