Astrocyte Precursor Cells (dP5)

Astrocyte precursor cells are proliferative cells which arise from the radial glia within the P1-P3 ventral progenitor domains of the spinal cord. DBX+ cells in the dorsal spinal cord (dP5 and dP6 progenitor domains) also generate astrocyte precursor cells. Glast, Blbp and Fgfr3 are three markers used to identify astrocyte precursor cells.

Astrocyte precursor cells migrate to their final destinations where they differentiate into mature astrocytes. The astrocytes then migrate from the ventricular zone progenitor domains into mirror domains in the ventral white matter along the dorsal-ventral axis.