Generation of glutamatergic neurons from postnatal and adult subventricular zone with pyramidal-like morphology

The mammalian subventricular zone (SVZ) contains progenitors derived from cerebral cortex radial glia cells, which give rise to glutamatergic pyramidal neurons during embryogenesis. However, during postnatal life, SVZ generates neurons that migrate and differentiate into olfactory bulb γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons. In this work, we tested if SVZ cells are able to produce glutamatergic neurons if confronted with the embryonic cortical ventricular zone environment. Different from typical SVZ chain migration, cells from P9-P11 SVZ explants migrate into embryonic cortical slices individually, many of which radially oriented. An average of 82.5% of green fluorescent protein-positive cells were immunolabeled for neuronal marker class III β-tubulin. Invading cells differentiate into multiple morphologies, including a pyramidal-like morphotype. A subset of these cells are GABAergic; however, about 28% of SVZ-derived cells are immunoreactive for glutamate. Adult SVZ explants also give rise to glutamatergic neurons in these conditions. Taken together, our results indicate that SVZ can be a source of glutamatergic cortical neurons when submitted to proper environmental cues.