EARLY DETERMINATION OF A MOUSE SOMATOSENSORY CORTEX MARKER

Citation
M. Cohentannoudji et al., EARLY DETERMINATION OF A MOUSE SOMATOSENSORY CORTEX MARKER, Nature, 368(6470), 1994, pp. 460-463
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Journal title
NatureACNP
ISSN journal
00280836
Volume
368
Issue
6470
Year of publication
1994
Pages
460 - 463
Database
ISI
SICI code
0028-0836(1994)368:6470<460:EDOAMS>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
THE mammalian neocortex is subdivided into functionally distinct areas differing in cytoarchitecture and connectivity. Areal specification i s thought to occur late in development1-3 and to be controlled by extr insic cues, particularly thalamic afferents4. We have produced a trans genic mouse line in which beta-galactosidase expression in the neocort ex is largely restricted to layer-IV neurons of the somatosensory area . Transgene expression in these mice may be considered as an intrinsic marker of a somatosensory cortex identity. We investigated whether th e fate of pieces of embryonic cortex from transgenic embryos is modifi ed after transplantation to ectopic locations. Parietal or occipital c ortex obtained on embryonic days 14-16 maintained their characteristic s with respect to transgene expression after heterotopic transplantati on to the cerebellum or neocortex of newborn hosts. This shows that th e specification of neocortical areas involves a previously unsuspected early step of areal determination.