Mouse Epidermal Neural Crest Stem Cell (EPI-NCSC) Cultures
May 2008
in “
Journal of Visualized Experiments
”
TLDR Mouse epidermal neural crest stem cells can become various cell types and are easily obtained from hair follicles.
The document described a method for isolating mouse epidermal neural crest stem cells (EPI-NCSC) from whisker follicles. These cells, remnants of the embryonic neural crest, were located in the bulge of hair follicles and were multipotent, capable of differentiating into various cell types such as neurons and melanocytes. The isolation process involved micro-dissecting whisker follicles from adult mice, with younger mice yielding more cells. EPI-NCSC were noted for their potential in cell replacement therapies and regenerative medicine, having been tested in a mouse model of spinal cord injury. The study highlighted the cells' migratory ability and potential applications in biomedical engineering.