PUBLICATION

Cell cultures derived from early zebrafish embryos differentiate in vitro into neurons and astrocytes

Authors
Ghosh, C., Liu, Y., Ma, C.G., and Collodi, P.
ID
ZDB-PUB-970507-63
Date
1997
Source
Cytotechnology   23(1-3): 221-230 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Collodi, Paul, Ghosh, Chandramallika
Keywords
zebrafish; neural differentiation; fish cell culture; fish embryo
MeSH Terms
none
PubMed
none
Abstract
The zebrafish is a popular nonmammalian model for studies of neural development. We have derived cell cultures, initiated from blastula-stage zebrafish embryos, that differentiate in vitro into neurons and astrocytes. Cultures were initiated in basal nutrient medium supplemented with bovine insulin, trout serum, trout embryo extract and fetal bovine serum. After two weeks in culture the cells exhibited extensive neurite outgrowth and possessed elevated levels of acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that the neurites possessed microtubules, synaptic vessicles and areas exhibiting growth cone morphology. The cultures expressed proteins recognized by antibodies to the neuronal and astrocyte-specific markers, neurofilament and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Poly-D-lysine substrate stimulated neurite outgrowth in the cultures and inhibited the growth of nonneuronal cells. Medium conditioned by the buffalo rat liver line, BRL, promoted the growth and survival of the cells in culture. Mitotically active cells were identified in cultures that had undergone extensive differentiation. The embryo cell cultures provide an in vitro system for investigations of biochemical parameters influencing zebrafish neuronal cell growth and differentiation. http://kapis.www.wkap.nl/oasis.htm/116238
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping