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Isolation and differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells from fetal rat dorsal root ganglia

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Abstract

To find a promising alternative to neurons or schwann cells (SCs) for peripheral nerve repair applications, this study sought to isolate stem cells from fetal rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) explants. Molecular expression analysis confirmed neural stem cell characteristics of DRG-derived neurospheres in terms of expressing neural stem cell-specific genes and a set of well-defined genes related to stem cell niches and glial fate decision. Under the influence of neurotrophic factors, bFGF and NGF, the neurospheres gave rise to neurofilament-expressing neurons and S100-expressing Schwann cell-like cells by different pathways. This study suggests that a subpopulation of stem cells that reside in DRGs is the progenitor of neurons and glia, which could directly induce the differentiation toward neurons, or SCs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China

    Yun Gu

  2. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China

    Yun Gu, Nan Hu, Jie Liu, Fei Ding & XiaoSong Gu

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  1. Yun Gu
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  2. Nan Hu
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  3. Jie Liu
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  4. Fei Ding
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  5. XiaoSong Gu
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Correspondence to XiaoSong Gu.

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Gu, Y., Hu, N., Liu, J. et al. Isolation and differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells from fetal rat dorsal root ganglia. Sci. China Life Sci. 53, 1057–1064 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-010-4053-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-010-4053-x

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