Human neurospheres: lights and shadows in their morpho-functional properties

DIANA, ANDREA;MONNI E.

2007-01-01

---

Abstract

In the last decade renewed enthusiasm in the neuroscience field has been sparked by the discovery of neurosphere cultures. This in vitro system derives from single floating cells - stem cells and progenitors - dissected from embryonic or adult brains. Since theoretically such neurospheres can be expanded “ad libitum”, their clonal-like engendered the misconception that they may be produced on a large-scale for transplantation purposes in several neurodegenerative diseases. We hereby review the state of the art in the morphological and biochemical characterization of human neurospheres highlighting the presence of more caveats than solid achievements in the comprehension of the biological mechanisms governing their developmental pathway.