Neuronal Cell Culture Media and Astrocyte Medium

Brain tissue comprises numerous cell types, including neurons and glial cells such as astrocytes. Primary neural cell preparations often contain a mixture of these cell types, so it is important to use the proper neural cell culture media and supplements to select for and enhance the desired population.

Gibco Neuronal Medium and Astrocyte Medium are optimized to support cell growth as well as maintenance of cell viability, normal phenotype, and appropriate neural cell function. With these optimized neural cell culture media, neuronal and astrocytic populations can be maintained for weeks.

Neuronal cell culture media

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers several varieties of neuronal media depending on your specific cell type and application:

Neurobasal Plus neuronal medium—for long-term maintenance of embryonic and pre-natal neurons
Neurobasal-A neuronal medium—for long-term maintenance of adult and post-natal neurons
Hibernate media—for short-term maintenance of neurons and viable brain tissue in ambient air (0% CO₂) conditions

Neurobasal Neuronal Medium has been used and trusted by neuroscientists for over 20 years. This neuronal medium supports viability and health of pure populations of neurons in vitro without the need for an astrocyte feeder layer.

Which selective media is used for neurons in culture?

Neurobasal neuronal medium is one of the most popular culture media used for selective growth of neurons in vitro as it suppresses glial growth [1]. Neurobasal Plus neuronal medium, when used with B-27 Plus supplement, enhances survival of pre-natal and fetal neuronal cell cultures and enriches neurons in mixed neural cell cultures.

Astrocyte media

Astrocyte Medium is formulated for the growth and maintenance of human and rat astrocytes while retaining their phenotype. This astrocyte growth medium has three components: basal medium (DMEM), N-2 Supplement, and One Shot Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). If more rapid proliferation is desired, addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) is recommended, although cells may exhibit morphological and phenotypic changes.

Neural cell culture media selection guide

Cell type	Specific cell type/application	Recommended media
Astrocytes	Rat astrocytes	Astrocyte Medium
Neurons	Analysis of post-natal and adult neurons where the presence of phenol red is undesired	Neurobasal-A Medium, minus phenol red
	Analysis of pre-natal and fetal neurons where the presence of phenol red is undesired	Neurobasal Medium, minus phenol red
	Electrophysiology studies	Neurobasal Plus Medium
	Glucose-response or insulin receptor studies in post-natal neurons where the presence of D-glucose or sodium pyruvate may interfere	Neurobasal-A, minus D-glucose and Sodium Pyruvate
	Growth and maintenance of pre-natal and fetal neurons	Neurobasal Plus Medium
	Maintenance/maturation of post-natal and adult brain neurons	Neurobasal-A Medium
	Maintenance/maturation of stem cell-derived neurons	Neurobasal Plus Medium
	Manipulation of embryonic neurons at ambient CO₂ for at least 48 hours while retaining viability	Hibernate-E Medium
	Manipulation of post-natal neurons at ambient CO₂ for at least 48 hours while retaining viability	Hibernate-A Medium

References

1. Brewer, G.J.; Torricelli, J.R.; Evege, E.K.; Price, P.J. J Optimized survival of hippocampal neurons in B27-supplemented Neurobasal, a new serum-free medium combination. Neurosci Res. 1993 Aug 1;35(5):567-76. doi: 10.1002/jnr.490350513.