Early neuronal and glial fate restriction of embryonic neural stem cells.
The question of how neurons and glial cells are generated during the development of the CNS has over time led to two alternative models: either neuroepithelial cells are capable of giving rise to neurons first and to glial cells at a later stage (switching model), or they are intrinsically committed to generate one or the other (segregating model). Using the developing diencephalon as a model and by selecting a subpopulation of ventricular cells, we analyzed both in vitro, using clonal analysis, and in vivo, using inducible Cre/loxP fate mapping, the fate of neuroepithelial and radial glial cells generated at different time points during embryonic development. We found that, during neurogenic periods [embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) to 12.5], proteolipid protein (plp)-expressing cells were lineage-restricted neuronal precursors, but later in embryogenesis, during gliogenic periods (E13.5 to early postnatal), plp-expressing cells were lineage-restricted glial precursors. In addition, we show that glial cells forming at E13.5 arise from a new pool of neuroepithelial progenitors distinct from neuronal progenitors cells, which lends support to the segregating model.
Delaunay
Delphine
D
Inserm, Unité 711, 75013 Paris, France.
Heydon
Katharina
K
Cumano
Ana
A
Schwab
Markus H
MH
Thomas
Jean-Léon
JL
Suter
Ueli
U
Nave
Klaus-Armin
KA
Zalc
Bernard
B
Spassky
Nathalie
N
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors