PREPARATION OF CELL-SUSPENSIONS FOR CO-TRANSPLANTATION - METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The purpose of the current study was to determine the optimal strategy for preparing cell suspensions for co-transplantation. In the first e xperiment, the number of Sertoli cell (SC) aggregates and the number o f tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons were compared over time when c ell suspensions of Sertoli or ventral mesencephalic cells were kept as a co-suspension mixed at 0 h. Cells from each suspension were dispens ed onto glass slides in a manner similar to transplantation. When disp ensed in this manner, the number of SC aggregates and TH-positive neur ons decreased over 4 h. In experiment 2, the cell suspensions were mix ed just prior to injection at each of four timepoints, the number of a ggregates and TH neurons was consistent over time. Clearly this latter strategy resulted consistent recovery of both cell types for transpla nts up to 3 h after suspension preparation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.