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Isolation and characterization of neural stem cells from the neonatal rat cochlear nucleus

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Abstract

Neural stem cells have been identified in multiple parts of the postnatal mammalian brain, as well as in the inner ear. No investigation of potential neural stem cells in the cochlear nucleus has yet been performed. The aim of this study was to investigate potential neural stem cells from the cochlear nucleus by neurosphere assay and in histological sections to prove their capacity for self-renewal and for differentiation into progenitor cells and cells of the neuronal lineage. For this purpose, cells of the cochlear nucleus of postnatal day 6 rats were isolated and cultured for generation of primary neurospheres. Spheres were dissociated and cells analyzed for capacity for mitosis and differentiation. Cell division was detected by cell-counting assay and BrdU incorporation. Differentiated neural progenitor cells showed distinct labeling for Nestin and for Atoh1. Positive staining of ß-III Tubulin, glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and myelin basic protein (MBP) showed differentiation into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, Nestin- and BrdU-labeled cells could also be detected in histological sections. In conclusion, the isolated cells from the cochlear nucleus presented all the features of neural stem cells: cell division, presence of progenitor cells and differentiation into different cells of the neuronal lineage. The existence of neural stem cells may add to the understanding of developmental features in the cochlear nucleus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery and the Comprehensive Hearing Center, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 11, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany

    Kristen Rak, Natalia V. Wasielewski, Andreas Radeloff, Johannes Völkers, Agmal Scherzed, Rudolf Hagen & Robert Mlynski

  2. Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany

    Sibylle Jablonka

Authors
  1. Kristen Rak
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  2. Natalia V. Wasielewski
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  3. Andreas Radeloff
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  4. Johannes Völkers
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  5. Agmal Scherzed
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  6. Sibylle Jablonka
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  7. Rudolf Hagen
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  8. Robert Mlynski
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Correspondence to Robert Mlynski.

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Rak, K., Wasielewski, N.V., Radeloff, A. et al. Isolation and characterization of neural stem cells from the neonatal rat cochlear nucleus. Cell Tissue Res 343, 499–508 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-010-1118-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-010-1118-x

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