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Progenitor-derived Oligodendrocyte Culture System from Human Fetal Brain
Published on: December 20, 2012
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MRI signatures of cortical microstructure in human development align with oligodendrocyte cell-type expression
Sila Genc1,2,3, Gareth Ball4,5, Maxime Chamberland6,7
1Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. sila.genc@mcri.edu.au.
Nature Communications
|April 8, 2025
Summary
Adolescent brain development involves cortical thinning. This study reveals that increasing myelination, driven by oligodendrocyte gene expression, underlies these microstructural changes in the developing cortex.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical period for brain development, characterized by significant neuroanatomical changes in the cortex, such as thinning and volume loss.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has documented these macroscopic changes, but understanding the underlying cellular mechanisms requires advanced techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular-level microstructural changes in the cortex during adolescent development.
- To identify the specific cellular and molecular processes driving observed cortical development in youth.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ultra-strong gradient MRI to quantify cortical neurite and soma microstructure in typically developing adolescents.
- Analyzed two independent post-mortem datasets to correlate gene expression with microstructural findings.
- Integrated diffusion MRI data with biophysical models of tissue.
Main Results:
- Cortical neurite signal fraction, reflecting neuronal and glial processes, increased with age.
- Apparent soma radius, representing cell body size, decreased with age.
- Genes upregulated during adolescence were enriched in oligodendrocytes and Layer 5-6 neurons, aligning with microstructural changes.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent cortical development is characterized by age-related changes in neurite and soma microstructure.
- Ongoing cortical myelination, associated with oligodendrocyte activity and gene expression, is a primary driver of these microstructural shifts during adolescence.
