This video demonstrates the neural precursor cell neurosphere migration assay—an in vitro assay to study the migratory response of neural precursor cells from the neurosphere—via microscopic analysis.
Protocol
1. NPC Neurosphere Migration Assay Neurosphere Formation Add 1 mL of 100% Expansion Media into a 35 mm dish with no coating substrate. Incubate dishes for at least 15 min at 37 °C before plating NPCs. Prepare 2–3 dishes to ensure that there will be enough neurospheres for the cell migration assay. NOTE: The absence of a coating substrate ensures that NPCs remain suspended in the media, which is essential for neurosphere formatio…
Representative Results
Figure 1: Selecting neurospheres for migration assay. (A) Phase-contrast image of a representative field of neurospheres at 24 h. Spheres are all less than 100 μm and thus, are not collected for the migration assay. (B) Phase-contrast image of a representative field of neurospheres at 72 h. All spheres are within the 100 μm ± 20 µm range, indicating they are ready to be collected…
This is a kit that consists of Neurobasal (NB) medium and a 50x Neural Induction Supplement (NIS). The NIS is used to make 1X Neural Induction Medium and 100% Expansion Medium
Advanced DMEM/F12 Medium
ThermoFischer Scientific
12634-010
Component of 100% Expansion Medium
hESC-qualified Matrigel
Corning
354277
hESC-qualified extracellular matrixmimic gel (ECM-mimic gel)
6-well plates
Corning
COR-3506
Polystyrene plates used for NPC maintenance and for Neurosphere Migration Assay
Human Basic FGF-2
Peprotech
100-18B
Growth factor
Penicillin/Streptomycin
ThermoFischer Scientific
15140122
Antibiotic, component of NIM, 100% Expansion and 30% Expansion Media
NPC Neurosphere Assay: An In Vitro Assay to Assess the Migratory Response of Neural Precursor Cells from the Neurosphere. J. Vis. Exp. (Pending Publication), e20630, doi: (2023).