Tg(Nes-Hspa1b-EGFP)25Okn

Enhanced green fluorescent protein is expressed from the Hspa1b promoter under control of the second-intronic transcription enhancer of the rat nestin gene. Cells from embryonic brain that expressed high levels of EGFP included a subpopulation having characteristics of neural stem cells (NSCs) - capability for proliferation, self-renewal, and generation of both neural and glial cells - whereas few putative NSCs were observed among low- or non-expressing cells. In adult mice, EGFP expressing cells, which occur only in the periventricular region, include a population of slowly dividing, multipotential progenitor cells that likely represent adult stem cells. (J:91456)