This research was supported by grants CONACYT 252756 and 253631; UNAM-DGAPA-PAPIIT IN202818 and IN203518; INPER 2018-1-163, and NIH P51OD11132. We thank Deisy Gasca, Carlos Lozano, Mart&#237;n Garc&#237;a, Alejandra Castilla, Nidia Hernandez, Jessica Norris and Susana Castro for their excellent technical assistance.

The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Instituto de Neurobiolog&#237;a, Universidad Nacional Aut&#243;noma de M&#233;xico, Mexico and Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia (2018-1-163). The reproduction, care and humane endpoints of the animals were established following the Official Mexican Standard (NOM-062-Z00-1999) based on the &#8220;Ley General de Salud en Materia de Investigaci&#243;n para la Salud&#8221; (General Health Law for Health Research) of the Mexican Secretaria of Health.
<p cla...

<ol>
	<li>Portillo, W., Paredes, R. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Motivational+Drive+in+Non-copulating+and+Socially+Monogamous+Mammals.">Motivational Drive in Non-copulating and Socially Monogamous Mammals.</a> Frontiers Behavioral Neuroscience. 13, 238 (2019).</li><li>Walum, H., Young, 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+neural+mechanisms+and+circuitry+of+the+pair+bond.">The neural mechanisms and circuitry of the pair bond.</a> Nature Reviews Neurosciences. 19 (11), 643-654 (2018).</li><li>Gobrogge, K. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sex,+drugs,+and+violence:+neuromodulation+of+attachment+and+conflict+in+voles.">Sex, drugs, and violence: neuromodulation of attachment and conflict in voles.</a> Current Topics Behavioral Neurosciences. 17, 229-264 (2014).</li><li>Perkeybile, A. M., Bales, K. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intergenerational+transmission+of+sociality:+the+role+of+parents+in+shaping+social+behavior+in+monogamous+and+non-monogamous+species.">Intergenerational transmission of sociality: the role of parents in shaping social behavior in monogamous and non-monogamous species.</a> Journal of Experimental Biology. 220, 114-123 (2017).</li><li>McGraw, L. A., Young, 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+prairie+vole:+an+emerging+model+organism+for+understanding+the+social+brain.">The prairie vole: an emerging model organism for understanding the social brain.</a> Trends in Neuroscience. 33 (2), 103-109 (2010).</li><li>Fowler, C. D., Liu, Y., Ouimet, C., Wang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effects+of+social+environment+on+adult+neurogenesis+in+the+female+prairie+vole.">The effects of social environment on adult neurogenesis in the female prairie vole.</a> Journal of Neurobiology. 51 (2), 115-128 (2002).</li><li>Yang, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multi-omic+Profiling+Reveals+Dynamics+of+the+Phased+Progression+of+Pluripotency.">Multi-omic Profiling Reveals Dynamics of the Phased Progression of Pluripotency.</a> Cell Systems. 8 (5), 427-445 (2019).</li><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 (5052), 1707-1710 (1992).</li><li>Gritti, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multipotential+stem+cells+from+the+adult+mouse+brain+proliferate+and+self-renew+in+response+to+basic+fibroblast+growth+factor.">Multipotential stem cells from the adult mouse brain proliferate and self-renew in response to basic fibroblast growth factor.</a> Journal of Neurosciences. 16 (3), 1091-1100 (1996).</li><li>Ostenfeld, T., Svendsen, C. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Requirement+for+neurogenesis+to+proceed+through+the+division+of+neuronal+progenitors+following+differentiation+of+epidermal+growth+factor+and+fibroblast+growth+factor-2-responsive+human+neural+stem+cells.">Requirement for neurogenesis to proceed through the division of neuronal progenitors following differentiation of epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor-2-responsive human neural stem cells.</a> Stem Cells. 22 (5), 798-811 (2004).</li><li>Paxinos, G., Keith, B. J. F. <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 mouse brain in stereotaxic coordinates. , (2001).</li><li>Conti, L., Cattaneo, E. <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+cell+systems:+physiological+players+or+in+vitro+entities.">Neural stem cell systems: physiological players or in vitro entities.</a> Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 11 (3), 176-187 (2010).</li><li>Lieberwirth, C., Liu, Y., Jia, X., Wang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Social+isolation+impairs+adult+neurogenesis+in+the+limbic+system+and+alters+behaviors+in+female+prairie+voles.">Social isolation impairs adult neurogenesis in the limbic system and alters behaviors in female prairie voles.</a> Hormones and Behavior. 62 (4), 357-366 (2012).</li><li>Ruscio, M. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pup+exposure+elicits+hippocampal+cell+proliferation+in+the+prairie+vole.">Pup exposure elicits hippocampal cell proliferation in the prairie vole.</a> Behavioral Brain Research. 187 (1), 9-16 (2008).</li><li>Wojtowicz, J. M., Kee, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=BrdU+assay+for+neurogenesis+in+rodents.">BrdU assay for neurogenesis in rodents.</a> Nature Protocols. 1 (3), 1399-1405 (2006).</li><li>Eack, S. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Commonalities+in+social+and+non-social+cognitive+impairments+in+adults+with+autism+spectrum+disorder+and+schizophrenia.">Commonalities in social and non-social cognitive impairments in adults with autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.</a> Schizophrenia Research. 148 (1-3), 24-28 (2013).</li><li>Pinkham, A. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comprehensive+comparison+of+social+cognitive+performance+in+autism+spectrum+disorder+and+schizophrenia.">Comprehensive comparison of social cognitive performance in autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.</a> Psychological Medicine. , 1-9 (2019).</li><li>Yirmiya, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Association+between+the+arginine+vasopressin+1a+receptor+(AVPR1a)+gene+and+autism+in+a+family-based+study:+mediation+by+socialization+skills.">Association between the arginine vasopressin 1a receptor (AVPR1a) gene and autism in a family-based study: mediation by socialization skills.</a> Molecular Psychiatry. 11 (5), 488-494 (2006).</li><li>Montag, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Oxytocin+and+oxytocin+receptor+gene+polymorphisms+and+risk+for+schizophrenia:+a+case-control+study.">Oxytocin and oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms and risk for schizophrenia: a case-control study.</a> The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry. 14 (7), 500-508 (2013).</li><li>Harony, H., Wagner, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+contribution+of+oxytocin+and+vasopressin+to+mammalian+social+behavior:+potential+role+in+autism+spectrum+disorder.">The contribution of oxytocin and vasopressin to mammalian social behavior: potential role in autism spectrum disorder.</a> Neurosignals. 18 (2), 82-97 (2010).</li><li>Bachner-Melman, R., Ebstein, R. P. <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+oxytocin+and+vasopressin+in+emotional+and+social+behaviors.">The role of oxytocin and vasopressin in emotional and social behaviors.</a> Handbook of Clinical Neurology. 124, 53-68 (2014).</li><li>Wegiel, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+neuropathology+of+autism:+defects+of+neurogenesis+and+neuronal+migration,+and+dysplastic+changes.">The neuropathology of autism: defects of neurogenesis and neuronal migration, and dysplastic changes.</a> Acta Neuropathologica. 119 (6), 755-770 (2010).</li><li>Kaushik, G., Zarbalis, K. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prenatal+Neurogenesis+in+Autism+Spectrum+Disorders.">Prenatal Neurogenesis in Autism Spectrum Disorders.</a> Frontiers in Chemistry. 4, 12 (2016).</li><li>Sheu, J. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Critical+Period+for+the+Development+of+Schizophrenia-Like+Pathology+by+Aberrant+Postnatal+Neurogenesis.">A Critical Period for the Development of Schizophrenia-Like Pathology by Aberrant Postnatal Neurogenesis.</a> Frontiers in Neuroscience. 13, 635 (2019).</li><li>Donaldson, Z. R., Young, 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+relative+contribution+of+proximal+5'+flanking+sequence+and+microsatellite+variation+on+brain+vasopressin+1a+receptor+(Avpr1a)+gene+expression+and+behavior.">The relative contribution of proximal 5' flanking sequence and microsatellite variation on brain vasopressin 1a receptor (Avpr1a) gene expression and behavior.</a> PLoS Genetics. 9 (8), 1003729 (2013).</li><li>Rice, M. A., Hobbs, L. E., Wallace, K. J., Ophir, A. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cryptic+sexual+dimorphism+in+spatial+memory+and+hippocampal+oxytocin+receptors+in+prairie+voles+(Microtus+ochrogaster).">Cryptic sexual dimorphism in spatial memory and hippocampal oxytocin receptors in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster).</a> Hormones and Behavior. 95, 94-102 (2017).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

A stage to obtain a neural stem cell culture is the digestion period with the enzymatic solution, which should not exceed more than 30 min because it might decrease cell viability. The neurospheres should emerge at 8-10 days after initial culture; if they do not emerge by day 12, discard the culture and repeat the experiment, reducing the digestion period. Another issue is the blood vessels that cover the brain tissue. They should be completely removed during the dissection because the excess of erythrocytes can interfer...

The prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), a member of the Cricetidae family, is a small mammal whose life strategy develops as a socially monogamous and highly sociable species. Both males and females establish an enduring pair bond after mating or long periods of cohabitation characterized by sharing the nest, defending their territory, and displaying biparental care for their progeny1,2,3,4. Thus, the prairie vole is a valuable model for understanding the neurobiological basis of socio-sexual behavior and impairments in social cognition5.
Adult neurogenesis is one of the most paramount processes of neural plasticity that leads to behavioral changes. For example, our research group reported in male voles that social cohabitation with mating increased cell proliferation in the subventricular zone (VZ) and subgranular zone in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus, suggesting that adult neurogenesis can play a role in the formation of pair bonding induced by mating in prairie voles (unpublished data). On the other hand, although the brain regions where new neurons are generated and integrated are well known, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in these processes remain undetermined due to technical drawbacks in the whole brain model6. For instance, the signaling pathways controlling gene expression and other cellular activities have a relatively short activation period (detection of phosphoproteome)7. One alternative model is isolated and cultured adult neural stem cells or progenitor cells to elucidate molecular components involved in adult neurogenesis.
The first approach to maintain in vitro neural precursors from adult mammal (mouse) brain was the assay of neurospheres, which are cellular aggregates growing under non-adherent conditions which preserve their multipotent potential to generate neurons, as well as astrocytes8,9,10. During their development, there is a selection process where only the precursors will respond to mitogens such as the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2) to proliferate and generate neurospheres8,9,10.
To our knowledge, no protocol is reported in the literature to obtain adult neural progenitors from prairie voles. Here, we established the culture conditions to isolate neuronal progenitors from neurogenic niches and their in vitro maintenance through the neurosphere formation assay. Thus, experiments can be designed to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in proliferation, migration, differentiation and survival of the neural stem cells and progenitors, processes that are still unknown in the prairie vole. Moreover, elucidating in vitro differences in the properties of the cells derived from the VZ and DG could provide information about the role of neurogenic niches in neural plasticity associated with changes in socio-sexual behavior and cognitive behaviors, and deficits in social interactions (autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia), which could also be sex-dependent.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Antibodies</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Antibody ID</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Nestin</td>
			<td>GeneTex</td>
			<td>GTX30671</td>
			<td>RRID:AB_625325</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Doublecortin</td>
			<td>MERCK</td>
			<td>AB2253</td>
			<td>RRID:AB_1586992</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Ki67</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab66155</td>
			<td>RRID:AB_1140752</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-MAP2</td>
			<td>GeneTex</td>
			<td>GTX50810</td>
			<td>RRID:AB_11170769</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-GFAP</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>G3893</td>
			<td>RRID:AB_477010</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat Anti-Mouse Alexa Fluor 488</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A-11029</td>
			<td>RRID:AB_2534088</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat Anti-Rabbit Alexa Fluor 568</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A-11036</td>
			<td>RRID:AB_10563566</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat Anti-Guinea Pig Alexa Fluor 488</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A-11073</td>
			<td>RRID:AB_2534117</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Culture reagents</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antibiotic-Antimycotic</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific/Gibco</td>
			<td>15240062</td>
			<td>100X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>B-27 supplement</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific/Gibco</td>
			<td>17504044</td>
			<td>50X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase, Type IV</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific/Gibco</td>
			<td>17104019</td>
			<td>Powder</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dispase</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific/Gibco</td>
			<td>17105041</td>
			<td>Powder</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM/F12, HEPES</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific/Gibco</td>
			<td>11330032</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose</td>
			<td>any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Powder, Cell Culture Grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GlutaMAX</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific/Gibco</td>
			<td>35050061</td>
			<td>100X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Powder, Cell Culture Grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse Laminin</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>354232</td>
			<td>1 mg/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N-2 supplement</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific/Gibco</td>
			<td>17502048</td>
			<td>100X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NAHCO3</td>
			<td>any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Powder, Suitable for Cell Culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neurobasal</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific/Gibco</td>
			<td>21103049</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific/Gibco</td>
			<td>10010023</td>
			<td>1X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Poly-L-ornithine hydrobromide</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P3655</td>
			<td>Powder</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recombinant Human EGF</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>AF-100-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recombinant Human FGF-basic</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>AF-100-18B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>StemPro Accutase Cell Dissociation Reagent</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific/Gibco</td>
			<td>A1110501</td>
			<td>100 mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Disposable material</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>24-well Clear Flat Bottom Ultra-Low Attachment Multiple Well Plates</td>
			<td>Corning/Costar</td>
			<td>3473</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>24-well Clear TC-treated Multiple Well Plates</td>
			<td>Corning/Costar</td>
			<td>3526</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>40 &#181;m Cell Strainer</td>
			<td>Corning/Falcon</td>
			<td>352340</td>
			<td>Blue</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bottle Top Vacuum Filter, 0.22 &#181;m pore</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>431118</td>
			<td>PES membrane, 45 mm diameter neck</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Non-Pyrogenic Sterile Centrifuge Tube</td>
			<td>any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>with conical bottom</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Non-Pyrogenic sterile tips of 1,000 &#181;l, 200 &#181;l and 10 &#181;l.</td>
			<td>any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile cotton gauzes</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile microcentrifuge tubes of 1.5 mL</td>
			<td>any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile serological pipettes of 5, 10 and 25 mL</td>
			<td>any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile surgical gloves</td>
			<td>any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe Filters, 0.22 &#181;m pore</td>
			<td>Merk Millipore</td>
			<td>SLGPR33RB</td>
			<td>Polyethersulfone (PES) membrane, 33 mm diameter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Equipment and surgical instruments</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biological safety cabinet</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting Scissors</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dumont Forceps</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Motorized Pipet Filler/Dispenser</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micropipettes</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Petri Dishes</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpel Blades</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stainless-steel Spatula</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

culture of neurospheres derived from the neurogenic niches in adult prairie voles

Neurospheres are primary cell aggregates that comprise neural stem cells and progenitor cells. These 3D structures are an excellent tool to determine the differentiation and proliferation potential of neural stem cells, as well as to generate cell lines than can be assayed over time. Also, neurospheres can create a niche (in vitro) that allows the modeling of the dynamic changing environment, such as varying growth factors, hormones, neurotransmitters, among others. Microtus ochrogaster (prairie vole) is a unique model for understanding the neurobiological basis of socio-sexual behaviors and social cognition. However, the cellular mechanisms involved in these behaviors are not well known. The protocol aims to obtain neural progenitor cells from the neurogenic niches of the adult prairie vole, which are cultured under non-adherent conditions, to generate neurospheres. The size and number of neurospheres depend on the region (subventricular zone or dentate gyrus) and sex of the prairie vole. This method is a remarkable tool to study sex-dependent differences in neurogenic niches in vitro and the neuroplasticity changes associated with social behaviors such as pair bonding and biparental care. Also, cognitive conditions that entail deficits in social interactions (autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia) could be examined.

Neurospheres were formed from neural stem cells isolated from the VZ and DG of both female and male adult prairie voles. About 8-10 days after starting the culture, cells should have formed the neurospheres. Note that the plate may contain debris in the primary culture (Figure 3A). However, in passage 1 the culture should only consist of neurospheres (Figure 3B).
A higher number of neurospheres were obtained from the female VZ as comp...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Culture of Neurospheres Derived from the Neurogenic Niches in Adult Prairie Voles at JoVE.com

Culture of Neurospheres Derived from the Neurogenic Niches in Adult Prairie Voles

We established the conditions to culture neural progenitor cells from the subventricular zone and dentate gyrus of the adult brain of prairie voles, as a complementary in vitro study, to analyze the sex-dependent differences between neurogenic niches that could be part of functional plastic changes associated with social behaviors.

Neurospheres are primary cell aggregates that comprise neural stem cells and progenitor cells. These 3D structures are an excellent tool to determine the ...

This method can help to investigate sex-dependent differences in the neurogenic niches, and to understand their neuroplasticity, changes that underline social interactions in the prairie vole. The assay of neurospheres is an excellent tool to determine the proliferation and differentiation potential of neural stem and progenitor cells. To begin, place a Petri dish on a surface surrounded by ice.Deposit the brain on the dish and add 20 milliliters of cold wash solution. In the coronal plane, divide the brain into two blocks of tissue using a scalpel, performing the cut at bregma level in the anterior-posterior axis. Extract the subventricular zone, or VZ, tissue from the rostral block, and the dentate gyrus, or DG, tissue from the caudal block.To dissect the VZ, hold one of the hemispheres with a Dumont forceps, and insert the fine tips of a second forceps under the tissue that lines the caudate-putamen. Open the forceps along the dorsal-ventral axis to separate the tissue, and collect the VZ into a centrifuge tube with two milliliters of cold wash solution. Do not pool the tissue of more than two animals.Repeat the microdissection in the other hemisphere and store the tube with the tissue on ice. To dissect the DG, use a scalpel to make a coronal cut into the caudal block, to obtain two slices in which the hippocampal formation is observed. Use Dumont forceps to hold one of the slices, and make a horizontal cut between DG and CA1 with another forceps.Then, make a vertical incision between the DG and CA3, to separate the DG.Repeat the dissection in the other hemisphere of the first slice, then in both hemispheres in the second slice. Collect the four DG pieces of each vole in a centrifuge tube. Place the centrifuge tubes inside the biosafety cabinet and wait approximately 10 minutes for the tissue fragments to precipitate by gravity.Then, remove the wash solution and add one milliliter of warm enzymatic solution to each tube. Incubate the tubes at 37 degrees for 10 minutes. To disintegrate the tissue fragments, pipette them up and down with a one milliliter tip, but do not pipette more than 30 times.Repeat the incubation at 37 degrees Celsius, then pipette the tissue again. Add nine milliliters of N-2 medium to each tube to dilute the enzymatic treatment, and centrifuge the tubes at 200 times g for four minutes. Discard the supernatant, wash the cells with 10 milliliters of N-2 medium, and repeat the centrifugation.Remove the supernatant from each tube, and resuspend the cell pellets of the VZ and DG in two milliliters and one milliliter of the B-27 medium, respectively. Filter each cell suspension with a 40 micrometer cell strainer to remove any non-digested tissue. Culture the filtered cells in an ultra-low attachment 24-well plate, using two wells for the VZ and one well for the DG.Add 20 nanograms per milliliter of fibroblast growth factor 2, and 20 nanograms per milliliter of epidermal growth factor to each well, then incubate the plate at 37 degrees Celsius, 5%carbon dioxide, and high humidity for 48 hours.After the incubation, remove half of the culture medium and replace it with fresh B-27 medium, supplemented with double concentrations of the growth factors. Repeat this process every third day. On days when it is not necessary to change the culture medium, add growth factors to a final concentration of 1X.Neurospheres were formed from the neural stem cells isolated from the subventricular zone and dentate gyrus of both female and male adult prairie voles. Although there was debris in the primary culture, only neurospheres were present after the first passage. A higher number of neurospheres were obtained from the female subventricular zone than from the male subventricular zone, or the dentate gyrus of both females and males, suggesting that the number of neurospheres obtained depends on the proliferative zone and the vole sex.The diameter of the neurospheres was measured on days 8, 11, and 14. It increased progressively for male and female voles in both neuronal regions, but neurospheres derived from the male brains were smaller in comparison to those derived from the female brains. Adhered neurospheres were characterized on day six in the presence of growth factors, or on day 15 without growth factors.At day six, under undifferentiated conditions, the neurosphere-derived cells expressed Nestin, a marker for neural progenitors. It was also possible to identify doublecortin-positive cells and the proliferation marker Ki-67, which indicate the presence of either neuronal precursors or immature neurons. However, the lack of colocalization of Ki-67 with DCX suggested the presence of post-mitotic neuroblasts.At day 15, under differentiation conditions, mature neurons and cells with the glial phenotype were found, demonstrating the differentiation potential of the isolated cells. When attempting this protocol, keep in mind that being able to recognize and having previous practice in microdissection is fundamental to isolate only cells from the neurogenic niches. Following this protocol, experiments can be designed to identify mechanisms involved in proliferation, differentiation and survival of neural stem and progenitor cells, processes that are still unknown in the prairie vole.

culture-neurospheres-derived-from-neurogenic-niches-adult-prairie

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

3.9K visualizações.  Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Este método pode ajudar a investigar diferenças dependentes do sexo nos nichos neurogênicos, e a entender sua neuroplasticidade, mudanças que sublinham as interações sociais no vole da pradaria. O ensaio das neurosferas é uma excelente ferramenta para determinar o potencial de proliferação e diferenciação das células neurais e progenitoras. Para começar, coloque uma placa de Petri em uma superfície cercada de gelo.Deposite o cérebro no prato e adicione 20 mililitros de s...