Direct-current electrical field guides neuronal stem/progenitor cell migration

Direct-current electrical fields (EFs) promote nerve growth and axon regeneration. We report here that at physiological strengths, EFs guide the migration of neuronal stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) toward the cathode. F,F-directed NSPC migration requires activation of Nuriethyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), which leads to an increased physical association of Rho GTPase Ractassociated signals to the membrane NMDARs and the intracellular actin cytoskeleton. Thus, this study iden- tifies the EF as a directional guidance cue in controlling NSPC migration and reveals a role of the NMDAR/Racl/ actin signal transduction pathway in mediating EF-induced NSPC migration. These results suggest that as a safe physical approach in clinical application, EFs may be developed as a practical therapeutic strategy for brain repair by directing NSPC migration to the injured brain regions to replace cell loss.