Putative intermediates in the nerve cell differentiation pathway in hydra have properties of multipotent stem cells

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Developmental Biology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-1606(90)90361-L· OSTI ID:6213901

Holstein, T W; David, C N ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Munich (Germany, F.R.)

We have investigated the properties of nerve cell precursors in hydra by analyzing the differentiation and proliferation capacity of interstitial cells in the peduncle of Hydra oligactis, which is a region of active nerve cell differentiation. Our results indicate that about 50% of the interstitial cells in the peduncle can grow rapidly and also give rise to nematocyte precursors when transplanted into a gastric environment. If these cells were committed nerve cell precursors, one would not expect them to differentiate into nematocytes nor to proliferate apparently without limit. Therefore we conclude that cycling interstitial cells in peduncles are not intermediates in the nerve cell differentiation pathway but are stem cells. The remaining interstitial cells in the peduncle are in G1 and have the properties of committed nerve cell precursors. Thus, the interstitial cell population in the peduncle contains both stem cells and noncycling nerve precursors. The presence of stem cells in this region makes it likely that these cells are the immediate targets of signals which give rise to nerve cells.

• OSTI ID: 6213901
• Journal Information: Developmental Biology; (USA), Vol. 142:2; ISSN 0012-1606
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
NERVE CELLS
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
STEM CELLS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
BRAIN
CELL CYCLE
DNA
HYDRA
PRECURSOR
THYMIDINE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AZINES
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CNIDARIA
COELENTERATA
FUNCTIONS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INVERTEBRATES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEIC ACIDS
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PYRIMIDINES
RIBOSIDES
SOMATIC CELLS
550301* - Cytology- Tracer Techniques