Distributed Feature Of Neural Precursor Cells In Spinal Cord Of Adult Mice

Objective To observe and analyze the nestin expression positive cell number in various reagions of spinal cord of adult animal, we set up the transgenic mice of special nestin expression, and approach distribution feature of neural precursor cell(NPCs) in spinal cord, in order to provide more evidence for the research that induces endogenous NPCs to differentiate to neural cell repair spinal cord damage.Methods Experimental study of neural precursor cells (NPCs) distributed feature in adult animal spinal cord by nestin second-intron enhancer controlled LacZ reporter transgenic mice (pNes-Tg). The pNes-Tg transgenic mice, LacZ staining and positive cell quantifications were used. Observe and analyze the distribution feature of nestin expression positive cell in various regions of spinal cord, e.g. nestin expresson structure and amount.Results NPCs were observed in whole spinal cord of adult mice, but amount and density was different in different region, the dorsal horn region was the most, the next was central canal, the ventral and lateral horn was less in spinal cord. In dorsal horn region NPCs mainly distributed in substantia gelatinosa, in central canal NPCs mainly distributed in ependymal zone, the medullae, nucleus regions in spinal cord were less. Distribution in cervical segment was the most, the second was lumbar (included sacral segment), it was less in thoracic segment. There were no different between the left and right sides, among C1-7, T1-12, L1-5 and sacral segment of spinal cord.Conclusion The results suggested that NPCs distribution possibly are relative to damage and recovery of spinal cord in clinical diseases, the regions where are difficult to recover and easy to damage like ventral horn and thoracic segment of spinal cord were less, oppositely, in dorsal and central canal were more. NPCs were less in neuron distributed regions, oppositely, in gliocyte and ependymal cell zone were more, which also suggested that derivations of NPCs possibly are relative to gliocytes and ependymal cell.