Enhanced green fluorescent protein positive (EGFP⁺) cells express markers of astrocytes and neuronal precursor cells in the dorsal cortex after ischemia.

<p><b><i>A</i></b>, EGFP⁺ cells in sham-operated mice (control) expressed a high level of NG2 proteoglycan in the majority of processes. White arrows highlight several examples. <b><i>B</i></b>, Virtually no EGFP⁺ cells in the dorsal control cortex were positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). <b><i>C</i></b>, Low density of EGFP⁺ cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ). EGFP⁺ cells were never labeled for doublecortin (DCX) in the SVZ of control brains or those after ischemia, which indicates the absence of polydendrocytes from the process of adult neurogenesis; LV, lateral ventricle. <b><i>D</i></b>, Three days after MCAo the number of EGFP⁺ cells is significantly increased when compared to controls. Moreover, a large number of EGFP⁺ cells expressed markers of proliferating cells – nestin (<b><i>E</i></b>) and Ki-67 (<b><i>F</i></b>). <b><i>G</i></b>, EGFP⁺ cells were present at high density seven days after MCAo; however, only a small subpopulation of them expressed NG2 proteoglycan. <b><i>H</i></b>, Some EGFP⁺ cells were positive for the astrocytic marker GFAP. <b><i>I</i></b>, Starting 7 days after MCAo some scattered cells expressed DCX in their cell bodies and processes. <b><i>J</i></b>, Fourteen days after MCAo only a small subpopulation of EGFP⁺ cells expressed NG2 proteoglycan. <b><i>K</i></b>, EGFP⁺ cells expressing glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST), a marker of mature astrocytes. <b><i>L</i></b>, A subpopulation of EGFP⁺ cells displaying polarized and highly developed processes, which were positive for DCX. Scale bars, 50 µm.