Colony-forming progenitors from mouse olfactory epithelium: Evidence for feedback regulation of neuron production

Jeffrey S. Mumm, Jianyong Shou, Anne L. Calof

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

80 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mammalian olfactory epithelium (OE) supports continual neurogenesis throughout life, suggesting that a neuronal stem cell exists in this system. In tissue culture, however, the capacity of the OE for neurogenesis ceases after a few days. In an attempt to identify conditions that support the survival of neuronal stem cells, a population of neuronal progenitors was isolated from embryonic mouse OE and cultured in defined serum-free medium. The vast majority of cells rapidly gave rise to neurons, which died shortly thereafter. However, when purified progenitors were co-cultured with cells derived from the stroma underlying the OE, a small subpopulation (0.07-0.1%) gave rise to proliferative colonies. A morphologically identifiable subset of these colonies generated new neurons as late as 7 days in vitro. Interestingly, development of these neuronal colonies was specifically inhibited when purified progenitors were plated onto stromal feeder cells in the presence of a large excess of differentiated OE neurons. These results indicate that a rare cell type, with the potential to undergo prolonged neurogenesis, can be isolated from mammalian OE and that stroma-derived factors are important in supporting neurogenesis by this cell. The data further suggest that differentiated neurons provide a signal that feeds back to inhibit production of new neurons by their own progenitors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11167-11172
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume93
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 1996
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • cell interactions
  • neural precursor
  • neurogenesis
  • olfactory receptor neuron
  • stem cell

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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