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Fates of the earliest generated cells in the developing murine neocortex
1Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. d:price@srv2.med.ed.ac.uk
The Journal of Comparative Neurology
|January 20, 1997
Summary
Early neocortical cells in mice undergo significant cell death, similar to other mammals. This study tracked the fate of the earliest generated neocortical cells, revealing substantial programmed cell death in the developing mouse brain.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Neuroanatomy
Background:
- Mammalian neocortical development involves distinct cell populations forming layers like the marginal zone and subplate.
- Programmed cell death of early-born neocortical cells is known in primates and carnivores but debated in rodents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fate of the earliest generated neocortical cells in mice.
- To determine if early-born neocortical cells undergo significant cell death in rodents.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant mice were injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) on embryonic days 11-14 to label early neocortical cells.
- The survival and location of BrdU-labeled cells were tracked from birth to postnatal day 21.
Main Results:
- Cells born on embryonic day 11 showed minimal survival by postnatal day 3.
- Cells born on embryonic days 12 and 13 largely disappeared from the marginal zone and subplate by older ages, with some retention in the cortical plate.
- The density decrease of early-born cells exceeded that attributable to neocortical expansion, indicating cell death.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of the earliest generated neocortical cells in mice undergo programmed cell death.
- This finding supports the occurrence of early neocortical cell death in murine species, mirroring observations in other mammalian groups.