In the present work, we examined the feasibility of using cardosins, plant aspartic proteinases from Cynara cardunculus L., to isolate cells from rat embryonic brain. Using morphological and functional assays, we compared cell cultures obtained with cardosins with those prepared with a well-established trypsin protocol. Cardosins and trypsin dissociation produced cells with similar yield, viability, and GABA release in response to a depolarizing stimulus. However, cardosins-dissociated cells appeared to recover faster in culture, as assessed by the MTT test and by the number and length of neurties, suggesting that cardosins, are less aggressive to neurons than trypsin. This feature might be helpful for research and medical purposes requiring fast manipulations of cells. (C) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.