X-Message-Number: 13748 Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 07:00:05 -0700 (PDT) From: Doug Skrecky <> Subject: Viable cultured neurons in hibernation storage for a month. NeuroReport 7: 1509-1512 1996 Brewer G., and Price P. Abstract: Neurobasal is a bicarbonate-buffered medium optimized for the growth of embryonic rat hippocampal neurons at pH 7.3 in 5% CO2. Neurons die within hours in this or in other 26 mM bicarbonate buffers when transferred to ambient CO2 (0.2%). Death is associated with a rapid rise in medium pH to 8.1. A new CO2-independent modification of Neurobasal (Hiberate E), when supplemented with B27, can maintain neuron viability for at least 2 days in ambient CO2. This same medium can also be used to store viable brain tissue for up to a month with refrigeration. These advances should facilitate studies of neuron physiology outside the incubator as well as storing and transporting neuronal tissue. Additional note by poster: Rat embryo hippocampi have 100% cell viability after 1 week of storage in Hibernate/B27. After 4 weeks this is reduced to 50% cellular viability. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=13748