Fate Choice of Adult Neural Progenitor Cells can be Modulated after Spinal Cord Injury

McTigue, D. M., P. J. Horner, B. T. Stokes, and F. H. Gage.1998. Neurotrophin-3 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor induce oligodendrocyte proliferation, migration, and myelination in the contused adult rat spinal cord. J.Neurosci. 18(14):5354-5365.

Neurotrophins modulate the fate of resident progenitor cells following spinal cord injury. In these experiments we used cell-based gene therapy to deliver growth factors to the injured spinal cord. In the center of the injury, axons can be seen that have been spared (red = axon), A-G). When a control gene or FGF was delivered surviving axons had limited amounts of myelination (red = axon, green = myelin, A,B&D,E). However, when NT3 was delivered, axons contained increased amounts of myelin (C&F). This indicates that the fate of stem or progenitor populations was modulated by the neurotrophin to create new myelinating cells. The timing and the functional nature of the myelin will be critical issues in determining whether this approach will be useful for spinal cord repair.