NG2-glia : a synaptic element with neural stem cell potential

• Main Author: Wigley, Rebekah Josephine
• Published: University of Portsmouth 2009
• Subjects: 612.822
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.500344

NG2-glia, identified by their expression of the NG2 chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (CSPG), represent a fifth glial cell population in the central nervous system (CNS). NG2-glia were originally considered to be oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), but they have properties and distribution in the adult that is distinct from OPCs. NG2-glia have been shown to form contacts with axons at nodes of Ranvier in white matter and to respond to synaptically released glutamate in grey matter. Furthermore, NG2-glia are known to give rise to oligodendrocytes after demyelination in vivo and to form neurons and astrocytes in vitro. However, the function of NG2-glia remains largely undefined. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to define the interrelations of NG2-glia with other elements in the CNS and test the hypothesis that they are multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs).