Radial glial cells are bipolar-shaped cells that span the width of the
cortex in the developing
central nervous system (CNS) and serve as primary
progenitors capable of generating
neurons,
astrocytes, and
oligodendrocytes. During development, newborn neurons use radial glia as scaffolds, traveling along the radial glial fibers in order to reach their final destinations. Despite the various possible fates of the radial glial population, it has been demonstrated through clonal analysis that most radial glia have restricted,
unipotent or
multipotent, fates. Radial glia can be found during the
neurogenic phase in all vertebrates (studied to date).