Exploring a Functional Disconnect Between Nestin-Expressing Type-1 Cells and Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis

The subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus generates new neurons throughout adulthood. The process of adult neurogenesis is well-described, but the source of proliferating progenitors is unknown. One potential source is the Type-1 cell, which is morphologically reminiscent of embryonic radial stem cells and expresses protein markers like nestin. However, there is no direct evidence that Type-1 cells are the source of neurogenesis. For this doctoral research, I asked two questions to gain more insight into the role of Type-1 cells in adult The subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus generates new neurons throughout adulthood. The process of adult neurogenesis is well-described, but the source of proliferating progenitors is unknown. One potential source is the Type-1 cell, which is morphologically reminiscent of embryonic radial stem cells and expresses protein markers like nestin. However, there is no direct evidence that Type-1 cells are the source of neurogenesis. For this doctoral research, I asked two questions to gain more insight into the role of Type-1 cells in adult GL-YFP but not Nes-YFP mice showed recovery of YFP+ progenitors, suggesting that GL-YFP cells are stem-like while Nes-YFP cells are progenitor-like. This correlative and causative evidence that nestin-expressing Type-1 cells are not the source of neurogenesis significantly advances our understanding of the neurogenic process.