Este trabajo fue apoyado por fondos de la Fundación Overstreet.

1. Configuración básica antes de proceder a la disección: <ol><li> Volumen apropiado de medio completo NSC se prepara mezclando NeuroCult NSC medio basal y NeuroCult Suplementos NSC proliferación en una proporción de 9:1, respectivamente. </li><li> El medio es calentado en un baño de agua a 37 ° C. </li><li> Frío HEPES buffer medio esencial mínimo (HEM), con alta concentración de antibióticos (10%) se prepara para la disección y el propósito de lavado. Por otra parte, NSC medio basal con la suplementación de los antibióticos también pueden ser utilizados para este propósito. </li><li> 25-30 ml de HEM resfriado que contienen antibióticos se distribuye en tubos de 50 ml estériles para la recolección de los embriones. </li><li> Varias placas de Petri de plástico de 10 cm se necesitan para mantener los embriones y el cerebro durante la disección y también para mantener los tejidos disecados. </li><li> Los instrumentos quirúrgicos, necesarios para la toma de embriones (tijeras grandes, pequeñas tijeras con punta, pinzas grandes, pequeñas pinzas curvas) o para la disección del cerebro embrionario (pequeñas pinzas, pinzas finas curvas, ángulo de 45 ° pinzas finas y pequeñas tijeras) se esterilizan con esterilizador de cuentas de vidrio a 250 ° C o de otros métodos disponibles autoclave. </li><li> Microscopio de disección se limpia con alcohol al 70% y establecer dentro de una campana de flujo laminar o PC2. </li></ol> 2. La recolección E14 cerebro de ratón y Micro Disección: <ol><li> Una vez acoplado del ratón embarazadas, se anestesia el día 14 de gestación de acuerdo a su protocolo institucional de los animales aprobados. </li><li> Dislocación cervical se realiza para asegurarse de que el animal no sufre dolor y la angustia. </li><li> El ratón anestesiado se coloca en la espalda a un pañuelo de papel absorbente, y el abdomen se enjuaga con etanol al 70% para esterilizar la zona. </li><li> La piel sobre el abdomen se sujeta con una pinza grande, y luego la piel y la fascia se corta con unas tijeras grandes para exponer la cavidad abdominal y los cuernos uterinos. </li><li> El útero se eliminan con pequeñas pinzas y tijeras y se transfieren a un tubo que contiene Erlenmeyer de 50 ml HEM frío. </li><li> Los tejidos uterinos son transferidos a la campana y luego se enjuaga una o dos veces con un volumen suficiente de agua dulce fría HEM estéril para eliminar posibles contaminantes como la sangre y el cabello. </li><li> Los tejidos del útero se transfieren a una placa de Petri de 10 cm que contiene HEM frío. </li><li> Los cuernos uterinos se abren usando unas pequeñas pinzas y tijeras curvas y los embriones se transfieren a un plato de 10cm nueva, que contiene HEM frío. </li><li> Las cabezas de los embriones están separados a nivel de la médula espinal cervical y trasladado a otra placa de Petri que contiene HEM frío. </li><li> La placa de Petri se transfiere en un microscopio de disección para extraer el cerebro del cráneo. </li><li> Los jefes se llevan a cabo con unas pinzas finas curvas de la parte caudal fin de la cara dorsal de la cabeza estén mirando hacia arriba. Utilizando micro-tijeras, en primer lugar un corte horizontal se realiza por encima de los ojos y luego continuó en la línea media de la frente hacia la parte posterior de la cabeza. Asegúrese de cortar la piel y el cráneo y no dañar el cerebro subyacente. </li><li> El cerebro es extraído del cráneo presionando los bordes de la sección de corte en un movimiento hacia atrás usando las pinzas curvas. Este procedimiento se continúa hasta que todos los cerebros se retiran de los cráneos. </li><li> El cerebro se mantiene constante con las pinzas curvas para que el lado dorsal es hacia arriba y luego utilizando micro tijeras se realiza un corte en la corteza de cada hemisferio se extiende desde el bulbo olfatorio a la parte posterior del hemisferio para exponer las eminencias ganglionares. </li><li> Usando las pinzas curvas en una mano y la pinza en ángulo de 45 ° en el otro, las solapas de corte de corteza se extienden y las eminencias ganglionares son diseccionados. </li><li> El tejido disecado se coloca en una placa de Petri estéril de 10 cm, y este procedimiento se repite hasta que todos los cerebros han sido micro-disección. </li><li> Trozos de tejido se recogen con 1 mL de medio NSC en una punta de pipeta ml y se transfiere a un tubo de centrífuga de 15 ml. </li><li> El tejido se disocia completamente pero con suavidad al presionar la punta de la pipeta a la parte inferior del tubo y pipetear la suspensión arriba y abajo. De esta manera los grupos se dividen en células individuales. Pipeteo se lleva a cabo 3-4 veces por lo que una suspensión lechosa como se consigue. Luego, la suspensión se deja reposar durante 1-2 minutos, así como grupos no disociada precipitados. </li><li> Casi toda la suspensión celular se transfirió a otro tubo y luego otro de 1 ml de medio NSC se añade a los agregados restantes y disociado a la celda individual como se describe. </li><li> El contenido de los tubos se agrupan y se centrifuga durante 5 minutos a temperatura ambiente, a 700rpm (110g). </li><li> El sobrenadante se aspira a correr por la actual pastilla, y las células se resuspenden en 1 ml de medio completo NSC. </li><li> El medio es ligeramente pipeta arriba y abajo paratener una suspensión homogénea de células individuales. </li><li> 10 l de la suspensión celular se mezcla con 90 l de azul tripán para llevar a cabo un recuento de células. </li><li> Finalmente, las células son colocadas en la densidad de 2x10 5 células / ml en medio completo suplementado con NSC 20ng / ml de factor de crecimiento epidérmico (EGF). 5 ml de medio se utiliza para la T25, T75 de 20 ml y 40 ml para T175 frascos. </li><li> Neuroesferas se forman en 5-7 días cuando se incuba a 37 ° C en una incubadora humidificada con 5% de CO 2. En 6-7 días, las esferas deben medir entre 150-200 micras y estará listo para la subcultura (pasaje). </li></ol> 3. Pases y Ampliación de NSCs embrionarias: <ol><li> Cuando las neuroesferas están listos para la subcultura (150-200 micras de diámetro), el medio de esferas de suspensión se retira de los frascos, colocado en un tubo estéril del tamaño adecuado del cultivo de tejidos, y se centrifuga a 700 rpm (110 g) durante 5 minutos a a temperatura ambiente. </li><li> El sobrenadante se descarta y las esferas se resuspenden en 1 ml de 0,05% de tripsina-EDTA. </li><li> La suspensión celular se incuba en un baño de agua a 37 ° C durante 2-3 minutos, luego un volumen igual de inhibidor de tripsina de soja se utiliza para detener la actividad de la tripsina. </li><li> La suspensión celular es una pipeta suavemente hacia arriba y hacia abajo para asegurarse de que la tripsina se ha eliminado por completo. </li><li> La suspensión celular se centrifuga a 700 rpm (110 g) durante 5 min. Luego, se retira el sobrenadante y las células se resuspenden en 1 ml de medio completo NSC. </li><li> 10 l de la suspensión celular se mezcla con 90 l de azul tripán para llevar a cabo un recuento de células. </li><li> Las células se sembraron a una concentración de 5x10 4 células / ml en medio completo suplementado con NSC 20ng / mL de EGF en un frasco de cultivo de tejido del tamaño adecuado. 5 ml de medio se utiliza para la T25, T75 de 20 ml y 40 ml para T175 frascos. </li><li> Neuroesferas secundaria se forman en 5-7 días cuando se incuba a 37 ° C en una incubadora humidificada con 5% de CO 2. </li></ol> 4. Los resultados representativos: En primaria embrionarias cultura NSC, la mayoría de las células se convertirá en hipertrófica y se unen a los platos de cultivo de tejidos en placas. Mientras que la mayoría de las células mueren o se diferencian, después de 2-3 días, las células proliferantes que pequeños grupos de células que se desprenden del sustrato (Figura 1). Formación de grandes agregados esferoidales en las primeras 48 horas de la cultura no debe ser confundido con esferas primarias. La formación de agregados depende principalmente de la cantidad de escombros y no disociada grupos de tejidos en la cultura. Neuroesferas verdadera fase son brillantes y más esférico a medida que aumenta el tamaño (Figura 2). Microspikes pequeña aparece en la superficie exterior de las esferas viable y saludable (Figura 3). Después de 5-7 días, las esferas deben ser redondas, pero no compactada, y debe medir entre 150 y 200 micras de diámetro. Si neuroesferas se les permite crecer demasiado grande (después de 90-10 días de cultivo), que podrían formar agregados o ser de color oscuro debido a la muerte celular en el centro de las esferas (ver video). Neuroesferas grandes con el tiempo podría empezar a diferenciar in situ (fijación al sustrato y la migración hacia la periferia). También es difícil disociar neuroesferas grandes y subcultura de ellos. <img src="/files/ftp_upload/2457/2457fig1.jpg" alt="Figura 1" /> Figura 1. Primaria E14 cultura NSC 3 días después de la siembra. Las flechas indican los grupos de la proliferación de comités directivos. Original de la ampliación; 20x <img src="/files/ftp_upload/2457/2457fig2.jpg" alt="Figura 2" /> Figura 2. Primaria E14 cultura NSC siete días después de la siembra. Original de la ampliación; 10 veces <img src="/files/ftp_upload/2457/2457fig3.jpg" alt="Figura 3" /> Figura 3. Paso un E14 neuroesferas cinco días después de la siembra. Tenga en cuenta los picos de micro-(flechas) en la periferia de las esferas. Original de ampliación; 20x

<ol>
	<li>Reynolds, B. A., Weiss, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Generation+of+neurons+and+astrocytes+from+isolated+cells+of+the+adult+mammalian+central+nervous+system.">Generation of neurons and astrocytes from isolated cells of the adult mammalian central nervous system.</a> Science. 255, 1707-1710 (1992).</li><li>Morshead, C. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neural+stem+cells+in+the+adult+mammalian+forebrain:+a+relatively+quiescent+subpopulation+of+subependymal+cells.">Neural stem cells in the adult mammalian forebrain: a relatively quiescent subpopulation of subependymal cells.</a> Neuron. 13, 1071-1082 (1994).</li><li>Craig, C. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+growth+factor+expansion+of+endogenous+subependymal+neural+precursor+cell+populations+in+the+adult+mouse+brain.">In vivo growth factor expansion of endogenous subependymal neural precursor cell populations in the adult mouse brain.</a> J Neurosci. 16, 2649-2658 (1996).</li><li>Golmohammadi, M. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparative+analysis+of+the+frequency+and+distribution+of+stem+and+progenitor+cells+in+the+adult+mouse+brain.">Comparative analysis of the frequency and distribution of stem and progenitor cells in the adult mouse brain.</a> Stem Cells. 26, 979-987 (2008).</li><li>Azari, H., Rahman, M., Sharififar, S., BA, R. e. y. n. o. l. d. s. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+and+Expansion+of+the+Adult+Mouse+Neural+Stem+Cells+Using+the+Neurosphere+Assay.">Isolation and Expansion of the Adult Mouse Neural Stem Cells Using the Neurosphere Assay.</a> J Vis Exp. , (2010).</li><li>Reynolds, B. A., Rietze, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neural+stem+cells+and+neurospheres--re-evaluating+the+relationship.">Neural stem cells and neurospheres--re-evaluating the relationship.</a> Nat Methods. 2, 333-336 (2005).</li><li>Louis, S. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enumeration+of+neural+stem+and+progenitor+cells+in+the+neural+colony-forming+cell+assay.">Enumeration of neural stem and progenitor cells in the neural colony-forming cell assay.</a> Stem Cells. 26, 988-996 (2008).</li></ol>

El ensayo neuroesfera es el método de elección para el aislamiento y la expansión de las células madre neurales 1-5 debido a su sencillez y reproducibilidad. Este ensayo es una herramienta invaluable para generación a gran escala de células precursoras indiferenciadas del SNC, que podrían ser utilizados para los estudios in vitro e in vivo. Cabe destacar que neuroesferas podrían ser generados por la bona fide las células madre neuronales y progenitores más restringido. Por...

* Para hacer HEM, mezcla 110L paquete de MEM and160ml de HEPES 1M y obtener un volumen de 8,75 L con agua destilada. Ajuste el pH final de 7,4 y almacenar a 4 ° C.

establishing embryonic mouse neural stem cell culture using the neurosphere assay

En los mamíferos, las células madre actúa como una fuente de células indiferenciadas para mantener génesis y renovación celular en diferentes tejidos y órganos durante el ciclo de vida del animal. Que potencialmente pueden reemplazar las células que se pierden en el proceso de envejecimiento o en el proceso de lesiones y enfermedades. La existencia de células madre neurales (NSC) fue descrita por primera vez por Reynolds y Weiss (1992) en los mamíferos adultos del sistema nervioso central (SNC) utilizando un nuevo sistema de suero libre de la cultura, el ensayo neuroesfera (NSA). El uso de este ensayo, también es posible aislar y expandir NSCs de diferentes regiones del sistema nervioso central embrionario. Estos in vitro NSCs ampliado son multipotentes y pueden dar lugar a los tres principales tipos de células del sistema nervioso central. Mientras que la NSA parece relativamente simple de realizar, la atención a los procedimientos demostrado aquí se requiere a fin de lograr resultados confiables y consistentes. Este video demuestra prácticamente la NSA para generar y ampliar NSCs a partir del día 14 embrionario del ratón tejido cerebral y ofrece detalles técnicos por lo que uno puede lograr culturas neuroesfera reproducible. El procedimiento incluye la recolección de embriones de ratón E14, microdisección del cerebro para recoger las eminencias ganglionares, la disociación de los tejidos recolectados en el medio de NSC para obtener una suspensión de células individuales, y, finalmente, placas células en cultivo NSA. Después de 5-7 días en la cultura, las neuroesferas primarios resultantes se pasan a ampliar aún más el número de la NSCs para futuros experimentos.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Establishing Embryonic Mouse Neural Stem Cell Culture Using the Neurosphere Assay at JoVE.com

Establishing Embryonic Mouse Neural Stem Cell Culture Using the Neurosphere Assay

Este protocolo de vídeo se muestra la aplicación de la prueba neuroesfera para el aislamiento y la expansión de las células madre neurales de las eminencias ganglionares del día embrionario 14 de cerebro de ratón.

El establecimiento de embriones de ratón con células madre neurales Cultura mediante el ensayo de neuroesfera

In mammalians, stem cells acts as a source of undifferentiated cells to maintain cell genesis and renewal in different tissues and organs during the life ...

establishing-embryonic-mouse-neural-stem-cell-culture-using

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

24.5K vistas.  Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Este protocolo de vídeo se muestra la aplicación de la prueba neuroesfera para el aislamiento y la expansión de las células madre neurales de las eminencias ganglionares del día embrionario 14 de cerebro de ratón.

Video: Establishing Embryonic Mouse Neural Stem Cell Culture Using the Neurosphere Assay

Dissection and Culture of Commissural Neurons from Embryonic Spinal Cord

Commissural neurons have been widely used to investigate the mechanisms underlying axon guidance during embryonic spinal cord development. The cell bodies of these neurons are located in the dorsal spinal cord and their axons follow stereotyped trajectories during embryonic development. Commissural axons initially project ventrally towards the floorplate. After crossing the midline, these axons turn anteriorly and project towards the brain. Each of these steps is regulated by the action of several guidance cues. Cultures highly enriched in commissural neurons are ideally suited for many experiments addressing the mechanisms of axon pathfinding, including turning assays, immunochemistry and biochemistry. Here, we describe a method to dissect and culture commissural neurons from E13 rat dorsal spinal cord. First, the spinal cord is isolated and dorsal strips are dissected out. The dorsal tissue is then dissociated into a cell suspension by trypsinization and mechanical disruption. Neurons are plated onto poly-L-lysine-coated glass coverslips or tissue-culture dishes. After 30 hours in vitro, most neurons have extended an axon. The purity of the culture (Yam et al. 2009), typically over 90%, can be assessed by immunolabeling with the commissural neuron markers DCC, LH2 and TAG1 (Helms and Johnson, 1998). This neuronal preparation is a useful tool for in vitro studies of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of commissural axon growth and guidance during spinal cord development.

This video demonstrates a method to dissect and culture commissural neurons from E13 rat dorsal spinal cord. Dissociated commissural neurons are useful to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of axon growth and guidance.

La disección y la Cultura de las neuronas comisurales de médula espinal embrionaria

Commissural neurons have been widely used to investigate the mechanisms underlying axon guidance during embryonic spinal cord development. The cell bodies ...

Investigación

Neurociencias

Isolation and Expansion of the Adult Mouse Neural Stem Cells Using the Neurosphere Assay

Isolation and expansion of the putative neural stem cells (NSCs) from the adult murine brain was first described by Reynolds and Weiss in 1992 employing a chemically defined serum-free culture system known as the neurosphere assay (NSA). In this assay, the majority of differentiated cell types die within a few days of culture but a small population of growth factor responsive precursor cells undergo active proliferation in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and/ basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF). These cells form colonies of undifferentiated cells called neurospheres, which in turn can be subcultured to expand the pool of neural stem cells. Moreover, the cells can be induced to differentiate, generating the three major cell types of the CNS i.e. neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. This assay provides an invaluable tool to supply a consistent, renewable source of undifferentiated CNS precursors, which could be used for in vitro studies and also for therapeutic purposes.
This video demonstrates the NSA method to generate and expand NSCs from the adult mouse periventricular region, and provides technical insights to ensure one can achieve reproducible neurosphere cultures. The procedure includes harvesting the brain from the adult mouse, micro-dissection of the periventricular region, tissue preparation and culture in the NSA. The harvested tissue is first chemically digested using trypsin-EDTA and then mechanically dissociated in NSC medium to achieve a single cell suspension and finally plated in the NSA. After 7-10 days in culture, the resulting primary neurospheres are ready for subculture to reach the amount of cells required for future experiments.

This video protocol demonstrates the neurosphere assay method to generate and expand neural stem cells from the adult mouse periventricular region, and provides technical insights to ensure one can achieve reproducible neurosphere cultures.

El aislamiento y la expansión de las células troncales nerviosas de ratones adultos mediante el ensayo de neuroesfera

Isolation and expansion of the putative neural stem cells (NSCs) from the adult murine brain was first described by Reynolds and Weiss in 1992 employing a ...

Localizing Protein in 3D Neural Stem Cell Culture: a Hybrid Visualization Methodology

The importance of 3-dimensional (3D) topography in influencing neural stem and progenitor cell (NPC) phenotype is widely acknowledged yet challenging to study. When dissociated from embryonic or post-natal brain, single NPCs will proliferate in suspension to form neurospheres. Daughter cells within these cultures spontaneously adopt distinct developmental lineages (neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes) over the course of expansion despite being exposed to the same extracellular milieu. This progression recapitulates many of the stages observed over the course of neurogenesis and gliogenesis in post-natal brain and is often used to study basic NPC biology within a controlled environment. Assessing the full impact of 3D topography and cellular positioning within these cultures on NPC fate is, however, difficult. To localize target proteins and identify NPC lineages by immunocytochemistry, free-floating neurospheres must be plated on a substrate or serially sectioned. This processing is required to ensure equivalent cell permeabilization and antibody access throughout the sphere. As a result, 2D epifluorescent images of cryosections or confocal reconstructions of 3D Z-stacks can only provide spatial information about cell position within discrete physical or digital 3D slices and do not visualize cellular position in the intact sphere. Here, to reiterate the topography of the neurosphere culture and permit spatial analysis of protein expression throughout the entire culture, we present a protocol for isolation, expansion, and serial sectioning of post-natal hippocampal neurospheres suitable for epifluorescent or confocal immunodetection of target proteins. Connexin29 (Cx29) is analyzed as an example. Next, using a hybrid of graphic editing and 3D modelling softwares rigorously applied to maintain biological detail, we describe how to re-assemble the 3D structural positioning of these images and digitally map labelled cells within the complete neurosphere. This methodology enables visualization and analysis of the cellular position of target proteins and cells throughout the entire 3D culture topography and will facilitate a more detailed analysis of the spatial relationships between cells over the course of neurogenesis and gliogenesis in vitro.
Both Imbeault and Valenzuela contributed equally and should be considered joint first authors.

Here, we describe how to produce, expand, and immunolabel postnatal hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in three-dimensional (3D) culture. Next, using hybrid visualization technologies, we demonstrate how digital images of immunolabelled cryosections can be used to reconstruct and map the spatial position of immunopositive cells throughout the entire 3D neurosphere.

La localización de la proteína en 3D Cultura de células madre neurales: una metodología de visualización híbrida

The importance of 3-dimensional (3D) topography in influencing neural stem and progenitor cell (NPC) phenotype is widely acknowledged yet challenging to ...

Neural-Colony Forming Cell Assay: An Assay To Discriminate Bona Fide Neural Stem Cells from Neural Progenitor Cells

The neurosphere assay (NSA) is one of the most frequently used methods to isolate, expand and also calculate the frequency of neural stem cells (NSCs). Furthermore, this serum-free culture system has also been employed to expand stem cells and determine their frequency from a variety of tumors and normal tissues. It has been shown recently that a one-to-one relationship does not exist between neurosphere formation and NSCs. This suggests that the NSA as currently applied, overestimates the frequency of NSCs in a mixed population of neural precursor cells isolated from both the embryonic and adult mammalian brain. This video practically demonstrates a novel collagen based semi- solid assay, the neural-colony forming cell assay (N-CFCA), which has the ability to discriminate stem from progenitor cells based on their long-term proliferative potential, and thus provides a method to enumerate NSC frequency. In the N-CFCA, colonies &ge;2 mm in diameter are derived from cells that meet all the functional criteria of a NSC, while colonies &lt; 2mm are derived from progenitors. The N-CFCA procedure can be used for cells prepared from different sources including primary and cultured adult or embryonic mouse CNS cells. Here we use cells prepared from passage one neurospheres generated from embryonic day 14 mice brain to perform N-CFCA. The cultures are replenished with proliferation medium every seven days for three weeks to allow the plated cells to exhibit their full proliferative potential and then the frequency of neural progenitor and bona fide neural stem cells is calculated respectively by counting the number of colonies that are &lt; 2mm and the ones that are &ge;2mm in reference to the number of cells that were initially plated.

This video protocol demonstrates how to discriminate and enumerate bona fide neural stem cells in a mixed population of neural precursor cells using the neural colony-forming cell assay.

Neural formadoras de colonias ensayo de células: un ensayo para discriminar Bona Fide células troncales nerviosas de células progenitoras neurales

The neurosphere assay (NSA) is one of the most frequently used methods to isolate, expand and also calculate the frequency of neural stem cells (NSCs). ...

Surgical Transplantation of Mouse Neural Stem Cells into the Spinal Cords of Mice Infected with Neurotropic Mouse Hepatitis Virus

Mice infected with the neurotropic JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) develop pathological and clinical outcomes similar to patients with the demyelinating disease Multiple Sclerosis (MS). We have shown that transplantation of NSCs into the spinal cords of sick mice results in a significant improvement in both remyelination and in clinical outcome. Cell replacement therapies for the treatment of chronic neurologic diseases are now a reality and in vivo models are vital in understanding the interactions between the engrafted cells and host tissue microenvironment. This presentation provides an adapted method for transplanting cells into the spinal cord of JHMV-infected mice. In brief, we provide a procedure for i) preparation of NSCs prior to transplant, ii) pre-operative care of mice, iii) exposure of the spinal cord via laminectomy, iv) stereotactic injection of NSCs, and iv) post-operative care.

The transplantation of mouse neural stem cells (NSCs) into the spinal cords of mice with established demyelination is detailed. The preparation of NSCs, the laminectomy of thoracic vertebra 9 (T9), and transplantation of NSCs is outlined along with the pre- and post-operative care of the mice.

El trasplante quirúrgico de células madre neurales en la médula espinal de los ratones infectados con el virus neurotrópico Hepatitis Ratón

Mice infected with the neurotropic JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) develop pathological and clinical outcomes similar to patients with the ...

The Neuroblast Assay: An Assay for the Generation and Enrichment of Neuronal Progenitor Cells from Differentiating Neural Stem Cell Progeny Using Flow Cytometry

Neural stem cells (NSCs) can be isolated and expanded in large-scale, using the neurosphere assay and differentiated into the three major cell types of the central nervous system (CNS); namely, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons. These characteristics make neural stem and progenitor cells an invaluable renewable source of cells for in vitro studies such as drug screening, neurotoxicology and electrophysiology and also for cell replacement therapy in many neurological diseases. In practice, however, heterogeneity of NSC progeny, low production of neurons and oligodendrocytes, and predominance of astrocytes following differentiation limit their clinical applications. Here, we describe a novel methodology for the generation and subsequent purification of immature neurons from murine NSC progeny using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) technology. Using this methodology, a highly enriched neuronal progenitor cell population can be achieved without any noticeable astrocyte and bona fide NSC contamination. The procedure includes differentiation of NSC progeny isolated and expanded from E14 mouse ganglionic eminences using the neurosphere assay, followed by isolation and enrichment of immature neuronal cells based on their physical (size and internal complexity) and fluorescent properties using flow cytometry technology. Overall, it takes 5-7 days to generate neurospheres and 6-8 days to differentiate NSC progeny and isolate highly purified immature neuronal cells.

This video protocol demonstrates a novel method for the generation and subsequent purification of neuronal progenitor cells from a renewable source of neural stem cells (NSCs) based on their physical (size and internal granularity) and fluorescent properties using flow cytometry technology.

El ensayo neuroblasto: un ensayo para la generación y enriquecimiento de las células progenitoras neuronales de la diferenciación de la progenie de células madre neurales Usando citometría de flujo

Neural stem cells (NSCs) can be isolated and expanded in large-scale, using the neurosphere assay and differentiated into the three major cell types of ...

Isolation and Culture of Neural Crest Cells from Embryonic Murine Neural Tube

The embryonic neural crest (NC) is a multipotent progenitor population that originates at the dorsal aspect of the neural tube, undergoes an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migrates throughout the embryo, giving rise to diverse cell types 1-3. NC also has the unique ability to influence the differentiation and maturation of target organs4-6. When explanted in vitro, NC progenitors undergo self-renewal, migrate and differentiate into a variety of tissue types including neurons, glia, smooth muscle cells, cartilage and bone. 
NC multipotency was first described from explants of the avian neural tube7-9. In vitro isolation of NC cells facilitates the study of NC dynamics including proliferation, migration, and multipotency. Further work in the avian and rat systems demonstrated that explanted NC cells retain their NC potential when transplanted back into the embryo10-13. Because these inherent cellular properties are preserved in explanted NC progenitors, the neural tube explant assay provides an attractive option for studying the NC in vitro. 
To attain a better understanding of the mammalian NC, many methods have been employed to isolate NC populations. NC-derived progenitors can be cultured from post-migratory locations in both the embryo and adult to study the dynamics of post-migratory NC progenitors11,14-20, however isolation of NC progenitors as they emigrate from the neural tube provides optimal preservation of NC cell potential and migratory properties13,21,22. Some protocols employ fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) to isolate a NC population enriched for particular progenitors11,13,14,17. However, when starting with early stage embryos, cell numbers adequate for analyses are difficult to obtain with FACS, complicating the isolation of early NC populations from individual embryos. Here, we describe an approach that does not rely on FACS and results in an approximately 96% pure NC population based on a Wnt1-Cre activated lineage reporter23. 
The method presented here is adapted from protocols optimized for the culture of rat NC11,13. The advantages of this protocol compared to previous methods are that 1) the cells are not grown on a feeder layer, 2) FACS is not required to obtain a relatively pure NC population, 3) premigratory NC cells are isolated and 4) results are easily quantified. Furthermore, this protocol can be used for isolation of NC from any mutant mouse model, facilitating the study of NC characteristics with different genetic manipulations. The limitation of this approach is that the NC is removed from the context of the embryo, which is known to influence the survival, migration and differentiation of the NC2,24-28.

Isolation of embryonic neural crest from the neural tube facilitates the use of in vitro methods for studying migration, self-renewal, and multipotency of neural crest.

Aislamiento y cultivo de células de la cresta neural de embriones murinos del Tubo Neural

The embryonic neural crest (NC) is a multipotent progenitor population that originates at the dorsal aspect of the neural tube, undergoes an epithelial to ...

Enumeration of Neural Stem Cells Using Clonal Assays

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to self-renew and generate the three major neural lineages &#8212; astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes. NSCs and neural progenitors (NPs) are commonly cultured in vitro as neurospheres. This protocol describes in detail how to determine the NSC frequency in a given cell population under clonal conditions. The protocol begins with the seeding of the cells at a density that allows for the generation of clonal neurospheres. The neurospheres are then transferred to chambered coverslips and differentiated under clonal conditions in conditioned medium, which maximizes the differentiation potential of the neurospheres. Finally, the NSC frequency is calculated based on neurosphere formation and multipotency capabilities. Utilities of this protocol include the evaluation of candidate NSC markers, purification of NSCs, and the ability to distinguish NSCs from NPs. This method takes 13 days to perform, which is much shorter than current methods to enumerate NSC frequency.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) refer to cells&#160;which can self-renew and differentiate into the three neural lineages. Here, we describe a protocol to determine NSC frequency in a given cell population using neurosphere formation and differentiation under clonal conditions.

Enumeración de células madre neurales Usando ensayos clonales

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to self-renew and generate the three major neural lineages &#8212; astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes. ...

Isolation and Culture of Adult Neural Stem Cells from the Mouse Subcallosal Zone

Adult neural stem cells (aNSCs) can be used for the regeneration of damaged brain tissue. NSCs have the potential for differentiation and proliferation into three types of cells: neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Identifying aNSC-derived regions and characterizing the aNSC properties are critical for the potential use of aNSCs and for the elucidation of their role in neural regeneration. The subcallosal zone (SCZ), located between white matter and the hippocampus, has recently been reported to contain aNSCs and continuously give rise to neuroblasts. A low percentage of aNSCs from the SCZ is differentiated into neurons; most cells are differentiated into glial cells, such as oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. These cells are suggested to have a therapeutic potential for traumatic cortical injury. This protocol describes in detail the process to generate SCZ-aNSCs from an adult mouse brain. A brain matrix with intervals of 1 mm is used to obtain the SCZ-containing coronal slices and to precisely dissect the SCZ from the whole brain. The SCZ sections are initially subjected to a neurosphere culture. A well-developed culture system allows for the verification of their characteristics and can increase research on NSCs. A neurosphere culture system provides a useful tool for determining proliferation and collecting the genuine NSCs. A monolayer culture is also an in vitro system to assay proliferation and differentiation. Significantly, this culture system provides a more homogenous environment for NSCs than the neurosphere culture system. Thus, using a discrete brain region, these culture systems will be helpful for expanding our knowledge about aNSCs and their applications for therapeutic uses.

Establishing culture systems for the expansion of adult neural stem cells (aNSCs) allows for the examination and application of aNSCs for therapy. The subcallosal zone (SCZ) has recently been recognized as a novel neuroblast-forming region in adult mice. Here, methods for the isolation, expansion, and differentiation of SCZ-aNSCs are described.

Aislamiento y cultivo de células madre adultas neural de la Zona subcallosal Ratón

Adult neural stem cells (aNSCs) can be used for the regeneration of damaged brain tissue. NSCs have the potential for differentiation and proliferation ...

Development of a Refined Protocol for Trans-scleral Subretinal Transplantation of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells into Rat Eyes

Degenerative retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the leading cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide. AMD is characterized by the degeneration of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, which are a monolayer of cells functionally supporting and anatomically wrapping around the neural retina. Current pharmacological treatments for the non-neovascular AMD (dry AMD) only slow down the disease progression but cannot restore vision, necessitating studies aimed at identifying novel therapeutic strategies. Replacing the degenerative RPE cells with healthy cells holds promise to treat dry AMD in the future. Extensive preclinical studies of stem cell replacement therapies for AMD involve the transplantation of stem cell-derived RPE cells into the subretinal space of animal models, in which the subretinal injection technique is applied. The approach most frequently used in these preclinical animal studies is through the trans-scleral route, which is made difficult by the lack of direct visualization of the needle end and can often result in retinal damage. An alternative approach through the vitreous allows for direct observation of the needle end position, but it carries a high risk of surgical traumas as more eye tissues are disturbed. We have developed a less risky and reproducible modified trans-scleral injection method that uses defined needle angles and depths to successfully and consistently deliver RPE cells into the rat subretinal space and avoid excessive retinal damage. Cells delivered in this manner have been previously demonstrated to be efficacious in the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat for at least 2 months. This technique can be used not only for cell transplantation but also for delivery of small molecules or gene therapies.

Subretinal injection has been widely applied in preclinical studies of stem cell replacement therapy for age-related macular degeneration. In this visualized article, we describe a less risky, reproducible and precisely modified subretinal injection technique via the trans-scleral approach to deliver cells into rat eyes.