Isolation of extracellular vesicles from subventricular zone neural stem cells

Abstract

The neonatal subventricular zone (SVZ) is a neurogenic niche that contains neural stem cells (NSCs). NSCs release particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs) that contain biological material. EVs are transferred to cells, including immune cells in the brain called microglia. A standard approach to identify EV functions is to isolate and transplant EVs. Here, a detailed protocol is provided that will allow one to culture neonatal SVZ NSCs and to isolate, label, and transplant EVs. The protocol will permit careful and thorough examination of EVs in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological conditions.