Nestin-Cre mice are widely used to generate gene deletions in the developing brain. Surprisingly, fewNestin-Cre lines have been characterized for their temporal and brain region-specific recombination. In addition, some Nestin-Cre lines express Cre outside the central nervous system, making it difficult to choose appropriate lines for targeting genes with brain region-restricted expression. Her...

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into several types of mesenchymal cells, including osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes, but, under appropriate experimental conditions, can also differentiate into nonmesenchymal cells--for instance, neural cells. These observations have raised interest in the possible use of MSCs in cell therapy strategies for various neurologica...

BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown ketamine can alter the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro. However, these effects have not been entirely clarified in vivo in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of neonatal rats. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of ketamine on the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs in the SVZ of neonatal rats i...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism underlying the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on hypoxic/ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in a neonatal rat model. METHODS A total of 30 neonatal SD rats aged 7 days were randomly assigned into control group, HIBD group and HBO group (n=10 per group). Following HIBD modeling in neonatal rats, HBO treatment was performed for consecutive 7 days. Immunohisto...

The c-Jun NH(2)-terminal protein kinase (JNK), which belongs to the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, plays important roles in a broad range of physiological processes. JNK is controlled by two upstream regulators, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK) 7 and MKK4. To elucidate the physiological functions of MKK7, we used Nestin-Cre to generate a novel mouse model in which the mkk...

New neurons are continuously generated in the adult hippocampus but their function remains a mystery. The nestin thymidine kinase (nestin-TK) transgenic method has been used for selective and conditional reduction of neurogenesis for the purpose of testing the functional significance of new neurons in learning, memory and motor performance. Here we explored the nestin-TK model on a hybrid genet...

Abstract Ependymomas driven by the ZFTA-RELA fusion account for >70% of all supratentorial ependymomas. These tumours are now recognised in WHO classification CNS and have been associated with a poor prognosis. Seven variants described: around two thirds cases 1. No spontaneous genetically modified mouse models (GEMMS) described current require invasive intracranial injection (of transdu...

Abstract Background Stem cell transplantation has been reported as one of the promising strategies to treat retinal degenerative diseases. But, application and role retina stem cells (RSCs) in treatment patients with diseases have not fully revealed. This study aimed investigate potential embryo-derived RSCs into vitreous cavity repairing damaged mice. Methods were isolated from Kunming mice E1...

BACKGROUND Cancer stem cells (CSC) are populations of cells responsible for tumor initiation, progression and therapeutic resistance in many cancers. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern and clinical significance of two CSC markers, CD133 and Nestin, in a series of skin tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and thirteen paraffin blocks from skin cancers inc...