[Effect of different culture media on viability and tau protein expression in rat hippocampal slices].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of different culture media on viability and expression of tau protein in organotypic hippocampal slice.


METHODS
Brain slices (400 microm) from 1, 2, 4, and 8 week-old Wistar rats were prepared and cultured in minimum essential medium (MEM) or Dulbecco's modified eagle medium: nutrient mixture (DMEM/F12) medium respectively for 21 days. Viability of the slices was measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay and expression of tau protein was detected by Western blot.


RESULTS
The viability of the slices was not influenced significantly by the two different culture media, while the expression level of tau protein was significantly higher in DMEM/F12 than in MEM (P < 0.05), especially in the slices from 2 and 4 week-old rats.


CONCLUSIONS
The slices from 2 or 4 week-old rat hippocampi and DMEM/F12 medium may be the preferred choice for tau associated researches. An ideal Alzheimer's disease model may be established based on the results of these researches.
Zhang
Ying-Chun
YC
Department of Pathophysiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Liao
Xiao-Mei
XM
Wang
Jian-Zhi
JZ
D000818:Animals; D003470:Culture Media; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D003470:Culture Media; D016875:tau Proteins; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase