Ontogeny of the dopamine D2 receptor mRNA expressing cells in the human hippocampal formation and temporal neocortex
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Published on: March 27, 2018
E V Gurevich1, J H Kordower, J N Joyce
1Thomas H. Christopher Center for Parkinson's Disease Research Center, Sun Health Research Institute, 10515 West Santa Fe Dr., Sun City, AZ 85351, USA.
Abstract:
The study details the cellular expression of the dopamine D2 receptor mRNA in the human temporal lobe during prenatal development. At 13 embryonic weeks (E13) D2 mRNA was widely expressed in the temporal lobe. At this time point in the dentate gyrus D2 mRNA positive cells first appeared at the outer border of the granular layer and their number increased with development. The CA1 exhibited the highest level of D2 mRNA expression. By E19-25 the hippocampal formation underwent rapid morphological maturation. D2 mRNA expression became more uniform and dense in the ammonic subfield. At all ages the subiculum appeared more mature morphologically but less intensely stained for D2 mRNA than the ammonic fields. In the entorhinal cortex D2 mRNA expression was most conspicuous in the future layer II at all ages. In the temporal neocortex D2 mRNA-positive cells were detected in the subplate and cortical plate. Differentiation of the cortical plate was accompanied by concentration of D2 mRNA-positive cells in layer V. The most conspicuous cells expressing D2 mRNA were found in the marginal zone of all regions and resembled Cajal-Retzius cells in morphology and location. Density of putative Cajal-Retzius cells expressing D2 mRNA decreased with development. They all but disappeared from the hippocampal areas by mid gestation, but in the temporal neocortex occasional cells were seen even at term. Early and widespread but region and cell type specific expression of D2 receptor mRNA suggests an important role of this DA receptor subtype in prenatal development of the human temporal lobe.
Insights
Dopamine D2 receptor mRNA is widely expressed in the developing human temporal lobe, with specific patterns in the hippocampus and neocortex, suggesting a key role in prenatal brain development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The dopamine D2 receptor is crucial for brain function.
- Understanding its prenatal expression is key to deciphering its role in brain development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular expression patterns of dopamine D2 receptor mRNA during human temporal lobe prenatal development.
- To identify specific regions and cell types exhibiting D2 receptor mRNA expression.
Main Methods:
- In situ hybridization to detect dopamine D2 receptor mRNA.
- Analysis of temporal lobe tissue from human embryos at various gestational ages (E13 to term).
Main Results:
- Dopamine D2 receptor mRNA was widely expressed in the temporal lobe by embryonic week 13.
- Expression patterns varied across hippocampal subfields (dentate gyrus, CA1, subiculum) and cortical areas (entorhinal cortex, temporal neocortex).
- Distinct expression was noted in Cajal-Retzius-like cells in the marginal zone, decreasing with development.
Conclusions:
- Early and specific expression of dopamine D2 receptor mRNA suggests a significant role in human temporal lobe prenatal development.
- The findings highlight the receptor's involvement in the maturation of specific neuronal populations and brain regions.
