Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (14): 2647-2651.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.14.038

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Primary culture of rat retinal and visual cortical neurons: Methodological characteristics

Zhang Di1, Wu Xiao-ying2, Liu Shuang-zhen2   

  1. 1 Henan Eye Institute, Zhengzhou  450003, Henan Province, China; 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha  410008, Hunan Province, China
  • Online:2010-04-02 Published:2010-04-02
  • Contact: Wu Xiao-ying, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China wxy_64@yahoo.com.cn
  • About author:Zhang Di☆, Doctor, Attending physician, Henan Eye Institute, Zhengzhou 450003, Henan Province, China reedzhang79@yahoo.com.cn

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Primary culture of neurons is an important way to study the structure and functions of the nervous system. It is also important to explore pathomechanism and medicine reaction of some ophthalmology diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To explore an optimal way to the separation and culture of retinal and visual cortical neurons in new-born rats through comparative observation of different primary culture methods. 
METHODS: Retinal and visual cortical neurons isolated from new-born rats were firstly cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium supplemented with 10% new-born calf serum and 10% F12 nutrient mixtures, followed by maintaining culture in Neurobasal medium containing 2% B27 serum-free supplements. Nissls staining was performed for neuron identification.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Cultured neurons grew well with plump cell bodies and long processes. Nissls staining showed that the purity of retinal neurons was greater than 90% and the proportion of visual cortical neurons was higher than 50%. The results suggested that there are some differences in culturing methods and growth characteristics of retinal and visual cortical neurons of new-born rats, accordingly, different culture methods are required to obtain high purity neurons.

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