How to Prepare a Single-Cell Suspension from Mouse Brain Tissue
This protocol describes how to prepare a single-cell suspension from harvested mouse brain tissue prior to downstream isolation of microglia using the EasySep™ Mouse CD11b Positive Selection Kit II.
Materials
- EasySep™ Mouse CD11b Positive Selection Kit II (Catalog #18970)
- Papain (Catalog #07465)
- DNase 1 Solution (1 mg/mL, Catalog #07900)
- HBSS, Modified (Without Ca++ and Mg++; Catalog #37250) containing 2% FBS and 1 mM EDTA OR DMEM/F-12 with 15 mM HEPES (Catalog #36254) containing 2% FBS
- 30% Percoll solution
- Scalpel
- 37 µm reversible strainer, large (e.g. Catalog #27250)
- 100 mm tissue culture-treated dish (e.g. Catalog #38046)
Protocol
Part I: Mechanical Digestion of a Mouse Brain Sample
- Prepare 3 mL of brain dissociation medium for up to 3 brains. For 4 or more brains, prepare 1 mL of brain digestion medium per brain. Add Papain (Catalog #07465) to a final concentration of 20 units/mL, DNase I Solution (1 mg/mL, Catalog #07900) to a final concentration of 100 μL/mL, HBSS, Modified (Without Ca++ and Mg++; Catalog #37250) or DMEM/F-12 with 15 mM HEPES to make up the remaining volume. Warm medium to room temperature (15 - 25°C) before use.Note: Activate Papain immediately before use. To ensure full activity, incubate reconstituted Papain in a solution containing 1.1 mM EDTA, 0.067 mM mercaptoethanol, and 5.5 mM cysteine-HCl for 30 minutes.
- Prepare 100 mL of sample preparation medium: DMEM/F-12 with 15 mM HEPES (Catalog #36254) containing 2% FBS, or HBSS, Modified (Without Ca++ and Mg++; Catalog #37250) containing 2% FBS and 1 mM EDTA.
- Perform dissections on the CNS tissue region of interest from adult mouse or rat brains and transfer dissected tissue pieces to the 100 mm dish. Otherwise, transfer freshly-harvested brains to a 100 mm dish without medium.
- Transfer freshly harvested brains to a 100 mm petri dish containing 1 mL of brain dissociation medium.
- Mince into a homogenous paste (< 1 mm in size) using a razor blade or scalpel.
- Transfer the minced brain tissue to a sterile 50 mL conical tube. Rinse the dish with the remaining dissociation medium, and then add it to the 50 mL conical tube.Note: Avoid introducing air bubbles into the tissue suspension during transfer steps.
- Incubate the minced tissue at 37°C for 30 minutes on a shaking platform.
Part II: Preparation of a Single-Cell Suspension
- Place a 70 μm nylon mesh strainer over a new 50 mL conical tube. Rinse with sample preparation medium.
- Transfer the disassociated brain tissue into the strainer. Push the digested brain tissue through the strainer with the rubber end of a syringe plunger to obtain a cell suspension. Rinse the strainer with more sample preparation medium.
Note: If the strainer becomes clogged with brain tissue, transfer the contents to a new, pre-wetted filter.
- Centrifuge the suspension at 300 x g for 10 minutes with the brake set to low.
- Carefully remove and discard the supernatant using a serological pipette or aspirator.
- Gently tap the tube to disassociate the cell pellet.
- Add 6 mL per brain of 30% Percoll solution to the pellet. Mix gently and transfer to an appropriate-sized tube.
Note: For volumes greater than 30 mL, use 50 mL conical tubes. For volumes less than 30 mL, use 1 or more 14 mL tubes.
- Centrifuge at 700 x g with the brake off.
- Carefully remove and discard the upper myelin layer using a 1 mL wide-bore pipette tip or a 2 mL serological pipette.
- Remove and discard the remaining supernatant using a serological pipette.
- Transfer the cells to a new tube, and top up with the sample preparation medium.
- Centrifuge at 300 x g for 10 minutes with the break on low.
- Carefully remove and discard the supernatant.
- Gently tap the tube to disassociate the cell pellet. Cells are now ready for downstream use.
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