title: Regulation of neural precursor differentiation in the embryonic and adult forebrain.
abstract: 1. Precursors form the neuroepithelium of the developing cortex and also from the adult sub-ventricular zone, can be cloned in vitro after stimulation with fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and have the potential to give rise to both neurons and glia. The generation of neurons from these clones can be stimulated by either a factor derived from an astrocyteprecursor line, Ast-1, or FGF-1. 2. Neuronal differentiation stimulated by FGF-1 can be inhibited by diacylglycerol-lipase inhibitor and mimicked by arachidonic acid, suggesting that the neuronal differentiation is signalled through the PCL gamma pathway. 3. The sequential expression of FGF-2 and FGF-1 within the developing forebrain neuroepithelium fits with the different functions the two FGF play in precursor regulation. 4. We have shown that the precursor response to FGF-1 is regulated by a heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG) expressed within the developing neuroepithelium. Precursors restricted to the astrocyte cell lineage can be stimulated by epidermal growth factor or FGF-2; however, the differentiation into GFAP positive astrocytes appears to require a cytokine acting through the leukaemia inhibitory factor beta receptor.
authors.affiliation: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Talman
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Brooker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dutton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koblar
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nurcombe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology