FIG. 1.

SGN-derived cells were able to form spheres and express NSC markers. (A) Dissociated single cells from postnatal day 2 mouse SGN formed cell clusters and spheres in serum-free medium in 4 days. (B) Single cells dissociated from primary SGN-derived spheres formed cell clusters and grew into spheres in 4 days. (C) Confocal microscopy images showed that passage 2 SGN spheres incorporated EdU after exposure to EdU for 72 h. (D) Confocal microscopy images showed the expression of neural stem cell marker NCAM, GFAP, A2B5. (E) Passage 4 SGN spheres expressed NSC markers Sox2 and nestin (confocal microscopy). Majority cells expressed both Sox2 and nestin, whereas a few cells only expressed Sox2. (F) The percentages of Sox2 positive, nestin positive, and Sox2/nestin positive were 65.54% ± 23.31%, 90.41% ± 4.8%, and 65.54% ± 23.31%, respectively (n = 5; mean ± standard deviation). Scale bar: 50 μm in (A, B); 20 μm in (C); 30 μm in (D); 100 μm in (E). GFAP, glial fibrillary acidic protein; NSC, neural stem cells; SGNs, spiral ganglion neurons. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/scd