Cell surface markers for distinguishing different types of rat dorsal root ganglion cells in culture.

The distribution of three cell surface markers on dissociated cultures of the rat dorsal root ganglion has been investigated using indirect immunofluorescence. Tetanus toxin binds to a nondividing class of cells with neuronal morphology. Ran-1 is expressed by Schwann cells. Thy-1 is expressed both by fibroblasts and by all the neurones. These assignments have been confirmed by detection of any two of these markers in a single culture using antisera conjugated to different fluorochromes. Approximately 20% of the nonneuronal cells in these cultures were negative for all three markers.