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Development of prefrontal corticostriatal connectivity in mice
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|March 30, 2023
Summary
Rational decision-making relies on prefrontal cortex to striatum connections. This study reveals these connections are established early, and disruptions in their precise positioning, like those caused by Cdh8 loss, impair learning.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Rational decision-making depends on prefrontal cortex (PFC) to dorsomedial striatum (DMS) projections.
- Deficits in this circuitry are implicated in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
- The developmental trajectory of this critical projection remains poorly understood.
Conclusions:
- Corticostriatal axons are guided to their targets early and their positioning is largely fixed, challenging models predicting extensive postnatal refinement.
- Adhesion molecule Cdh8 plays a crucial role in maintaining the precise anatomical positioning of these projections.
- Even subtle alterations in corticostriatal terminal arbor positioning and synaptic function can significantly impair cognitive behaviors dependent on this circuit.
