Origin and Molecular Specification of Globus Pallidus Neurons

Abstract

The mechanisms controlling the assembly of brain nuclei are poorly understood. In the forebrain, it is typically assumed that the formation of nuclei follows a similar sequence of events that in the cortex. In this structure, projection neurons are generated sequentially from common progenitor cells and migrate radially to reach their final destination, whereas interneurons are generated remotely and arrive to the cortex through tangential migration. Using the globus pallidus as a model to study the formation of forebrain nuclei, we found that the development of this basal ganglia structure involves the generation of several distinct classes of projection neurons from relatively distant progenitor pools, which then assemble together through tangential migration. Our results thus suggest that tangential migration in the forebrain is not limited to interneurons, as previously thought, but also involves projection neurons and reveal that the assembly of forebrain nuclei is more complex than previously anticipated.

Regulation of the Protocadherin Celsr3 Gene and Its Role in Globus Pallidus Development and Connectivity

“…3B). Costaining with the GP marker Nkx2-1 (21,23) demonstrated that the vast majority of GP cells express Celsr3 (Fig. 3C to E fied, 318 cells are Celsr3 ϩ ) (Fig.…”

“…Malfunctions of GP lead to several neuropathological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, as well as many neuropsychiatric diseases (19). The mouse GP, which corresponds to the GPe in primates, contains approximately 44% of parvalbumin-positive (PV ϩ ) neurons and 1% of calretinin-positive (CR ϩ ) interneurons, but calbindin-positive (CB ϩ ) cells are rare (20,21). The GP is traditionally thought to be derived from the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) (22); however, recent studies have revealed that, in addition to MGE, subpopulations of GP cells are also generated from the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) and preoptic area (POA) (21, 23).…”

“…The mouse GP, which corresponds to the GPe in primates, contains approximately 44% of parvalbumin-positive (PV ϩ ) neurons and 1% of calretinin-positive (CR ϩ ) interneurons, but calbindin-positive (CB ϩ ) cells are rare (20,21). The GP is traditionally thought to be derived from the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) (22); however, recent studies have revealed that, in addition to MGE, subpopulations of GP cells are also generated from the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) and preoptic area (POA) (21,23). The molecular requirements for GP development are not known, but specific transcription factors appear to be essential.…”

Do gap junctions regulate synchrony in the Parkinsonian basal ganglia?

“…Nevertheless, anatomical dichotomy has often been described in the GP [Hoover and Marshall, 2002, Cooper and Stanford, 2002, Nobrega-Pereira et al, 2010. For instance, a group of proenkephalin positive neurons that preferentially target the striatum [Hoover and Marshall, 2002] and a small population of calretinin positive interneurons [Cooper and Stanford, 2002] have been reported.…”

“…For instance, a group of proenkephalin positive neurons that preferentially target the striatum [Hoover and Marshall, 2002] and a small population of calretinin positive interneurons [Cooper and Stanford, 2002] have been reported. Based on fate mapping analysis, even five neural populations have been identified in the mouse GP which differ in progenitor lineage and partly in their embryonic domains [Nobrega-Pereira et al, 2010]. Recently, Mallet et al [2012] combined anatomical and electrophysiological characteristics of classes of GP neurons.…”