Embryonic cerebral cortex cells retain CNS phenotypes after transplantation into peripheral nerve.
Differentiation of stem cells depends on environmental cues. In this study, acutely dissociated or expanded cells derived from embryonic day 14 (E14) rat cerebral cortex were transplanted into the distal tibial nerve stump of adult Fischer rats to determine whether a peripheral nervous system (PNS) environment would influence cell differentiation. Acutely dissociated cells, which included neural precursors and post-mitotic neurons, were transplanted immediately after harvest. Expanded cortical cells were transplanted after 8 days of culture with fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), a process that yields a population of neural stem cells and/or neural precursors. After 2 or 10 weeks in peripheral nerve, the majority of the transplanted cells was astrocytes, as judged from glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) expression. Only acutely dissociated transplants had cells that exhibited neuronal phenotypes. Those neurons present in transplants at 10 weeks stained positive for glutamate decarboxylase and did not reinnervate muscle. Maintenance of this cortical phenotype in peripheral nerve suggests that it is necessary to transplant cells with neural phenotypes appropriate for muscle to restore its function.
Baez
Juan Carlos
JC
The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Gajavelli
Shyam
S
Thomas
Christine K
CK
Grumbles
Robert M
RM
Aparicio
Beatriz
B
Byer
David
D
Tsoulfas
Pantelis
P
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016380:Brain Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase