A method to investigate radial glia cell behavior using two-photon time-lapse microscopy in an ex vivo model of spinal cord development.

ABSTRACT: The mammalian central nervous system (CNS) develops from multipotent progenitor cells, which proliferate and differentiate into the various cell types of the brain and spinal cord. Despite the wealth of knowledge from progenitor cell culture studies, there is a significant lack of understanding regarding dynamic progenitor cell behavior over the course of development. This is in part due to shortcomings in the techniques available to study these processes in living tissues as they are occurring. In order to investigate cell behavior under physiologically relevant conditions we established an ex vivo model of the developing rat spinal cord. This method allows us to directly observe specific populations of cells ex vivo in real time and over extended developmental periods as they undergo pro

SUBMITTER: Pakan JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3989586 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature