Selective introduction of antisense oligonucleotides into single adult CNSprogenitor cells using electroporation demonstrates the requirement of STAT3 activation for CNTF-induced gliogenesis

We have developed a novel method in which antisense DNA is selectively elec troporated into individual adult neural progenitor cells. By electropopatio n of antisense oligonucleotides against signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) we demonstrate that ciliary neurotrophic factor (CN TF) is an instructive signal for astroglial type 2 cell fate specifically m ediated via activation of STAT3. Activation of the mitogen-activated protei n kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway induced only a transient increase in glia l fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression, and inhibition of this signa ling pathway did not block the induction by CNTF of glial differentiation i n progenitor cells. In addition we show that microelectroporation is a new powerful method for introducing antisense agents into single cells in compl ex cellular networks.