Neural Progenitors

Neural progenitors, also known as neural stem cells, are undifferentiated cells found in the developing brain. They are capable of self-renewal, the process of creating more neural progenitors from existing neural progenitors, as well as generating the many different types of cells found in the brain. Neural progenitors play a key role in providing the structural and functional foundations for the brain’s development. Neural progenitors are found in several regions of the brain, including the ventricular zone, the subventricular zone, and the hippocampus. Within these regions, neural progenitors undergo symmetric divisions and asymmetric divisions that produce either two new progenitor cells, or one new progenitor and one non-progenitor cell whose fate is determined by its environment. Ultimately, the fate of a neural progenitor determines the type of cell it will become. Neural progenitors have been used in regenerative medicine to produce the cells needed for treatments. For example, research has shown that neural progenitors injected into the brains of stroke victims can produce new neurons to replace lost cells. Likewise, these cells can be used to produce therapy-adaptive stem cells for other medical purposes. Neural progenitors can be nurtured in an isolated environment. This can include growth-factor-enriched media, chemical inhibitors, and specialized substrate surfaces. All of these help control the self-renewal, differentiation, and migration of the progenitors as they become the various cells needed for the functioning brain. Furthermore, manipulating the environment allows scientists to induce further maturation if the cells need to be used in therapeutic applications. Neural progenitors are the building blocks of the brain. By understanding the processes of self-renewal and differentiation, scientists can begin to understand the complexity of brain structure and function, and how they can be used to treat and potentially cure various neurological diseases.