Ca2+ channel currents of cortical neurons from pure and mixed cultures

Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) are key regulators of many neuronal functions, and involved in multiple central nervous system diseases. In the last 30 years, a large number of injury and disease models have been established based on cultured neurons. Culture with serum develops a mixture of neurons and glial cells, while culture without serum develops pure neurons. Both of these neuronal-culture methods are widely used. However, the properties of Ca2+ currents in neurons from these two cultures have not been compared. In this study, we cultured rat cortical neurons in serum-containing or free medium and then recorded the Ca2+ channel currents using patch-clamp technique. Our results showed that there were significant differences in the amplitude and activation properties of whole-cell Ca2+ channel currents, and of non-L-type Ca2+ channel currents between the neurons from these two culture systems. Our data suggested that the difference of whole-cell Ca2+ currents may result from the differences in non-L-type currents. Understanding of these properties will considerably advance studies of VGCCs in neurons from pure or mixed culture.