Primary oligodendrocyte precursor cell culture

Scope of the method

The Method relates to
  • Animal health
  • Human health
The Method is situated in
  • Basic Research
Type of method
  • In vitro - Ex vivo
This method makes use of
  • Animal derived cells / tissues / organs
Species from which cells/tissues/organs are derived
Mus Musculus
Type of cells/tissues/organs
Brain (cortex)

Description

Method keywords
  • oligodendrocyte
  • shakeoff
  • cell culture
  • isolation
Scientific area keywords
  • basic research
  • fundamental research
  • differentiation
  • neuroscience
Method description

This method describes the steps from a living mouse to a single cell solution of primary oligodendrocyte precursor cells.

Method status
  • Internally validated

Pros, cons & Future potential

Advantages
  • Primary cultures give rise to a condition more similar although not identical to the in vivo situation when compared to cell line experiments ;
  • Methodoligcally feasible ;
  • Highly reproducible ;
  • Astrocytes can be simultaneously isolated ;
  • Oligodendrogenesis can be evaluated purely.
Challenges
  • Interspecies differences ;
  • Terminal experiment for the lab animal ;
  • Time consumable (2 weeks to reach an OPC culture, additional time required to reach oligodendrocyte stage).
Future & Other applications

The protocol can be adapted and used in other animal species.

References, associated documents and other information

Associated documents
Primary OPC isolation mouse .docx

Contact person

Melissa Schepers

Organisations

University of Hasselt (UHasselt)
Biomed Neuro-Immune Connection and Repair
Belgium