Purification of viable ciliated cuboidal ependymal cells from rat brain.

Trypsinization of coronal sections of rat brain, followed by incubation with the chelating agent, ethyleneglycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), results in selective release of ciliated cuboidal ependymal cells which may be further purified by centrifugal methods. The isolated cells are motile, viable, and exhibit ultrastructure comparable to that in situ.