We would like to acknowledge Marc Wozniak for video assistance. We would also like to acknowledge Sean Morrison at UT Southwestern for the original protocol for culturing rat NC cells. This work was supported Vanderbilt University Medical Center Academic Program Support and by grants from the NIH (HD36720 and HD036720-11S109) and the AHA 11GRNT7690040 to PAL, predoctoral fellowships from the AHA (0615209B) and NIH (NS065604) to NAM, and ERP was supported by an NIH training grant T32HD007502.

1. Preparing Plates
<ol>
 <li> Use sterile technique at all times. </li>
 <li> Prepare fibronectin (FN) by diluting 100 &mu;L of human plasma FN stock into a final volume of 3.3 mL in Dulbecco's PBS (dPBS). Final concentration is 30 &mu;g/mL and this can be stored at 4 &deg;C for 1 week. </li>
 <li> Cover bottom of each well of a sterile tissue culture four well plate with FN solution and let sit for 15 minutes. Make sure the entire surface is covered. Make media during this time (steps 2 and 3). </li>
 <li> ...

<ol>
	<li>Le Douarin, N., Kalcheim, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The neural crest. , (1999).</li><li>Kulesa, P. M., Gammill, L. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neural+crest+migration:+patterns,+phases+and+signals.">Neural crest migration: patterns, phases and signals.</a> Developmental biology. 344, 566-568 (2010).</li><li>Saint-Jeannet, J. -. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Neural crest induction and differentiation. , (2006).</li><li>Plank, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Influence+and+timing+of+arrival+of+murine+neural+crest+on+pancreatic+beta+cell+development+and+maturation.">Influence and timing of arrival of murine neural crest on pancreatic beta cell development and maturation.</a> Developmental biology. 349, 321-330 (2011).</li><li>Nekrep, N., Wang, J., Miyatsuka, T., German, M. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Signals+from+the+neural+crest+regulate+beta-cell+mass+in+the+pancreas.">Signals from the neural crest regulate beta-cell mass in the pancreas.</a> Development. 135, 2151-2160 (2008).</li><li>Freem, L. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+intrinsic+innervation+of+the+lung+is+derived+from+neural+crest+cells+as+shown+by+optical+projection+tomography+in+Wnt1-Cre;YFP+reporter+mice.">The intrinsic innervation of the lung is derived from neural crest cells as shown by optical projection tomography in Wnt1-Cre;YFP reporter mice.</a> J. Anat. 217, 651-664 (2010).</li><li>Cohen, A. M., Konigsberg, I. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+clonal+approach+to+the+problem+of+neural+crest+determination.">A clonal approach to the problem of neural crest determination.</a> Developmental biology. 46, 262-280 (1975).</li><li>Sieber-Blum, M., Cohen, A. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Clonal+analysis+of+quail+neural+crest+cells:+they+are+pluripotent+and+differentiate+in+vitro+in+the+absence+of+noncrest+cells.">Clonal analysis of quail neural crest cells: they are pluripotent and differentiate in vitro in the absence of noncrest cells.</a> Developmental biology. 80, 96-106 (1980).</li><li>Baroffio, A., Dupin, E., Douarin, N. M. L. e. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Common+precursors+for+neural+and+mesectodermal+derivatives+in+the+cephalic+neural+crest.">Common precursors for neural and mesectodermal derivatives in the cephalic neural crest.</a> Development. 112, 301-305 (1991).</li><li>White, P. 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+crest+stem+cells+undergo+cell-intrinsic+developmental+changes+in+sensitivity+to+instructive+differentiation+signals.">Neural crest stem cells undergo cell-intrinsic developmental changes in sensitivity to instructive differentiation signals.</a> Neuron. 29, 57-71 (2001).</li><li>Morrison, S. J., White, P. M., Zock, C., Anderson, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prospective+identification,+isolation+by+flow+cytometry,+and+in+vivo+self-renewal+of+multipotent+mammalian+neural+crest+stem+cells.">Prospective identification, isolation by flow cytometry, and in vivo self-renewal of multipotent mammalian neural crest stem cells.</a> Cell. 96, 737-749 (1999).</li><li>Bronner-Fraser, M., Sieber-Blum, M., Cohen, A. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Clonal+analysis+of+the+avian+neural+crest:+migration+and+maturation+of+mixed+neural+crest+clones+injected+into+host+chicken+embryos.">Clonal analysis of the avian neural crest: migration and maturation of mixed neural crest clones injected into host chicken embryos.</a> J. Comp. Neurol. 193, 423-434 (1980).</li><li>Stemple, D. L., Anderson, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+of+a+stem+cell+for+neurons+and+glia+from+the+mammalian+neural+crest.">Isolation of a stem cell for neurons and glia from the mammalian neural crest.</a> Cell. 71, 973-985 (1992).</li><li>Corpening, J. C. <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+live+imaging+of+enteric+progenitors+based+on+Sox10-Histone2BVenus+transgene+expression.">Isolation and live imaging of enteric progenitors based on Sox10-Histone2BVenus transgene expression.</a> Genesis. 49, 599-618 (2011).</li><li>Biernaskie, J. A., McKenzie, I. A., Toma, J. G., Miller, F. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+of+skin-derived+precursors+(SKPs)+and+differentiation+and+enrichment+of+their+Schwann+cell+progeny.">Isolation of skin-derived precursors (SKPs) and differentiation and enrichment of their Schwann cell progeny.</a> Nat. Protoc. 1, 2803-2812 (2006).</li><li>Chung, I. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stem+cell+property+of+postmigratory+cranial+neural+crest+cells+and+their+utility+in+alveolar+bone+regeneration+and+tooth+development.">Stem cell property of postmigratory cranial neural crest cells and their utility in alveolar bone regeneration and tooth development.</a> Stem Cells. 27, 866-877 (2009).</li><li>Biernaskie, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SKPs+derive+from+hair+follicle+precursors+and+exhibit+properties+of+adult+dermal+stem+cells.">SKPs derive from hair follicle precursors and exhibit properties of adult dermal stem cells.</a> Cell Stem Cell. 5, 610-623 (2009).</li><li>Hagedorn, L., Suter, U., Sommer, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=P0+and+PMP22+mark+a+multipotent+neural+crest-derived+cell+type+that+displays+community+effects+in+response+to+TGF-beta+family+factors.">P0 and PMP22 mark a multipotent neural crest-derived cell type that displays community effects in response to TGF-beta family factors.</a> Development. , 126-3781 (1999).</li><li>Heanue, T. A., Pachnis, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prospective+identification+and+isolation+of+enteric+nervous+system+progenitors+using+Sox2.">Prospective identification and isolation of enteric nervous system progenitors using Sox2.</a> Stem Cells. 29, 128-140 (2011).</li><li>Morrison, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Culture+in+reduced+levels+of+oxygen+promotes+clonogenic+sympathoadrenal+differentiation+by+isolated+neural+crest+stem+cells.">Culture in reduced levels of oxygen promotes clonogenic sympathoadrenal differentiation by isolated neural crest stem cells.</a> J. Neurosci. 20, 7370-7376 (2000).</li><li>Ito, K., Morita, T., Sieber-Blum, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+clonal+analysis+of+mouse+neural+crest+development.">In vitro clonal analysis of mouse neural crest development.</a> Developmental biology. 157, 517-525 (1993).</li><li>Etchevers, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primary+culture+of+chick,+mouse+or+human+neural+crest+cells.">Primary culture of chick, mouse or human neural crest cells.</a> Nat. Protoc. 6, 1568-1577 (2011).</li><li>Mundell, N. A., Labosky, P. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neural+crest+stem+cell+multipotency+requires+Foxd3+to+maintain+neural+potential+and+repress+mesenchymal+fates.">Neural crest stem cell multipotency requires Foxd3 to maintain neural potential and repress mesenchymal fates.</a> Development. 138, 641-652 (2011).</li><li>Gammill, L. S., Gonzalez, C., Gu, C., Bronner-Fraser, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Guidance+of+trunk+neural+crest+migration+requires+neuropilin+2/semaphorin+3F+signaling.">Guidance of trunk neural crest migration requires neuropilin 2/semaphorin 3F signaling.</a> Development. 133, 99-106 (2006).</li><li>Gammill, L. S., Gonzalez, C., Bronner-Fraser, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuropilin+2/semaphorin+3F+signaling+is+essential+for+cranial+neural+crest+migration+and+trigeminal+ganglion+condensation.">Neuropilin 2/semaphorin 3F signaling is essential for cranial neural crest migration and trigeminal ganglion condensation.</a> Dev. Neurobiol. 67, 47-56 (2007).</li><li>Kasemeier-Kulesa, J. C., Bradley, R., Pasquale, E. B., Lefcort, F., Kulesa, P. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Eph/ephrins+and+N-cadherin+coordinate+to+control+the+pattern+of+sympathetic+ganglia.">Eph/ephrins and N-cadherin coordinate to control the pattern of sympathetic ganglia.</a> Development. 133, 4839-4847 (2006).</li><li>Osborne, N. J., Begbie, J., Chilton, J. K., Schmidt, H., Eickholt, B. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Semaphorin/neuropilin+signaling+influences+the+positioning+of+migratory+neural+crest+cells+within+the+hindbrain+region+of+the+the+chick.">Semaphorin/neuropilin signaling influences the positioning of migratory neural crest cells within the hindbrain region of the the chick.</a> Dev. Dyn. 232, 939-949 (2005).</li><li>Schwarz, Q., Maden, C. H., Vieira, J. M., Ruhrberg, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuropilin+1+signaling+guides+neural+crest+cells+to+coordinate+pathway+choice+with+cell+specification.">Neuropilin 1 signaling guides neural crest cells to coordinate pathway choice with cell specification.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 106, 6164-6169 (2009).</li><li>Simon, M. C., Keith, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+oxygen+availability+in+embryonic+development+and+stem+cell+function.">The role of oxygen availability in embryonic development and stem cell function.</a> Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 9, 285-296 (2008).</li><li>Ivanovic, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hypoxia+or+in+situ+normoxia:+The+stem+cell+paradigm.">Hypoxia or in situ normoxia: The stem cell paradigm.</a> J. Cell Physiol. 219, 271-275 (2009).</li></ol>

Careful attention should be paid to the developmental stage of embryo to ensure the success of this approach. Counting somites of early mouse embryos is critical both for stage matching embryos within a litter and determining the correct regions of neural tube for isolation. A variation of one or two somites between embryos is within a reasonable range of developmental timing, depending upon the resolution of the experiment conducted. An embryo between 9 and 9.5 dpc will have between 17 and 25 somites. If the embryo has ...

<table border="1">
<tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Reagent </td>
 <td>Company </td>
 <td>Catalogue number </td>
 <td>Comments </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>DMEM (low glucose)</td>
 <td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
 <td>11885</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Neurobasal Medium</td>
 <td>Gibco</td>
 <td>21103</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>BSA</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>A3912-10G</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>dPBS</td>
 <td>Gibco</td>
 <td>14190-144</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>IGF1</td>
 <td>BD Biosciences</td>
 <td>354037</td>
 <td>Store in 50 &mu;g/mL aliquots at -20&deg;C. </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>bFGF</td>
 <td>BD Biosciences</td>
 <td>354060</td>
 <td>Store in 25 &mu;g/mL aliquots at -20&deg;C. </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Fibronectin</td>
 <td>Gibco</td>
 <td>33016-015</td>
 <td>Stored in 1mg/mL aliquots at -20&deg;C. </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Retinoic acid</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>R2625</td>
 <td>Store in 35 &mu;g/ml aliquots after reconstituting in ethanol at -20&deg;C. </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>2-mercaptoethanol </td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>D-5637</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>N2 supplement</td>
 <td>Gibco</td>
 <td>17502-048</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>B27 supplement</td>
 <td>Gibco</td>
 <td>17504-044</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Steriflip 0.22 &mu;m filters</td>
 <td>Millipore</td>
 <td>SCGP00525</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Penicillin-streptomycin </td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>15140122 </td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>0.20 &mu;m filters</td>
 <td>Corning</td>
 <td>431219</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Syringes (for filtration)</td>
 <td>BD Biosciences</td>
 <td>301604</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Four well plates</td>
 <td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
 <td>176740</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Collagenase/Dispase</td>
 <td>Roche</td>
 <td>269 638</td>
 <td>Activity varies by batch. Store in 100 mg/mL aliquots at -20&deg;C.</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Insulin needles 
 (29&frac12; gage)</td>
 <td>Becton Dickson</td>
 <td>309306</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Hypoxia Chamber</td>
 <td>Billups-Rothenberg</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Oxygen Analyzer</td>
 <td>Billups-Rothenberg</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Forceps #5</td>
 <td>Fine Science Tools</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 <td>For removing uterus and decidua.</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Trypsin-EDTA (0.25%) </td>
 <td>Gibco</td>
 <td>25200</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

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.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation and Culture of Neural Crest Cells from Embryonic Murine Neural Tube at JoVE.com

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

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.

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

isolation-culture-neural-crest-cells-from-embryonic-murine-neural

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

17.0K visualizações.  Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Isolamento de crista neural embrionário a partir do tubo neural facilita o uso de In vitro Métodos para estudar a migração, a auto-renovação, e multipotency da crista neural.