Morphological classification of radial glia-like cells in the postnatal mouse subventricular zone.

The subventricular zone (SVZ) is one of the neurogenic regions of the adult mammalian brain. Neural stem cells (NSCs) in the SVZ have certain key features: they express glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), proliferate slowly, have a radial glia-like (RG-L) morphology, and are in contact with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). NSCs have been isolated by FACS to analyse them, but their morphology has not been systematically examined. To address this knowledge gap, we sparsely labelled RG-L cells in the SVZ of neonatal mice by introducing via electroporation a plasmid expressing fluorescent protein under the control of the GFAP promoter. We then classified RG-L cells into three types (RG-L1, 2, and 3) based on their morphologies. RG-L1 cells had a basal process with some branches and numerous fine processes. RG-L2 cells had a basal process, but fewer branches and fine processes than RG-L1 cells. RG-L3 cells had one basal process that was almost free of branches and fine processes. Importantly, regardless of the cell type, about half of their somata resided on the basal side of the SVZ. Based on changes in their proportions during postnatal development and their expression of GFAP and cell proliferation markers at the adult stage, we speculated that NSCs change their morphologies during development/maturation and not all NSCs must always be in the apical SVZ or in contact with the CSF. Our results indicate that in addition to expression of markers for NSCs, the morphology is a critical feature to identify NSCs.

The role of lipids in ependymal development and the modulation of adult neural stem cell function during aging and disease.

Within the adult mammalian central nervous system, the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) lining the lateral ventricles houses neural stem cells (NSCs) that continue to produce neurons throughout life. Developmentally, the V-SVZ neurogenic niche arises during corticogenesis following the terminal differentiation of telencephalic radial glial cells (RGCs) into either adult neural stem cells (aNSCs) or ependymal cells. In mice, these two cellular populations form rosettes during the late embryonic and early postnatal period, with ependymal cells surrounding aNSCs. These aNSCs and ependymal cells serve a number of key purposes, including the generation of neurons throughout life (aNSCs), and acting as a barrier between the CSF and the parenchyma and promoting CSF bulk flow (ependymal cells). Interestingly, the development of this neurogenic niche, as well as its ongoing function, has been shown to be reliant on different aspects of lipid biology. In this review we discuss the developmental origins of the rodent V-SVZ neurogenic niche, and highlight research which has implicated a role for lipids in the physiology of this part of the brain. We also discuss the role of lipids in the maintenance of the V-SVZ niche, and discuss new research which has suggested that alterations to lipid biology could contribute to ependymal cell dysfunction in aging and disease.

Maintenance of neural stem-progenitor cells by the lysosomal biosynthesis regulators TFEB and TFE3 in the embryonic mouse telencephalon.

Lysosomes have recently been implicated in regulation of quiescence in adult neural stem cells (NSCs). Whether lysosomes regulate the differentiation of neural stem-progenitor cells (NPCs) in the embryonic brain has remained unknown, however. We here show that lysosomes are more abundant in rapidly dividing NPCs than in differentiating neurons in the embryonic mouse neocortex and ganglionic eminence. The genes for TFEB and TFE3, master regulators of lysosomal biosynthesis, as well as other lysosome-related genes were also expressed at higher levels in NPCs than in differentiating neurons. Anatomic analysis revealed accumulation of lysosomes at the apical and basal endfeet of NPCs. Knockdown of TFEB and TFE3, or that of the lysosomal transporter Slc15a4, resulted in premature differentiation of neocortical NPCs. Conversely, forced expression of an active form of TFEB (TFEB-AA) suppressed neuronal differentiation of NPCs in association with upregulation of NPC-related genes. These results together point to a previously unappreciated role for TFEB and TFE3, and possibly for lysosomes, in maintenance of the undifferentiated state of embryonic NPCs. We further found that lysosomes are even more abundant in an NPC subpopulation that rarely divides and includes the embryonic origin of adult NSCs than in the majority of NPCs that divide frequently for construction of the embryonic brain, and that overexpression of TFEB-AA also suppressed the cell cycle of neocortical NPCs. Our results thus also implicate lysosomes in establishment of the slowly dividing, embryonic origin of adult NSCs.

IL-1 reprogramming of adult neural stem cells limits neurocognitive recovery after viral encephalitis by maintaining a proinflammatory state.

Innate immune responses to emerging RNA viruses are increasingly recognized as having significant contributions to neurologic sequelae, especially memory disorders. Using a recovery model of West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis, we show that, while macrophages deliver the antiviral and anti-neurogenic cytokine IL-1ß during acute infection; viral recovery is associated with continued astrocyte inflammasome-mediated production of inflammatory levels of IL-1ß, which is maintained by hippocampal astrogenesis via IL-1R1 signaling in neural stem cells (NSC). Accordingly, aberrant astrogenesis is prevented in the absence of IL-1 signaling in NSC, indicating that only newly generated astrocytes exert neurotoxic effects, preventing synapse repair and promoting spatial learning deficits. Ex vivo evaluation of IL-1ß-treated adult hippocampal NSC revealed the upregulation of developmental differentiation pathways that derail adult neurogenesis in favor of astrogenesis, following viral infection. We conclude that NSC-specific IL-1 signaling within the hippocampus during viral encephalitis prevents synapse recovery and promotes spatial learning defects via altered fates of NSC progeny that maintain inflammation.

Methods of reactivation and reprogramming of neural stem cells for neural repair.

Research on the biology of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) and induced NSCs (iNSCs), as well as NSC-based therapies for diseases in central nervous system (CNS) has started to generate the expectation that these cells may be used for treatments in CNS injuries or disorders. Recent technological progresses in both NSCs themselves and their derivatives have brought us closer to therapeutic applications. Adult neurogenesis presents in particular regions in mammal brain, known as neurogenic niches such as the dental gyrus (DG) in hippocampus and the subventricular zone (SVZ), within which adult NSCs usually stay for long periods out of the cell cycle, in G0. The reactivation of quiescent adult NSCs needs orchestrated interactions between the extrinsic stimulis from niches and the intrinsic factors involving transcription factors (TFs), signaling pathway, epigenetics, and metabolism to start an intracellular regulatory program, which promotes the quiescent NSCs exit G0 and reenter cell cycle. Extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms that regulate adult NSCs are interconnected and feedback on one another. Since endogenous neurogenesis only happens in restricted regions and steadily fails with disease advances, interest has evolved to apply the iNSCs converted from somatic cells to treat CNS disorders, as is also promising and preferable. To overcome the limitation of viral-based reprogramming of iNSCs, bioactive small molecules (SM) have been explored to enhance the efficiency of iNSC reprogramming or even replace TFs, making the iNSCs more amenable to clinical application. Despite intense research efforts to translate the studies of adult and induced NSCs from the bench to bedside, vital troubles remain at several steps in these processes. In this review, we examine the present status, advancement, pitfalls, and potential of the two types of NSC technologies, focusing on each aspects of reactivation of quiescent adult NSC and reprogramming of iNSC from somatic cells, as well as on progresses in cell-based regenerative strategies for neural repair and criteria for successful therapeutic applications.

Fine processes of Nestin-GFP-positive radial glia-like stem cells in the adult dentate gyrus ensheathe local synapses and vasculature.

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis relies on the activation of neural stem cells in the dentate gyrus, their division, and differentiation of their progeny into mature granule neurons. The complex morphology of radial glia-like (RGL) stem cells suggests that these cells establish numerous contacts with the cellular components of the neurogenic niche that may play a crucial role in the regulation of RGL stem cell activity. However, the morphology of RGL stem cells remains poorly described. Here, we used light microscopy and electron microscopy to examine Nestin-GFP transgenic mice and provide a detailed ultrastructural reconstruction analysis of Nestin-GFP-positive RGL cells of the dentate gyrus. We show that their primary processes follow a tortuous path from the subgranular zone through the granule cell layer and ensheathe local synapses and vasculature in the inner molecular layer. They share the ensheathing of synapses and vasculature with astrocytic processes and adhere to the adjacent processes of astrocytes. This extensive interaction of processes with their local environment could allow them to be uniquely receptive to signals from local neurons, glia, and vasculature, which may regulate their fate.

Notch3 signaling gates cell cycle entry and limits neural stem cell amplification in the adult pallium.

Maintaining the homeostasis of germinal zones in adult organs is a fundamental but mechanistically poorly understood process. In particular, what controls stem cell activation remains unclear. We have previously shown that Notch signaling limits neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation in the adult zebrafish pallium. Combining pharmacological and genetic manipulations, we demonstrate here that long-term Notch invalidation primarily induces NSC amplification through their activation from quiescence and increased occurrence of symmetric divisions. Expression analyses, morpholino-mediated invalidation and the generation of a notch3-null mutant directly implicate Notch3 in these effects. By contrast, abrogation of notch1b function results in the generation of neurons at the expense of the activated NSC state. Together, our results support a differential involvement of Notch receptors along the successive steps of NSC recruitment. They implicate Notch3 at the top of this hierarchy to gate NSC activation and amplification, protecting the homeostasis of adult NSC reservoirs under physiological conditions.

Ezh2 regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis and memory.

Adult neurogenesis is thought to be crucial for preserving cognitive functions, which is tightly controlled by various epigenetic regulators. As the methyltransferase of histone H3K27, the role of Ezh2 in neurogenesis of adult mice and its mechanism of action are largely unknown. Here, we show that Ezh2 is expressed in actively dividing neural stem cells (NSCs)/progenitor cells as well as mature neurons, but not in quiescent NSCs in the subgranular zone. The deletion of Ezh2 in NSCs/progenitor cells results in a reduction in progenitor cell proliferation. Furthermore, we found that Ezh2 regulates progenitor cell proliferation by suppressing Pten expression and promoting the activation of Akt-mTOR. Moreover, the loss of Ezh2 in progenitor cells leads to a decrease in the number of neurons, which was observed by long-term tracing. Strikingly, conditional knockout of Ezh2 ultimately results in impairments in spatial learning and memory, contextual fear memory, and pattern separation. Our findings demonstrate the essential role of Ezh2 in the proliferation of progenitor cells, thus providing insight into the molecular mechanisms of adult neurogenesis in preserving cognitive functions.

Adult neurogenesis restores dopaminergic neuronal loss in the olfactory bulb.

Subventricular zone (SVZ) neurogenesis continuously provides new GABA- and dopamine (DA)-containing interneurons for the olfactory bulb (OB) in most adult mammals. DAergic interneurons are located in the glomerular layer (GL) where they participate in the processing of sensory inputs. To examine whether adult neurogenesis might contribute to regeneration after circuit injury in mice, we induce DAergic neuronal loss by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in the dorsal GL or in the right substantia nigra pars compacta. We found that a 6-OHDA treatment of the OB produces olfactory deficits and local inflammation and partially decreases the number of neurons expressing the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) near the injected site. Blockade of inflammation by minocycline treatment immediately after the 6-OHDA administration rescued neither TH(+) interneuron number nor the olfactory deficits, suggesting that the olfactory impairments are most likely linked to TH(+) cell death and not to microglial activation. TH(+) interneuron number was restored 1 month later. This rescue resulted at least in part from enhanced recruitment of immature neurons targeting the lesioned GL area. Seven days after 6-OHDA lesion in the OB, we found that the integration of lentivirus-labeled adult-born neurons was biased: newly formed neurons were preferentially incorporated into glomerular circuits of the lesioned area. Behavioral rehabilitation occurs 2 months after lesion. This study establishes a new model into which loss of DAergic cells could be compensated by recruiting newly formed neurons. We propose that adult neurogenesis not only replenishes the population of DAergic bulbar neurons but that it also restores olfactory sensory processing.

Neural stem and progenitor cells support and protect adult hippocampal function via vascular endothelial growth factor secretion.

Adult neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) reside in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus throughout the lifespan of most mammalian species. In addition to generating new neurons, NSPCs may alter their niche via secretion of growth factors and cytokines. We recently showed that adult DG NSPCs secrete vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is critical for maintaining adult neurogenesis. Here, we asked whether NSPC-derived VEGF alters hippocampal function independent of adult neurogenesis. We found that loss of NSPC-derived VEGF acutely impaired hippocampal memory, caused neuronal hyperexcitability and exacerbated excitotoxic injury. We also found that NSPCs generate substantial proportions of total DG VEGF and VEGF disperses broadly throughout the DG, both of which help explain how this anatomically-restricted cell population could modulate function broadly. These findings suggest that NSPCs actively support and protect DG function via secreted VEGF, thereby providing a non-neurogenic functional dimension to endogenous NSPCs.

TIMP3 promotes the maintenance of neural stem-progenitor cells in the mouse subventricular zone.

Adult neural stem cells (NSCs) in the mouse subventricular zone (SVZ) serve as a lifelong reservoir for newborn olfactory bulb neurons. Recent studies have identified a slowly dividing subpopulation of embryonic neural stem-progenitor cells (NPCs) as the embryonic origin of adult NSCs. Yet, little is known about how these slowly dividing embryonic NPCs are maintained until adulthood while other NPCs are extinguished by the completion of brain development. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential component of stem cell niches and thus a key determinant of stem cell fate. Here we investigated tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs)-regulators of ECM remodeling-for their potential roles in the establishment of adult NSCs. We found that Timp2, Timp3, and Timp4 were expressed at high levels in slowly dividing NPCs compared to rapidly dividing NPCs. Deletion of TIMP3 reduced the number of adult NSCs and neuroblasts in the lateral SVZ. In addition, overexpression of TIMP3 in the embryonic NPCs suppressed neuronal differentiation and upregulated the expression levels of Notch signaling relating genes. These results thus suggest that TIMP3 keeps the undifferentiated state of embryonic NPCs, leading to the establishment and maintenance of adult NSCs.

An ependymal cell census identifies heterogeneous and ongoing cell maturation in the adult mouse spinal cord that changes dynamically on injury.

The adult spinal cord stem cell potential resides within the ependymal cell population and declines with age. Ependymal cells are, however, heterogeneous, and the biological diversity this represents and how it changes with age remain unknown. Here, we present a single-cell transcriptomic census of spinal cord ependymal cells from adult and aged mice, identifying not only all known ependymal cell subtypes but also immature as well as mature cell states. By comparing transcriptomes of spinal cord and brain ependymal cells, which lack stem cell abilities, we identify immature cells as potential spinal cord stem cells. Following spinal cord injury, these cells re-enter the cell cycle, which is accompanied by a short-lived reversal of ependymal cell maturation. We further analyze ependymal cells in the human spinal cord and identify widespread cell maturation and altered cell identities. This in-depth characterization of spinal cord ependymal cells provides insight into their biology and informs strategies for spinal cord repair.

Robust Transcriptional Profiling and Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes With Low Input RNA Sequencing of Adult Hippocampal Neural Stem and Progenitor Populations.

Multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) are found in several isolated niches of the adult mammalian brain where they have unique potential to assist in tissue repair. Modern transcriptomics offer high-throughput methods for identifying disease or injury associated gene expression signatures in endogenous adult NSCs, but they require adaptation to accommodate the rarity of NSCs. Bulk RNA sequencing (RNAseq) of NSCs requires pooling several mice, which impedes application to labor-intensive injury models. Alternatively, single cell RNAseq can profile hundreds to thousands of cells from a single mouse and is increasingly used to study NSCs. The consequences of the low RNA input from a single NSC on downstream identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) remains insufficiently explored. Here, to clarify the role that low RNA input plays in NSC DEG identification, we directly compared DEGs in an oxidative stress model of cultured NSCs by bulk and single cell sequencing. While both methods yielded DEGs that were replicable, single cell sequencing using the 10X Chromium platform yielded DEGs derived from genes with higher relative transcript counts compared to non-DEGs and exhibited smaller fold changes than DEGs identified by bulk RNAseq. The loss of high fold-change DEGs in the single cell platform presents an important limitation for identifying disease-relevant genes. To facilitate identification of such genes, we determined an RNA-input threshold that enables transcriptional profiling of NSCs comparable to standard bulk sequencing and used it to establish a workflow for in vivo profiling of endogenous NSCs. We then applied this workflow to identify DEGs after lateral fluid percussion injury, a labor-intensive animal model of traumatic brain injury. Our work joins an emerging body of evidence suggesting that single cell RNA sequencing may underestimate the diversity of pathologic DEGs. However, our data also suggest that population level transcriptomic analysis can be adapted to capture more of these DEGs with similar efficacy and diversity as standard bulk sequencing. Together, our data and workflow will be useful for investigators interested in understanding and manipulating adult hippocampal NSC responses to various stimuli.

Synergistic effects of hIAPP and Aß1-42 impaired the olfactory function associated with the decline of adult neurogenesis in SVZ.

According to many in the field，the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in type II diabetes (T2DM) populations is considerably higher than that in the normal population. Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) is considered to be a common risk factor for T2DM and AD. Preliminary observations around T2DM animal model show that the decrease of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) in the subventricular zone (SVZ) is accompanied by olfactory dysfunction. Furthermore, impaired olfactory function could serve as to an early predictor of neurodegeneration，which is associated with cognitive impairment. However, the synergistic effects between hIAPP and amyloid-beta (Aß) 1-42 in the brain and the neurodegeneration remains to be further clarified. In this study, olfactory capacity, synaptic density, status of NSC in SVZ, and status of newborn neurons in olfactory bulb (OB) were assessed 6 months after stereotactic injection of oligomer Aß1-42 into the dens gyrus (DG) of hIAPP-/+ mice or wild-type homogenous mice. Our results set out that Aß42 and amylin co-localized into OB and raised Aß42 deposition in hIAPP-/+ mice compared with wild-type brood mice. In addition, 6 months after injection of Aß1-42 in hIAPP-/+ mice, these mice showed increased olfactory dysfunction, significant loss of synapses, depletion of NSC in SVZ, and impaired cell renewal in OB. Our present study suggested that the synergistic effects between hIAPP and Aß1-42 impairs olfactory function and was associated with decreased neurogenesis in adults with SVZ.

Endogenous Neural Stem Cell Mediated Oligodendrogenesis in the Adult Mammalian Brain.

Oligodendrogenesis is essential for replacing worn-out oligodendrocytes, promoting myelin plasticity, and for myelin repair following a demyelinating injury in the adult mammalian brain. Neural stem cells are an important source of oligodendrocytes in the adult brain; however, there are considerable differences in oligodendrogenesis from neural stem cells residing in different areas of the adult brain. Amongst the distinct niches containing neural stem cells, the subventricular zone lining the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus are considered the principle areas of adult neurogenesis. In addition to these areas, radial glia-like cells, which are the precursors of neural stem cells, are found in the lining of the third ventricle, where they are called tanycytes, and in the cerebellum, where they are called Bergmann glia. In this review, we will describe the contribution and regulation of each of these niches in adult oligodendrogenesis.

Isolation of Adult Mouse Neural Stem Cells and Assessment of Self-Renewal by ELDA.

The generation of new neurons in the adult brain throughout life is integral to brain plasticity and repair. Adult neural stem cells (aNSCs), present in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle wall and the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, divide symmetrically or asymmetrically to maintain the stem cell pool or become committed progenitors and differentiate into various cell lineages. Depletion or dysregulation of aNSCs impairs proper brain connectivity and function and can contribute to several brain diseases including cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders and brain cancer. In this chapter, we present our optimized method to obtain and maintain reproducible neurosphere cultures from the adult mouse brain followed by evaluation of self-renewal using the extreme limiting dilution assay (ELDA) software. We use this assay routinely on aNSCs obtained from patient mouse models to generate log fraction plots and provide confidence intervals for all limiting dilution assay (LDA) data. At the same time, given the low number of NSCs required for the completion of the ELDA experiment, it is feasible to employ this approach to conduct high-content compound screening for therapeutic interventions aimed at enhancing the stem cell pool or combating a cohort of genetic and epigenetic disorders.

Lysosomes and signaling pathways for maintenance of quiescence in adult neural stem cells.

Quiescence is a cellular strategy for maintaining somatic stem cells in a specific niche in a low metabolic state without senescence for a long period of time. During development, neural stem cells (NSCs) actively proliferate and self-renew, and their progeny differentiate into both neurons and glial cells to form mature brain tissues. On the other hand, most NSCs in the adult brain are quiescent and arrested in G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Quiescence is essential in order to avoid the precocious exhaustion of NSCs, ensuring a sustainable source of available stem cells in the brain throughout the lifespan. After receiving activation signals, quiescent NSCs reenter the cell cycle and generate new neurons. This switching between quiescence and proliferation is tightly regulated by diverse signaling pathways. Recent studies suggest significant involvement of cellular proteostasis (homeostasis of the proteome) in the quiescent state of NSCs. Proteostasis is the result of integrated regulation of protein synthesis, folding, and degradation. In this review, we discuss regulation of quiescence by multiple signaling pathways, especially bone morphogenetic protein and Notch signaling, and focus on the functional involvement of the lysosome, an organelle governing cellular degradation, in quiescence of adult NSCs.

Vascular Senescence: A Potential Bridge Between Physiological Aging and Neurogenic Decline.

The adult mammalian brain contains distinct neurogenic niches harboring populations of neural stem cells (NSCs) with the capacity to sustain the generation of specific subtypes of neurons during the lifetime. However, their ability to produce new progeny declines with age. The microenvironment of these specialized niches provides multiple cellular and molecular signals that condition NSC behavior and potential. Among the different niche components, vasculature has gained increasing interest over the years due to its undeniable role in NSC regulation and its therapeutic potential for neurogenesis enhancement. NSCs are uniquely positioned to receive both locally secreted factors and adhesion-mediated signals derived from vascular elements. Furthermore, studies of parabiosis indicate that NSCs are also exposed to blood-borne factors, sensing and responding to the systemic circulation. Both structural and functional alterations occur in vasculature with age at the cellular level that can affect the proper extrinsic regulation of NSCs. Additionally, blood exchange experiments in heterochronic parabionts have revealed that age-associated changes in blood composition also contribute to adult neurogenesis impairment in the elderly. Although the mechanisms of vascular- or blood-derived signaling in aging are still not fully understood, a general feature of organismal aging is the accumulation of senescent cells, which act as sources of inflammatory and other detrimental signals that can negatively impact on neighboring cells. This review focuses on the interactions between vascular senescence, circulating pro-senescence factors and the decrease in NSC potential during aging. Understanding the mechanisms of NSC dynamics in the aging brain could lead to new therapeutic approaches, potentially include senolysis, to target age-dependent brain decline.

Thyroid hormone regulation of adult neural stem cell fate: A comparative analysis between rodents and primates.

Thyroid hormone (TH) signaling, a highly conserved pathway across vertebrates, is crucial for brain development and function throughout life. In the adult mammalian brain, including that of humans, multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) proliferate and generate neuronal and glial progenitors. The role of TH has been intensively investigated in the two main neurogenic niches of the adult mouse brain, the subventricular and the subgranular zone. A key finding is that T3, the biologically active form of THs, promotes NSC commitment toward a neuronal fate. In this review, we first discuss the roles of THs in the regulation of adult rodent neurogenesis, as well as how it relates to functional behavior, notably olfaction and cognition. Most research uncovering these roles of TH in adult neurogenesis was conducted in rodents, whose genetic background, brain structure and rate of neurogenesis are considerably different from that of humans. To bridge the phylogenetic gap, we also explore the similarities and divergences of TH-dependent adult neurogenesis in non-human primate models. Lastly, we examine how photoperiodic length changes TH homeostasis, and how that might affect adult neurogenesis in seasonal species to increase fitness. Several aspects by which TH acts on adult NSCs seem to be conserved among mammals, while we only start to uncover the molecular pathways, as well as how other in- and extrinsic factors are intertwined. A multispecies approach delivering more insights in the matter will pave the way for novel NSC-based therapies to combat neurological disorders.

Dynamic spatiotemporal coordination of neural stem cell fate decisions occurs through local feedback in the adult vertebrate brain.

Neural stem cell (NSC) populations persist in the adult vertebrate brain over a lifetime, and their homeostasis is controlled at the population level through unknown mechanisms. Here, we combine dynamic imaging of entire NSC populations in their in vivo niche over several weeks with pharmacological manipulations, mathematical modeling, and spatial statistics and demonstrate that NSCs use spatiotemporally resolved local feedback signals to coordinate their decision to divide in adult zebrafish brains. These involve Notch-mediated short-range inhibition from transient neural progenitors and a dispersion effect from the dividing NSCs themselves exerted with a delay of 9-12 days. Simulations from a stochastic NSC lattice model capturing these interactions demonstrate that these signals are linked by lineage progression and control the spatiotemporal distribution of output neurons. These results highlight how local and temporally delayed interactions occurring between brain germinal cells generate self-propagating dynamics that maintain NSC population homeostasis and coordinate specific spatiotemporal correlations.