Abstract
Neural stem cells exist in the developing and adult nervous systems of all mammals, but the basic mechanisms that control their behavior are not yet well understood. Here, we investigated the role of Sonic hedgehog (Shh), a factor vital for neural development, in regulating adult hippocampal neural stem cells. We found high expression of the Shh receptor Patched in both the adult rat hippocampus and neural progenitor cells isolated from this region. In addition, Shh elicited a strong, dose-dependent proliferative response in progenitors in vitro. Furthermore, adeno-associated viral vector delivery of shh cDNA to the hippocampus elicited a 3.3-fold increase in cell proliferation. Finally, the pharmacological inhibitor of Shh signaling cyclopamine reduced hippocampal neural progenitor proliferation in vivo. This work identifies Shh as a regulator of adult hippocampal neural stem cells.
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Acknowledgements
We thank L. Hinh, D. Chai, N. Sherkat, L. Frost and M. Lucero for technical assistance. We also thank M.L. Gage for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was initiated with National Institutes of Health NRSA support to D.S. It was funded by an Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Grant to D.S. and a National Science Foundation graduate fellowship to K.L.
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Lai, K., Kaspar, B., Gage, F. et al. Sonic hedgehog regulates adult neural progenitor proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Nat Neurosci 6, 21–27 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn983
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nn983
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