title: Characterization of microcarrier cultures of neurons and astrocytes from cerebral cortex and cerebellum.
abstract: In the present investigation a method is described for culturing cerebellar granule cells (glutamatergic neurons), cerebral cortical neurons (GABAergic neurons) and cortical astrocytes on Cytodex 3 microcarriers. It was possible to obtain a high yield of attached neurons and astrocytes on the microcarriers and the cell specific characteristics such as the ability to release neurotransmitter (neurons) and a high activity of glutamine synthetase (astrocytes) were preserved. This system, allowing mixtures of neurons and astrocytes at any given ratio to be produced, may constitute an attractive model system by which the interaction between neurons and astrocytes with regard to exchange of neurotransmitter precursors as well as other compounds may be studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Westergaard
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sonnewald
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schousboe
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D003911:Dextrans; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008863:Microspheres; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D011506:Proteins; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C052839:Cytodex; D004247:DNA; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase