Somatostatin release from dissociated cerebral cortical cell cultures.

Primary monolayer cultures of dispersed fetal cerebral cortical cells can be used to measure the release of the neuropeptide, somatostatin. Three to five percent of cellular IRS is released basally into KRB in 10 min. Basal release is stable for at least 60 min and stimulated levels of release can be induced by introducing ionophores, neurotransmitters, or peptides. The peptide content of the incubation samples is readily measured by a well-characterized, sensitive RIA. Table II summarizes the major factors that must be taken into consideration when developing this system for measuring peptide release.