Electron Probe Microanalysis of Potassium and Sodium in Clonogenic Culture of Human Neural Stem Cells

Abstract

The mean potassium and sodium concentrations and distribution of potassium in clonogenic culture of human neural stem cells (neurosphere) were estimated by means of electron probe microanalysis. High sodium concentration was typical of undifferentiated cells. Potassium was irregularly distributed in the test structure. Our results confirm published data on heterogeneous morphological structure of neurospheres.

Electron probe microanalysis of cytoplasmic concentrations of elements in a single cell in culture and suspension

“…Even with consideration for the impact of extracellular space, high concentration of sodium, not characteristic of a differentiated cells, attracts special interest. It was shown that potassium was unevenly distributed in a neurosphere [3]. This observation does not contradict the heterogeneous structure of the neurosphere demonstrated at an ultrastructural and morphological levels [19].…”

“…An example of this effective application is analysis of human clonogenic neurospheres obtained by neural stem cell culturing [3].…”