Group members

Carlos Vicario Abejón
CSIC. Cajal Institute. Madrid.

Principal Investigator:
Carlos Vicario Abejón

Members of the equipment:
Eva Vergaño Vera
Héctor Rubén Méndez Gómez
Jaime Pignatelli Garrigós
Vanesa Nieto Estévez
Çagla Defterali
Mª Rosa Varillas Vivas

Publications 2006-2008

Otaegi G, Yusta-Boyo MJ, Vergaño-Vera E, Méndez-Gómez HR, Carrera AC, Abad JL, González M, de la Rosa EJ, Vicario-Abejón C, De Pablo, F (2006). Modulation of the PI 3-kinase-Akt signalling pathway by IGF-I and PTEN regulates the differentiation of neural stem/precursor cells. J. Cell Science 119, 2739-2748.

Vergaño-Vera E, Yusta-Boyo MJ, De Castro F, Bernad A, de Pablo F, Vicario-Abejón C (2006). Generation of GABAergic and dopaminergic interneurons from endogenous embryonic olfactory bulb precursor cells. Development 133, 4367-4379.

Otaegi G, de Pablo F, Vicario-Abejón C, De la Rosa EJ (2007). Retinal and olfactory bulb precursor cells show distinct responses to FGF-2 and laminin. Cell Biol Int 31, 752-758.

Cell Biology of neural stem cells/progenitors and neuronal differentiation
Our group’s main goal is to study the mechanisms implicated in the regulation of the number of neural stem cells/progenitors (NSCs) and in the formation of synaptically functional neurons from these cells.

Lines of Study

We study the function and mode of action of extracellular factors, of transcription factors and of other intracellular molecules in regulating the number of NSCs and in the formation of synaptically functional excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Research lines: 1. The study of neurogenesis in the embryonic and adult olfactory bulb (OB) and specifically, of the presence of cells with NSC properties and the activity of Tbr1, Gsh2, Dlx2 and Pax6; 2. The analysis of the role and mode of action of IGF-I, PTEN and Reelin in the self-renewal of the MCN, the formation of neurons and glia, as well as in the migration and positioning of neurons in the OB and the subventricular zone (SVZ); 3. The generation and transplantation of dopaminergic neurons obtained from OB stem cells /progenitors (OBSC) in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease; 4. The study of the activity and mode of action of BDNF during the formation and maintenance of synapses in the OB and hippocampus.

Experimental techniques

• Isolation and culture of neural stem/progenitor cells from embryonic and adult mouse brain.
• Primary neuron and glial cultures.
• Cell transplants in the embryonic, early post-natal and adult brain.
• Gene transduction in nerve cells using retro- and lentiviral vectors.
• Culture of slices and explants of brain tissue.
• Work with null mutant (“knockouts”) and transgenic mice.
• Cell biology, molecular, neuroanatomy and immunohistochemistry techniques.