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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
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Functional Calcium Imaging in Developing Cortical Networks
Published on: October 22, 2011
Calcium dynamics of neocortical ventricular zone cells
D F Owens1, A C Flint, R S Dammerman
1Department of Neurology, The Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, N.Y., USA.
Developmental Neuroscience
|February 5, 2000
Summary
Calcium signaling in the neocortical ventricular zone (VZ) influences neural development. Spontaneous calcium fluctuations in VZ and cortical plate cells may use different triggers, impacting distinct developmental stages.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Signaling
Background:
- Cell-cell signaling in the neocortical ventricular zone (VZ) regulates precursor cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation.
- Calcium (Ca(2+)) acts as a crucial second messenger in developmental processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of spontaneous intracellular free Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) fluctuations in the neocortical VZ.
- To explore the role of Ca(2+) signaling in neocortical development.
Main Methods:
- Examined spontaneous intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) fluctuations in cells within the intact neocortical VZ.
- Compared Ca(2+) patterns in proliferative VZ cells and postmitotic cortical neurons.
Main Results:
- Observed similar spontaneous [Ca(2+)](i) increase patterns in both proliferative and postmitotic cortical cells.
- Found evidence suggesting different underlying mechanisms trigger [Ca(2+)](i) changes in VZ cells versus cortical plate neurons.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous [Ca(2+)](i) changes in VZ cells and cortical plate neurons are likely initiated by distinct mechanisms.
- Similar [Ca(2+)](i) fluctuations may mediate different signaling events during various stages of neocortical development.
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