In this video, we describe a protocol for isolating CD11b cells, including microglia, from mouse pup brains using magnetic-activated cell sorting. The brain tissues are homogenized to obtain single-cell suspensions, which are incubated with anti-CD11b antibody-coated microbeads, followed by a magnetic column-based separation to purify the CD11b+ cell population.
Protocol
All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board. 1. Brain dissociation and magnetic microglial isolation NOTE: All cell manipulations and resuspensions must be performed with a 1,000 µL pipette with great caution. Applying a high mechanical action may activate or kill microglia cells. Transfer 12 brain pieces (~1.2 g) per…
Representative Results
Figure 1: Schematic representation of brain dissociations and microglial cells' isolation. (A-C) After P8 mouse brain dissection and removing olfactive bulbs and cerebellum, brains were first transferred to a Petri dish with HBSS+/+, and then to dissociation tubes containing the dissociation mixture. The C-tubes were placed on the dissociator (with the heating mode), and the NTDK program was started (<strong…
Divulgations
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Materials
Bovine Serum Albumin
Miltenyi Biotec
130-091-376
CD11b (Microglia) MicroBeads, h, m
Miltenyi Biotec
130-093-634
D-PBS (10x)
Thermo Scientific
14200067
Falcon Cell culture 12-well plate, flat bottom + lid
Dutscher
353043
Falcon tubes 50 mL
Falcon tubes 50 mL
352098
Neural Tissue Dissociation Kit – Papain
Miltenyi Biotec
130-092-628
Nucleocounter NC-200
Chemometec
Nun EZFlip Top Conical Centrifuge Tubes
Thermo Scientific
362694
OPTILUX Petri dish – 100 x 20 mm
Dutscher
353003
gentleMACS C Tubes (4 x 25 tubes)
Miltenyi Biotec
130-096-334
gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with Heaters
Miltenyi Biotec
130-096-427
Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) +CaCl2 +MgCl2 10x