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Updated: Sep 7, 2025
Live Imaging of Mitosis in the Developing Mouse Embryonic Cortex
Published on: June 4, 2014
Metabolic lactate production coordinates vasculature development and progenitor behavior in the developing mouse
Xiaoxiang Dong1, Qiangqiang Zhang1, Xiangyu Yu1
1The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Centre for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Radial glial progenitors (RGPs) in the developing neocortex produce lactate, a metabolite that drives both vascular development and RGP proliferation. This finding reveals a key metabolic link coordinating neural progenitor behavior and vessel growth.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Metabolism
Background:
- Neocortical development relies on coordinated neural progenitor behavior and blood vessel formation.
- Mechanisms linking neural progenitor activity and vascular growth are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of radial glial progenitors' (RGPs) metabolism in neocortical development.
- To elucidate how metabolic states of RGPs influence vascular development and progenitor division.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell metabolic state analysis in developing mouse neocortex.
- Gene expression profiling of radial glial progenitors (RGPs).
- Assessment of lactate production and its effects on RGP proliferation and vascular growth.
Main Results:
- Proliferative RGPs exhibit high glucose uptake and anaerobic glycolysis, producing significant lactate.
- Lactate promotes vascular development in the neocortex.
- Lactate enhances RGP proliferation by maintaining mitochondrial length.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic production of lactate by RGPs is a critical regulator of neocortical vasculature formation.
- Lactate production by RGPs coordinates progenitor division and vascular development.
- Specific metabolic states and metabolites play a coordinated role in neocortical development.
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