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2D and 3D Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Models to Dissect Primary Cilium Involvement during Neocortical Development
Published on: March 25, 2022
Development and distribution of neuronal cilia in mouse neocortex
Jon I Arellano1, Sarah M Guadiana, Joshua J Breunig
1Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA. jon.arellano@yale.edu
The Journal of Comparative Neurology
|October 25, 2011
Summary
Primary cilia in neocortical neurons begin developing in late fetal stages and mature postnatally. Despite their presence in all neuron types, their exact function in the neocortex remains unclear.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Neuronal primary cilia are present in most neocortical neurons but their developmental timeline and maturation process are unknown.
- Understanding cilia development is crucial for comprehending neuronal function and potential roles in neurological disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the developmental timeline and maturation process of primary cilia in mouse neocortical neurons.
- To investigate the presence of cilia across different neocortical neuron subtypes.
- To assess the role of ciliogenesis in neuronal migration, organization, and polarity.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry using adenylyl cyclase III (ACIII) as a primary cilia marker.
- Electron microscopy for detailed ultrastructural analysis of cilia development.
- Analysis of genetically modified mice with defective ciliogenesis.
Main Results:
- Ciliogenesis initiates in late fetal stages, with procilium formation after neuroblast migration.
- Axoneme development and cilia elongation begin around postnatal day 4, continuing for 8-12 weeks.
- Cilia are present in both pyramidal neurons and inhibitory interneurons, with length varying by cortical layer.
- Defective ciliogenesis did not impede neuronal migration, laminar organization, or polarity establishment.
Conclusions:
- Primary cilia development in neocortical neurons is a prolonged process starting in late fetal stages and continuing into adulthood.
- All major neocortical neuron types possess primary cilia.
- The essential function of primary cilia in neocortical neurons remains to be determined, as their absence does not affect key developmental processes.
