Non-human transgenic mammals are produced which have, incorporated in their genome, DNA which includes a regulatory sequence of a mammalian nestin gene, operably linked to a gene coding for a nuclear localization signal peptide fused to a marker protein or reporter protein. The regulatory sequence can include a promoter and a sequence present in the second intron of the mammalian nestin gene. Preferably, the marker protein or reporter protein is a fluorescent protein, for example a cyan fluorescent protein, modified for enhanced fluorescence. Multipotent and, in particular, neural stem and progenitor cell populations are quantitatively observed in the organs of the non-human transgenic mammal or progeny thereof. Multipotent stem and progenitor cells are isolated directly from the non-human transgenic mammal, progeny or embryo thereof, for example by FACS, without culture passages.
Non-human transgenic mammals useful for identifying and assessing neural stem/progenitor cells