Temporal progressive antigen expression in radial glia after contusive spinal cord injury in adult rats

Abstract

In the development of the CNS, radial glial cells are among the first cells derived from neuroepithelial cells. Recent studies have reported that radial glia possess properties of neural stem cells. We analyzed the antigen expression and distribution of radial glia after spinal cord injury (SCI). Sprague-Dawley rats had a laminectomy at Th11-12, and spinal cord contusion was created by compression with 30 g of force for 10 min. In the injury group, rats were examined at 24 h and 1, 4, and 12 weeks after injury. Frozen sections of 20-microm thickness were prepared from regions 5 and 10 mm rostral and caudal to the injury epicenter. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using antibodies to 3CB2 (a specific marker for radial glia), nestin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). At 1 week after injury, radial glia that bound anti-3CB2 MAb had spread throughout the white matter from below the pial surface. From 4 weeks after injury, 3CB2 expression was also observed in the gray matter around the central canal, and was especially strong around the ependymal cells and around blood vessels. In double-immunohistochemical assays for 3CB2 and GFAP or 3CB2 and nestin, coexpression was observed in subpial structures that extended into the white matter as arborizing processes and around blood vessels in the gray matter. The present study demonstrated the emergence of radial glia after SCI in adult mammals. Radial glia derived from subpial astrocytes most likely play an important role in neural repair and regeneration after SCI.

Nestin- and Doublecortin-Positive Cells Reside in Adult Spinal Cord Meninges and Participate in Injury-Induced Parenchymal Reaction

“…Proliferating astrocytes with features of radial glia have been described in subpial region [22, 56, 70]. Associated to reactive astrogliosis, a rapid, widespread, and long-lasting induction of nestin expression has been observed [57, 58].…”

Neural Stem Cell– and Schwann Cell–Loaded Biodegradable Polymer Scaffolds Support Axonal Regeneration in the Transected Spinal Cord

“…Nestin expression has also been shown in radial glial cells, ependymal cells, and in reactive astrocytes after CNS injury in rats. [28][29][30] In previous studies of NSC transplantation in adult rat models of SCI, NSCs have primarily differentiated into astrocytes or remained undifferentiated. 20,31,32 This is in contrast to our findings that show no differentiation into GFAP-expressing cells within the channels.…”

Cell proliferation and cytoarchitectural remodeling during spinal cord reconnection in the fresh-water turtle Trachemys dorbignyi

“…At present, we cannot exclude the possibility that oligodendrocytes ensheathing the amputated axons or Schwann cells covering the entering sensory roots can dedifferentiate to envelope the regenerated axons within the bridge. Additionaly, the expression of RG markers such as BLBP in cells within the bridge might arise from reactive astrocytes transformed to an immature state (Shibuya et al 2003; Iseda et al 2004). However, the fine structural evidence indicates a predominance of gliofibrill-containing cells covering the sprouting axons, thus suggesting a RG origin.…”