INTRODUCTION: In adult hippocampal neurogenesis, stem cells and their derivative progenitors are generated. They differentiate into neurons as they migrate from the subgranular zone to the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus, maintaining homeostatic tissue regeneration and supporting brain plasticity. Depending on the stage of the neurogenesis, different subpopulations of cells of the neurogenic lineage can be distinguished, i.e. neural stem cells (NSC, type 1), intermediate progenitor cells (type 2a and type 2b), neuroblasts (type 3) and granule neurons (type 4). Little is known about the architecture of nuclei in these cells, while the cell nucleus is known to be highly organized with numerous functional and structural domains as well as dynamic organization of chromatin governed by epigenetic mechanisms which were shown to respond to external signals. AIM(S): We aimed to distinguish type 1 through 4 cells and investigate their nuclear shape. METHOD(S): Transgenic Nestin-GFP mice were used. Cell types were identified with immunohistochemistry and morphological features: type 1 (GFP+, one long neural process), type 2a (GFP+), type 2b (GFP+/DCX+), type 3 (DCX+), type 4 (NeuN+). Confocal microscopy was used to collect z‑stack files of the nuclei of different cell types. RESULTS: We observed irregularity in shape of the nuclei in type 1 cells (NSC) with the presence of nuclear envelope invaginations. When selected layers were analyzed, NSC nuclei turned out to have reduced circularity, roundness and solidity when compared with other cell types. CONCLUSIONS: The irregularity observed and nuclear envelope invaginations seem to be characteristics of the “stemness” as the shape of the nucleus becomes more regular with successive stages of neurogenesis. The biological significance of the observed phenomenon is not yet clear and further studies are necessary to better understand the process of adult neurogenesis at the nuclear level. FINANCIAL SUPPORT: The work was supported by National Science Centre, Poland, grant no. 2014/14/M/NZ4/00561.
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