Figure 4

Strategy for neuronal dopaminergic differentiation of SVZ-derived progenitor cells. The scheme depicts the experimental approach to attain dopaminergic neurons from SVZ progenitors. Proliferation was conducted for 7–10 days in free-floating neurospheres, in the presence of EGF and FGF2. Neuronal differentiation was induced after adhesion to PLL- or nECM-coated coverslips in the presence of NGFβ and BDNF. Dopaminergic differentiation was observed after 35 days in neuronal differentiation conditions, in the presence of Shh and FGF8b. Immunofluorescence screening for different markers of neuronal differentiation (Sox2: 24 h; Nestin: 24 h and 7 DIV; NeuN: 14 DIV; TH: 21 DIV) was performed throughout the experiment with positivity arising at different days of differentiation as represented. DIV: days in vitro (in differentiation medium).