Long-term cultures of neurons from adult frog brain express GABA and glutamate-activated channels.
Cells from adult Xenopus laevis brainstem and spinal cord were dissociated with mild enzymatic treatment and grown in long-term cell culture. These cells had specific attachment/substrate and medium/serum requirements. Cells with bipolar and multipolar morphology were positively identified as neurons using immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies to rat and bovine neurofilament proteins which we show here cross-react with similar amphibian proteins. Patch clamp recordings demonstrated that these neurons have populations of ionic channels which are activated by L-glutamate or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The characteristics of these channels were similar to those previously described for GABA- and glutamate-activated channels in embryonic mammalian neurons isolated in culture. Cell cultures of neurons isolated from adult Xenopus laevis brain may be a useful and simple preparation with which to examine the modulation of neuronal properties by various agents over longer time intervals then has been previously possible.
Wetzel
D M
DM
Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.
Lee
V M
VM
Erulkar
S D
SD
D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology; D014981:Xenopus; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005971:Glutamates; D007473:Ion Channels; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid