Although rodent models have been essential to unveil the emerging functions of astrocytes, the existence of interspecies differences
calls for caution in extrapolating data from rodent to human astrocytes. We have developed highly enriched primary astrocyte
cultures from human fetuses and adult cerebro-cortical biopsies from neurosurgery patients. Immunocytochemical characterization
shows that cultures are composed of more than 95% of cells expressing in vitro astrocytic markers. Examination of the morphological
and proliferative properties of cultures derived from the cerebral cortex and the hypothalamus both in untreated conditions
and after treatment with EGF-related ligands illustrates the high plasticity of human astrocytes and their functional heterogeneity
according to the cerebral region of origin. Our preparation offers the opportunity to characterize human astrocyte functions
in vitro and also provides a valuable tool for studying the functional heterogeneity of human astrocytes isolated from distinct
brain regions.