Differential expression of markers of pluripotency and neural/progenitor cells throughout embryonic brain development in mice

Knowledge regarding the spatiotemporal distribution of cells that express pluripotent and Progenitor-Neural Stem Cell Markers (PNSC) is vital for understanding their role in various stages of embryonic brain development. However, there are few data that connect these markers’ expression with the developmental stage in the mouse brain. We investigated the expression of pluripotent cell markers (Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2) and PNSC markers (Sox 1; nestin, vimentin, GFAP) in mice brains on Embryonic (E) days E9.5, E12.5, E15.5 and E18.5 and in the mature adult brain. We observed the expression of all studied markers in rostral and caudal neuropores at E9.5. The cells at E12.5 in primary brain vesicles showed only expression of four markers: Oct4, Sox2, vimentin and nestin. In addition, hindbrain cells express Sox1 and midbrain – Fragilis. The Ventricular Zone (VZ) at E15.5 and E18.5 shared the expression of Oct 4, Sox 2, Sox1, nestin, and GFAP, besides at E18.5 VZ expressed Fragilis. The olfactory bulb (OB) at E18.5 showed the expression of Sox2, Nanog, Fragilis, Nestin, and GFAP. In the adult brain, the sub-VZ (SVZ) showed expression of all studied markers, but not for Sox2 and Nanog; OB is positive for Nestin only, while cerebellum for Sox1 and Sox2. Neuropores in embryonic and the Subventricular Zone (SVZ) in adult brains express the most considerable number of studied markers, suggesting less cell specification. SVZ is a stem cell niche in the adult brain. Oct4, Sox2 and Nestin seem indispensable during brain development and in the adult brain in mice.