Cultured muscle cells are an inadequate model to recapitulate innervated muscle in vivo. A functional motor unit can be reproduced in vitro by innervation of differentiated human primary muscle cells using rat embryo spinal cord explants. This article describes how co-cultures of spinal cord explants and muscle cells are established.
Arnold, A., Christe, M., Handschin, C. A Functional Motor Unit in the Culture Dish: Co-culture of Spinal Cord Explants and Muscle Cells. J. Vis. Exp. (62), e3616, doi:10.3791/3616 (2012).