Adult rat spinal cord culture on an organosilane surface in a novel serum-free medium.
In this study, we have documented by morphological analysis, immunocytochemistry, and electrophysiology, the development of a culture system that promotes the growth and long-term survival of dissociated adult rat spinal cord neurons. This system comprises a patternable, nonbiological, cell growth-promoting organosilane substrate coated on a glass surface and an empirically derived novel serum-free medium, supplemented with specific growth factors (acidic fibroblast growth factor, heparin sulfate, neurotrophin-3, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial-derived neurotrophic factor, cardiotrophin-1, and vitronectin). Neurons were characterized by immunoreactivity for neurofilament 150, neuron-specific enolase, Islet-1 antibodies, electrophysiology, and the cultures were maintained for 4-6 wk. This culture system could be a useful tool for the study of adult mammalian spinal neurons in a functional in vitro system.
DAS
Mainak
M
Nanoscience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32826, USA.
Bhargava
Neelima
N
Gregory
Cassie
C
Riedel
Lisa
L
Molnar
Peter
P
Hickman
James J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology*
D003470:Culture Media; D006133:Growth Substances; D012821:Silanes