The crucial role of the local microenvironment in fate-decision of neonatal rat NG2 progenitors

• Published in: Acta neurobiologiae experimentalis Vol. 69; no. 1; p. 104
• Main Authors: Sypecka, J, Sarnowska, A, Winiarska, H, Domanska-Janik, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2009
• ISSN: 0065-1400

The fate choice of neural progenitors could be dictated by local cellular environment of adult CNS. The aim of our study was td investigate the effect of hippocampal tissue on the differentiatioi and maturation of the oligodendrocyte NG2 precursors. Methods The hippocampal slice culture was established from the brains of 7-day old rats. The NG2 precursors, obtained from a 12-day old mixed primary culture of neonatal rat hemispheres, were labeled with CMFDA and seeded on hippocampal slices. After 7-14 days in co-culture, the cells were stained with neural markers. Results: The NG2 cells differentiated predominantly into oligodendrocytes, presenting various stages of maturation: progenitors NG2+, O4+ and finally mature Galc-positive cells. However, except for a few cells with astrocyte-specific S100 beta staining, a considerable num-ber of these cells differentiated into TUJ+ and MAP-2+ neurons. Moreover, a certain population of these cells preserved prolifera-tive properties of primary precursors, as revealed by the Ki67 ex-pression. Conclusions: Neuronal microenvironment provided by the culture of hippocampal slices is potent to induce neurogenesis from oligodendrocyte NG2+/PDGFR alpha +/CNP+ progenitors and promotes their differentiation not only into macroglia but also into neurons. It also sustains their proliferative capacity. The results indicate a crucial role of the local cellular environment in fate-decision of primary NG2+ multipotent neural progenitors, which may affect their behavior after transplantation into CNS.