Enhancement of cultured adult motor neuron survival with cold pre-incubation

The aim of the study was to extend the survival of adult spinal motor neurons in serum free culture. Anterior half of the spinal cord was removed from young adult mice and dissociated. Cultured cells attempted to extend neurites within hours of incubation at 37 degrees C and died within 24 h. To prevent this early regenerative activity, thus to decrease the metabolic requirements of the neurons, cultures were transferred to 4 degrees C immediately after they were set and kept there for 3 days. Preparations were then taken to 37 degrees C where they lived up to 8 days. Some neurons continued to extend neurites until the day they died. To understand whether the enhancement of survival involves new protein synthesis, transcription and translation were blocked during cold pre-incubation, which shortened the half life of neurons but not changed the maximum survival period. In conclusion this study has shown that, in the serum-free cultures, the survival of adult spinal motor neurons can be significantly enhanced by cold pre-incubation whose effect seems to depend largely on a reduction in the metabolic activity and less on new protein synthesis.