In:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 97, No. 25 ( 2000-12-05), p. 13883-13888
Abstract:
The mammalian brain contains a population of neural stem cells
(NSC) that can both self-renew and generate progeny along the three lineage pathways of the central nervous system (CNS), but the in
vivo identification and localization of NSC in the postnatal
CNS has proved elusive. Recently, separate studies have implicated ciliated ependymal (CE) cells, and special subependymal zone (SEZ)
astrocytes as candidates for NSC in the adult brain. In the present study, we have examined the potential of these two NSC candidates to
form multipotent spherical clones—neurospheres— in
vitro . We conclude that CE cells are unipotent and give rise
only to cells within the glia cell lineage, although they are capable of forming spherical clones when cultured in isolation. In contrast,
astrocyte monolayers from the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, spinal cord, and SEZ can form neurospheres that give rise both to neurons and glia.
However, the ability to form neurospheres is restricted to astrocyte monolayers derived during the first 2 postnatal wk, except for SEZ
astrocytes, which retain this capacity in the mature forebrain. We conclude that environmental factors, simulated by certain in
vitro conditions, transiently confer NSC-like attributes on
astrocytes during a critical period in CNS development.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0027-8424
,
1091-6490
DOI:
10.1073/pnas.250471697
Language:
English
Publisher:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publication Date:
2000
detail.hit.zdb_id:
209104-5
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1461794-8
SSG:
11
SSG:
12
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