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Strengths and limitations of the neurosphere culture system.

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Author

Summary, in English

After the initial reports of free-floating cultures of neural stem cells termed neurospheres (1,2), a wide array of studies using this promising culture system emerged. In theory, this was a near-perfect system for large-scale production of neural cells for use in cell replacement therapies and to assay for and characterize neural stem cells. More than a decade later, after rigorous scrutiny and ample experimental testing of the neurosphere culture system, it has become apparent that the culture system suffers from several disadvantages, and its usefulness is limited for several applications. Nevertheless, the bulk of high-quality research produced over the last decade has also shown that under the right circumstances and for the appropriate purposes, neurospheres hold up to their initial promise. This article discusses the pros and cons of the neurosphere culture system regarding its three major applications: as an assay for neural stem cells, as a model system for neurogenesis and neural development, and for expansion of neural stem cells for transplantation purposes.

Publishing year

2006

Language

English

Pages

153-161

Publication/Series

Molecular Neurobiology

Volume

34

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Humana Press

Topic

  • Neurosciences

Keywords

  • clonal analysis
  • transplantation
  • regional specification
  • in vitro
  • Neurosphere
  • neural stem cells
  • neuron
  • glia

Status

Published

Research group

  • Neurobiology
  • Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1559-1182