title: A cultural renaissance: in vitro cell biology embraces three-dimensional context.
abstract: Increasingly, researchers are recognizing the limitations of two-dimensional (2-D), monolayer cell culture and embracing more realistic three-dimensional (3-D) cell culture systems. Currently, 3-D culture techniques are being employed by neuroscientists to grow cells from the central nervous system. From this work, it has become clear that 3-D cell culture offers a more realistic milieu in which the functional properties of neurons can be observed and manipulated in a manner that is not possible in vivo. The implications of this technical renaissance in cell culture for both clinical and basic neuroscience are significant and far-reaching.
authors.affiliation: The Neurosciences Institute, 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, USA. dedelman@nsi.edu
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Edelman
authors.forename: Edward W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Keefer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016380:Brain Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media