title: Cells in human postmortem brain tissue slices remain alive for several weeks in culture.
abstract: Animal models for human neurological and psychiatric diseases only partially mimic the underlying pathogenic processes. Therefore, we investigated the potential use of cultured postmortem brain tissue from adult neurological patients and controls. The present study shows that human brain tissue slices obtained by autopsy within 8 h after death can be maintained in vitro for extended periods (up to 78 days) and can be manipulated experimentally. We report for the first time that 1) neurons and glia in such cultures could be induced to express the reporter gene LacZ after transduction with adeno-associated viral vectors and 2) cytochrome oxidase activity could be enhanced by the addition of pyruvate to the medium. These slice cultures offer new opportunities to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurological and psychiatric diseases and new therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School Neurosciences Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.verwer@nih.knaw.nl
authors.forename: Ronald W H
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Verwer
authors.forename: Wim T J M C
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Hermens
authors.forename: PaulaA
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dijkhuizen
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: ter Brake
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.forename: Arja A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sluiter
authors.forename: Marloes J M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verhaagen
authors.forename: Dick F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Swaab
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D001616:beta-Galactosidase