The long term objectives of the project intend to characterize presently unknown signalling mechanisms that are used in mediating the neurogenic to gliogenic fate switch of neural stem cells (NSC) within the developing central nervous system (CNS). We have developed an in vitro culture system that recapitulates the events observed in vivo: NSC first enter a neurogenic phase and later switch to an astrogliogenic phase. We have discovered that media collected from cells after several days of culturing has astrogliogenic inducing and neurogenic inhibiting activity. We have hypothesized that as NSC reach the end of their neurogenic potential they secrete some type of factor that is able to promote astrogliogenesis and actively inhibit the neurogenic fate. We have ruled out the possibility that the collected media contains many of the known astrogliogenic inducing factors. Our future goals intend to characterize the biological function of the CM and decipher the exact times and cell ages during which it contains these astroglial inducing and neuronal non-inhibiting activities.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31NS047824-02
Application #
6917838
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F03A (20))
Program Officer
Owens, David F
Project Start
2004-07-01
Project End
2007-06-30
Budget Start
2005-07-01
Budget End
2006-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$28,513
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
092530369
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095