INTERNEURON MIGRATION FROM BASAL FOREBRAIN TO NEOCORTEX - DEPENDENCE ON DLX GENES

Although previous analyses indicate that neocortical neurons originate from the cortical proliferative zone, evidence suggests that a subpop ulation of neocortical interneurons originates within the subcortical telencephalon. For example, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-expressing cells migrate in vitro from the subcortical telencephalon into the neo cortex. The number of GABA-expressing cells in neocortical slices is r educed by separating the neocortex from the subcortical telencephalon. Finally, mice lacking the homeodomain proteins DLX-1 and DLX-2 show n o detectable cell migration from the subcortical telencephalon to the neocortex and also have few GABA-expressing cells in the neocortex.