Cultures of cells immunoreactive for glial fibrillary acidic protein
(GFAP), as well as for the intermediate filament marker nestin were grown
in a medium including epidermal growth factor (EGF) and serum. The
cultured cells had the morphology of astroglial cells. The cells can be
proliferated in adherent or suspension cultures. Depending on the culture
conditions, the cells can be induced to differentiate to neurons or glial
cells. The cultures can be expanded over a large number of passages during
several months, and survive, express an astroglial phenotype and integrate
well after transplantation into both neonatal and adult rat forebrain.
