Stage-dependent effects of cell-to-cell connections on in vitro induced neurogenesis

Authors: Tárnok K.¹; Pataki Á.²; Kovács J.³; Schlett K.¹; Madarász E.^{1, 4}

Source: European Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 81, Number 7, July 2002 , pp. 403-412(10)

Publisher: Urban & Fischer

Abstract:

NE-4C, a p53-deficient, immortalized neuroectodermal progenitor cell line, was used to investigate the role and importance of cellular interactions in neural commitment and differentiation. NE-4C cells give rise to neurons and astrocytes in the presence of all-trans retinoic acid, if they can establish intercellular contacts. Aggregation per se, however, was insufficient to induce large-scale neuron formation. In the absence of RA, the majority of the aggregated cells died. For neuron formation, therefore, concerted actions of RA and cellular interaction were needed. Electron microscopic and electrophysiological studies revealed that gap junctions were formed between the cells. Persistent blockage of communication via gap junctions with gap junction blockers, however, had no effects on neuron formation. If cell-to-cell connections were disrupted on the fourth day after induction, the rate of neuron production increased significantly. The contact interactions formed between already committed progenitor cells seemed to hinder the formation of novel neurons. The process resembled the phenomenon called “lateral inhibition” first observed in the course of neurogenesis in Drosophila. Our results indicate that NE-4C cells provide a useful model system to investigate the role of contact communication during some early steps of neurogenesis.

Keywords: Contact communication; neurogenesis; neural progenitors; gap junctions; glycyrrhetinic acid

Language: English

Document Type: Original article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest/Hungary 2: Institute for Drug Res. Ltd., Budapest/Hungary 3: Department of General Zoology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest/Hungary 4: Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest/Hungary

Publication date: 2002-07-01

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Biology
• By this author: Tárnok K. ;  Pataki Á. ;  Kovács J. ;  Schlett K. ;  Madarász E.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers