title: Serial passage of embryonic human astrocytes in serum-free, hormone-supplemented medium.
abstract: We applied serum-free cell culture methods that allow extended proliferation of mouse astrocyte precursor cells to the multipassage culture of embryonic human brain cells. Cells were cultured in nutrient medium supplemented with insulin, transferrin, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, heparin, high-density lipoprotein, and fibronectin. Cultures were maintained for a maximum of 70 population doublings before proliferation ceased. The cells synthesized glial fibrillary acidic protein, an astrocyte marker, and expression of this protein was increased by incubation of the cells with transforming growth factor beta or serum. These results identify extracellular factors important for proliferation and differentiation of embryonic human astrocytes and provide a controlled system for multipassage culture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331-6503.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Loo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Rawson
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D006133:Growth Substances