Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2026

Assessing Cell Cycle Progression of Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells in the Mouse Developing Brain after Genotoxic Stress
Published on: May 7, 2014
Nitric oxide is involved in establishing the balance between cell cycle progression and cell death in the developing
Nicolas Plachta1, Alexandra Traister, Miguel Weil
1Department of Cell Research and Immunology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
Abstract:
Endogenous nitric oxide (NO) has recently been shown to affect cell cycle progression in the neural tube (NT) of the chick embryo. High NO levels trigger entry into S phase basally, while low NO levels facilitate mitosis apically. Here, we further explore the involvement of NO in determining cell numbers in the chick NT. In addition to the effect of short-term (6 h) NOS inhibition, we have observed a concomitant decrease in programmed cell death (PCD). Paradoxically, long-term (12 h) NOS inhibition caused an increase in PCD to compensate for the high proliferation rate under these conditions. Long-term treatment with a NO donor caused a decrease in S phase and increased PCD. The effects produced by the NO donor could be alleviated by folic acid that facilitated entry into S phase and prevented PCD. The effects produced by NOS inhibition (12 h) could be overcome by an embryo extract, used as a source of extracellular survival factors that enhanced proliferation and prevented PCD. Taken together, these data demonstrate that changing endogenous NO levels affect the balance between cell proliferation and PCD in NT of the developing chick embryo.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...
The Cell Cycle Control System
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation
Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue

