title: Focal laser-lesions activate an endogenous population of neural stem/progenitor cells in the adult visual cortex.
abstract: CNS lesions stimulate adult neurogenic niches. Endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells represent a potential resource for CNS regeneration. Here, we investigate the response to unilateral focal laser-lesions applied to the visual cortex of juvenile rats. Within 3 days post-lesion, an ipsilateral increase of actively cycling cells was observed in cortical layer one and in the callosal white matter within the lesion penumbra. The cells expressed the neural stem/progenitor cell marker Nestin and the 473HD-epitope. Tissue prepared from the lesion area by micro-dissection generated self-renewing, multipotent neurospheres, while cells from the contralateral visual cortex did not. The newly formed neural stem/progenitor cells in the lesion zone might support neurogenesis, as suggested by the expression of Pax6 and Doublecortin, a marker of newborn neurons. We propose that focal laser-lesions may induce the emergence of stem/progenitor cells with neurogenic potential. This could underlie the beneficial effects of laser application in neurosurgery.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitaetsstrasse, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Swetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sirko
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neitz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mittmann
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horvat-Bröcker
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Holst
authors.forename: Ulf T
authors.initials: UT
authors.lastname: Eysel
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faissner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*