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Primary Cortical Culture. Cells were dissociated from cortices of neonatal rats and cultured in the presence of serum for 7 days. The red cells are neurons immunostained with antibody against microtubuleassociated protein-2 (MAP2). The green cells are astrocytes immunostained with antibody against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Nuclei are labeled with DAPI (blue). Neurons and astrocytes are two main types of cells in mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Neurons possess two types of processes, axons and dendrites, which can be immunolabeled with antibody against MAP2, for sending and receiving information. Outnumbering neurons by about 10 to 1 in the CNS, astrocytes are closely asociated with neurons and play an active role in supporting and influencing neuronal activities. The primary cortical cultures containing both neurons and astroglia are very useful in studying their cellular interaction in physiological as well as pathological conditions. —Li Gan