In:
Frontiers in Neuroscience, Frontiers Media SA, Vol. 15 ( 2021-9-7)
Abstract:
In the adult central nervous system, neural stem cells (NSCs) reside in two discrete niches: the subependymal zone (SEZ) of the lateral ventricle and the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus (DG). Here, NSCs represent a population of highly specialized astrocytes that are able to proliferate and give rise to neuronal and glial progeny. This process, termed adult neurogenesis, is extrinsically regulated by other niche cells such as non-stem cell astrocytes. Studying these non-stem cell niche astrocytes and their role during adult neuro- and gliogenesis has been hampered by the lack of genetic tools to discriminate between transcriptionally similar NSCs and niche astrocytes. Recently, Aldh1L1 has been shown to be a pan-astrocyte marker and that its promoter can be used to specifically target astrocytes using the Cre-loxP system. In this study we explored whether the recently described Aldh1L1-CreER T2 mouse line ( Winchenbach et al., 2016 ) can serve to specifically target niche astrocytes without inducing recombination in NSCs in adult neurogenic niches. Using short- and long-term tamoxifen protocols we revealed high recombination efficiency and specificity in non-stem cell astrocytes and little to no recombination in NSCs of the adult DG. However, in the SEZ we observed recombination in ependymal cells, astrocytes, and NSCs, the latter giving rise to neuronal progeny of the rostral migratory stream and olfactory bulb. Thus, we recommend the here described Aldh1L1-CreER T2 mouse line for predominantly studying the functions of non-stem cell astrocytes in the DG under physiological and pathological conditions.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1662-453X
DOI:
10.3389/fnins.2021.713077
DOI:
10.3389/fnins.2021.713077.s001
Language:
Unknown
Publisher:
Frontiers Media SA
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2411902-7
