RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Transforming Growth Factor-α Null and Senescent Mice Show Decreased Neural Progenitor Cell Proliferation in the Forebrain Subependyma
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 7850
OP 7859
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.17-20-07850.1997
VO 17
IS 20
A1 Vincent Tropepe
A1 Constance G. Craig
A1 Cindi M. Morshead
A1 Derek van der Kooy
YR 1997
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/17/20/7850.abstract
AB The adult mammalian forebrain subependyma contains neural stem cells and their progeny, the constitutively proliferating progenitor cells. Using bromodeoxyuridine labeling to detect mitotically active cells, we demonstrate that the endogenous expression of transforming growth factor-α (TGFα) is necessary for the full proliferation of progenitor cells localized to the dorsolateral corner of the subependyma and the full production of the neuronal progenitors that migrate to the olfactory bulbs. Proliferation of these progenitor cells also is diminished with age (in 23- to 25-months-old compared with 2- to 4-months-old mice), likely because of a lengthening of the cell cycle. Senescence or the absence of endogenous TGFα does not affect the numbers of neural stem cells isolated in vitro in the presence of epidermal growth factor. These results suggest that endogenous TGFα and the effects of senescence may regulate the proliferation of progenitor cells in the adult subependyma, but that the number of neural stem cells is maintained throughout life.