Microscopy analysis was performed to ensure that cell cultures contained appreciable numbers of proliferating and differentiated neural progenitor cells. Fig. 2A shows a 20X image of the proliferating NPCs from control mice expanded as adherent monolayer culture in the presence of growth factors (EGF/FGF) using immunostaining with DAPI for the nuclear marker and Nestin for the NPC marker. Fig. 2B shows a 20X image of cultured NPCs 10 days after the removal of growth factors from the media using immunostaining DAPI for the nuclear marker, doublecortin (DCX) for the neuroblasts and immature neuron marker, and GFAP for the astrocytic marker. These images demonstrate that culture conditions were appropriate for proliferating NPCs (Fig. 2A) and differentiated NPCs (Fig. 2B).
