Protocol for culturing neurospheres from progenitor cells in the dentate gyrus of aged mouse hippocampus.

The neurosphere assay is the gold standard for assessing the proliferative and differentiation capacities of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Here, we present a protocol for isolating, propagating, and maintaining hippocampal neurospheres from adult and aged mice and differentiating cultured NPCs into neurons and astrocytes. We describe steps for establishing a heterochronic co-culture of neurosphere-derived cells with primary neurons. Using neurospheres from old animals enables investigation of the effects of aging on the development and differentiation of newborn neurons.