Measuring apoptosis in neural stem cells

In trauma to, and diseases of, the central nervous system (CNS), apoptotic events are frequently observed in and around areas of damage. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and their progeny have been suggested as possible therapeutic agents in the treatment of CNS diseases. The success of stem cell transplantation not only depends on the capacity of these cells to retain their functionality after transplant into the CNS but also on their ability to resist the in situ environmental cues that may lead to apoptosis. Although there are many methods used to detect apoptosis, the assessment of apoptosis in adherent cultures of primary stem cells and their progeny is more limited. We describe a series of protocols we have used to assess apoptosis in these cells.