The effects of putative neurotransmitters on the resting membrane potential of dissociated brain neurones in culture

Abstract

Cultures established from mechanically dissociated neonatal mouse brains were found to be suitable for electrophysiological investigation of drug action. During culture most cells were aggregated into either monolayer regions or thick cords joining monolayer regions. A few cells remained isolated. The neurones in the monolayer regions were distinguished from glial cells by differential staining, and were found to be the best subject for intracellular recording. Frequency of resting membrane potentials of these cells proved to be reproducible in cultures of the same age, and were a useful index of sensitivity to bath applied drugs. Acetylcholine, dopamine, histamine, serotonin and noradrenaline depolarized various neurones; GABA caused hyperpolarization, while glutamate and glycine had no significant effect. Antagonism of the responses to acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin and GABA was seen using atropine, pimozide, methysergide and bicuculline respectively. It is concluded that dissociated brain neurones in culture show chemosensitivity and may be useful in further pharmacological studies.