Has anybody knowledge of an open source program, to measure neurite outgrowth and which is able to distinguish between several neurite branches?
I cultivate SG-explants which generate neurites with many branches, so that its hard to distinguish between neurite and branches of different origins.
I already tried NeuronJ but it doesn't workt for my SG-Explants.
Any suggestions?
Dear Christina,
We are using Neurolucida software to measure the neurites or dendritic branching. With Image J you may also measure the lengths of branches manually. For inspiration see my recent paper on dendritic branching analysis.
Best wishes, Refik
Article Developmental changes in the morphology of mouse hypoglossal...
Are you able to distinguish between dendritic and axonal branching in your preps?
Hi Refik,
I have this problem with organotipic explants (see attached image/raw data). Sometimes the neurites congregates and its not possible to distinguidh between the branches.
Do you have expertise if NeuriteTracer or Fiji are useful for solving this problem?
best regards, Christina
Hi Christina,
It looks like you have unusual polyaxonal cells in your explants. Ganglion cells usually do not have much dendrites (if any they would be very short) and the way and the length of the processes from your picture suggests that they are long axons, some with collaterals. Have you labelled them with any markers?
Unfortunately I have not used Neurite Tracer or Fiji before, but you should be measure and analyse them with Neurolucida.
best wishes, Refik
Sorry forgot to mentionend the markers. The neurons are labelled with ANF+DAPI, MAP2 and ß-III-tubulin don't work properly for explants.
Yup and thats my problem. I can't find an adequate software/method to meseaure all these branches. By the way, I tried FIJI's Simple Neuron Tracer and it works properly but still dont solve the problem I have.
Yes and once you find the software it will take a significant amount of your time to analyse each cell:-)
Best wishes, Refik
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