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Dissection and Isolation of Murine Glia from Multiple Central Nervous System Regions
Published on: June 4, 2020
What determines neurogenic competence in glia?
Marcos Romualdo Costa1, Magdalena Götz, Benedikt Berninger
1Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience of Natal, 59066-060 Natal, Brazil.
Brain Research Reviews
|January 26, 2010
Summary
Neural stem cells often possess glial identities, generating neurons throughout life. Injury can even reactivate mature glia, prompting a return to neural stem cell characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Developmental neurobiology
- Glial cell biology
- Neurogenesis
Background:
- Neural stem cells in developing and adult nervous systems frequently exhibit glial characteristics.
- Radial glia are key progenitors of neurons in the developing brain.
- Postnatal astroglia and adult reactive glia offer insights into glial neurogenic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the signals that confer neurogenic potential to specific glial populations.
- To review the transformation of radial glia into astrocytes and the retention of neurogenic capacity.
- To examine the potential for non-neurogenic glia to regain stem cell properties.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on glial identity and neurogenesis.
- Analysis of studies on postnatal astroglia and their lineage plasticity.
- Examination of reactive glia in response to injury.
Main Results:
- Glial cells, including radial glia and postnatal astroglia, can generate neurons.
- Forced expression of neurogenic factors can induce neuronal fate in astroglia.
- Adult glia, such as reactive astrocytes and Müller glia, can partially revert to a neural stem cell-like state.
Conclusions:
- Glial cells possess a latent neurogenic potential that can be modulated by intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
- The glial-neuronal identity is plastic, especially during development and in response to injury.
- Understanding glial plasticity is crucial for regenerative neuroscience and therapeutic strategies.
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