title: Identification of two distinct types of multipotent neural precursors that appear sequentially during CNS development.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 control neural stem cell proliferation in vitro and the formation of neurospheres. Neurospheres contain precursors that respond to both EGF and FGF-2 (E/F cells). E/F cells appear to originate from cells that initially respond to FGF-2 only but undergo a transition in growth factor responsiveness during in vitro culturing. It is unclear whether a similar change in growth factor responsiveness of multipotent precursors takes place in vivo and how this may affect neural precursor properties. Here I provide evidence that FGF-2-responsive precursors and E/F cells appear sequentially during CNS development. This transition from the early precursors (FGF-2-responsive cells) to the late precursors (E/F cells) takes place between E14 and E18. The two types of precursors are morphologically and antigenically distinct. E/F cells are very large and show strong nestin immunoreactivity. Thus the putative neurosphere-forming E/F cells are present in vivo and their generation is developmentally programmed. Their unique morphology may provide a basis for their isolation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Signalling, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Hall, Babraham, Cambridge CB2 2PY, England. fc10003@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciccolini
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577485:Nes protein, mouse; D064231:Nestin; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine