Abstract
Cell–cell interactions have been developed to a high degree of precision in the nervous system as no other organ displays a similar wealth of cellular connections diverging and converging from one cell to another in time and space. Several surface antigens of neural cells have been characterized that allow the distinction between the major cell types in the cerebellum: neurons; astro- and oligodendroglia; and mesodermally derived accessory populations, such as fibroblasts, endothelial, and meningeal cells. The physical isolation of these cells is possible with immunoselective methods including complement-dependent cytolysis eliminating the antigen-positive cell class and fluorescence activated cell sorting that allows the simultaneous collection of both antigen-negative and -positive populations. The isolated cells are viable and can be maintained in vitro under conditions that permit growth of cellular extensions and cell division.