Doublecortin‐positive cells in the adult primate cerebral cortex and possible role in brain plasticity and development

Abstract

We have demonstrated that cortical cell autografts might be a useful therapy in two monkey models of neurological disease: motor cortex lesion and Parkinson's disease. However, the origin of the useful transplanted cells obtained from cortical biopsies is not clear. In this report we describe the expression of doublecortin (DCX) in these cells based on reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunodetection in the adult primate cortex and cell cultures. The results showed that DCX-positive cells were present in the whole primate cerebral cortex and also expressed glial and/or neuronal markers such as glial fibrillary protein (GFAP) or neuronal nuclei (NeuN). We also demonstrated that only DCX/GFAP positive cells were able to proliferate and originate progenitor cells in vitro. We hypothesize that these DCX-positive cells in vivo have a role in cortical plasticity and brain reaction to injury. Moreover, in vitro these DCX-positive cells have the potential to reacquire progenitor characteristics that confirm their potential for brain repair.

Enhancement of Striatal Dopaminergic Function Following Autologous Neural Cell Ecosystems (ANCE) Transplantation in a Non-Human Primate Model of Parkinson’s Disease

“…Similar results were then obtained from NHP cortical biopsies [24]. Further investigation revealed the presence of doublecortin-positive cells in in-vitro cell cultures [25]. Those cells need close interaction with astrocytes, building a niche necessary to their development.…”

Selective lesion of the hippocampus increases the differentiation of immature neurons in the monkey amygdala

“…Compared with controls, the number of mature neurons in the paralaminar nucleus was 72% higher in neonatelesioned and 65% higher in adult-lesioned monkeys ( Fig. 2A) [F (2,18) = 87.520, P < 0.001; Fisher least-significant difference: both P < 0.001]. In neonate-and adult-lesioned monkeys, the increase in mature neuron number was distributed along the entire rostrocaudal extent of the paralaminar nucleus (Fig.…”

“…There was no difference in the average volume of mature neuron somas between groups in the lateral nucleus (Fig. 5C) [F (2,18) = 0.083, P = 0.920]. However, the number of neurons smaller than the controls' median neuron size differed between groups (Fig.…”

“…immature neuron | migration | subventricular zone | plasticity | neurodevelopmental disorders P revious studies have shown the existence of cells expressing markers typically associated with immature neurons in various regions of the adult mammalian brain (1)(2)(3)(4)(5), which suggested a strong potential for neuronal plasticity following focal brain injury in adult individuals (6)(7)(8)(9). One such brain region that contains a large population of immature neurons at birth is situated along the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle and includes the paralaminar nucleus of the amygdala in monkeys (3,10,11) and humans (5).…”

Follow-up of cortical activity and structure after lesion with laser speckle imaging and magnetic resonance imaging in nonhuman primates

“…7,39 Furthermore, additional series were processed for other markers, such as Neuronal Nuclei [(NeuN) neuronal marker] and glial fibrillary acidic protein [(GFAP) glial marker], following previously described protocols. 40 …”