Analysis of Tooth Innervation in Microfluidic Coculture Devices

Abstract

Innervation plays a key role in the development, homeostasis, and regeneration of organs and tissues. However, the mechanisms underlying these phenomena are not well understood yet. In particular, the role of innervation in tooth development and regeneration is neglected. Cocultures constitute a valuable method to investigate and manipulate the interactions between nerve fibers and teeth in a controlled and isolated environment. Microfluidic systems for allow cocultures of neurons and different cell types in their appropriate culture media, while permitting the passage of axons from one compartment to the other. Here we describe how to isolate and coculture developing trigeminal ganglia and tooth germs in a microfluidic coculture system. This protocol describes a simple and flexible way to coculture ganglia/nerves and their target tissues and to study the roles of specific molecules on such interactions in a controlled and isolated environment.

Keywords: Coculture systems; Developmental biology; Innervation; Microfluidics; Orofacial development; Tooth; Trigeminal ganglion.