INCORPORATION AND GLIAL DIFFERENTIATION OF MOUSE EGF-RESPONSIVE NEURAL PROGENITOR CELLS AFTER TRANSPLANTATION INTO THE EMBRYONIC RAT-BRAIN

In vitro, epidermal growth factor (EGF)-responsive neural progenitor c ells exhibit multipotent properties and can differentiate into both ne urons and glia. Using an in utero xenotransplantation approach we exam ined the developmental potential of EGF-responsive cells derived from E14 mouse ganglionic eminences, cortical primordium, and ventral mesen cephalon, after injection into the E15 rat forebrain ventricle. Cell c ultures were established from control mice or from mice carrying the l acZ transgene under control of the promoters for nestin, glial fibrill ary acidic protein (GFAP), or myelin basic protein (MBP). The grafted cells, visualized with mouse-specific markers or staining for the repo rter gene product, displayed widespread incorporation into distinct fo rebrain and midbrain structures and differentiated predominantly into glial cells. The patterns of incorporation of cells from all three reg ions were very similar without preference for the homotopic brain area s. These results suggest that EGF-responsive progenitor cells can resp ond to host derived environmental cues, differentiate into cells with glial-like features, and become integrated in the developing recipient brain.