SOURCES OF HUMAN SCHWANN-CELLS AND THE INFLUENCE OF DONOR AGE

We evaluated several tissues as possible sources for culturing human S chwann cells. The average cell yield (total cell number/mg of nerve fa scicle) obtained from adult autopsy cases and transplant organ donors was similar (2 x 10(4) and 2.9 x 10(4), respectively), but significant ly higher yields were obtained from dorsal roots of pediatric patients undergoing selective dorsal rhizotomy (6.1 x 10(4)). Fresh tissue was not essential since cells isolated from 0 to 20 h postmortem were equ ally viable. However, we found evidence that donor age affects the int rinsic growth rate of Schwann cells and perineurial fibroblasts in cul ture. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.