The O-2A(adult) progenitor cell: a glial stem cell of the adult central nervous system.

Systematic comparison of the properties of oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte (O-2A) progenitor cells derived from optic nerves of perinatal and adult rats has revealed that these two populations differ in many fundamental properties. In particular, O-2A(perinatal) progenitor cells are rapidly dividing cells capable of generating large numbers of oligodendrocytes over a relatively short time span. Oligodendrocyte differentiation generally occurs synchronously in all members of a clone, thus leading to elimination of that clone from the pool of dividing cells. However, some O-2A(perinatal) progenitors are also capable of giving rise to O-2A(adult) progenitors. These latter cells express many of the characteristics of stem cells of adult animals, including the capacity to undergo asymmetric division and differentiation. We suggest that precursors which function during early development give rise to terminally differentiated end-stage cells and to a second generation of precursors with properties more appropriate for later developmental stages. It is this second generation of precursors which express the properties of stem cells in adult animals, and we therefore further suggest that our work offers novel insights into the possible developmental origin of stem cells.