Methods to Study MAP Kinase Signalling in the Central Nervous System

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family of intracellular signal transducers includes ERK1/2, ERK5, JNK/SAPK, and p38 and has been shown to control survival, proliferation and differentiation of cells composing the central and peripheral nervous system. Some MAPKs preferably induce the differentiation of neural precursor cells into the neuronal lineage, whereas others into the glial lineages, which comprises astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells. MAPKs and their upstream signalling receptors play also an important role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases due to their capacity to control neural cell apoptosis. It is therefore of vital importance to better define the processes controlled by MAPKs to design therapies aimed at preventing neurodegenerative disorders in the future. The methods described in this chapter about how to culture and analyse primary astrocytes and neurons in culture have allowed us to improve our understanding on the role of the EGFR and its downstream signalling pathways in neural cell development and neurodegeneration.