Astrocyte–neurone communication following oxygen–glucose deprivation

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Abstract
We looked at the possible interactions between astrocytes and neurones during reperfusion using an in vitro model of ischaemia–reperfusion injury, as a controlled environment that lends itself easily to manipulation of the numerous variables involved in such an insult. We constructed a chamber in which O2 can be lowered to a concentration of 1 µm and developed a primary cortical neuronal culture that is 99% pure and can survive to at least 10 days in vitro. We also established a novel system for the co‐culture of astrocytes and neurones in order to study the communication between these cells in a manner that allows the complete separation of one cell type from another. Neurone cultures showed profound cell death following an ischaemic period of only 15 min. We co‐cultured neurones that had been subjected to a 15‐min ischaemic insult with either non‐insulted astrocytes or astrocyte‐conditioned medium during the reperfusion stage. Both astrocytes and astrocyte‐conditioned medium enhanced neuronal survival. Our data also suggest that astrocyte‐sourced neuronal glutathione synthesis may play a role in preventing neuronal death.