[A new culture method for cerebral cortex neurons--application of Sertoli cells]

In the present study, cerebral cortex neurons were cultured with (named as co-culture group) or without (named as control group) Sertoli cells in vitro, in order to examine the trophic effect of Sertoli cells on the neurons. Our results demonstrated that the growth of the neurons and the viability was enhanced significantly. The increases in the cellular area and number of neurite of the neurons were observed (174.85 +/- 105.18 vs 96.59 +/- 41.63, 2.53 +/- 1.79 vs 1.36 +/- 0.54: P < 0.01). Our study suggests neurons culturing with Sertoli cells is a new and convenient method of obtaining a large number of neurons.