EN
The fate choice of neural progenitors could be dictated by local cellular environment of adult CNS. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of hippocampal tissue on the differentiation and maturation of the oligodendrocyte NG2 precursors. Methods: The hippocampal slice culture was established from the brains of 7-day old rats. The NG2 precursors, obtained from a 12-day old mixed primary culture of neonatal rat hemispheres, were labeled with CMFDA and seeded on hippocampal slices. After 7ñ14 days in co-culture, the cells were stained with neural markers. Results: The NG2 cells differentiated predominantly into oligodendrocytes, presenting various stages of maturation: progenitors NG2+, O4+ and fi nally mature Galc-positive cells. However, except for a few cells with astrocyte-specifi c S100β staining, a considerable number of these cells differentiated into TUJ+ and MAP-2+ neurons. Moreover, a certain population of these cells preserved proliferative properties of primary precursors, as revealed by the Ki67 expression. Conclusions: Neuronal microenvironment provided by the culture of hippocampal slices is potent to induce neurogenesis from oligodendrocyte NG2+/PDGFRα+/CNP+ progenitors and promotes their differentiation not only into macroglia but also into neurons. It also sustains their proliferative capacity. The results indicate a crucial role of the local cellular environment in fatedecision of primary NG2+ multipotent neural progenitors, which may affect their behavior after transplantation into CNS. Supported by MSHE grant N40101832 /0296