Fate of adult neural precursors grafted to adult cortex monitored with a Y-chromosome marker

FRESHLY dissected and dissociated subventricular zone cells from adult male mice were transplanted into the right cerebral cortex of adult female mice. Host mice were perfused 3 or 7 weeks later. To detect donor male cells, paraffin sections (10 mu m) were hybridized in situ with a Y-chromosome-specific probe. Some hybridized sections were also immunostained with antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), NeuN or beta-tubulin. Grafted cells were identified in 80% of host female brains; they were found in both grey and white matter and were located close to the initial injection site. Double-labelling studies showed that, of the surviving cells containing hybridized male nuclei, 5-10% expressed a glial (GFAP) marker and 6-7% expressed neuronal (NeuN or beta-tubulin) markers.