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Two modes of radial migration in early development of the cerebral cortex

Nature Neuroscience volume 4, pages 143–150 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Layer formation in the developing cerebral cortex requires the movement of neurons from their site of origin to their final laminar position. We demonstrate, using time-lapse imaging of acute cortical slices, that two distinct forms of cell movement, locomotion and somal translocation, are responsible for the radial migration of cortical neurons. These modes are distinguished by their dynamic properties and morphological features. Locomotion and translocation are not cell-type specific; although at early ages some cells may move by translocation only, locomoting cells also translocate once their leading process reaches the marginal zone. The existence of two modes of radial migration may account for the differential effects of certain genetic mutations on cortical development.

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Figure 1: Confocal images of E15 cortical slices labeled with Oregon Green BAPTA AM.
Figure 2: Time-lapse images of a cell displaying somal translocation in an E14 cortical slice.
Figure 3: Translocating cells with branched, pial-directed processes in an E14 cortical slice.
Figure 4: Time-lapse imaging of a cell displaying presumptive glial-guided locomotion in an E14 cortical slice.
Figure 5: Migratory properties of somal translocation and presumed glial-guided locomotion.
Figure 6: Time-lapse images of locomoting cells displaying terminal somal translocation in E14 and E16 cortical slices.
Figure 7: Labeling of cells with translocating morphology in intact brain.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the National Eye Institute (A.L.P and R.O.L.W.), the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (J.E.B and A.L.P.) the McDonnell Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Washington University (J.E.B and A.L.P.), the National Institute of Aging (J.G.) and fellowship support from the Wellcome Trust (B.N.). We thank F. Branch, D. Bryant, B. Kay and D. Oakley for technical assistance.

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Author notes

  1. Bagirathy Nadarajah

    Present address: Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

  2. Janice E. Brunstrom, Rachel O. L. Wong and Alan L. Pearlman: These authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, 63110, Missouri, USA

    Bagirathy Nadarajah, Jaime Grutzendler & Rachel O. L. Wong

  2. Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, 63110, Missouri, USA

    Janice E. Brunstrom, Jaime Grutzendler & Alan L. Pearlman

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, 63110, Missouri, USA

    Janice E. Brunstrom

  4. Department of Cell Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, 63110, Missouri, USA

    Janice E. Brunstrom & Alan L. Pearlman

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Correspondence to Alan L. Pearlman.

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Nadarajah, B., Brunstrom, J., Grutzendler, J. et al. Two modes of radial migration in early development of the cerebral cortex. Nat Neurosci 4, 143–150 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/83967

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