Fig. 1

Dissection of the lateral ventricular wall to obtain VZ cells. Photographs of mouse brain gross morphology to illustrate isolation of the lateral ventricle wall using the following steps: (1) The brain is divided in the midline (dashed line) using a dorsal approach. (2) With the midsagittal surface down, the cerebral hemisphere is separated from the cerebellum (dashed line). (3) Beginning at the midsagittal surface, one sharp tip of ultrafine forceps is inserted into the dorsal lateral ventricle through the septum(s) between the anterior corpus callosum (CC) and the fornix (Fo), and angled so that the tip exits the occipital pole of the cerebral hemisphere; the other arm of the forceps should be external to the ventral surface of the brain. When the para-hippocampal gyrus is reached, the forceps are closed to detach the thalamus (T) and hippocampus medially from the lateral cerebral cortex. (4) By opening the lateral cerebral cortex, lateral wall of the ventricle (LW) is visualized and dissected to provide tissue for cell culture