Use of a monoclonal antibody as a substrate for mature neurons in vitro.

A mouse monoclonal antibody was produced against salamander retinal membranes. It binds to the retina as well as to a wide variety of other salamander tissues and is called Sal-1. Because retinal neurons dissociated from the mature salamander retina adhere poorly to standard substrates, cells were plated onto coverslips previously treated with Sal-1. This previous treatment resulted in a dramatic increase in cell-substrate adhesion. At low concentrations, the antibody had no detectable effect on the light response and fine structure of freshly dissociated rod cells. After several weeks in culture, retinal neurons continued to be attached to Sal-1-treated coverslips and appeared healthy. Furthermore, many cells had extended elaborate cell processes and achieved morphologies characteristic of mature neurons. These results show that antibodies can be used as substrates for the culture of mature neurons. This technique may also prove useful for in vitro studies of a variety of cell systems.