Optimizing Culture Medium Composition to Improve Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Yields <i>In Vitro</i> from Subventricular Zone-Derived Neural Progenitor Cell Neurospheres

<div><p>Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells (NSC/NPC) are gathering tangible recognition for their uses in cell therapy and cell replacement therapies for human disease, as well as a model system to continue research on overall neural developmental processes <i>in vitro</i>. The Subventricular Zone is one of the largest NSC/NPC niches in the developing mammalian Central Nervous System, and persists through to adulthood. Oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) enriched cultures are usefull tools for <i>in vitro</i> studies as well as for cell replacement therapies for treating demyelination diseases. We used Subventricular Zone-derived NSC/NPC primary cultures from newborn mice and compared the effects of different growth factor combinations on cell proliferation and OPC yield. The Platelet Derived Growth Factor-AA and BB homodimers had a positive and significant impact on OPC generation. Furthermore, heparin addition to the culture media contributed to further increase overall culture yields. The OPC generated by this protocol were able to mature into Myelin Basic Protein-expressing cells and to interact with neurons in an <i>in vitro</i> co-culture system. As a whole, we describe an optimized <i>in vitro</i> method for increasing OPC.</p>