[Primary culture of rat hippocampal neurons and detection of the neuronal excitability].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the efficiency of primary culture of hippocampal neurons and obtain highly purified neurons with good in vitro growth and minimal risk of contamination. METHODS: The hippocampal neurons of neonatal Wistar rats were isolated and the single cell suspension was prepared by mechanical trituration and sedimentation in stead of trypsin digestion and filteration. Twenty-four hours after the cell plating, the culture medium was removed and replaced by serum-free DMEM/F12 with B27 supplementation. Half of the culture medium was changed 2-3 times every week. The morphological changes of the neurons were observed under inverted phase-contrast microscope. Immunofluorescence staining for NSE was performed to identify the neurons, and the purity of neurons was calculated. The hippocampal neurons were stained with calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye to monitor the effect of KCl on neuronal excitability by a calcium imaging system. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: This simplified method is time-saving and cost-effective for primary culture of hippocampal neurons with reduced risk of contamination, and the neurons obtained showed high uniformity, purity and long-term viability.