Cerebellum- and forebrain-derived stem cells possess intrinsic regional character.
The existence of stem cells in the adult nervous system is well recognized; however, the potential of these cells is still widely debated. We demonstrate that neural stem cells exist within the embryonic and adult cerebellum. Comparing the potential of neural stem cells derived from the forebrain and cerebellum, we find that progeny derived from each of these brain regions retain regional character in vitro as well as after homotopic transplantation. However, when ectopically transplanted, neurosphere-derived cells from either region are largely unable to generate neurons. With regard specifically to embryonic and adult cerebellar stem cells, we observe that they are able to give rise to neurons that resemble different select classes of cerebellar subclasses when grafted into the perinatal host cerebellum. Most notably, upon transplantation to the perinatal cerebellum, cerebellar stem cells from all ages are able to acquire the position and mature electrophysiological properties of cerebellar granule cells.
Klein
Corinna
C
Developmental Genetics Program and the Department of Cell Biology, The Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University Medical Center, 540 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Butt
Simon J B
SJ
Machold
Robert P
RP
Johnson
Jane E
JE
Fishell
Gord
G
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; C500943:Atoh1 protein, mouse