Quick Facts
| Feature | Information |
|---|
| Full Name | Neurobasal Medium |
| Medium Type | Serum-Free Basal Medium |
| Primary Use | Long-term neuronal culture |
| Developed For | Primary neurons and neuronal differentiation |
| Serum Requirement | Serum-free (requires supplements) |
| Typical Supplements | B27, GlutaMAX/L-Glutamine, Neurotrophic Factors |
| Storage | 2-8°C, protected from light |
Overview
Neurobasal Medium is a serum-free basal medium specifically formulated to support the survival, maturation, and long-term maintenance of primary neurons while minimizing glial proliferation. It is considered the standard basal medium for embryonic and neonatal neuronal cultures and is extensively used in neuroscience, neurodevelopment, and neurodegeneration research.
Unlike general-purpose media, Neurobasal is optimized for the metabolic requirements of post-mitotic neurons, making it particularly suitable for neuronal differentiation, synapse formation, and electrophysiological studies.
Composition Highlights
| Component | Biological Role |
|---|
| Glucose | Cellular energy source |
| Amino Acids | Protein synthesis |
| Vitamins | Cellular metabolism |
| Inorganic Salts | Osmotic balance |
| Buffers | pH maintenance |
| Reduced Osmolarity | Supports neuronal health |
Most trophic support is provided by supplements rather than the basal medium itself.
Key Features
- Optimized specifically for neuronal survival.
- Supports long-term serum-free neuronal culture.
- Minimizes proliferation of non-neuronal cells.
- Promotes neuronal maturation and synapse formation.
- Compatible with electrophysiology and functional assays.
- Frequently used during neuronal maturation of stem cell-derived cultures and organoids.
Common Supplements
| Supplement | Purpose |
|---|
| B27 Supplement | Neuronal survival and maturation |
| GlutaMAX or L-Glutamine | Glutamine source |
| Penicillin-Streptomycin | Antibiotic |
| BDNF | Neuronal maturation |
| GDNF | Dopaminergic neuron support |
| CNTF | Neuronal and glial support |
| Ascorbic Acid | Antioxidant support |
Common Applications
- Primary cortical neuron culture
- Primary hippocampal neuron culture
- iPSC-derived neuronal differentiation
- Dopaminergic neuron culture
- Motor neuron culture
- Synaptic biology
- Electrophysiology
- Neurodevelopment studies
- Neurodegenerative disease models
- Brain and cerebral organoids
Advantages
- Gold-standard medium for primary neurons
- Excellent long-term neuronal survival
- Serum-free formulation
- Low glial proliferation
- Supports neuronal maturation
- Highly reproducible
Limitations
- Not suitable for rapidly dividing cells
- Requires specialized supplements
- Limited support for glial cultures
- Higher cost than general-purpose media
Comparison with Related Media
| Medium | Best Suited For |
|---|
| Neurobasal | Primary neurons and neuronal maturation |
| Neurobasal Plus | Enhanced neuronal survival and long-term culture |
| DMEM/F-12 | Neural stem cells, progenitors, glial cells |
| MEM | General neuronal culture |
| DMEM | Rapidly growing adherent cell lines |
References
- Brewer GJ et al. Optimized survival of hippocampal neurons in B27-supplemented Neurobasal medium. Journal of Neuroscience Research (1993).
- Gibco™ Neurobasal Medium Product Information.
- Freshney RI. Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique and Specialized Applications.