S. Tole et Ea. Grove, Detailed field pattern is intrinsic to the embryonic mouse hippocampus early in neurogenesis, J NEUROSC, 21(5), 2001, pp. 1580-1589
There is accumulating evidence that the mammalian cerebral cortex is region
ally specified early in neurogenesis. However, the degree and scale of the
regional pattern that is intrinsic to different parts of the cortical primo
rdium remains unclear. Here, we show that detailed patterning-the accurate
positioning of several areas or fields-is intrinsic to the part of the prim
ordium that generates the hippocampus. A caudomedial portion of the cortica
l primordium, the site from which the hippocampus arises, was isolated from
potential extrinsic patterning cues by maintaining it in explant culture.
Explants were prepared at embryonic day (E) 12.5, which is early in hippoca
mpal neurogenesis in the mouse and 3 d before individual fields are seen by
differential gene expression. Allowed to develop for 3 d in vitro, E12.5 e
xplants upregulate field-specific patterns of gene expression with striking
temporal and spatial accuracy. Possible sources of patterning signals intr
insic to the explants were evaluated by removing the cortical hem or presum
ptive extrahippocampal cortex from the explants. To expose cells to differe
nt local positional cues, explant fragments were grafted into ectopic posit
ions in a larger explant. None of these manipulations altered the developme
nt of patterned, field-specific gene expression. Finally, explants harveste
d at E10.5 also upregulate field-specific gene expression, although less ro
bustly. Some hippocampal patterning information is therefore intrinsic to t
he caudomedial cortical primordium at the time that the first hippocampal n
eurons are born at E10.5. By E12.5, hippocampal field patterning appears to
be well established and resistant to the manipulation of several potential
intrinsic cues.