engleski

Application of neural stem cells originating from THY1 - YFP mouse strain in transplantation experiments

In order to analyze morphologic processes occurring during development of mammalian nervous system, several specific mouse strains have been constructed. This study was based on the mouse strain B6.Cg-Tg(Thy1-YFP)16Jrs/J which under the control of Thy1 gene promoter expresses yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) in all parts of neurons. This allows to precisely describe development of otherwise less visible parts of nervous cells, including axon and dendrites. In order to use these cells for transplantation, we had to determine pattern of Thy1 - YFP expression during embryonic development. During the first 10 days of embryonic development expression of YFP was not observed. First signs of expression were observed at embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5) in ventral horn of the spinal cord. During development of the embryo in the cranio-caudal direction, a stronger expression of YFP was observed in the cranial part of the spinal cord. Moreover, expression was significantly stronger in the spinal cord than in the brain. In accordance with the process of neurogenesis which primarily occurs in mid-gestation, expression of YFP in neurons after E12.5 became much more pronounced. With embryo maturation, expression became stronger in the brain and by E17.5 expression was observed in the optic nerve and retina. In the newborn mouse P0 expression was observed in the olfactory bulb. Our preliminary results showed that, except neurons, progenitor cells also express this construct. Therefore, stem cells isolated from Thy1 - YFP at E14.5 can be successfully traced after transplantation in the brain and their processes arising during cell differentiation can be recognized using a bright fluorescence of YFP.

stem cells; transplantation; Thy1; YFP

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