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Updated: Jun 15, 2026
Primary Cell Cultures from the Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Published on: March 16, 2018
Derivation of primary choroid plexus epithelial cells from the mouse
Trevelyan R Menheniott1, Marika Charalambous, Andrew Ward
1Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
Insights
Researchers developed a new method to culture primary mouse choroid plexus epithelial cells. This technique enables better study of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier and drug transport into the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- Choroid plexus epithelial cells are crucial for the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier.
- In vitro models are essential for studying choroid plexus development and function.
- Understanding molecular transport across this barrier is key for drug delivery to the brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a reliable method for deriving primary mouse choroid plexus epithelial cell cultures.
- To characterize these cells for purity and mature epithelial markers.
- To validate the suitability of these cultures for transport and barrier function studies.
Main Methods:
- Primary cell cultures were derived from mouse choroid plexus.
- Cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) was used to eliminate contaminating fibroblasts.
- Immunofluorescence was employed to identify mature choroid plexus epithelial cell markers.
Main Results:
- Relatively pure monolayers of choroid plexus epithelial cells were successfully established.
- The cultured cells expressed transthyretin (TTR), a diagnostic choroidal marker.
- Cells exhibited markers of epithelial differentiation, confirming their identity.
Conclusions:
- A robust method for culturing primary mouse choroid plexus epithelial cells has been developed.
- These cultures are suitable for investigating the transport and barrier functions of the choroid plexus.
- This model system will advance research on drug delivery across the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier.
Abstract:
Choroid plexus epithelial cells form an integral and important part of the barrier between blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Culture of choroid plexus epithelium in vitro has been achieved from several mammalian species and this provides opportunities for the study of choroid plexus development and function, including the capacity of the epithelial cells to control the movement of bioactive molecules, such as novel drug candidates, from the bloodstream to the brain. Here we describe a method for the derivation of primary cell cultures from mouse choroid plexus epithelium, together with characterisation by immunofluorescence using antibodies specific to markers of mature choroid plexus epithelial cells. With this method, relatively pure choroid plexus epithelial cell monolayers are established using the DNA synthesis inhibitor cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), which is cytotoxic to contaminating cell types such as fibroblasts, but not the epithelial cells. These cells are shown to express the diagnostic choroidal marker, transthyretin (TTR), as well as markers of epithelial cell differentiation and are thus suitable for studies that address the transport and barrier functions of the choroid plexus.
