A rapid method for the preparation of relatively pure metabolically competent synaptosomes from rat brain

A rapid (less than 2h) method is described for the preparation of synaptosomes from rat brain by using a discontinuous Ficoll/sucrose gradient by a flotation technique. These synaptosomes are metabolically active and minimally (less than 5%) contaminated with 'free' mitochondria as judged by marker-enzyme assays and electron microscopy.