Figure 3

Defective proliferation and neuronal differentiation capacities in NPCs derived from P90 and P540 mice.

(A) SA-β-gal activity was measured in NPCs isolated from E14, P0, P90 and P540 mice. The senescent cells were stained into blue. (B) Representative phase-contrast images of neurospheres from E14, P0, P90 and P540 mice in cultures. (C) Proliferation of NPCs was determined by BrdU incorporation. The percentage of dividing cells was gradually reduced with age. (D) After a 5-day induction for neuronal differentiation, NPCs from E14, P0, P90 and P540 mice were stained with the antibody against Tuj1, an early neuronal marker (Red). The neuronal differentiation potential was compromised in NPCs from P90 or P540 mice, compared with that from E14 and P0 mice. DAPI (blue) was used to counterstain nuclei. **p < 0.01 vs. E14, ^##p < 0.01 vs. P0, ⁺⁺p < 0.01 vs. P90.