NEURAL PRECURSOR CELLS FROM ADULT MOUSE CEREBRAL CORTEX

摘要

Most neurons of the mammalian brain are generated from neuroepithelial cells near cerebral ventricles during well-defined developmental stages. Recent findings concerning adult neurogenesis in selected structures of the mammalian brain (the olfactorybulb and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus) present the possibility that this concept applies for all brain regions, including the cerebral neocortex, the center of our intelligence. A small number of potential neural precursor cells may exist in the cerebral neocortex, but they do not normally differentiate into cortical neurons. Such cells theoretically could be induced to differentiate into neurons by way of an appropriate neurogenic microenvironment. In this study, we have developed an in vitro culture system in which neural precursor cells from the adult mouse neocortex can be induced to differentiate into neurons. This system could enable elucidation of the molecular basis for the neurogenic microenvironment, such as the presence of soluble cytokines and specific glial cell types.