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Synapse formation and development of neurotransmitter functions in neuronal cells from chick brain cultured in a serum‐free, defined medium
Author(s) -
Langui D.,
Sarhan S.,
Devilliers G.,
Pettmann B.,
Delaunoy J. P.,
Seiler N.,
Sensenbrenner M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/0736-5748(88)90038-x
Subject(s) - synaptogenesis , choline acetyltransferase , chemically defined medium , neurotransmitter , biology , acetylcholinesterase , petri dish , microbiology and biotechnology , gabaergic , synapse , endocrinology , neuroscience , biochemistry , in vitro , cholinergic , central nervous system , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , genetics , enzyme
Cells dissociated from cerebral hemispheres of 8‐day‐old chick embryos were seeded on poly‐ l ‐lysine coated Petri dishes in serum‐containing medium. After 24 hr the culture medium was switched to a serum‐free, chemically defined medium. These cultures contain mainly neuronal cells until day 14, characterized by the presence of acetylcholinesterase activity and neurofilament proteins. After 2 weeks glial cells progressively contaminated the neuronal culture. Cultures were maintained for a period of 4 weeks. From day 6 on numerous synapses with clear vesicles were observed. The activity of choline acetyltransferase remained low throughout the culture period, while GABA levels increased in parallel with synaptogenesis. Our observations indicate that chick cerebral hemisphere neuronal cultures grown in serum‐free, chemically defined medium contain GABAergic neurons that undergo maturation.