title: Nestin reporter transgene labels multiple central nervous system precursor cells.
abstract: Embryonic neuroepithelia and adult subventricular zone (SVZ) stem and progenitor cells express nestin. We characterized a transgenic line that expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) specified to neural tissue by the second intronic enhancer of the nestin promoter that had several novel features. During embryogenesis, the dorsal telencephalon contained many and the ventral telencephalon few eGFP+ cells. eGFP+ cells were found in postnatal and adult neurogenic regions. eGFP+ cells in the SVZ expressed multiple phenotype markers, glial fibrillary acidic protein, Dlx, and neuroblast-specific molecules suggesting the transgene is expressed through the lineage. eGFP+ cell numbers increased in the SVZ after cortical injury, suggesting this line will be useful in probing postinjury neurogenesis. In non-neurogenic regions, eGFP was strongly expressed in oligodendrocyte progenitors, but not in astrocytes, even when they were reactive. This eGFP+ mouse will facilitate studies of proliferative neuroepithelia and adult neurogenesis, as well as of parenchymal oligodendrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611-3008, USA.
authors.forename: Avery S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Gwendolyn E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Goings
authors.forename: Yongsoo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Anjen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chenn
authors.forename: Francis G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Szele
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000502:physiology*; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000502:physiology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D064231:Nestin; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577485:Nes protein, mouse; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins