Protocol for 3D Matrigel embedding of primary murine astrocytes for a physiologically relevant culture model

Primary astrocyte 2D cultures often exhibit a phenotype that differs significantly from astrocytes in the brain. Here, we present a detailed protocol for culturing primary murine astrocytes within a 3D Matrigel environment, which better mimics the in vivo conditions. We describe a step-by-step guide for the isolation and preparation of primary striatal astrocytes, their embedding and cultivation in Matrigel, and the functional characterization of astrocytes grown in this 3D system.