Olfactory bulb organ culture is supported by combined insulin-like growth factor-I and basic fibroblast growth factor.

A rat olfactory bulb serum-free organ culture system has been developed, using either E19 or day 1 post-natal bulbs. Whereas E19 bulbs were self-sufficient, combined insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) (100 ng/ml) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) (50 ng/ml) supported growth and differentiation of day 1PN bulbs over 6 days. Morphological evidence for viability and differentiation in culture were seen, similar to that occurring in vivo, including development of glomerular layer and maintenance of mitral and tufted and granule cells. Quantitative data derived using radio-labelled amino acid or glucose incorporation supported additive or synergistic effects of IGF-I and FGF. This olfactory bulb organ culture system offers the potential for further studies of brain growth, differentiation and function in vitro.