Human iPSC-Derived Neurons, Astrocytes, and Microglia

The central nervous system (CNS) encompasses the brain and the spinal cord and includes neurons and neuroglia, or glia cells. The neurons are signaling cells of the CNS, and typically consist of a cell body, axon, and dendrites that carry electrical imposes to neighboring neurons, while glia, including astrocytes and microglia, provide support and protection to the neurons. Researchers use neurons and glia in vitro to study and understand numerous diseases and disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, and more.

Through our partnership with BrainXell, we now offer a new collection of high-purity, healthy control iPSC-derived human neurons, astrocytes, and microglia, as well as culture media. These cells mature rapidly, simplifying experimental workflows and enabling researchers to model various aspects of the central nervous system. Our portfolio includes a diverse range of subtype-specific CNS cell models, including spinal motor neurons, midbrain dopaminergic neurons, cortical glutamatergic neurons, cortical GABAergic neurons, and striatal medium spiny neurons, as well as glial cells such as cortical astrocytes, spinal astrocytes, and microglia.

*These products are available in only the US and UK.

Neuronal Co-Culture

Co-culture and tri-culture of iPSC-derived neurons and microglia can help researchers obtain more physiologically relevant data from their experiments. Co- and Tri-cultures can be used for a variety of assays, including electrical neuron activity, and include a combination of motor neurons, astrocytes, and microglia. When grown together in 2D or 3D, this combination of cells presents new complexities that may be missed when cultured separately, accelerating discoveries for drug discovery applications. We offer expert protocols for Neuron/Astrocyte/Microglia 96-well tri-culture and Neuron/Microglia co-culture assays.