Excitotoxic glutamate levels drive spinal cord ependymal stem cell proliferation and fate specification through CP-AMPAR signaling

The adult spinal cord contains a population of ependymal-derived neural stem/progenitor cells (epNSPCs) that are normally quiescent, but are activated to proliferate, differentiate, and migrate after spinal cord injury. The mechanisms that regulate their response to injury cues, however, remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that excitotoxic levels of glutamate promote the proliferation and astrocytic fate specification of adult spinal cord epNSPCs through CP-AMPAR signaling. Bulk RNA-sequencing on rat epNSPCs in the presence and absence of excitotoxic levels of glutamate in vitro.