Olfactory neurosensory-epithelium (ONe) has a life long regenerative capacity due to its stem cells. ONe's accessibility and proliferative capacity make it a unique source for neural tissue. Stem cells were directed to form neurospheres by altering media, serum, and prior in vivo 2% ZnSO4 exposure, 3 days prior to culture. The neurospheres were composed of progenitors, which differentiated into a variety of phenotypes; bipolar and multipolar cells were positive for β-tubulin III and α-internexin, indicating neuronal lineage, others were positive for A2B 5, suggesting an ensheathment cells. A few bipolars as well as flat cells were keratin positive reflecting their epithelial origin. Basic fibroblast growth factor stimulated the neurotrophic effect on bipolar cells. Neurosphere-forming cells were positive for Trk-A, and B while negative for Trk-C, and the low affinity receptor, p75NGFr, suggesting that neurotrophins may modulate their differentiation. This study demonstrates the isolation of adult murine ONe progenitors.
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