Isolation of Neural Stem Progenitor Cells from the Spinal Cord Periventricular Region of an Adult Rat

Source: Mothe, A., et al., Isolation of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells from the Periventricular Region of the Adult Rat and Human Spinal Cord. J. Vis. Exp. (2015). This video presents a method for isolating neural stem/progenitor cells from the periventricular tissue of the spinal cord in adult rats. The technique includes incubating the tissue fragments in a solution containing proteolytic enzymes to disrupt the extracellular matrix and release the cells. Subsequently, the released cells are plated in a medium containing specific growth factors that enhance neural stem/progenitor proliferation and promote aggregation into three-dimensional neurospheres.