Homotopic glial regulation of striatal projection neuron differentiation

We have studied the differentiation of striatal projection neurons in co-culture with expanded glia from different regions of the embryonic mouse telencephalon. Our results show that when striatal progenitors are cultured on glia derived from the same region as they originate (i.e. the lateral ganglionic eminence), the neurons formed exhibit long processes. This is not the case when the cells are co-cultured with glia derived from the adjacent telencephalic region, the medial ganglionic eminence. Moreover, expression of the striatal projection neuron marker, dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32) was significantly enhanced in neurons cultured on the homotopic glia. Thus, glial cultures derived from the lateral ganglionic eminence positively regulate the differentiation of striatal projection neurons in vitro.