A model of trauma-induced secondary injury of in vitro cultured rat cortical neurons

Objective: To develop a convenient model of trauma-induced secondary injury from in vitro cultured rat conical neurons. Methods Mix-cultured conical neurons of SD rats were subjected to mechanical scratch injury, and the degree of injury were assessed by cell count with trypan blue staining and by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test.The intact cells were confirmed with neutral red counter staining. Results Following the araumatic injury to the cultured neurons, the cell count with trypan blue staining was shown to be closely associated with the amount of LDH release in the culture medium. Secondary damage was detected in the neurons not receiving direct injury in the region far away from the injured area. Conclusion The model established this way can be utilized to study the primary and secondary damage following traumatic injury of the in vitro cultored neurons.