Schematic of cell separation techniques.

<p>A) Positive selection of astrocytes was performed using an ACSA-2 antibody. Dissociated cells were incubated with magnetic beads conjugated with an ACSA-2 antibody, and were applied to a ferromagnetic column placed in a magnetic field. The astrocyte enriched cell population was eluted from the column after successive washes that removed non-target cell populations. B) Neurons were enriched using a negative selection protocol. Dissociated cells were incubated with biotin-conjugated antibodies targeting non-neuronal cell populations, followed by labelling with streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. Neuronal cell populations were eluted, while biotin-bound cells were retained on the magnetic column. C) Positive selection of cells is customizable. Here an antibody which detects an extracellular epitope of GLT-1 was used to enrich astrocytes. Dissociated cells were labeled with the rabbit-anti-GLT-1 antibody and subsequently labeled with anti-rabbit microbeads. The enriched population was retained on the column, and eluted subsequent to washing undesired cells from the magnetic column.