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Origins, functions, and potential of adult neural stem cells
Author(s) -
Kuhn H. Georg,
Svendsen Clive N.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-1878(199908)21:8<625::aid-bies1>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - neurogenesis , neural stem cell , hippocampal formation , neuroscience , biology , stem cell , adult stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , hippocampus , in vitro , endothelial stem cell , genetics
In recent years, the existence of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the adult mammalian brain has been confirmed. The generation of new neurons from these cells is regulated by growth factors, hormones, and environmental cues; however, the function of newly generated neurons in the adult brain remains elusive. Two recent articles emphasize the impact of motor activity and learning on in situ hippocampal neurogenesis, (1,2) suggesting a close link to hippocampal function. Adult NSCs can be isolated and expanded in vitro. It was presumed that the origins of the NSCs were within subependyma of the lateral ventricle; however, new evidence suggests that the “real” stem cells may reside in the ependymal lining. (3) In a related study, these same cells were transplanted into irradiated mice and were able to integrate into the bone marrow and produce various blood cell types, (4) challenging the limits of neural cell fate determination. BioEssays 21:625–630, 1999. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.