Publications by authors named "Michelle J Frondelli"

The precise timing of neural progenitor development and the correct balance between proliferation and differentiation are crucial to generating a functional brain. The number, survival, and differentiation of neural progenitors during postnatal neurogenesis and gliogenesis is a highly regulated process. Postnatally, the majority of brain oligodendrocytes are generated from progenitors residing in the subventricular zone (SVZ), the germinal niche surrounding the lateral ventricles.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This protocol describes an approach to identify and quantify the proportions of proliferating neural stem cells and progenitors of the mouse subventricular zone. It uses ethynyl deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation to identify dividing cells, combined with multicolor flow cytometry for 4 cell surface antigens to distinguish between 8 phenotypically distinct mouse neural progenitors and stem cells. It has been optimized for wild-type neonatal mice but can be used on mice of any postnatal age.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant problem that affects over 800,000 children each year. As cell proliferation is disturbed by injury and required for normal brain development, we investigated how a pediatric closed head injury (CHI) would affect the progenitors of the subventricular zone (SVZ). Additionally, we evaluated the contribution of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) using germline LIF heterozygous mice (LIF Het), as LIF is an injury-induced cytokine, known to influence neurogenesis and gliogenesis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Astrogliosis is one of the hallmarks of brain injury, and after a mild injury activated astrocytes subserve neuroprotective and pro-regenerative functions. We previously found that the astroglial response to closed head injury (CHI) was blunted in mice that were haplodeficient in leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF); therefore, the goal of these studies was to determine if the delayed astrogliosis was due to decreased recruitment of subventricular zone (SVZ) progenitors. CHI's were performed on post-natal day 20 on LIF heterozygous (Het) and wild-type (WT) mice.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF