Monolayer cultures of ependymal cells on porous bottom dishes. A tool for transport studies across the brain cerebrospinal barrier.
We have studied the conditions to obtain ependymal cell cultures on porous bottom dishes and we succeeded to culture in a complete defined medium a continuous layer of primary ependymal cells from newborn rat cerebral hemispheres. This monolayer is composed of non-ciliated (35%) and ciliated ependymal cells (55%), with only a small contamination by astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and fibroblasts (10%). These cells grown on the microporous membrane are oriented and form a layer with an apical side and a basolateral side. We have demonstrated by using Trypan blue that between 14 and 24 days in culture the cells have formed a continuous monolayer. The presence of tight junctions between the cells has been shown by electron microscopy. Using immunocytochemical methods, we have studied the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin in these cultures.
Laabich
A
A
Centre de Neurochimie du CNRS, Strasbourg, France.
Sensenbrenner
M
M
Delaunoy
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D004805:Ependyma / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008959:Models, Neurological; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013997:Time Factors; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D014746:Vimentin