Platelet‐derived growth factor is mitogenic for O‐2Aadult progenitor cells

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Abstract
We report that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mitogen for oligodendrocyte type-2 astrocyte (O-2A) progenitor cells derived from the optic nerves of adult rats. Moreover, O-2Aadult progenitors cultured in PDGF express the range of properties we have described previously for O-2Aadult progenitors cultured in the presence of type-1 astrocytes. Similarly, previous studies have demonstrated that PDGF is able to mimic the influence of type-1 astrocytes on O-2Aperinatal progenitors. Specifically, O-2Aadult progenitors and O-2Aperinatal progenitors exposed to PDGF express differences in average cell cycle time (59 ± 5 h for O-2Aadult progenitors versus 20 ± 6 h for O-2Aperinatal progenitors), average rate of migration (4.1 ± 0.6 μm h−1 versus 24.6 ± 5.4 μm h−1), morphology (unipolar versus bipolar), and antigenic phenotype (04+ vimentin− versus 04− vimentin+). Thus, our present results indicate that a single signalling molecule secreted by type-1 astrocytes produces markedly different cellular behaviours in two related O-2A progenitor populations.