Cited by 3,898Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsCongenital heart defects researchDevelopmental Biology and Gene Regulation

Subventricular zone astrocytes are neural stem cells in the adult mammalian brain

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Doetsch, Fiona, Caillé, Isabelle, Lim, Daniel A., García-Verdugo, Jose Manuel, Alvarez-Buylla, Arturo·1999·Cell

Abstract

Neural stem cells reside in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the adult mammalian brain. This germinal region, which continually generates new neurons destined for the olfactory bulb, is composed of four cell types: migrating neuroblasts, immature precursors, astrocytes, and ependymal cells. Here we show that SVZ astrocytes, and not ependymal cells, remain labeled with proliferation markers after long survivals in adult mice. After elimination of immature precursors and neuroblasts by an antimitotic treatment, SVZ astrocytes divide to generate immature precursors and neuroblasts. Furthermore, in untreated mice, SVZ astrocytes specifically infected with a retrovirus give rise to new neurons in the olfactory bulb. Finally, we show that SVZ astrocytes give rise to cells that grow into multipotent neurospheres in vitro. We conclude that SVZ astrocytes act as neural stem cells in both the normal and regenerating brain.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80783-7

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77 of 77 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Radial glial cells, stem cell precursors, and astrocytes all express GFAP and are found in the dentate gyrus.

    “Radial glial cells, stem cell precursors, and astrocytes - all reported to express GFAP (reviewed in ref.26) - are found in the dentate gyrus2,27,28.”
  • After symmetric divisions, radial glia divide asymmetrically, generating postmitotic excitatory neurons that migrate to their final location in the cerebral cortex by using the basal process of the radial glial cell as a scaffold.

    “After this period of symmetric divisions, these progenitor cells — also known as radial glia — divide asymmetrically, generating postmitotic excitatory neurons that will migrate to their final location in the cerebral cortex by using the basal process of the radial glial cell as a scaffold55–58.”
  • Adult V-SVZ NSCs are radial cells with many hallmarks of astrocytes.

    “Adult V-SVZ NSCs are radial cells with many hallmarks of astrocytes (Doetsch et al., 1999).”
  • Upon activation, V-SVZ NSCs give rise to transit amplifying cells (TACs), which generate neuroblasts (NBs) that migrate to the olfactory bulb.

    “Upon activation, they give rise to transit amplifying cells (TACs), which in turn generate neuroblasts (NBs) that migrate to the olfactory bulb (Doetsch et al., 1999).”

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Authors
Doetsch, F., Caillé, I., Lim, D. A., García-Verdugo, J. M., & Alvarez-Buylla, A.
Affiliations
Rockefeller University (US)
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1999-06
Volume
97
Issue
6
Pages
703-716
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2165867905
Cited by
3,898
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 31 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 79 · 2022: 94 · 2021: 110 · 2020: 105 · 2019: 113 · 2018: 110 · 2017: 134 · 2016: 135 · 2015: 177 · 2014: 154 · 2013: 180 · 2012: 243
FWCI
26.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM 07739, T32GM007739)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS-28478)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD32116)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Congenital heart defects research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
Keywords
subventricular zone, astrocytes, neural stem cells, adult neurogenesis, olfactory bulb, neuroblast migration, ependymal cells, retroviral labeling, neurospheres, stem cell self-renewal
MeSH terms
Animals, Astrocytes, Brain, Cerebral Ventricles, Chick Embryo, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Male, Olfactory Bulb, Regeneration, Stem Cells, Mice

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