An efficient cell culture system for the studies of heterogeneous astrocytes: Time gradient digestion

•Time gradient digestion astrocytes culture system was established for obtaining highly enriched primary astrocytes.•Purity of astrocytes we obtained was higher than the traditional method, the procedure was simple and economical.•Different subpopulation of astrocytes Aldh1l1+Gfap- and Aldh1l1+Gfap+ cells was found and can be separated by a convenient way.