Isolation and serum-free culture of primary Schwann cells from human fetalperipheral nerve

We have developed a method for isolating Schwann cells (SC) from human feta l peripheral nerve and maintaining these SC in vitro under serum-free condi tions. This method yields essentially pure SC which have a bipolar, spindle -shaped morphology; align in fascicles; and express typical glial cell mark ers. Human fetal SC can be maintained for months under serum-free condition s with the neuregulin NDF beta. These human fetal SC can mimic axonal conta ct in vivo by retaining the functional capacity to strongly associate with neurites of cultured human fetal dorsal root ganglia. These isolation, cult ure, and coculture techniques provide a method for investigating SC-neuron interactions as well as development and function of human fetal SC. (C) 199 9 Academic Press.