Primary culture of astrocytic glial cells from rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri L., brain.
A method is described for the preparation and maintenance of rainbow trout brain astrocytes in primary culture. A dissociated cell suspension was prepared from brains from young fish by mechanical sieving through nylon guazes, and the cells cultured in polylysine-treated plastic tissue culture flasks at 22 degrees C. The resultant cultures were characterised by specific immunofluorescent staining using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) for astrocytes and Thy 1 for fibroblastic cells. The cultures were greater than 95% astrocytes with fibroblasts the only other cell type present. These highly enriched astrocyte cultures provide a unique system for various neurochemical, neurophysiological and biochemical studies of fish neural cells. Polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism will be an area of particular interest.
NERC Unit of Aquatic Biochemistry, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Scotland, U.K.
D R
DR
Tocher
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R
Wilson
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013997:Time Factors; D014337:Trout / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein