Transfection of chicken cerebellar granule neurons used to study glucocorticoid receptor regulation by nuclear receptor 4A (NR4A)

Transfection is a useful tool for studying molecular signalling pathways. However, neurons have proven hard to transfect. In the present paper we have optimized a new electroporation procedure using the Cellaxess® system for transient transfection of adherent primary neurons from chicken (Gallus gallus) and compared it to a liposome based procedure using Metafectene® Pro.In order to evaluate the two methods, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function was chosen as a test. GRs are expressed in high amounts in the cerebellum. GR is regulated by another nuclear receptor (NGFI-B, the first member found in the NR4A family). We first showed that forskolin and phorbol ester activated an NR4A-dependent reporter gene indicating that members of the NR4A nuclear receptor family are present endogenously and upregulated by external stimuli. Then, transfected NGFI-B was shown to antagonize the dexamethasone-activated transcriptional activation by endogenous GR, leading to the conclusion that NR4A-family members are important modulators of GR mediated regulatory processes in the cerebellum, as in other cell types. Both transfection methods proved useful. While the electroporation technique yielded small rings with many transfected cells optimal for microscopy studies, the liposome based method resulted in transfected cells evenly distributed in the dish rendering this method well suited for biochemical studies.

Research highlights▶ A new electroporator gives high local transfection efficiency in neuron culture. ▶ Members of the NR4A nuclear receptor family are present in chicken neurons. ▶ NR4A family members are important modulators of glucocorticoid receptors in neurons.