Generation of regionally specified neurons in expanded glial cultures derived from the mouse and human lateral ganglionic eminence

The specific identity of neuronal precursors within the embryonic brain is, at present, not clear. Here we show that cultures with glial characteristics derived from the embryonic mouse or human lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) can be expanded over many passages and maintain their glial identity. Interestingly, removal of serum and EGF from the culture medium results in the generation of large numbers of neurons. The neurons derived from these cultures display many characteristic features of striatal neurons, which normally derive from the LGE, even after extensive expansion in vitro. Furthermore, a portion of the neurons generated in these cultures were shown to arise from glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-expressing cells. These results demonstrate that at least a subpopulation of neurogenic LGE precursors exhibit glial characteristics.