Transplanted clonal neural stem-like cells respond to remote photic stimulation following incorporation within the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
Multipotent neural stem-like cells (NSCs) obtained from one brain region and transplanted to another region appear to differentiate into neuronal and glial phenotypes indigenous to the implantation site. Whether these donor-derived cells are appropriately integrated remains unanswered. In order to test this possibility, we exploited the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, site of a known circadian clock, as a novel engraftment target. When a clone of NSCs initially derived from neonatal mouse cerebellum was transplanted into mouse embryos, the cells incorporated within the SCN over a narrow gestational window that corresponded to the conclusion of SCN neurogenesis. Immunocytochemical staining suggested that donor-derived cells in the SCN synthesized a peptide neurotransmitter (arginine vasopressin) characteristic of SCN neurons. Donor-derived SCN cells reacted to light pulses by expressing immunoreactive c-Fos protein in a pattern that is appropriate for native SCN cells. This region-specific and physiologically appropriate response to the natural stimulation of a remote sensory input implies that donor-derived and endogenous cells formed true SCN chimeras, suggesting that exogenous NSCs engrafted to ectopic locations can integrate in a meaningful fashion.
Zlomanczuk
Piotr
P
Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA.
Mrugala
Maciej
M
de la Iglesia
Horacio O
HO
Ourednik
Vaclav
V
Quesenberry
Peter J
PJ
Snyder
Evan Y
EY
Schwartz
William J
WJ
D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016380:Brain Tissue Transplantation; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006085:Graft Survival; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018183:Transplantation Chimera
D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin