title: Isolation and serum-free culture of primary Schwann cells from human fetal peripheral nerve.
abstract: We have developed a method for isolating Schwann cells (SC) from human fetal peripheral nerve and maintaining these SC in vitro under serum-free conditions. This method yields essentially pure SC which have a bipolar, spindle-shaped morphology; align in fascicles; and express typical glial cell markers. Human fetal SC can be maintained for months under serum-free conditions with the neuregulin NDF beta. These human fetal SC can mimic axonal contact in vivo by retaining the functional capacity to strongly associate with neurites of cultured human fetal dorsal root ganglia. These isolation, culture, and coculture techniques provide a method for investigating SC-neuron interactions as well as development and function of human fetal SC.
authors.affiliation: Research Service, Hines VA Hospital, Illinois 60141, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: De Vries
mesh_terms: D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016501:Neurites / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D015415:Biomarkers; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D020033:Protein Isoforms