Chick Embryonic Primary Astrocyte Cultures Provide an Effective and Scalable Model for Authentic Research in a...

Cell culture provides an impactful tool for undergraduates to study a range of neurobiological processes. While immortalized or cancer cell lines offer a level of convenience for undergraduate research, particularly for larger scale course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) or project-based learning (PBL), primary cell cultures more closely retain the characteristics of the tissue of origin, allowing students to engage in a wider range of authentic research projects. Astrocytes have gained increasing attention for their role in modulating neuronal viability and are at the forefront of neuroprotection research. Here we describe a method of primary astrocyte culture preparation, derived from embryonic day 8 chicken embryos, optimized for a cell biology laboratory class. The primary astrocytes, prepared and maintained by undergraduates, were used as the model system for student-centered research projects in which students investigated cytoskeletal changes in response to drug treatments. Students reported several learning gains from the experience. The ease of the primary culture method for novice research students allows greater flexibility in designing authentic and scalable research experiences.