Using a new double-labeling immunofluorescence technique, we assessed various growth factors on their ability to promote proliferation of cultured human glial cells. Cells studied were fetal astrocytes, fetal Schwann cells, adult astrocytes, and adult oligodendrocytes. Effective agents for fetal astrocytes were glial growth factor from the bovine pituitary, platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. For fetal Schwann cells, mitogens were glial growth factor from the bovine pituitary, platelet-derived growth factor, nerve growth factor, and 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Adult astrocytes and oligodendrocytes did not normally divide in culture, and none of the agents tested were effective in inducing their proliferation. The report that interleukin-2 was a mitogen for oligodendrocytes could not be replicated in the present study on any of the glial cell types.

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Enriched populations of adult human Schwann cells were obtained from trigeminal ganglia and roots of autopsy material. The cells, isolated by enzymatic procedure, were seeded on rat tail collagen-coated coverslips. Subcultures were established several weeks later, and secondary cells were grown on polylysine-coated coverslips and maintained in vitro for as long as 5 months. The Schwann cells in culture displayed the same light- and electron-microscopic features and arrangement as those cells observed in vivo. The addition of bovine pituitary glial growth factor in the medium induced a 3-5-fold increase in Schwann cell division.

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