Primary cultures of astrocytes: their value in understanding astrocytes in health and disease

TY - JOUR

T1 - Primary cultures of astrocytes

T2 - their value in understanding astrocytes in health and disease

AU - Lange, Sofie C

AU - Bak, Lasse Kristoffer

AU - Waagepetersen, Helle S

AU - Schousboe, Arne

AU - Norenberg, Michael D

PY - 2012/11

Y1 - 2012/11

N2 - During the past few decades of astrocyte research it has become increasingly clear that astrocytes have taken a central position in all central nervous system activities. Much of our new understanding of astrocytes has been derived from studies conducted with primary cultures of astrocytes. Such cultures have been an invaluable tool for studying roles of astrocytes in physiological and pathological states. Many central astrocytic functions in metabolism, amino acid neurotransmission and calcium signaling were discovered using this tissue culture preparation and most of these observations were subsequently found in vivo. Nevertheless, primary cultures of astrocytes are an in vitro model that does not fully mimic the complex events occurring in vivo. Here we present an overview of the numerous contributions generated by the use of primary astrocyte cultures to uncover the diverse functions of astrocytes. Many of these discoveries would not have been possible to achieve without the use of astrocyte cultures. Additionally, we address and discuss the concerns that have been raised regarding the use of primary cultures of astrocytes as an experimental model system.

AB - During the past few decades of astrocyte research it has become increasingly clear that astrocytes have taken a central position in all central nervous system activities. Much of our new understanding of astrocytes has been derived from studies conducted with primary cultures of astrocytes. Such cultures have been an invaluable tool for studying roles of astrocytes in physiological and pathological states. Many central astrocytic functions in metabolism, amino acid neurotransmission and calcium signaling were discovered using this tissue culture preparation and most of these observations were subsequently found in vivo. Nevertheless, primary cultures of astrocytes are an in vitro model that does not fully mimic the complex events occurring in vivo. Here we present an overview of the numerous contributions generated by the use of primary astrocyte cultures to uncover the diverse functions of astrocytes. Many of these discoveries would not have been possible to achieve without the use of astrocyte cultures. Additionally, we address and discuss the concerns that have been raised regarding the use of primary cultures of astrocytes as an experimental model system.

U2 - 10.1007/s11064-012-0868-0

DO - 10.1007/s11064-012-0868-0

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22926576

SN - 0364-3190

VL - 37

SP - 2569

EP - 2588

JO - Neurochemical Research

JF - Neurochemical Research

IS - 11

ER -