Abstract
During an investigation of the mechanisms through which the local environment controls the fate specification of adult neural stem cells, we discovered that adult astrocytes from hippocampus are capable of regulating neurogenesis by instructing the stem cells to adopt a neuronal fate. This role in fate specification was unexpected because, during development, neurons are generated before most of the astrocytes. Our findings, together with recent reports that astrocytes regulate synapse formation and synaptic transmission, reinforce the emerging view that astrocytes have an active regulatory role--rather than merely supportive roles traditionally assigned to them--in the mature central nervous system.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Aging / physiology*
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Astrocytes / physiology*
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Bromodeoxyuridine
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Cell Differentiation*
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Cell Division
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Cell Lineage
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Cell Survival
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Cells, Cultured
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Coculture Techniques
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Culture Media, Serum-Free
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Fibroblasts
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Hippocampus / cytology
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Hippocampus / growth & development
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Laminin / metabolism
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Neurons / cytology*
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Neurons / metabolism
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Oligodendroglia / physiology
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Organ Specificity
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Rats
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Rats, Inbred F344
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Spinal Cord / cytology
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Spinal Cord / growth & development
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Stem Cells / cytology*
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Stem Cells / metabolism
Substances
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Culture Media, Serum-Free
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Laminin
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Bromodeoxyuridine