QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (17) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Price, D. J. Articles by Lotto, R. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Price, D. J. Articles by Lotto, R. B.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Volume 16, Number 10, Issue of May 15, 1996 pp. 3247-3255
Copyright ©1996 Society for Neuroscience

Influences of the Thalamus on the Survival of Subplate and Cortical Plate Cells in Cultured Embryonic Mouse Brain

Received Dec. 11, 1995; revised Feb. 26, 1996; accepted Feb. 28, 1996.

David J. Price and R. Beau Lotto

Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, United Kingdom

The afferent and efferent connections of the cerebral neocortex develop simultaneously toward the end of embryogenesis. At this stage, the neocortex comprises two main cell-dense layers: the thicker and more superficial cortical plate (future layers 2-6) and the thinner underlying subplate. Many early thalamocortical projections temporarily innervate the subplate before leaving it to locate their ultimate targets in the overlying cortical plate. The subplate then disappears. In this study, we performed in vitro experiments on late embryonic murine brain to test whether the thalamus can influence the survival of cortical plate and subplate cells at this stage. In isolated organotypic cortical explants from embryonic day 19 mice, most of the cells that had formed the subplate died. Coculture with a thalamic explant prevented this loss; coculture with additional cortical or cerebellar explants did not. By contrast, many cells in or destined for the cortical plate survived even in isolated cortical explants; coculture with a thalamic explant did not alter the numbers of these cells that survived. Our results suggest that the thalamus provides trophic support for subplate cells but not for late embryonic cortical plate cells. In vivo, a loss of thalamic-derived trophic support for the subplate late in embryogenesis, consequent on the movement of thalamocortical axons into the cortical plate, may contribute to subplate death.

Key words: cortical plate; corticothalamic projection; growth factors; mouse; organotypic culture; subplate; thalamocortical projection; trophism

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. A. Tyas, H. Pearson, P. Rashbass, and D. J. Price Pax6 Regulates Cell Adhesion during Cortical Development Cereb Cortex, June 1, 2003; 13(6): 612 - 619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Dehay, P. Savatier, V. Cortay, and H. Kennedy Cell-Cycle Kinetics of Neocortical Precursors Are Influenced by Embryonic Thalamic Axons J. Neurosci., January 1, 2001; 21(1): 201 - 214. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Del Rio, A. Martinez, C. Auladell, and E. Soriano Developmental History of the Subplate and Developing White Matter in the Murine Neocortex. Neuronal Organization and Relationship with the Main Afferent Systems at Embryonic and Perinatal Stages Cereb Cortex, August 1, 2000; 10(8): 784 - 801. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Warren, D. Caric, T. Pratt, J. A. Clausen, P. Asavaritikrai, J. O. Mason, R. E. Hill, and D. J. Price The Transcription Factor, Pax6, is Required for Cell Proliferation and Differentiation in the Developing Cerebral Cortex Cereb Cortex, September 1, 1999; 9(6): 627 - 635. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. A. Compagnone, E. Salido, L. J. Shapiro, and S. H. Mellon Expression of Steroid Sulfatase during Embryogenesis Endocrinology, November 1, 1997; 138(11): 4768 - 4773. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D Caric, D Gooday, R. Hill, S. McConnell, and D. Price Determination of the migratory capacity of embryonic cortical cells lacking the transcription factor Pax-6 Development, January 12, 1997; 124(24): 5087 - 5096. [Abstract] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help