LONG-TERM CULTURE OF FULLY DIFFERENTIATED ADULT INSECT NEURONS

An identified group of cells, dorsal unpaired median (DUM) neurons, is olated from the central nervous system of adult cockroaches can be gro wn in vitro for extended periods. These cells often develop morphologi cal characteristics that differ from their in situ appearance but phys iological experiments demonstrate that they retain their distinctive i n vivo membrane properties. A method for culturing insect CNS neurons, which includes the use of a haemolymph-derived growth-enhancing facto r is described, and this technique is compared with other attempts to develop an efficient system for producing in vitro preparations of wel l-defined, identifiable neurons that would provide a model system for aspects of neuron developmental growth, repair and function.