An aggregate brain cell culture model for studying neuronal degeneration and regeneration

Rotation-mediated aggregating cell cultures from fetal rat telencephalons containing glial and neuronal cells mature in a fashion comparable to that known to occur in brain in vivo. Large aggregates of 300-500 microM diameters can now reproducibly be cultivated and maintained for more than 40 days in a well defined serum free medium. Validity of the use of such cultures for in vitro studies of various physiological, pharmacological and toxicological phenomenon has already been demonstrated. In this communication some observations suggesting the usefulness of such cultures for pharmacological studies clarifying the possible effects of drugs and other agents on excitatory amino acid induced pathological processes will be presented. The advantages and limitations of the use of aggregated brain cell culture based models for the development of agents potentially useful for the treatment of aging and dementia will also be discussed.