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Proliferation and differentiation of neuronal stem cells regulated by nerve growth factor

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Abstract

NERVE growth factor plays an important part in neuron–target interactions in the late embryonic and adult brain. We now report that this growth factor controls the proliferation of neuronal precursors in a defined culture system of cells derived from the early embryonic brain. Neuronal precursor cells were identified by expression of the intermediate filament protein nestin. These cells proliferate in response to nerve growth factor but only after they have been exposed to basic fibroblast growth factor. On withdrawal of nerve growth factor, the proliferative cells differentiate into neurons. Thus, in combination with other growth factors, nerve growth factor regulates the proliferation and terminal differentiation of neuroepithelial stem cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 45 Carleton Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA

    Elena Cattaneo & Ron McKay

  2. Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Elena Cattaneo

Authors
  1. Elena Cattaneo
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  2. Ron McKay
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Cattaneo, E., McKay, R. Proliferation and differentiation of neuronal stem cells regulated by nerve growth factor. Nature 347, 762–765 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/347762a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/347762a0

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