title: Growth of enteric neurones from isolated myenteric ganglia in dissociated cell culture.
abstract: Ganglia of the myenteric plexus from the newborn guinea-pig, isolated by microdissection, were dissociated by a combination of enzymatic and mechanical methods. The neurones and glial cells in the resulting cell suspension were cultured for up to 21 days in vitro. The growth of the enteric ganglion cells in serum-free, hormone-supplemented (N1) medium and in serum-supplemented medium containing a mitotic inhibitor was compared over a period of 14 days in vitro. Enteric neurones were outnumbered by glia in both culture media, although glial cell proliferation was inhibited in both media compared with that in serum-supplemented medium without mitotic inhibitors. Glial cell numbers appeared to decline in serum-free medium after the first week in vitro. Neurites tended to be more varicose in the serum-free medium, and the morphology of the enteric glial cells also differed markedly in the two media. This is the first report of the dissociation and subsequent culture of myenteric ganglia that had previously been completely isolated from the remainder of the gut wall.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Saffrey
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burnstock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000294:innervation; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000166:cytology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000166:cytology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase