Lateral Thalamic Eminence: A Novel Origin for mGluR1/Lot Cells

Inhibitory synapse dysfunction and epileptic susceptibility associated with KIF2A deletion in cortical interneurons

Malformation of cortical development (MCD) is a family of neurodevelopmental disorders, which usually manifest with intellectual disability and early-life epileptic seizures. Mutations in genes encoding microtubules (MT) and MT-associated proteins are one of the most frequent causes of MCD in humans. KIF2A is an atypical kinesin that depolymerizes MT in ATP-dependent manner and regulates MT dynamics. In humans, single de novo mutations in KIF2A are associated with MCD with epileptic seizures, posterior pachygyria, microcephaly, and partial agenesis of corpus callosum. In this study, we conditionally ablated KIF2A in forebrain inhibitory neurons and assessed its role in development and function of inhibitory cortical circuits. We report that adult mice with specific deletion of KIF2A in GABAergic interneurons display abnormal behavior and increased susceptibility to epilepsy. KIF2A is essential for tangential migration of cortical interneurons, their positioning in the cerebral cortex, and for formation of inhibitory synapses in vivo. Our results shed light on how KIF2A deregulation triggers functional alterations in neuronal circuitries and contributes to epilepsy.

Developmental-Based Classification of Enkephalin and Somatostatin Containing Neurons of the Chicken Central Extended Amygdala

The central extended amygdala, including the lateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the central amygdala, plays a key role in stress response. To understand how the central extended amygdala regulates stress it is essential to dissect this structure at molecular, cellular and circuit levels. In mammals, the central amygdala contains two distinct cell populations that become active (on cells) or inactive (off cells) during the conditioned fear response. These two cell types inhibit each other and project mainly unidirectionally to output cells, thus providing a sophisticated regulation of stress. These two cell types express either protein kinase C-delta/enkephalin or somatostatin, and were suggested to originate in different embryonic domains of the subpallium that respectively express the transcription factors Pax6 or Nkx2.1 during development. The regulation of the stress response by the central extended amygdala is poorly studied in non-mammals. Using an evolutionary developmental neurobiology approach, we previously identified several subdivisions in the central extended amygdala of chicken. These contain Pax6, Islet1 and Nkx2.1 cells that originate in dorsal striatal, ventral striatal or pallidopreoptic embryonic divisions, and also contain neurons expressing enkephalin and somatostatin. To know the origin of these cells, in this study we carried out multiple fluorescent labeling to analyze coexpression of different transcription factors with enkephalin or somatostatin. We found that many enkephalin cells coexpress Pax6 and likely derive from the dorsal striatal division, resembling the off cells of the mouse central amygdala. In contrast, most somatostatin cells coexpress Nkx2.1 and derive from the pallidal division, resembling the on cells. We also found coexpression of enkephalin and somatostatin with other transcription factors. Our results show the existence of multiple cell types in the central extended amygdala of chicken, perhaps including on/off cell systems, and set the basis for studying the role of these cells in stress regulation.

Single-cell transcriptomics of the early developing mouse cerebral cortex disentangle the spatial and temporal components of neuronal fate acquisition

In the developing cerebral cortex, how progenitors that seemingly display limited diversity end up producing a vast array of neurons remains a puzzling question. The prevailing model suggests that temporal maturation of progenitors is a key driver in the diversification of the neuronal output. However, temporal constraints are unlikely to account for all diversity, especially in the ventral and lateral pallium where neuronal types significantly differ from their dorsal neocortical counterparts born at the same time. In this study, we implemented single-cell RNAseq to sample the diversity of progenitors and neurons along the dorso-ventral axis of the early developing pallium. We first identified neuronal types, mapped them on the tissue and determined their origin through genetic tracing. We characterised progenitor diversity and disentangled the gene modules underlying temporal versus spatial regulations of neuronal specification. Finally, we reconstructed the developmental trajectories followed by ventral and dorsal pallial neurons to identify lineage-specific gene waves. Our data suggest a model by which discrete neuronal fate acquisition from a continuous gradient of progenitors results from the superimposition of spatial information and temporal maturation.

Tangential Intrahypothalamic Migration of the Mouse Ventral Premamillary Nucleus and Fgf8 Signaling

The tuberal hypothalamic ventral premamillary nucleus (VPM) described in mammals links olfactory and metabolic cues with mating behavior and is involved in the onset of puberty. We offer here descriptive and experimental evidence on a migratory phase in the development of this structure in mice at E12.5–E13.5. Its cells originate at the retromamillary area (RM) and then migrate tangentially rostralward, eschewing the mamillary body, and crossing the molecularly distinct perimamillary band, until they reach a definitive relatively superficial ventral tuberal location. Corroborating recent transcriptomic studies reporting a variety of adult glutamatergic cell types in the VPM, and different projections in the adult, we found that part of this population heterogeneity emerges already early in development, during tangential migration, in the form of differential gene expression properties of at least 2–3 mixed populations possibly derived from subtly different parts of the RM. These partly distribute differentially in the core and shell parts of the final VPM. Since there is a neighboring acroterminal source of Fgf8, and Fgfr2 is expressed at the early RM, we evaluated a possible influence of Fgf8 signal on VPM development using hypomorphic Fgf8^neo/null embryos. These results suggested a trophic role of Fgf8 on RM and all cells migrating tangentially out of this area (VPM and the subthalamic nucleus), leading in hypomorphs to reduced cellularity after E15.5 without alteration of the migrations proper.

Quail-chick grafting experiments corroborate that Tbr1-positive eminential prethalamic neurons migrate along three streams into hypothalamus, subpallium and septocommissural areas

The prethalamic eminence (PThE), a diencephalic caudal neighbor of the telencephalon and alar hypothalamus, is frequently described in mammals and birds as a transient embryonic structure, undetectable in the adult brain. Based on descriptive developmental analysis of Tbr1 gene brain expression in chick embryos, we previously reported that three migratory cellular streams exit the PThE rostralward, targeting multiple sites in the hypothalamus, subpallium and septocommissural area, where eminential cells form distinct nuclei or disperse populations. These conclusions needed experimental corroboration. In this work, we used the homotopic quail-chick chimeric grafting procedure at stages HH10/HH11 to demonstrate by fate-mapping the three predicted tangential migration streams. Some chimeric brains were processed for Tbr1 in situ hybridization, for correlation with our previous approach. Evidence supporting all three postulated migration streams is presented. The results suggested a slight heterochrony among the juxtapeduncular (first), the peripeduncular (next), and the eminentio-septal (last) streams, each of which followed differential routes. A possible effect of such heterochrony on the differential selection of medial to lateral habenular hodologic targets by the migrated neurons is discussed.

LacZ-reporter mapping of Dlx5/6 expression and genoarchitectural analysis of the postnatal mouse prethalamus

We present here a thorough and complete analysis of mouse P0-P140 prethalamic histogenetic subdivisions and corresponding nuclear derivatives, in the context of local tract landmarks. The study used as fundamental material brains from a transgenic mouse line that expresses LacZ under the control of an intragenic enhancer of Dlx5 and Dlx6 (Dlx5/6-LacZ). Subtle shadings of LacZ signal, jointly with pan-DLX immunoreaction, and several other ancillary protein or RNA markers, including Calb2 and Nkx2.2 ISH (for the prethalamic eminence, and derivatives of the rostral zona limitans shell domain, respectively) were mapped across the prethalamus. The resulting model of the prethalamic region postulates tetrapartite rostrocaudal and dorsoventral subdivisions, as well as a tripartite radial stratification, each cell population showing a characteristic molecular profile. Some novel nuclei are proposed, and some instances of potential tangential cell migration were noted.

Development of the mouse anterior amygdalar radial unit marked by Lhx9-expression

The amygdala in mammals plays a key role in emotional processing and learning, being subdivided in pallial and subpallial derivatives. Recently, the cortical ring model and the pallial amygdalar radial model (Puelles et al. 2019; Garcia-Calero et al. 2020) described the pallial amygdala as an histogenetic field external to the allocortical ring, and subdivided it in five major radial domains called lateral, basal, anterior, posterior and retroendopiriform units. The anterior radial unit, whose cells typically express the Lhx9 gene (see molecular profile in Garcia-Calero et al. 2020), is located next to the pallial/subpallial boundary. This radial domain shows massive radial translocation and accumulation of its derivatives into its intermediate and superficial strata, with only a glial palisade representing its final periventricular domain. To better understand the development of this singular radial domain, not described previously, we followed the expression of Lhx9 during mouse amygdalar development in the context of the postulated radial subdivisions of the pallial amygdala and other telencephalic developmental features.

The Zebrafish Amygdaloid Complex - Functional Ground Plan, Molecular Delineation, and Everted Topology

In mammals and other tetrapods, a multinuclear forebrain structure, called the amygdala, forms the neuroregulatory core essential for emotion, cognition, and social behavior. Currently, higher circuits of affective behavior in anamniote non-tetrapod vertebrates (“fishes”) are poorly understood, preventing a comprehensive understanding of amygdala evolution. Through molecular characterization and evolutionary-developmental considerations, we delineated the complex amygdala ground plan of zebrafish, whose everted telencephalon has made comparisons to the evaginated forebrains of tetrapods challenging. In this radical paradigm, thirteen telencephalic territories constitute the zebrafish amygdaloid complex and each territory is distinguished by conserved molecular properties and structure-functional relationships with other amygdaloid structures. Central to our paradigm, the study identifies the teleostean amygdaloid nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract (nLOT), an olfactory integrative structure that links dopaminergic telencephalic groups to the amygdala alongside redefining the putative zebrafish olfactory pallium (“Dp”). Molecular characteristics such as the distribution of substance P and the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin (PV) and calretinin (CR) indicate, that the zebrafish extended centromedial (autonomic and reproductive) amygdala is predominantly located in the GABAergic and isl1-negative territory. Like in tetrapods, medial amygdaloid (MeA) nuclei are defined by the presence of substance P immunoreactive fibers and calretinin-positive neurons, whereas central amygdaloid (CeA) nuclei lack these characteristics. A detailed comparison of lhx5-driven and vGLut2a-driven GFP in transgenic reporter lines revealed ancestral topological relationships between the thalamic eminence (EmT), the medial amygdala (MeA), the nLOT, and the integrative olfactory pallium. Thus, the study explains how the zebrafish amygdala and the complexly everted telencephalon topologically relate to the corresponding structures in mammals indicating that an elaborate amygdala ground plan evolved early in vertebrates, in a common ancestor of teleosts and tetrapods.

The fornix acts as a permissive corridor for septal neuron migration beyond the diencephalic-telencephalic boundary

Neuronal migration is essential for constructing functional neural networks. Two posterior septal (PS) nuclei, the triangular septal nucleus and bed nuclei of the anterior commissure, are involved in fear and anxiety. During development, glutamatergic PS neurons undergo long-distance rostrodorsal migration from the thalamic eminence (TE) of the diencephalon, then settle in the caudalmost telencephalon. However, the developmental behavior of PS neurons and the guidance structures facilitating their migration remain unknown. We previously demonstrated the migration of PS neurons along the fornix, a major efferent pathway from the hippocampal formation. Here, we show that the postcommissural fornix is essential for PS neuron migration which is largely confined to its axonal tract, which grows in the opposite direction as PS neuron migration. Fornical axons reach the TE prior to initiation of PS neuron rostrodorsal migration. Ectopic expression of Semaphorin 3 A in the dorsomedial cortex resulted in defective fornix formation. Furthermore, loss of the postcommissural fornix stalled PS neuron migration resulting in abnormal accumulation near their origin. This suggests that PS neurons utilize the postcommissural fornix as a permissive corridor during migration beyond the diencephalic-telencephalic boundary. This axonal support is essential for the functional organization of the heterogeneous septal nuclear complex.

Lineage does not regulate the sensory synaptic input of projection neurons in the mouse olfactory bulb

Lineage regulates the synaptic connections between neurons in some regions of the invertebrate nervous system. In mammals, recent experiments suggest that cell lineage determines the connectivity of pyramidal neurons in the neocortex, but the functional relevance of this phenomenon and whether it occurs in other neuronal types remains controversial. We investigated whether lineage plays a role in the connectivity of mitral and tufted cells, the projection neurons in the mouse olfactory bulb. We used transgenic mice to sparsely label neuronal progenitors and observed that clonally related neurons receive synaptic input from olfactory sensory neurons expressing different olfactory receptors. These results indicate that lineage does not determine the connectivity between olfactory sensory neurons and olfactory bulb projection neurons.

Diencephalic progenitors contribute to the posterior septum through rostral migration along the hippocampal axonal pathway

Septal nuclei are telencephalic structures associated with a variety of brain functions as part of the limbic system. The two posterior septal nuclei, the triangular septal nucleus (TS) and the bed nuclei of the anterior commissure (BAC), are involved in fear and anxiety through their projections to the medial habenular nucleus. However, the development of both the TS and BAC remains unclear. Here, we found a novel caudal origin and putative migratory stream of mouse posterior septal neurons arising from the thalamic eminence (TE), a transient developmental structure at the rostral end of the rodent diencephalon. TE-derived cells, which have glutamatergic identity, migrated rostrally and entered the telencephalic territory by passing beneath the third ventricle. Subsequently, they turned dorsally toward the posterior septum. We also observed that TS and BAC neurons in the postnatal septum were labeled with GFP by in utero electroporation into the TE, suggesting a shared origin. Furthermore, TE-derived septal neurons migrated along the fornix, an efferent pathway from the hippocampus. These results demonstrate that posterior septal neurons have a distinct extratelencephalic origin from other septal nuclei. This heterogeneous origin may contribute to neuronal diversity of the septal nuclear complex.

Cajal-Retzius cells and GABAergic interneurons of the developing hippocampus: Close electrophysiological encounters of the third kind

In contrast to the large number of studies investigating the electrophysiological properties and synaptic connectivity of hippocampal pyramidal neurons, granule cells, and GABAergic interneurons, much less is known about Cajal-Retzius cells. In this review article, we discuss the possible reasons underlying this difference, and review experimental work performed on this cell type in the hippocampus, comparing it with results obtained in the neocortex. Our main emphasis is on data obtained with in vitro electrophysiology. In particular, we address the bidirectional connectivity between Cajal-Retzius cells and GABAergic interneurons, examine their synaptic properties and propose specific functions of Cajal-Retzius cell/GABAergic interneuron microcircuits. Lastly, we discuss the potential involvement of these microcircuits in critical physiological hippocampal functions such as postnatal neurogenesis or pathological scenarios such as temporal lobe epilepsy.

The caudo-ventral pallium is a novel pallial domain expressing Gdf10 and generating Ebf3-positive neurons of the medial amygdala

In rodents, the medial nucleus of the amygdala receives direct inputs from the accessory olfactory bulbs and is mainly implicated in pheromone-mediated reproductive and defensive behaviors. The principal neurons of the medial amygdala are GABAergic neurons generated principally in the caudo-ventral medial ganglionic eminence and preoptic area. Beside GABAergic neurons, the medial amygdala also contains glutamatergic Otp-expressing neurons cells generated in the lateral hypothalamic neuroepithelium and a non-well characterized Pax6-positive population. In the present work, we describe a novel glutamatergic Ebf3-expressing neuronal subpopulation distributed within the periphery of the postero-ventral medial amygdala. These neurons are generated in a pallial domain characterized by high expression of Gdf10. This territory is topologically the most caudal tier of the ventral pallium and accordingly, we named it Caudo-Ventral Pallium (CVP). In the absence of Pax6, the CVP is disrupted and Ebf3-expressing neurons fail to be generated. Overall, this work proposes a novel model of the neuronal composition of the medial amygdala and unravels for the first time a new novel pallial subpopulation originating from the CVP and expressing the transcription factor Ebf3.

Rostro-Caudal and Caudo-Rostral Migrations in the Telencephalon: Going Forward or Backward?

The generation and differentiation of an appropriate number of neurons, as well as its distribution in different parts of the brain, is crucial for the proper establishment, maintenance and plasticity of neural circuitries. Newborn neurons travel along the brain in a process known as neuronal migration, to finalize their correct position in the nervous system. Defects in neuronal migration produce abnormalities in the brain that can generate neurodevelopmental pathologies, such as autism, schizophrenia and intellectual disability. In this review, we present an overview of the developmental origin of the different telencephalic subdivisions and a description of migratory pathways taken by distinct neural populations traveling long distances before reaching their target position in the brain. In addition, we discuss some of the molecules implicated in the guidance of these migratory paths and transcription factors that contribute to the correct migration and integration of these neurons.

Origin and Migration of Olfactory Cajal-Retzius Cells

Early telencephalic development involves the migration of diverse cell types that can be identified by specific molecular markers. Most prominent among them are Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells that emanate mainly from the cortical hem and to a lesser extent from rostrolateral, septal and caudo-medial regions. One additional territory proposed to give rise to CR cells that migrate dorsally into the neocortex lies at the ventral pallium, although contradictory results question this notion. With the use of a cell-permeable fluorescent tracer in cultured embryos, we identified novel migratory paths of putative CR cells and other populations that originate from the rostrolateral telencephalon at its olfactory region. Moreover, extensive labeling on the lateral telencephalon along its rostro-caudal extent failed to reveal a dorsally-migrating CR cell population from the ventral pallium at the stages analyzed. Hence, this work reveals a novel olfactory CR cell migration and supports the idea that the ventral pallium, where diverse types of neurons converge, does not actually generate CR cells.

Temporal variations in early developmental decisions: an engine of forebrain evolution

Tight control of developmental timing is pivotal to many major processes in developmental biology, such as patterning, fate specification, cell cycle dynamics, cell migration and connectivity. Temporal change in these ontogenetic sequences is known as heterochrony, a major force in the evolution of body plans and organogenesis. In the last 5 years, studies in fish and rodents indicate that heterochrony in signaling during early development generates diversity in forebrain size and complexity. Here, we summarize these findings and propose that, additionally to spatio-temporal tuning of neurogenesis, temporal and quantitative modulation of signaling events drive pivotal changes in shape, size and complexity of the forebrain across evolution, participating to the generation of diversity in animal behavior and emergence of cognition.