Subventricular zone-mediated ependyma repair in the adult mammalian brain.
The subventricular zone (SVZ) of the adult mouse brain is a narrow stem cell niche that lies along the length of the lateral wall of the lateral ventricles. The SVZ supports neurogenesis throughout adulthood; however, with increasing age, the ventral SVZ deteriorates and only the dorsolateral SVZ remains neurogenic. Associated with the elderly dorsolateral SVZ, we reported previously an increased number of astrocytes interposed within the adjacent ependymal lining. Here, we show that astrocytes integrated within the ependyma are dividing, BrdU-labeled astrocytes that share cellular adherens with neighboring ependymal cells. By tracking BrdU-labeled astrocytes over time, we observed that, as they incorporated within the ependyma, they took on antigenic and morphologic characteristics of ependymal cells, suggesting a novel form of SVZ-supported "regenerative" repair in the aging brain. A similar form of SVZ-mediated ependyma repair was also observed in young mice after mild ependymal cell denudation with low dosages of neuraminidase. Together, this work identifies a novel non-neuronal mechanism of regenerative repair by the adult SVZ.
Luo
Jie
J
Center for Regenerative Biology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-4243, USA.
Shook
Brett A
BA
Daniels
Stephen B
SB
Conover
Joanne C
JC
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004805:Ependyma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000009:adverse effects
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009439:Neuraminidase; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine