title: Novel method to obtain highly enriched cultures of adult rat Schwann cells.
abstract: Schwann cells (SCs) can be used to repair both the peripheral and central nervous systems. Therefore, establishment of a procedure to obtain activated, highly proliferative SCs, in an appropriate time for clinical applications, is a prerequisite. Purification is complicated by contamination with fibroblasts which often become the predominant cell type in an in vitro SC culture. This study describes a novel and efficient method to enrich SCs by utilizing the differential detachment properties of the two cell types. In culture, cells were treated with two different media and the chelator, EGTA, which detached SCs faster than fibroblasts and allowed for easy isolation of SCs. Within seven days, high yields of SCs with a purity of greater than 99% were achieved. This was confirmed by immunostaining characterization and flow-cytometric analyses using an antibody against the p75 low affinity nerve growth factor receptor (p75LNGFR). The entire procedure was completed in approximately 21 days. This method has the advantage of being technically easier, faster, and more efficient than other previously described methods. An SC culture that was about 99% homogenous was achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Royan Institute for Animal Biotechnology, ACECR, P.O. Box 815896-8433, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niapour
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Karamali
authors.forename: Khadijeh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karbalaie
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiani
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mardani
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nasr-Esfahani
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baharvand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D004533:Egtazic Acid