Quantifying Spontaneous Ca²⁺ Fluxes and their Downstream Effects in Primary Mouse Midbrain Neurons

Here we present a protocol to measure in vitro Ca²⁺ fluxes in midbrain neurons and their downstream effects on caspase-3 using primary mouse midbrain cultures. This model can be employed to study pathophysiologic changes related to abnormal Ca²⁺ activity in midbrain neurons, and to screen novel therapeutics for anti-apoptotic properties.