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Preparation of Neural Stem Cells and Progenitors: Neuronal Production and Grafting Applications

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Neuronal Cell Culture

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2311))

Abstract

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are a valuable tool for the study of neural development and function as well as an important source of cell transplantation strategies for neural disease. NSCs can be used to study how neurons acquire distinct phenotypes and how the interactions between neurons and glial cells in the developing nervous system shape the structure and function of the CNS. NSCs can also be used for cell replacement therapies following CNS injury targeting astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons. With the availability of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), neurons prepared from NSCs can be used to elucidate the molecular basis of neurological disorders leading to potential treatments. Although NSCs can be derived from different species and many sources, including embryonic stem cells (ESCs), iPSCs, adult CNS, and direct reprogramming of nonneural cells, isolating primary NSCs directly from fetal tissue is still the most common technique for preparation and study of neurons. Regardless of the source of tissue, similar techniques are used to maintain NSCs in culture and to differentiate NSCs toward mature neural lineages. This chapter will describe specific methods for isolating and characterizing multipotent NSCs and neural precursor cells (NPCs) from embryonic rat CNS tissue (mostly spinal cord) and from human ESCs and iPSCs as well as NPCs prepared by reprogramming. NPCs can be separated into neuronal and glial restricted progenitors (NRP and GRP, respectively) and used to reliably produce neurons or glial cells both in vitro and following transplantation into the adult CNS. This chapter will describe in detail the methods required for the isolation, propagation, storage, and differentiation of NSCs and NPCs isolated from rat and mouse spinal cords for subsequent in vitro or in vivo studies as well as new methods associated with ESCs, iPSCs, and reprogramming.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Lyandysha V. Zholudeva, Ying Jin, Liang Qiang, Michael A. Lane & Itzhak Fischer

Authors
  1. Lyandysha V. Zholudeva
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  2. Ying Jin
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  3. Liang Qiang
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  4. Michael A. Lane
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  5. Itzhak Fischer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Itzhak Fischer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Shohreh Amini

  2. Department of Neuroscience, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Martyn K. White

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Zholudeva, L.V., Jin, Y., Qiang, L., Lane, M.A., Fischer, I. (2021). Preparation of Neural Stem Cells and Progenitors: Neuronal Production and Grafting Applications. In: Amini, S., White, M.K. (eds) Neuronal Cell Culture. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2311. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1437-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1437-2_7

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-1436-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-1437-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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