Culture and identification of neural stem cells from mouse embryos / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The purpose of this study was to culture and identify neural stem cells from mouse embryos in vitro using a modified method and provide a basis for further study of the biology of neural stem cells under hypoxia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cells were isolated mechanically from the front cortex of fetal Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice on embryonic day 14. They were passaged by mechanical dissociation and enzymatic digestion. The neurospheres were identified by immunofluorescent staining of nestin. Cell differentiation was induced by 1% fetal bovine serum and then the cells were identified by immunohistochemistry of β-tubulin III and GFAP.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cells obtained from the front cortex of fetal ICR mice had the capacity of forming neurospheres which showed nestin immunoreactive positivity. After being induced by 1% fetal bovine serum, the cells were differentiated into β-tubulin III-positive cells and GFAP-positive cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Using mechanical dissociation of primary cells and mechanical dissociation with enzymatic digestion of primary cells, the NSCs from the front cortex of mouse embryos can be obtained.</p>

Organotypic slice culture of neonatal rat cortex and induced neural stem cell differentiation / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a method for organotypic slice culture of neonatal rat cortex in a modified condition and investigate the effect of spatial signals on neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The brain slices (200 µm in thickness) of neonatal SD rats (3 to 5 days old) were prepared and cultured in modified serum-free DMEM/F12 medium at 37 degrees celsius; with 95% O(2) and 5% CO(2). The organotypic slice cultures were observed regularly. NSCs isolated from the cortex of rat embryos (14-15 embryonic days) were cultured in serum-free DMEM/F12 supplemented with B27 and N2, and the passage 3 NSCs were labeled by CM-DiI before transplanted onto the organotypic slices cultured for 2 weeks. The survival of transplanted NSCs was assessed, and the cell differentiation was identified by immunofluorescence staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The organotypic slice cultures were well maintained for at least 4 weeks in the modified medium. The thickness of the organotypic slices reduced from 200 µm to 130 µm after 2-week culture in vitro due to the migration of the cells on the edge of the slices. CM-DiI-labeled NSCs survived well and differentiated into GFAP(+) glia and β-tubullin III(+) neurons.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Neonatal rat organotypic brain slice can be successfully cultured in a modified condition to serve as a model for studying NSC differentiation induced by spatial signals.</p>