Role of PPARγ in the development of the central nervous system

Abstract

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a nuclear receptor that plays a central role in adipocyte differentiation and insulin sensitivity. Recently, a diversity of the action of PPARγ on many other cell types or organs is indicated. We summarize here the possible role of PPARγ in the development of the murine central nervous system. Expressions of PPARγ in newborn or adult mouse brain are extremely low, but high in embryo or fetal mouse brain. Furthermore, we investigated the role of PPARγ in proliferation or differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) isolated from murine embryonic brains, because NSCs are considered to be a major source of neurons in developmental brains. Administrations of PPARγ-specific ligands on the NSCs from wild-type mice resulted in the stimulation of cell growth. On the other hand, administration of PPARγ-antagonist showed the cell death and apoptosis of NSCs. These results may indicate that PPARγ plays an important role during the early stage of the development of the central nervous system.