An improved method for the bulk isolation of viable perikarya from postnatal cerebellum

A modified method for the isolation of large numbers of viable perikarya from postnatally developing rat cerebellum is described in comparison with an earlier published version. Advantages of the modified preparation include greater cell yields which emphasize the preservation of the larger sized perikarya (inhibitory interneurons and Purkinje cells). In addition, the use of cytotoxic EDTA is eliminated, and by combining several steps and using a simpler buffer system, the preparation time is reduced by half to less than 1 h.