Procedure for establishing oligodendroglial cells in primary cultures based on developmental parameters.

We have established cultures using dissociated cells obtained from the neopallium of mouse pups at several different stages of development. The cellular composition of these cultures changed from more than 95% astrocytes when cultures were established from the neopallium of neonates to more than 90% oligodendrocytes when cultures were established from the neopallium of 2-week-old pups. The oligodendrocytic nature of the cells was established on morphological bases as well as the presence of an oligodendrocytic marker, galactocerebroside.