Cell lines established from fetal brains of p53-deficient mice

Brains from 7 p53-deficient mice on fetal day 13 were divided into 4 regions: cerebral cortex, cerebellum, upper spinal cord, and the rest of brain. They were trypsinized and cultured in medium containing 10% fetal calf serum. By dilution culture, 138 clonal lines were established from every regions. The lines were characterized morphologically and immunocytochemically as neuronal, glial, myogenic, or unidentified. They were cultured for more than a year, indicating that the lines are immortalized. p53-deficiency alone is sufficient for establishing clonal cell lines of the central nervous system.