Multipotential stem cells from the adult mouse brain proliferate and self-renew in response to basic fibroblast growth factor

Angela Gritti, E. A. Parati, L. Cova, P. Frolichsthal, R. Galli, E. Wanke, L. Faravelli, D. J. Morassutti, F. Roisen, D. D. Nickel, Angelo L. Vescovi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

905 Scopus citations

Abstract

It has been established that the adult mouse forebrain contains multipotential (neuronal/glial) progenitor cells that can be induced to proliferate in vitro when epidermal growth factor is provided. These cells are found within the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles, together with other progenitor cell populations, whose requirements for proliferation remain undefined. Using basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), we have isolated multipotential progenitors from adult mouse striatum. These progenitors proliferate and can differentiate into cells displaying the antigenic properties of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons. The neuron-like cells possess neuronal features, exhibit neuronal electrophysiological properties, and are immunoreactive for GABA, substance P, choline acetyltransferase, and glutamate. Clonal analysis confirmed the multipotency of these bFGF-dependent cells. Most significantly, subcloning experiments demonstrated that they were capable of self-renewal, which led to a progressive increase in population size over serial passaging. These results demonstrate that bFGF is mitogenic for multipotential cells from adult mammalian forebrain that possess stem cell properties.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1091-1100
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume16
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 1996

Keywords

  • Adult progenitors
  • FGF
  • Growth factors
  • Neurogenesis
  • Neuroplasticity
  • Stem cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)

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