title: Purification and culture of astrocytes.
abstract: For years, studies of neural-glial interactions have relied on the use of astrocytes derived from the extended culture of immature precursor cells isolated from the neonatal rodent brain. Although the astrocytes cultured under these selective cell survival conditions have been important tools for understanding astrocyte behavior, they do not necessarily reflect the behavior and function of mature astrocytes. We have developed methods for acute, prospective isolation and culture of mature astrocytes from rodent brains in a serum-free, defined medium. These immunopanning-based methods facilitate the study of astrocyte biology and function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA. lynettefoo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Lynette C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Foo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free