Molecular genetic and immunophenotypical analysis of Pax6 transcription factor and neural differentiation markers in human fetal neocortex and retina in vivo and in vitro.

Neurotransplantation of various cells, including heterotransplantation of fetal cerebral stem/progenitor cells into the eye is used in experimental studies of central nervous tissue repair during neurodegeneration. For evaluation of this approach, human fetal (weeks 9-20) stem/progenitor cells of the neocortex and retina were studied in vivo and in vitro by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical staining. Native tissues and cultures were characterized by expression of Pax6 transcription factor (critical for the development of the retina and neocortex) and differentiation markers (nestin, betaIII-tubulin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, recoverin, NeuN, neurofilaments, Ki-67).