Regulates Negatively the Proliferation of Oligodendrocyte Progenitors.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC), neurons and astrocytes share a neural progenitor cell (NPC) in the early ventricular zone (VZ) of the embryonic neuroepithelium. Both switch to produce either of the three cell types and the generation of the right number of them undergo complex genetic regulation. The components of these regulatory cascades vary between brain regions giving rise to the unique morphological and functional heterogeneity of this organ. is a transcription factor gene expressed by NPCs in specific regions of the embryonic neuroepithelium. We used the mutant mouse line to analyze the cell types derived from -expressing NPCs (the cell lineage) from two restricted regions, the medulla oblongata (MO; hindbrain) and the thalamus (forebrain), of normal and -deficient mice. cell lineage derivatives appear as clusters in restricted regions, including the MO (hindbrain) and the thalamus (forebrain). -expressing NPCs produce mostly oligodendrocytes (OL), some neurons and few astrocytes. -deficient NPCs generate mostly OPC and immature OL to the detriment of neurons, astrocytes and mature OL. The axonal G-ratio however is not changed. We reveal as a novel modulator of neuronal and OL generation in certain restricted CNS regions. biases NPCs towards neuronal generation and inhibits OPC proliferation while promoting their differentiation.