In vitro models of axon regeneration

A variety of in vitro models has been developed to understand the mechanisms underlying the regenerative failure of central nervous system (CNS) axons, and to guide pre-clinical development of regeneration-promoting therapeutics. These range from single-cell based assays that typically focus on molecular mechanisms to organotypic assays aimed at recapitulating in vivo behavior. By utilizing a combination of models, researchers can balance the speed, convenience, and mechanistic resolution of simpler models with the biological relevance of more complex models. This review will discuss a number of the models that have been used to build our understanding of molecular mechanisms of CNS axon regeneration.