title: EGF and FGF-2 responsiveness of rat and mouse neural precursors derived from the embryonic CNS.
abstract: EGF and FGF-2 induce the proliferation of embryonic neural precursors (ENPs) in vitro from a number of different species. In this study, we demonstrate that embryonic age is a crucial determinant of the number and differentiation potential of rat embryonic neural precursor cells responding to either EGF and/or FGF-2, in that (i) there is a differential response to the two growth factors (both alone and in combination) according to the gestational age of isolation and (ii) when allowed to differentiate, there are temporal changes in the ability of these cells to produce neurons. Furthermore, for cultures of all gestational ages, there is a defined pattern of senescence, with cultures expanding longest when cells are isolated earlier in gestation. The suggestion is that rat ENPs in this study consist predominantly of neural progenitor cells with limited division potential rather than self-renewing multipotential neural stem cells. In contrast, mouse ENPs appeared to expand indefinitely and thus allow for longer studies to be carried out looking at the effects of growth factor concentrations. The effect of varying the concentration of EGF was assessed using mouse ENPs.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, Brain Repair Group, Cardiff University, Biomedical Science Building, Museum Avenue, P.O. Box 911, Cardiff CF1 3US, UK.
authors.forename: Claire M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tyers
authors.forename: Melanie Ter
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Borg
authors.forename: Clive N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Svendsen
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Dunnett
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rosser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000166:cytology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D006493:Heparin