Abstract
During vertebrate neural development, many dividing neuroepithelial precursors adopt features of radial glia, which are now known to also serve as neural precursors. In mammals, most radial glia do not persist past early postnatal stages, whereas zebrafish maintain large numbers of radial glia into adulthood. The mechanisms that maintain and specify radial glia for different fates are still poorly understood. We investigated formation of radial glia in the spinal cord of zebrafish and the role of Notch signaling in their maintenance and specification. We found that spinal cord precursors begin to express gfap+, a marker of radial glia, during neurogenesis and that gfap cells give rise to both neurons and oligodendrocytes. We also determined that Notch signaling is continuously required during embryogenesis to maintain radial glia, limit motor neuron formation and permit oligodendrocyte development, but that radial glia seem to be refractory to changes in Notch activity in postembryonic animals.
Copyright (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Cell Lineage / physiology
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
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Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
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Motor Neurons / cytology
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Motor Neurons / physiology
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
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Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2
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Oligodendroglia / cytology*
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Oligodendroglia / physiology
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Receptor, Notch1 / genetics
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Receptor, Notch1 / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Spinal Cord / cytology*
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Spinal Cord / embryology*
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Spinal Cord / physiology
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Stem Cells / cytology
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Stem Cells / physiology
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Zebrafish / embryology*
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Zebrafish / physiology
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Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
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Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism*
Substances
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2
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Receptor, Notch1
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Zebrafish Proteins
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notch1a protein, zebrafish
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olig2 protein, zebrafish