Noradrenergic neurons from the locus ceruleus in dissociated cell culture: culture methods, morphology, and electrophysiology.

We have developed a dissociated primary cell culture of noradrenergic neurons from the locus ceruleus of postnatal (1- to 5-d-old) mice or rats. Slices of the brain stem were made on a Vibratome. Then the region of locus ceruleus, which was identified by observing the slices under a dissecting microscope, was dissected out from the slices. The removed fragments of brain slices were dissociated and cultured up to 3 weeks on a non-neuronal feeder layer, which consisted predominantly of astroglial cells, or on a fibronectin-treated collagen substratum. After 2 weeks of culture, about 70% of total neuronlike cells revealed positive catecholamine histofluorescence, indicating that they were probably noradrenergic neurons. About 98% of large- and medium-sized cultured neurons (soma diameter greater than or equal to 20 microns) was histofluorescence positive. The fluorescence-positive cells had long processes rich in varicosities, and the shape of their soma was either multipolar or fusiform. Electron microscopy using permanganate fixation revealed that the varicosities along their processes had small granular vesicles, which may contain norepinephrine. Physiological properties of these noradrenergic neurons were investigated with intracellular microelectrodes or with the whole-cell version of the patch clamp. We observed that many cells were producing spontaneous firing. Many of these spontaneously firing cells had no obvious contact with neighboring cells. The neurons were depolarized when glutamate was applied by pressure ejection. They also responded to GABA and glycine with either hyperpolarization or depolarization, and these responses were antagonized by picrotoxin and strychnine. Application of substance P generally produced depolarization with an increase in input resistance. The neurons responded with hyperpolarization to somatostatin, beta-endorphin, and enkephalin. This culture system will become a useful tool for elucidating the cellular and molecular properties of the central noradrenergic neurons.