Specification of excitatory neurons in the developing cerebral cortex: progenitor diversity and environmental influences

The mature cerebral cortex harbors a heterogeneous population of glutamatergic neurons, organized into a highly intricate histological architecture. Classically, this mixed population of neurons was thought to be generated sequentially from a seemingly homogenous group of progenitors under the influ...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Costa, Marcos Romualdo, Ulrich Müller
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:Brasil
Recursos:Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UFRN
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.ufrn.br:123456789/18984
Acesso em linha:https://repositorio.ufrn.br/jspui/handle/123456789/18984
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:cerebral cortex
developmen
excitatory neurons
progenitor diversity
neuronal specification
Descrição
Resumo:The mature cerebral cortex harbors a heterogeneous population of glutamatergic neurons, organized into a highly intricate histological architecture. Classically, this mixed population of neurons was thought to be generated sequentially from a seemingly homogenous group of progenitors under the influence of external cues. This view, however, has been challenged in the last decade by evidences pointing to the existence of fate-restricted neuronal progenitors in the developing neocortex. Here, we review classical studies using cell transplantation, retroviral labeling and cell culture, as well as new data from genetic fate-mapping analysis, to discuss the lineage relationships between neocortical progenitors and subclasses of excitatory neurons. We also propose a temporal model to conciliate the existence of fate-restricted progenitors alongside multipotent progenitors in the neocortex. Finally, we discuss evidences for a critical period of plasticity among post mitotic excitatory cortical neurons when environmental influences could change neuronal cell fate.