title: Establishment of Schwann cell cultures from adult rat peripheral nerves.
abstract: Schwann cell cultures are difficult to obtain from adult rat because of the abundant amount of connective tissue and myelin. We have developed a method for isolation and culture of these cells by mechanical and chemical dissociation which represents a modification of a previously described procedure for human neurofibromas. Schwann cells were identified in indirect immunofluorescence by the capacity to bind antibodies to S-100, galactocerebroside, and laminin. The baseline cell proliferation index was assessed by immunofluorescence of bromodeoxyuridine. This method provides Schwann cells from adult rat nerves for at least 7 days and in sufficient numbers for (a) morphological and immunological characterization and (b) analysis of the effects of mitogenic factors.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009418:S100 Proteins; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine