During the whole life cycle of mammals, new neurons are constantly regenerated in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyms and in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles. Thanks to emerging methodologies, great progress has been made in the characterization of spinal cord endogenous neural stem cells （ependymal cells） and identification of their role in adult spinal cord development. As recently evidenced, both the intrinsic and extrinsic molecular mechanisms of ependymal cells control the sequential steps of the adult spinal cord neurogenesis. This review introduces the concept of adult endogenous neurogenesis, the reaction of ependymal cells after adult spinal cord injury （SCI）, the heterogeneity and markers of ependymal cells, the factors that regulate ependymal cells, and the niches that impact the activation or differentiation of ependymal ceils.
Hongmei DuanWei SongWen ZhaoYudan GaoZhaoyang YangXiaoguang Li
The present study aimed to explore the potential of the sodium hyaluronate-CNTF (ciliary neurotrophic factor) scaffold in activating endogenous neurogenesis and facilitating neural network re-formation after the adult rat spinal cord injury (SCI). After completely cutting and removing a 5-mm adult rat T8 segment, a sodium hyaluronate-CNTF scaffold was implanted into the lesion area. Dil tracing and immunofluorescence staining were used to observe the proliferation, differentiation and integration of neural stem cells (NSCs) after SCI. A planar multielectrode dish system (MED64) was used to test the electrophysiological characteristics of the regenerated neural network in the lesioned area. Electrophysiology and behavior evaluation were used to evaluate functional recovery of paraplegic rat hindlimbs. The Dil tracing and immunofluorescence results suggest that the sodium hyaluronate-CNTF scaffold could activate the NSCs originating from the spinal cord ependymal, and facilitate their migration to the lesion area and differentiation into mature neurons, which were capable of forming synaptic contact and receiving glutamatergic excitatory synaptic input. The MED64 results suggest that functional synapsis could be established among regenerated neurons as well as between regenerated neurons and the host tissue, which has been evidenced to be glutamatergic excitatory synapsis. The electrophysiology and behavior evaluation results indicate that the paraplegic rats’ sensory and motor functions were recovered in some degree. Collectively, this study may shed light on paraplegia treatment in clinics.
Yabin XieWei SongWen ZhaoYudan GaoJunkui ShangPeng HaoZhaoyang YangHongmei DuanXiaoguang Li
