[Proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells within the subependymal layer of lateral brain ventricles in response to the neurodegenerative process in the striatum].

It is known that the subependymal layer (SEL) of the lateral brain ventricles' wall is a source of neural stem cells (NSCs) of adult mammalian brain including the human brain. The NSCs in relation to the striatum differentiate only into glial phenotype. Therefore we focused on proliferative activity of NSCs and precursors in the SEL and on the course of their differentiation into the astrocytes in reaction to the neurodegenerative process in the striatum like in Huntington's disease. Increased gliogenesis, differentiation of newly generated cells and their ability to migrate into the striatum were evaluated in two groups of the rats surviving 1 and 3 months after the application of the neurotoxic (ibotenic) acid into the striatum. For evaluation of the proliferative activity we compared the results obtained using two proliferative markers--Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and Ki-67. Characterization of newly generated cells and of their differentiation was based on the detection using the following antibodies: Nestin (a marker for NSCs and precursors), GFAP (detection of astrocytes), also the double-staining method with BrdU and GFAP.