Work

Radial glial cell transformation to astrocytes is bidirectional: regulation by a diffusible factor in embryonic forebrain.

Year: 1995

Type: article

Abstract: During development of mammalian cerebral cortex, two classes of glial cells are thought to underlie the establishment of cell patterning. In the embryonic period, migration of young neurons is supported by a system of radial glial cells spanning the thickness of the cortical wall. In the neonatal period, neuronal function is assisted by the physiological support of a second class of astroglial cell, the astrocyte. Here, we show that expression of embryonic radial glial identity requires extrinsic soluble signals present in embryonic forebrain. Moreover, astrocytes reexpress features of radial glia in vitro in the presence of the embryonic cortical signals and in vivo after transplantation into embryonic neocortex. These findings suggest that the transformation of radial glia cells into astrocytes is regulated by availability of inducing signals rather than by changes in cell potential.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.6.2061

Authors: K E Hunter, M E Hatten

Institution: Rockefeller University

Language: English

Topic: Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms

Subfield: Developmental Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Public Health Service

Award: G7636926319