• HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
Sunday, June 15, 2025
BIOENGINEER.ORG
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
        • Lecturer
        • PhD Studentship
        • Postdoc
        • Research Assistant
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
        • Lecturer
        • PhD Studentship
        • Postdoc
        • Research Assistant
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
No Result
View All Result
Bioengineer.org
No Result
View All Result
Home NEWS Science News Neuroscience

‘Chatty’ Cells Help Build the Brain

Bioengineer by Bioengineer
November 30, 2014
in Neuroscience
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on RedditShare on Telegram

Development of the cerebral cortex is influenced by genetic cues and communication between neurons and progenitors.

chatty cells

Fluorescence microscopy image of a mouse cortex during brain development. Blue cells are deep-layer neurons, green cells are Foxg1 active cells and red cells are upper-layer neurons. This image shows that the onset of Foxg1 activity instructs the production of both deep- and upper-layer neurons. Photo Credit K. Toma et al./Journal of Neuroscience.

The cerebral cortex, which controls higher processes such as perception, thought and cognition, is the most complex structure in the mammalian central nervous system. Although much is known about the intricate structure of this brain region, the processes governing its formation remain uncertain. Research led by Carina Hanashima from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology has now uncovered how feedback between cells, as well as molecular factors, helps shape cortical development during mouse embryogenesis.

The cortex is made up of layers of interconnecting cells that are produced in a particular order from progenitor cells. The relatively cell-sparse outer layer is formed first, then the dense deep layer, and finally the tightly packed upper layer. Hanashima and her colleagues were interested to discover exactly how the various layers form, so they created a mouse model that enabled them to control the expression of a particular protein, Foxg1, known to be involved in cortical development.

The Foxg1 gene, if switched on toward the end of embryogenesis after the outer layer of neurons has formed, triggers the production of deep-layer neurons, followed by upper-layer neurons. The researchers found that it does this by repressing the activity of another gene, called Tbr1, in the outer-layer neurons.

Genetics, however, is not the only factor that influences the development of this complicated laminar structure. In a separate experiment, the researchers let natural embryonic development run its course until the deep-layer neurons had formed, after which they selectively killed off these cells. At a point in time when the production of deep-layer cells would normally have ceased, it instead continued. The absence of the ‘production stop’ signal from deep-layer neurons caused the progenitor cells to continue to make deep-layer neurons. “Before this study, there was no evidence for any feedback between post-mitotic neurons and progenitors,” says Hanashima, “but we’ve shown that the two cell types do communicate.”

Extrinsic, cellular factors as well as intrinsic, genetic cues help to guide cortical development. This mechanism allows the developing brain to balance the various different cell types found in the neocortex: it gives the brain flexibility to adjust if too few of one cell type are produced. Although the numbers of cells and embryonic and gestational periods differ significantly between mice and humans, both species are endowed with almost identical genetic toolkits, and consequently the researchers think it is likely that the human neocortex is generated in much the same way.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by RIKEN, Carina Hanashima.

Share12Tweet8Share2ShareShareShare2

Related Posts

blank

Redox biomarker could predict progression of epilepsy

October 5, 2016
blank

Neural membrane’s structural instability may trigger multiple sclerosis

October 5, 2016

Scientists find new path in brain to ease depression

October 5, 2016

Key players responsible for learning and memory formation uncovered

October 3, 2016
Please login to join discussion

POPULAR NEWS

  • Green brake lights in the front could reduce accidents

    Study from TU Graz Reveals Front Brake Lights Could Drastically Diminish Road Accident Rates

    159 shares
    Share 64 Tweet 40
  • New Study Uncovers Unexpected Side Effects of High-Dose Radiation Therapy

    75 shares
    Share 30 Tweet 19
  • Pancreatic Cancer Vaccines Eradicate Disease in Preclinical Studies

    69 shares
    Share 28 Tweet 17
  • How Scientists Unraveled the Mystery Behind the Gigantic Size of Extinct Ground Sloths—and What Led to Their Demise

    65 shares
    Share 26 Tweet 16

About

We bring you the latest biotechnology news from best research centers and universities around the world. Check our website.

Follow us

Recent News

MOVEO Project Launched in Málaga to Revolutionize Mobility Solutions Across Europe

Nerve Fiber Changes in Parkinson’s and Atypical Parkinsonism

Magnetic Soft Millirobot Enables Simultaneous Locomotion, Sensing

  • Contact Us

Bioengineer.org © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Homepages
    • Home Page 1
    • Home Page 2
  • News
  • National
  • Business
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science

Bioengineer.org © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.