Organotypic Spinal Cord Slice Culture to Study Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell Microenvironment in the Injured Spinal Cord

摘要: The molecular microenvironment of the injured spinal cord does not support survival and differentiation either grafted or endogenous NSCs, restricting effectiveness NSC-based cell replacement strategy. Studying biology NSCs in vivo usually requires a considerable amount time cost, complexity system makes it difficult to identify individual environmental factors. present study sought establish organotypic slice culture that closely mimics environment. cultured slices preserved cytoarchitecture consisting neurons gray matter interspersed glial cells. majority focally applied exogenous survived up 4 weeks. Pre-exposure hypoxic chamber markedly reduced seeded on slices. Differentiation into mature was severely limited this co-culture system. Endogenous neural progenitor cells were marked by BrdU incorporation, applying an inflammatory cytokine IL-1 β significantly increased extent progenitors with oligodendrocytic lineage. shows can be properly utilized factors from post-injury affecting cord.