This study demonstrates that a subpopulation of post-migrating neural crest progenitor cells in the adult rat dorsal root ganglia not only preserve multipotent neural stem cells, but also after 4–5 years of culture displayed a retentive propensity to turn into neurons with sensory features. These neural crest progenitor cells in the adult dorsal root ganglia preserved as vigorous a propensity for multipotency as those from embryonic origins and respond to neurotrophin for their fate determination. In vivo transplantation into the injured spinal cord reveals continued capacity for differentiation into multiple phenotypes of sensory neurons, confirming retention of DRG-specific characteristics. This is the first evidence of such longevity of stem cells with sensory propensity. The long-term tenacity and stability are important features of understanding the stem cells in translational applications.
