Respiration in primary cultured cerebellar granule neurons and cerebral cortical neurons

Respiration was measured polarographically in primary cultures enriched with cerebellar granule neurons or cerebral cortical neurons. The basal respiratory rate, measured on the sixth day after culturing, was 12.00 natom equiv. O/mg protein/min for the cortical neurons and 12.70 natom equiv. O/mg protein/min for the granule neurons. Maximal stimulation by 2,4-dinitrophenol produced a 20-40% increase over the basal rate for both neuronal types. Oligomycin inhibited neuronal basal respiration by 45%. These respiratory rates in neurons from primary culture are markedly lower than those measured in astrocytes grown under similar conditions.