title: De novo generation of neuronal cells from the adult mouse brain.
abstract: Cells of neuronal morphology, expressing the 150- and 200-kDa neurofilament proteins, were generated in vitro from populations of neural cells dissociated from adult (greater than 60-day-old) mouse brain. Most of these neurons arose from dividing precursors, as demonstrated by the incorporation of [3H]thymidine during the culture period and autoradiography. Neuronal production was optimal under the conditions in which precursors were initially stimulated with basic fibroblast growth factor and then exposed to medium conditioned by an astrocytic cell line, Ast-1, in serum-free medium. Few, if any, neurons arose in control cultures or in cultures kept in serum and fibroblast growth factor. These results suggest that neuronal precursors exist in the adult mammalian brain, but they require discrete epigenetic signals for their proliferation and differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Cooperative Research Centre for Cellular Growth Factors, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Bartlett
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2