Automated Quantification of Mitochondrial Fragmentation in an In-Vitro Parkinson's Disease Model.

Abstract

Neuronal mitochondrial fragmentation is a phenotype exhibited in models of neurodegeneration such as Parkinsons Disease. Delineating the dysfunction in mitochondrial dynamics found in diseased states can aid our understanding of underlying mechanisms for disease progression and possibly identify novel therapeutic approaches. Advances in microscopy and the availability of intuitive open-access software has accelerated the rate of image acquisition and analysis, respectively. These developments allow routine biology researchers to rapidly turn hypotheses into results. In this protocol, we describe the utilisation of cell culture techniques, high-content imaging (HCI), and subsequent open-source image analysis pipeline for the quantification of mitochondrial fragmentation in the context of an in-vitro Parkinsons Disease model.