Glial cell states bias the regeneration of neuron types across the newt life cycle

Among various tissues, these amphibians can regenerate the brain from ependymoglia cells, an adult neural stem cell population. Ependymoglia cells are heterogeneous; yet, whether ependymoglia cell diversity underlies variation of regenerative capacity across brain regions and life cycle stages remains poorly studied.

Here we present a cell type comparison of regeneration in the pallium (dorsal telencephalon) of pre- and post-metamorphic newts. We found that ependymoglia cells exist in a continuum of cell states ranging from active proliferation to quiescence across life cycle stages, with a deep quiescence state featuring expression of mammalian astrocyte genes. Ependymoglia cell state changes are associated with a slower onset of proliferation and neurogenesis in post-metamorphic animals.