Figure 12

Proposed model for telencephalic Glial Restricted Progenitor (tGRP) dependent generation of glial subtypes. The dorsal telencephalon and ventral telencephalon give rise to glial restricted progenitor populations with a primary developmental fate towards astrocyte and OPC generation, respectively. The classification of these two populations as true tGRP populations requires their isolation and in vitro characterization in order to remove the normal developmental cues promoting dorsal astrocyte generation and ventral OPC formation. As the ventral and dorsal telencephalon continues through development, each tGRP population has the potential to participate in a secondary developmental fate towards astrocytes ventrally, or OPCs dorsally. The developmental plasticity of each population is revealed in vitro and demonstrates the potential for oligodendrocyte and astrocyte development from a common precursor cell type. tGRP independent generation of glial subtypes is represented as well.