Protocol for isolating adult pituitary stem/progenitor cells in mice

Hormone-producing cells in the anterior lobe (AL) of the pituitary gland are important for growth and reproduction, but it has been challenging to isolate their source: the pituitary stem/progenitor cells. Here, we present a protocol for isolating adult pituitary stem/progenitor cells (APSCs) in mice. We describe dissociation and culture of AL cells, followed by the assessments of stemness marker expression and the differentiation capacity. This protocol enables separation of APSCs based on their cell adhesion properties with nearly 100% purity. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Shintani and Higuchi (2021).