Establishment of Schwann cell cultures from adult rat peripheral nerves

Schwann cell cultures are difficult to obtain from adult rat because of the abundant amount of connective tissue and myelin. We have developed a method for isolation and culture of these cells by mechanical and chemical dissociation which represents a modification of a previously described procedure for human neurofibromas. Schwann cells were identified in indirect immunofluorescence by the capacity to bind antibodies to S-100, galactocerebroside, and laminin. The baseline cell proliferation index was assessed by immunofluorescence of bromodeoxyuridine. This method provides Schwann cells from adult rat nerves for at least 7 days and in sufficient numbers for (a) morphological and immunological characterization and (b) analysis of the effects of mitogenic factors.