Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 1, 2026
Preparation and Gene Modification of Nonhuman Primate Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells
Published on: February 15, 2019
Periventricular microglial cells interact with dividing precursor cells in the nonhuman primate and rodent prenatal
Stephen C Noctor1,2, Elisa Penna2, Hunter Shepherd1,3
1MIND Institute, School of Medicine, UC Davis, Sacramento, California.
Abstract:
Cortical proliferative zones have been studied for over 100 years, yet recent data have revealed that microglial cells constitute a sizeable proportion of ventricular zone cells during late stages of cortical neurogenesis. Microglia begin colonizing the forebrain after neural tube closure and during later stages of neurogenesis populate regions of the developing cortex that include the proliferative zones. We previously showed that microglia regulate the production of cortical cells by phagocytosing neural precursor cells (NPCs), but how microglia interact with NPCs remains poorly understood. Here we report on a distinct subset of microglial cells, which we term periventricular microglia, that are located near the lateral ventricle in the prenatal neocortex. Periventricular microglia exhibit a set of similar characteristics in embryonic rat and fetal rhesus monkey cortex. In both species, these cells occupy ~60 μm of the ventricular zone in the tangential axis and make contact with the soma and processes of NPCs dividing at the ventricle for over 50 μm along the radial axis. Periventricular microglia exhibit notable differences across species, including distinct morphological features such as terminal bouton-like structures that contact mitotic NPCs in the fetal rhesus monkey but not in rat. These morphological distinctions suggest differential functions of periventricular microglia in rat and rhesus monkey, yet are consistent with the concept that microglia regulate NPC function in the developing cerebral cortex of mammalian species.
Insights
Newly identified periventricular microglia interact with neural precursor cells in the developing cortex. These cells, found in rats and monkeys, suggest conserved roles in regulating brain development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental neuroscience
- Neuroimmunology
- Cell biology
Background:
- Microglial cells are increasingly recognized as significant components of the developing brain.
- Previous research indicated microglia regulate cortical cell production via phagocytosis of neural precursor cells (NPCs).
- The precise interaction mechanisms between microglia and NPCs in the developing cortex remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize a specific subset of microglia in the prenatal neocortical ventricular zone.
- To investigate the physical interactions between these periventricular microglia and dividing NPCs.
- To compare the characteristics and potential functions of these microglial cells across different mammalian species (rat and rhesus monkey).
Main Methods:
- Microscopic examination of the prenatal neocortex in embryonic rat and fetal rhesus monkey.
- Characterization of microglial cell location, morphology, and physical contact with NPCs at the ventricular surface.
- Comparative analysis of periventricular microglial features between rat and rhesus monkey models.
Main Results:
- A distinct population of periventricular microglia was identified near the lateral ventricle in both rat and rhesus monkey prenatal neocortex.
- These microglia physically contact the soma and processes of mitotic NPCs at the ventricular zone.
- Morphological differences, including terminal bouton-like structures in rhesus monkeys, suggest species-specific microglial functions in regulating NPCs.
Conclusions:
- Periventricular microglia represent a specialized microglial subset interacting directly with NPCs during cortical development.
- These interactions, conserved across mammalian species, highlight a role for microglia in regulating neurogenesis.
- Morphological variations suggest nuanced, species-specific mechanisms by which microglia influence NPC behavior in the developing cerebral cortex.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:14Voltage Dividers
Kirchhoff's voltage law implies that the sum of the voltages across the resistors in series equals the source voltage. This means that the current...
01:10Current Dividers
01:24Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
01:39Mitochondrial Precursor Proteins
Most of the mitochondrial...
01:22Cell Size
Surface Area
Cells can take in nutrients and water via diffusion through the plasma membrane itself or through specific channels in the membrane. The area of the membrane surrounding...