Embryonic cerebrospinal fluid regulates neuroepithelial survival proliferation and neurogenesis in chick embryos

Abstract

Early in development, the behavior of neuroepithelial cells is controlled by several factors, which act in a developmentally regulated manner. Dif- fusible factors are secreted locally by the neuroepithelium itself, although other nearby structures may also be involved. Evidence suggests a physio- logical role for the cerebrospinal fluid in the development of the brain. Here, using organotypic cultures of chick embryo neuroepithelial explants from the mesencephalon, we show that the neuroepithelium in vitro is not able to self-induce cell survival, replication, and neurogenesis. We also show that the embryonic cerebrospinal fluid (E-CSF) promotes neuroepithelial stem cell survival and induces proliferation and neurogenesis in mesencephalic explants. These data strongly suggest that E-CSF is involved in the regu- lation of neuroepithelial cells behavior, supporting the hypothesis that this fluid plays a key role during the early development of the central nervous system.