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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Preparation of Gene Gun Bullets and Biolistic Transfection of Neurons in Slice Culture

Preparation of Gene Gun Bullets and Biolistic Transfection of Neurons in Slice Culture

Published on: February 13, 2008

Coating gold particles with DNA (biolistics).

Josh L Morgan, Daniel Kerschensteiner

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols

|December 24, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Ballistic labeling uses propelled particles to quickly label dispersed neurons for imaging. This method, using plasmid DNA on gold particles, effectively labels developing ganglion cells in retinal flat mounts.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Biotechnology

Background:

Accurate imaging of developing neurons necessitates distinguishing individual cells from their neighbors.
Ballistic labeling offers a method for delivering cell labels to multiple dispersed cells simultaneously.
Various cell markers can be deployed using ballistic delivery across diverse biological preparations.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe a protocol for ballistic labeling of developing neurons.
To demonstrate the application of plasmid DNA-coated gold particles for cell labeling.
To facilitate the imaging and reconstruction of developing ganglion cells in retinal tissue.

Main Methods:

Coating gold particles with plasmid DNA.
Propelling coated gold particles using a pressurized gun (ballistic delivery).
Applying the technique to label developing ganglion cells in retinal flat mounts.

Main Results:

Successful coating of gold particles with plasmid DNA.
Effective delivery of plasmid DNA to developing ganglion cells via ballistic method.
Demonstration of ballistic labeling for imaging neuronal development.

Conclusions:

Ballistic labeling provides a rapid and effective method for labeling multiple dispersed cells.
Plasmid DNA-coated gold particles are suitable for labeling developing neurons.
This protocol aids in the study of neuronal development and imaging.