Incorporation and glial differentiation of mouse EGF-responsive neural progenitor cells after transplantation into the embryonic rat brain.

In vitro, epidermal growth factor (EGF)-responsive neural progenitor cells exhibit multipotent properties and can differentiate into both neurons and glia. Using an in utero xenotransplantation approach we examined the developmental potential of EGF-responsive cells derived from E14 mouse ganglionic eminences, cortical primordium, and ventral mesencephalon, after injection into the E15 rat forebrain ventricle. Cell cultures were established from control mice or from mice carrying the lacZ transgene under control of the promoters for nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), or myelin basic protein (MBP). The grafted cells, visualized with mouse-specific markers or staining for the reporter gene product, displayed widespread incorporation into distinct forebrain and midbrain structures and differentiated predominantly into glial cells. The patterns of incorporation of cells from all three regions were very similar without preference for the homotopic brain areas. These results suggest that EGF-responsive progenitor cells can respond to host derived environmental cues, differentiate into cells with glial-like features, and become integrated in the developing recipient brain. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.