Abstract
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 control neural stem cell proliferation in vitro and the formation of neurospheres. Neurospheres contain precursors that respond to both EGF and FGF-2 (E/F cells). E/F cells appear to originate from cells that initially respond to FGF-2 only but undergo a transition in growth factor responsiveness during in vitro culturing. It is unclear whether a similar change in growth factor responsiveness of multipotent precursors takes place in vivo and how this may affect neural precursor properties. Here I provide evidence that FGF-2-responsive precursors and E/F cells appear sequentially during CNS development. This transition from the early precursors (FGF-2-responsive cells) to the late precursors (E/F cells) takes place between E14 and E18. The two types of precursors are morphologically and antigenically distinct. E/F cells are very large and show strong nestin immunoreactivity. Thus the putative neurosphere-forming E/F cells are present in vivo and their generation is developmentally programmed. Their unique morphology may provide a basis for their isolation.
Copyright 2001 Academic Press.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Age Factors
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Animals
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Bromodeoxyuridine / pharmacokinetics
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Cell Aggregation / drug effects
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Cell Aggregation / physiology
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Cell Differentiation / drug effects
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Cell Differentiation / physiology*
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Cell Division / drug effects
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Cell Division / physiology
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Cell Size / drug effects
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Cell Size / physiology
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Cells, Cultured / cytology
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Cells, Cultured / drug effects
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Cells, Cultured / metabolism
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Central Nervous System / cytology
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Central Nervous System / embryology*
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Central Nervous System / metabolism
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Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism
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Epidermal Growth Factor / metabolism
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Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology*
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ErbB Receptors / metabolism
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Fetus
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Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / metabolism
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Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / pharmacology*
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Immunohistochemistry
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Intermediate Filament Proteins / genetics
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Intermediate Filament Proteins / metabolism
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Mice
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Neostriatum / cytology
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Neostriatum / drug effects
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Neostriatum / embryology
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Nerve Tissue Proteins*
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Nestin
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Neurons / cytology*
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / metabolism
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Stem Cells / cytology*
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Stem Cells / drug effects
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Stem Cells / metabolism
Substances
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Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
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Intermediate Filament Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Nes protein, mouse
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Nestin
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Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
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Epidermal Growth Factor
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ErbB Receptors
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Bromodeoxyuridine