Figure 3.

TTR influences OPC differentiation. Representative images of neurospheres in 3D culture, isolated from SVZ derived NSCs of P21 (A) wild type and (B) TTR null mice. Scale bar 5 mm. (C) Quantitation of the potency of the NSC colonies isolated from the SVZ of P21 mice by neural colony-forming cell assays. There was a significant increase in the number of colonies with an average diameter ≥ 2 mm that were isolated from the SVZ of P21 TTR null mice when compared with wild type at the same age. Increases corresponded with a significant decrease in the number of colonies with an average diameter < 2 mm that were isolated from TTR null mouse SVZ compared to wild type. The colonies ≥ 2 mm in diameter are “NSC derived” and have self-renewal and multi-potential capabilities. Colonies < 2 mm diameter are “progenitor derived”. All data were expressed as the mean ± SEM. Statistical comparisons were performed using a one-way ANOVA with post hoc analysis using Sidak’s test as appropriate (data derived from n = 4 independent experiments per genotype and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). (D) Characterization of NSCs isolated from the SVZ of P21 TTR null mice and differentiated into the three neural lineages: oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and neurons. Nuclei were stained with DAPI; oligodendrocytes were stained with anti-Olig2; neurons were stained with anti-β-III-tubulin; astrocytes were stained with anti-GFAP. Lack of TTR promotes NSCs to differentiate into glial precursor cells. Differentiation assay for NSCs isolated from the SVZ of P21 TTR null mice showed a greater proportion of cells differentiating into a glial lineage, whereas the equivalent cells from wild type mice had a greater proportion differentiating into a neuronal lineage. All data were expressed as the mean ± SEM. Statistical comparisons were performed using a one-way ANOVA with post hoc analysis using Sidak’s test as appropriate (n = 3 independent experiments and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). (Modified from³⁰).