Neurovascular congruence during cerebral cortical development

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• The developing nervous system and circulatory system interact.
• Blood vessels support adult neurogenesis.
• The embryonic vascular niche's role is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically analyze vascular development in the embryonic mouse cortex.
• To investigate the interaction between developing neurons and blood vessels.
• To determine if vascular patterns are affected by altered cortical layering.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of vascular development in embryonic murine cortex.
• Co-culture of GFP-labeled cortical progenitors with organotypic slice cultures containing labeled vasculature.
• Observation of neurite extension in relation to blood vessels.

Main Results:

• Dividing cells, including Tbr2-positive intermediate progenitor cells, are found closer to vasculature than random distribution.
• Neurites of newly generated neurons extend towards and along blood vessels.
• Altered cortical layering in SRK and reeler mutants did not significantly affect vascular patterns.

Conclusions:

• The embryonic vascular niche may influence neural progenitor cells, neuronal migration, and neurite extension.
• Blood vessels act as an attractive and permissive substrate for developing neurons.
• Developing vasculature in the cortical plate is largely independent of neuronal laminar organization.