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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
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Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes
Published on: January 19, 2013
Identification of an insulin-like factor in astrocyte conditioned medium
R Kadle1, C Suksang, E D Roberson
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
Brain Research
|September 13, 1988
Summary
Cultured astrocytes produce an insulin-like factor that supports the survival of fetal rat neurons. This astrocyte-derived factor may be crucial for central nervous system neuron development and differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Neuronal survival in defined media often necessitates insulin supplementation.
- Astrocytes are crucial glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether astrocytes produce factors that support neuronal survival independently of exogenous insulin.
- To characterize the nature of astrocyte-secreted neurotrophic factors.
Main Methods:
- Primary neuronal and astrocyte cultures from fetal and newborn rats.
- Astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM) and ultrafiltration techniques.
- Immunoassays (anti-insulin affinity chromatography) and biochemical assays ([3H]leucine incorporation, [125I]insulin binding).
Main Results:
- Fetal rat telencephalic neurons require insulin for survival in defined medium.
- ACM significantly enhances neuronal survival without exogenous insulin.
- ACM contains a 5-30 kDa factor that mimics insulin's biological and immunological properties, promoting neuronal survival and growth.
Conclusions:
- Cultured astrocytes secrete an insulin-like growth factor (IGF).
- This astrocyte-derived IGF contributes to the neurotrophic effects of ACM.
- The astrocyte-derived factor likely plays a role in CNS neuron development and differentiation.
