Proliferative defects and formation of a double cortex in mice lacking Mltt4 and Cdh2 in the dorsal telencephalon

Cristina Gil-Sanz, Bruna Landeira, Cynthia Ramos, Marcos R. Costa, Ulrich Müller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Radial glial cells (RGCs) in the ventricular neuroepithelium of the dorsal telencephalon are the progenitor cells for neocortical projection neurons and astrocytes. Here we show that the adherens junction proteins afadin and CDH2 are critical for the control of cell proliferation in the dorsal telencephalon and for the formation of its normal laminar structure. Inactivation of afadin or CDH2 in the dorsal telencephalon leads to a phenotype resembling subcortical band heterotopia, also known as "double cortex," a brain malformation in which heterotopic gray matter is interposed between zones of white matter. Adherens junctions between RGCs are disrupted in the mutants, progenitor cells are widely dispersed throughout the developing neocortex, and their proliferation is dramatically increased. Major subtypes of neocortical projection neurons are generated, but their integration into cell layers is disrupted. Our findings suggest that defects in adherens junctions components in mice massively affects progenitor cell proliferation and leads to a double cortex-like phenotype.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)10475-10487
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume34
Issue number32
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 6 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Afadin
  • CDH2
  • Double cortex
  • Neocortex
  • Progenitor
  • Radial glia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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