Figure 4

Cx26 is expressed Type 1 and Type 2a NPCs and is responsive to laminin. Cx26 was expressed by a small population of cells within neurospheres (a, arrow) and localizes to both cells expressing nestin (b, inset and arrow) and GFAP (c, inset and arrow). Inset in (a) depicts western blotting on protein derived from adult, P1 and neurospheres cultured in the absence of laminin to confirm antibody specificity. A marked increase in the frequency of Cx26⁺ cells was detected when cultured on laminin (d, e, f, arrows). Data represent mean of 5–15 sections (- laminin) or field (+ laminin) counted over n = 5–10 cultures/condition ± SEM. (d). Scale bars, 50 μm, insets, 25 μm. **p < 0.01 Student's t-test.