Simplified methods to isolate, culture and purify olfactory ensheathing cells

Conventional methods for harvesting, culturing and purifying olfactory ensheathing cells are complicated time-consuming and poorly reproducible Olfactory bulbs were detached from adult Sprague Dawley rats and olfactory ensheathing cells were isolated using shearing dispersion processes After the primary cultures reached confluence the cells were purified using a three step process The olfactory ensheathing cells attached and grew rapidly The purity of the olfactory ensheathing cells increased following the three purification steps eventually exceeding 95% These cells could be maintained for an extended period time in culture This simple inexpensive reproducible method of harvesting culturing and purifying olfactory ensheathing cells shortens the culture cycle and provides sufficient olfactory ensheathing cells of controllable purity