Cell-Specific Abnormalities of Glutamate Transporters in Schizophrenia: Sick Astrocytes and Compensating Relay Neurons? Researchers performed cell- and region-level studies of excitatory amino-acid transporter (EAAT)1 and EAAT2 expression in the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus in an elderly cohort of subjects with schizophrenia. In the mediodorsal nucleus, they found lower expression of transporter transcripts in a population of cells enriched for astrocytes, and higher expression of transporter transcripts in a population of cells enriched for relay neurons. [Mol Psych] Abstract Centriole Amplification in Zebrafish Affects Proliferation and Survival but Not Differentiation of Neural Progenitor Cells Researchers demonstrated that centriole amplification can induce multipolar anaphase, resulting in binucleated cells. Such binucleation caused substantial apoptosis in the neuroepithelium. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Chromatin Remodeling Factor Brg1 Supports the Early Maintenance and Late Responsiveness of Nestin-Lineage Adult Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells To assess the role of chromatin remodeling in adult neurogenesis, investigators inducibly deleted Brg1 – the core subunit of SWI/SNF-like BAF chromatin remodeling complexes – in nestin-expressing adult neural stem cells and their progeny in vivo and in culture. [Stem Cells] Abstract SOCS3 in Retinal Neurons and Glial Cells Suppresses VEGF Signaling to Prevent Pathological Neovascular Growth Scientists identified a mechanism by which suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) in neurons and glial cells prevents neovascularization. They found that Socs3 expression was increased in the retinal ganglion cell and inner nuclear layers after oxygen-induced retinopathy. [Sci Signal] Abstract Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Neuronal Cells Cultured on Chemically-Defined Hydrogels for Sensitive In Vitro Detection of Botulinum Neurotoxin Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal cells were cultured on chemically-defined poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels formed by “thiol-ene” photopolymerization and tested as a cell-based neurotoxicity assay by determining sensitivity to active botulinum neurotoxin/A1. [Sci Rep] Full Article Optimization of Neuronal Cultures from Rat Superior Cervical Ganglia for Dual Patch Recording Scientists optimized the dissociation and culture conditions of rat superior cervical ganglion neurons cultures for dual patch clamp recordings. Two weeks in vitro were sufficient to achieve a significant CNTF-induced cholinergic switch and to develop mature and healthy neuronal profiles suited for detailed patch clamp analysis. [Sci Rep] Full Article A Dorsal SHH-Dependent Domain in the V-SVZ Produces Large Numbers of Oligodendroglial Lineage Cells in the Postnatal Brain Using intersectional lineage tracing in neonates to label dorsal radial glial cells expressing the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) target gene Gli1, scientists demonstrated that this region produces many corpus callosum cells in the oligodendroglial lineage and specific subtypes of neurons in the olfactory bulb. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article 3D Neural Spheroid Culture: An In Vitro Model for Cortical Studies The authors generated three-dimensional (3D) spheroids with primary postnatal rat cortical cells using an accessible, size-controlled, reproducible, and cost-effective method. Neurons and glia formed laminin-containing 3D networks within the spheroids. [Tissue Eng Part C Methods] Abstract MicroRNA 302/367 Cluster Effectively Facilitates Direct Reprogramming from Human Fibroblasts into Functional Neurons In human fibroblasts, investigators found that over-expression of pluripotency stem cell-specific microRNA (miRNA)-302/367 cluster, together with two other neuron-specific miRNAs induced fibroblasts conversion into neurons. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Taurine Protected against the Impairments of Neural Stem Cell Differentiated Neurons Induced by Oxygen–Glucose Deprivation The authors investigated the protective effect of taurine on the differentiation of neural stem cells and subsequent maturation of their neuronal lineage, when exposed to oxygen–glucose deprivation. [Neurochem Res] Abstract |