Generation/genotyping of CNP-hEGFR, hGFAP-GFP and Wa2 mice was performed as described14,15. Wild-type C57/Bl6 and FVB/N mice were used as controls. Histology, immunohistochemistry and EM studies were performed on fresh floating or vibratome sections as described previously19,20. Immunohistochemestry and confocal imaging were used to characterize the SVZ cell composition of the postnatal and adult brain. Image analysis, three-dimensional rendering, and cell counting were done in Photoshop (Adobe) and ImageJ software. NSCs and NPCs were isolated and characterized by FACS sorting using CD15, GFAP, EGFR and NG2 antibodies. Cell proliferation, self-renewal and biochemical analysis were performed from FACS-purified cultured cells and SVZ tissue. To compare SVZ expression profiles of genes involved in NSC development/neurogenesis in CNP-hEGFR and WT mice, we performed gene array (SuperArray, Bethesda, MD) expression on spotted cDNA fragments encoding 250 mouse genes. To monitor Notch-signaling pathway in the postnatal SVZ of the CNP- and WT mice, mouse brains were electroporated using the ECM 830 BTX electroporator (Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA). Each electroporation result was reproduced in multiple brains derived from at least three separate litters. SVZ NPC cell depletion
