The “Brain Milking” Method for the Isolation of Neural Stem Cells and Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells from Live Rats

A method for the isolation of neural stem cells and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from the brains of live rats is presented here in experimental detail. It allows multiple collections of these cells from the same animals without compromising their well-being.

We are working with brain neural stem cells, very sparse cells that cluster within specialized microenvironments called niches. Although they contribute to olfaction, memory, and learning, they are extremely inefficient in driving regeneration. Thus, we investigate their properties and ways to manipulate them to increase the healing of the nervous tissue.

We have shown that the contribution of brain neural stem cells to regeneration is limited by endogenous and endogenous factors, such as their restricted differentiation potential, and their dependence on microenvironment factors. Equally, we have identified key properties that can be used to devise strategies to modulate their capacity. The milking protocol allows the collection of brain neural stem and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from live experimental animals.

Thus, it allows a more uninterrupted analysis of their properties and the performance of longitudinal studies. Currently, there are no alternative techniques for the isolation of brain murine stem and progenitor cells from live experimental animals. The present standard of comparison is the postmortem isolation of such cells, which introduces various experimental uncertainties and biological bias.

We are now investigating how brain neural stem cells become activated by existing quiescence. We are also comparing the properties of different progenitor populations of the brain. For example, neurogenic versus oligodendrogenic, in order to define their differential properties and their adaptations to varied microenvironment.