Human/Mouse/Rat Neural Lineage Functional Identification Kit

Reagents to verify the multipotency of neural progenitor cells by in vitro functional differentiation.

Background Information

Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are capable of differentiating into multiple cell types including astrocytes, neurons, and oligodendrocytes. During the isolation and expansion of neural progenitor cells, it is important to functionally evaluate multipotency by assessing their ability to differentiate into multiple neural lineages.

Why Verify the Multipotency of Neural Progenitor Cells?

Confirmation of multipotency is a critical experimental step when studying NPCs. The kit and protocol presented here provide a quick and straightforward technique to confirm the ability of your starting cell population to differentiate toward astrocyte, neuron, and oligodendrocyte lineages. Neural stem cell research studies most often require weeks of cell culture before an experimental hypothesis can be tested. The ability to verify multipotency at an early stage in the experimental design provides valuable insight that may prevent weeks of wasted effort and reagents. Moreover, confirmation of multipotency helps to ensure consistency among studies and reduce unwanted experimental variability.

Neural Lineage Functional Identification Kit Summary

Detailed Protocol for the Verification of Neural Progenitor Cell Multipotency

• NPCs are cultured using media supplements specially formulated for their short-term maintenance and expansion.
• NPCs are differentiated toward astrocyte, neuron, and oligodendrocyte lineages using the neural differentiation supplement.
• NPC multipotency is functionally verified using an antibody panel to detect phenotype-specific markers for neural precursors, astrocytes, neurons, and oligodendrocytes.
• All media supplements and marker antibodies are supplied in the kit.

Neural Lineage Functional Identification Kit Contents

• Neural Maintenance Supplement
• Neural Differentiation Supplement
• Bovine Fibronectin 100X
• Goat Anti-Rat Nestin Antigen Affinity-purified Polyclonal Antibody
• Sheep Anti-Human GFAP Antigen Affinity-purified Polyclonal Antibody
• Mouse Anti-Neuron-Specific beta-III Tubulin Monoclonal Antibody
• Mouse Anti-Oligodendrocyte Marker O4 Monoclonal Antibody

Data Examples

Verification of Neural Progenitor Cell Multipotency. Neural progenitor cells were maintained in culture and differentiated towards neural lineages using the specialized media supplements supplied in the Human/Mouse/Rat Neural Lineage Functional Identification Kit (Catalog # SC028). Neural progenitor cell multipotency was functionally verified using an antibody panel to detect phenotype-specific markers for neural precursors, astrocytes, neurons, and oligodendrocytes (also supplied in the kit).

Protocol for the Verification of Neural Progenitor Cell Multipotency