Astrocytogenesis of embryonic stem-cell-derived neural stem cells: Default differentiation

Neuroreport. 2006 Oct 2;17(14):1519-23. doi: 10.1097/01.wnr.0000234747.73312.e7.

Abstract

Neural stem cells differentiate from embryonic stem cells via formation of neural stem spheres under free-floating conditions in astrocyte-conditioned medium. Subsequent culture of neural stem spheres on an adhesive substrate with fibroblast growth factor-2 promotes the migration of neural stem cells onto the substrate, resulting in an increase in the number of cells. These embryonic stem cell-derived neural stem cells can be differentiated almost exclusively into astrocytes by withdrawing fibroblast growth factor-2 from the medium without any additional instructions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / chemistry*
  • Astrocytes / physiology
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology*
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Mice
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2