A transplantation study of expanded human embryonic forebrain precursors: evidence for selection of a specific progenitor population

Neural stem and progenitor cells can be expanded under growth factor stimulation in vitro. It is likely that different mitogens and different culturing techniques selectively expand specific subclasses of cells, but this selection has not been well studied. We have expanded human cells isolated from the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) of a 10-week-old embryo in the presence of serum and epidermal growth factor. We provide evidence that culturing in this manner favors expansion of cells with characteristics similar to a subpopulation of LGE cells, the olfactory bulb progenitors, as revealed by their expression of Er81 in vitro. After transplantation into neonatal rats, the cells displayed similar properties to endogenous olfactory bulb progenitors when exposed to local cues present in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and rostral migratory stream (RMS). However, the human LGE cells do not migrate or undergo region-specific differentiation when placed outside the SVZ and RMS. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.