Mitochondrial bioenergetics and neuronal survival modelled in primary neuronal culture and isolated nerve terminals

Mitochondria play multiple roles in the maintenance of neuronal function under physiological and pathological conditions. In addition to ATP generation, they can act as major short-term calcium sinks and can both generate, and be damaged by, reactive oxygen species. Two complementary preparations have been extensively employed to investigate in situ neuronal mitochondrial bioenergetics, primary neuronal cultures and acutely isolated nerve terminals, synaptosomes. A major focus of the cell culture preparation has been the investigation of glutamate excitotoxicity. Oxidative phosphorylation, calcium transport and reactive oxygen species play complex interlocking roles in the life and death of the glutamate exposed neuron. Synaptosomes may be isolated from specific brain regions at any developmental stage and therefore provide a valuable ex vivo approach in studying mouse models. Recent advances have allowed synaptosomal bioenergetics to be studied on a microgram scale, and, in combination with approaches to correct for functional and transmitter heterogeneity, have allowed hypotheses concerning presynaptic mitochondrial dysfunction to be tested on a variety of genetic models of neurodegenerative disorders.