Neuronal Cell Culture Unit

The Neuronal Cell Culture Unit develops methods for the culture of primary neuronal cells and provides Neuroscience Center groups and other research groups in the Helsinki
region with cultured neurons. The neurons provided by the Unit include embryonic rat and mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons, cerebellar granule neurons, peripheral
ganglia neurons, hippocampal slice cultures, and neuronal and embryonic stem cells. The unit has facilities for transfection and viral transducion of gene constructs to primary neurons and slice cultures. In addition, the Unit provides cells and training related to production and
handling of primary neuronal cultures to investigators in other institutes and campuses, including Biomedicum. Centralization of primary neuronal culture activity is important in providing continuity and improving quality and consistency of these cultures. Furthermore, a core facility saves in expenses by optimizing the use of cells and cell culture materials.