A primary neuron culture system for functional studies of anoxia tolerance in turtles.

ABSTRACT: Cultured neuronal models for non-mammalian vertebrates are uncommon but could prove useful for investigating mechanisms of exceptional physiological performance, such as anoxia tolerance. We describe a procedure to isolate, culture and characterize cerebrocortical neurons of extremely anoxia-tolerant painted turtles; we then imposed anoxia while recording reactive oxygen species (ROS) using fluorescence photometry. Cerebrocortical sheets from hatchlings were dissociated enzymatically and mechanically, and cultured for ≤7 days. Within 24 h, most cells possessed classic neuronal morphology with identifiable soma and fine neurites. Immunocytochemistry showed MAP2-positive cells accounted for 90.9% of DAPI-positive cells. Ca2+ recordings (Fura-2) demonstrated neurons were immediately excitable

SUBMITTER: Schneider NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12752498 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature