Establishment of neural stem cell culture from the central nervous system of the Iberian ribbed newt Pleurodeles waltl

This study focuses on the Iberian ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl), known for its remarkable ability to regenerate various organs. The research explores neural stem cells (NSCs) from the newt's central nervous system (CNS) as a potential source for regeneration. The study successfully cultured NSCs from the brain and spinal cord of P. waltl, creating spherical cell aggregates called neurospheres. These neurospheres exhibited proliferative activity and expressed NSC marker proteins. Researchers found that spinal cord-derived neurospheres could differentiate into neurons and glial cells, including oligodendrocytes, suggesting their potential for neural repair and regeneration.

• 1
  Neurospheres can be generated from both brain- and spinal cord-derived cells of post-metamorphic P. waltl using a standard neurosphere culture method.
• 2
  The surface morphology of neurospheres varies depending on their origin; brain-derived neurospheres have rough surfaces, while spinal cord-derived neurospheres have smooth surfaces.
• 3
  Spinal cord-derived neurospheres can differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in vitro, demonstrating their potential for neural regeneration.