Molecular investigations of the brain of higher mammals using gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets

Abstract

The brains of mammals such as carnivores and primates contain developed structures not found in the brains of mice. Uncovering the physiological importance, developmental mechanisms and evolution of these structures using carnivores and primates would greatly contribute to our understanding of the human brain and its diseases. Although the anatomical and physiological properties of the brains of carnivores and primates have been intensively examined, molecular investigations are still limited. Recently, genetic techniques that can be applied to carnivores and primates have been explored, and molecules whose expression patterns correspond to these structures were reported. Furthermore, to investigate the functional importance of these molecules, a rapid and efficient genetic manipulation method was established by applying in utero electroporation to gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets. In this article, I review recent advances in molecular investigations of the brains of carnivores and primates, mainly focusing on ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).

Human-specific ARHGAP11B induces hallmarks of neocortical expansion in developing ferret neocortex

“…Carnivores, such as ferret, display intermediate features (Borrell and Reillo, 2012; Hutsler et al, 2005; Kawasaki, 2014; Reillo et al, 2011). Specifically, ferrets exhibit a gyrified neocortex and, during development, a pronounced OSVZ populated with proliferative bRG (Barnette et al, 2009; Borrell and Reillo, 2012; Fietz et al, 2010; Kawasaki, 2014; Kawasaki et al, 2013; Poluch and Juliano, 2015; Reillo et al, 2011; Sawada and Watanabe, 2012; Smart and McSherry, 1986a;Smart and McSherry, 1986b ). In this context, it should be noted that in evolution, the split between the lineages leading to mouse and to human occurred a few million years later than that leading to ferret and human (Bininda-Emonds et al, 2007).…”

Molecular Investigations of the Development and Diseases of Cerebral Cortex Folding using Gyrencephalic Mammal Ferrets

“…[7][8][9][10] By taking the advantage of our in utero electroporation technique for ferrets, we successfully uncovered the molecular mechanisms of cortical folding. 11,12) In this article, I will summarize our recent experimental results on the mo-lecular mechanisms of cortical folding using ferrets.…”

Biphasic roles of hedgehog signaling in the production and self-renewal of outer radial glia in the ferret cerebral cortex

“…We have addressed this question by using the ferret, a gyrencephalic carnivore, as a model system. The ferret has been an important model for studying the developmental mechanisms of gyrencephalic brains because it has a distinct OSVZ with abundant oRGs and, compared to mice, has a relatively longer neurogenic period that continues after birth (Jackson et al 1989;Noctor et al 1997;Fietz et al 2010;Reillo et al 2011;Martínez-Cerdeño et al 2012;Reillo and Borrell 2012;Kawasaki 2014). By using pharmacologic manipulation of HH signaling, we found that HH signaling changes vRG division modes, oRG self-renewal, and IPC proliferation in ferrets as it does in mice.…”