In situ transformation of striatal glia into cerebellar-like glia after brain transplantation.

Transplants of striatum from rabbit embryo were implanted into the colliculus posterior of newborn mice. After 4 weeks, astroglial cells derived from the transplant had migrated into the cerebellum of the host. Whenever they had settled in the cerebellum they presented forms similar to local glia. Some migrated glial cells were found to transform into forms of glia, such as radial-like glia, which are not present in the striatum. This observation confirms that glial precursor cells are highly plastic. It is an in vivo demonstration that local conditions alone define the morphology of glial cells. After grafting in an heterotopic location they take on forms that they were not destined to express in the region of origin.