Heterogeneity in ventricular zone neural precursors contributes to neuronal fate diversity in the postnatal neocortex

J Neurosci. 2010 May 19;30(20):7028-36. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6131-09.2010.

Abstract

The recent discovery of short neural precursors (SNPs) in the murine neocortical ventricular zone (VZ) challenges the widely held view that radial glial cells (RGCs) are the sole occupants of this germinal compartment and suggests that precursor variety is an important factor of brain development. Here, we use in utero electroporation and genetic fate mapping to show that SNPs and RGCs cohabit the VZ but display different cell cycle kinetics and generate phenotypically different progeny. In addition, we find that RGC progeny undergo additional rounds of cell division as intermediate progenitor cells (IPCs), whereas SNP progeny generally produce postmitotic neurons directly from the VZ. By clearly defining SNPs as bona fide VZ residents, separate from both RGCs and IPCs, and uncovering their unique proliferative and lineage properties, these results demonstrate how individual neural precursor groups in the embryonic rodent VZ create diversity in the overlying neocortex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Transport System X-AG / genetics
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Bromodeoxyuridine / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle / physiology*
  • Cerebral Ventricles / cytology*
  • Cerebral Ventricles / embryology
  • Cerebral Ventricles / growth & development
  • Electroporation / methods
  • Eye Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Ki-67 Antigen / metabolism
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neocortex / cytology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neuroglia / metabolism
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • PAX6 Transcription Factor
  • POU Domain Factors / metabolism
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Red Fluorescent Protein
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / physiology*
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / metabolism
  • Tubulin / metabolism

Substances

  • Amino Acid Transport System X-AG
  • Eomes protein, mouse
  • Eye Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • PAX6 Transcription Factor
  • POU Domain Factors
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors
  • Pax6 protein, mouse
  • Repressor Proteins
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • Tubulin
  • beta3 tubulin, mouse
  • Pou3f3 protein, mouse
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Bromodeoxyuridine