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Costa FV, Zabegalov KN, Kolesnikova TO, de Abreu MS, Kotova MM, Petersen EV, Kalueff AV. Experimental models of human cortical malformations: from mammals to 'acortical' zebrafish. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 155:105429. [PMID: 37863278 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Human neocortex controls and integrates cognition, emotions, perception and complex behaviors. Aberrant cortical development can be triggered by multiple genetic and environmental factors, causing cortical malformations. Animal models, especially rodents, are a valuable tool to probe molecular and physiological mechanisms of cortical malformations. Complementing rodent studies, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an important model organism in biomedicine. Although the zebrafish (like other fishes) lacks neocortex, here we argue that this species can still be used to model various aspects and brain phenomena related to human cortical malformations. We also discuss novel perspectives in this field, covering both advantages and limitations of using mammalian and zebrafish models in cortical malformation research. Summarizing mounting evidence, we also highlight the importance of translationally-relevant insights into the pathogenesis of cortical malformations from animal models, and discuss future strategies of research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiano V Costa
- World-class Research Center "Center for Personalized Medicine", Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius Federal Territory, Russia
| | - Konstantin N Zabegalov
- Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius Federal Territory, Russia
| | - Tatiana O Kolesnikova
- World-class Research Center "Center for Personalized Medicine", Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius Federal Territory, Russia
| | | | - Maria M Kotova
- World-class Research Center "Center for Personalized Medicine", Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius Federal Territory, Russia
| | | | - Allan V Kalueff
- World-class Research Center "Center for Personalized Medicine", Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Laboratory of Preclinical Bioscreening, Granov Russian Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Pesochny, Russia; Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia; Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius Federal Territory, Russia.
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Ferent J, Zaidi D, Francis F. Extracellular Control of Radial Glia Proliferation and Scaffolding During Cortical Development and Pathology. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:578341. [PMID: 33178693 PMCID: PMC7596222 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.578341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
During the development of the cortex, newly generated neurons migrate long-distances in the expanding tissue to reach their final positions. Pyramidal neurons are produced from dorsal progenitors, e.g., radial glia (RGs) in the ventricular zone, and then migrate along RG processes basally toward the cortex. These neurons are hence dependent upon RG extensions to support their migration from apical to basal regions. Several studies have investigated how intracellular determinants are required for RG polarity and subsequent formation and maintenance of their processes. Fewer studies have identified the influence of the extracellular environment on this architecture. This review will focus on extracellular factors which influence RG morphology and pyramidal neuronal migration during normal development and their perturbations in pathology. During cortical development, RGs are present in different strategic positions: apical RGs (aRGs) have their cell bodies located in the ventricular zone with an apical process contacting the ventricle, while they also have a basal process extending radially to reach the pial surface of the cortex. This particular conformation allows aRGs to be exposed to long range and short range signaling cues, whereas basal RGs (bRGs, also known as outer RGs, oRGs) have their cell bodies located throughout the cortical wall, limiting their access to ventricular factors. Long range signals impacting aRGs include secreted molecules present in the embryonic cerebrospinal fluid (e.g., Neuregulin, EGF, FGF, Wnt, BMP). Secreted molecules also contribute to the extracellular matrix (fibronectin, laminin, reelin). Classical short range factors include cell to cell signaling, adhesion molecules and mechano-transduction mechanisms (e.g., TAG1, Notch, cadherins, mechanical tension). Changes in one or several of these components influencing the RG extracellular environment can disrupt the development or maintenance of RG architecture on which neuronal migration relies, leading to a range of cortical malformations. First, we will detail the known long range signaling cues impacting RG. Then, we will review how short range cell contacts are also important to instruct the RG framework. Understanding how RG processes are structured by their environment to maintain and support radial migration is a critical part of the investigation of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Ferent
- Inserm, U 1270, Paris, France.,Sorbonne University, UMR-S 1270, IFM, Paris, France.,Institut du Fer á Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Donia Zaidi
- Inserm, U 1270, Paris, France.,Sorbonne University, UMR-S 1270, IFM, Paris, France.,Institut du Fer á Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Fiona Francis
- Inserm, U 1270, Paris, France.,Sorbonne University, UMR-S 1270, IFM, Paris, France.,Institut du Fer á Moulin, Paris, France
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3
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Matsumoto N, Hoshiba Y, Morita K, Uda N, Hirota M, Minamikawa M, Ebisu H, Shinmyo Y, Kawasaki H. Pathophysiological analyses of periventricular nodular heterotopia using gyrencephalic mammals. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:1173-1181. [PMID: 28158406 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH) is often found in the cerebral cortex of people with thanatophoric dysplasia (TD), the pathophysiology of PNH in TD is largely unknown. This is mainly because of difficulties in obtaining brain samples of TD patients and a lack of appropriate animal models for analyzing the pathophysiology of PNH in TD. Here we investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms of PNH in the cerebral cortex of TD by utilizing a ferret TD model which we recently developed. To make TD ferrets, we electroporated fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) into the cerebral cortex of ferrets. Our immunohistochemical analyses showed that PNH nodules in the cerebral cortex of TD ferrets were mostly composed of cortical neurons, including upper layer neurons and GABAergic neurons. We also found disorganizations of radial glial fibers and of the ventricular lining in the TD ferret cortex, indicating that PNH may result from defects in radial migration of cortical neurons along radial glial fibers during development. Our findings provide novel mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of PNH in TD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoyuki Matsumoto
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University
| | - Yoshio Hoshiba
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University
| | - Kazuya Morita
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University.,Medical Research Training Program, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University
| | - Natsu Uda
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University.,Medical Research Training Program, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University
| | - Miwako Hirota
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University.,Medical Research Training Program, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University
| | - Maki Minamikawa
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University.,Medical Research Training Program, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University
| | - Haruka Ebisu
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University
| | - Yohei Shinmyo
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University
| | - Hiroshi Kawasaki
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University.,Brain/Liver Interface Medicine Research Center, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8640, Japan
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Empie K, Rangarajan V, Juul SE. Is the ferret a suitable species for studying perinatal brain injury? Int J Dev Neurosci 2015; 45:2-10. [PMID: 26102988 PMCID: PMC4793918 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferret brain architecture, composition, and development are similar to humans. Postnatal ferret brain development is comparable to that of premature infants. Ferrets have potential to model preterm and term neonatal brain injury. Ferrets may fulfill the need for an intermediate model species of neurodevelopment. Many opportunities exist to expand the use of ferrets as research subjects.
Complications of prematurity often disrupt normal brain development and/or cause direct damage to the developing brain, resulting in poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Physiologically relevant animal models of perinatal brain injury can advance our understanding of these influences and thereby provide opportunities to develop therapies and improve long-term outcomes. While there are advantages to currently available small animal models, there are also significant drawbacks that have limited translation of research findings to humans. Large animal models such as newborn pig, sheep and nonhuman primates have complex brain development more similar to humans, but these animals are expensive, and developmental testing of sheep and piglets is limited. Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) are born lissencephalic and undergo postnatal cortical folding to form complex gyrencephalic brains. This review examines whether ferrets might provide a novel intermediate animal model of neonatal brain disease that has the benefit of a gyrified, altricial brain in a small animal. It summarizes attributes of ferret brain growth and development that make it an appealing animal in which to model perinatal brain injury. We postulate that because of their innate characteristics, ferrets have great potential in neonatal neurodevelopmental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Empie
- Department of Neonatology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | | | - Sandra E Juul
- Department of Neonatology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
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Guo L, Xu P, Tang X, Wu Q, Xing Y, Gustafsson JA, Xu H, Fan X. Liver X receptor β delays transformation of radial glial cells into astrocytes during mouse cerebral cortical development. Neurochem Int 2014; 71:8-16. [PMID: 24662373 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2014.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Revised: 03/02/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Radial glial (RG) cells serve as stem cells to produce new born neurons and scaffolds for neuronal migration during corticogenesis. After neurogenesis and migration are completed, most RG cells transform into astrocytes. However, the mechanisms that determine how RG cells are transformed into astrocytes are not well understood. Using nestin as a specific marker for both RG cells and astrocytes, we found that loss of LXRβ caused a reduction in the level of RG fibers and increase in the astrocytes. At the same time, we showed that the level of brain lipid-binding protein (BLBP), a RG-specific protein, was lower in the LXRβ knockout (LXRβ(-/-)) mice than in the wild type (WT) littermates from E18.5 to P14, a time period when most of RG cells are transformed into astrocytes. However, loss of LXRβ induced significant increase in the number of GFAP labeled astrocytes in the cerebral cortex. An increase of the transformation of RG cells into astrocytes in LXRβ(-/-) mice was further confirmed by the increased percentage of BLBP and GFAP double stained cells in the total BLBP positive cells of the Layer I and Layers V-VI. TGF-β1 and Smad4 are thought to be involved in the transformation of RG cells into astrocytes. The expression levels of TGF-β1mRNA and Smad4 mRNA were significantly higher in the cerebral cortex of LXRβ(-/-) mice than that in the WT littermates at P2 and P7, but by P10 and P14, mRNA levels had normalized and no differences were observed between WT and LXRβ(-/-) mice. Taken together, our findings suggest that loss of LXRβ accelerates the transformation of RG cells into astrocytes and that this acceleration may be correlated to higher levels TGF-β1 and Smad4 in the cerebral cortex between P2 and P7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Guo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Pei Xu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Xiaotong Tang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Qiao Wu
- Department of Immunology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Yan Xing
- Department of Immunology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Jan-Ake Gustafsson
- Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, University of Houston, TX 77054, United States; Division of Medical Nutrition, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Novum 141 86, Sweden
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Eye Hospital, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
| | - Xiaotang Fan
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
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Abbah J, Braga MFM, Juliano SL. Targeted disruption of layer 4 during development increases GABAA receptor neurotransmission in the neocortex. J Neurophysiol 2013; 111:323-35. [PMID: 24155012 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00652.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical dysplasia (CD) associates with clinical pathologies, including epilepsy and mental retardation. CD results from impaired migration of immature neurons to their cortical targets, leading to clustering of neural cells and changes in cortical properties. We developed a CD model by administering methylazoxymethanol (MAM), an anti-mitotic, to pregnant ferrets on embryonic day 33; this leads to reduction in cortical thickness in addition to redistribution and increased expression of GABAA receptors (GABAAR). We evaluated the impact of MAM treatment on GABAAR-mediated synaptic transmission in postnatal day 0-1 neurons, leaving the ganglionic eminence (GE) and in layer 2/3 pyramidal cells of postnatal day 28-38 ferrets. Embryonic day 33 MAM treatment significantly increases the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous GABAAR-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in the cells leaving the GE. In older MAM-treated animals, the amplitude and frequency of GABAAR-mediated spontaneous IPSCs in layer 2/3 pyramidal cells is increased, as are the amplitude and frequency of miniature IPSCs. The kinetics of GABAAR opening also altered following treatment with MAM. Western blot analysis shows that the expression of the GABAAα3R and GABAAγ2R subunits amplified in our model animals. We did not observe any significant change in the passive properties of either the layer 2/3 pyramidal cells or cells leaving the GE after MAM treatment. These observations reinforce the idea that synaptic neurotransmission through GABAAR enhances following treatment with MAM and coincides with our finding of increased GABAAαR expression within the upper cortical layers. Overall, we demonstrate that small amounts of toxins delivered during corticogenesis can result in long-lasting changes in ambient expression of GABAAR that influence intrinsic neuronal properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Abbah
- Program in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland; and
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Poluch S, Juliano SL. Fine-tuning of neurogenesis is essential for the evolutionary expansion of the cerebral cortex. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 25:346-64. [PMID: 23968831 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bht232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We used several animal models to study global and regional cortical surface expansion: The lissencephalic mouse, gyrencephalic normal ferrets, in which the parietal cortex expands more than the temporal cortex, and moderately lissencephalic ferrets, showing a similar degree of temporal and parietal expansion. We found that overall cortical surface expansion is achieved when specific events occur prior to surpragranular layer formation. (1) The subventricular zone (SVZ) shows substantial growth, (2) the inner SVZ contains an increased number of outer radial glia and intermediate progenitor cells expressing Pax6, and (3) the outer SVZ contains a progenitor cell composition similar to the combined VZ and inner SVZ. A greater parietal expansion is also achieved by eliminating the latero-dorsal neurogenic gradient, so that neurogenesis displays a similar developmental degree between parietal and temporal regions. In contrast, mice or lissencephalic ferrets show more advanced neurogenesis in the temporal region. In conclusion, we propose that global and regional cortical surface expansion rely on similar strategies consisting in altering the timing of neurogenic events prior to the surpragranular layer formation, so that more progenitor cells, and ultimately more neurons, are produced. This hypothesis is supported by findings from a ferret model of lissencephaly obtained by transiently blocking neurogenesis during the formation of layer IV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Poluch
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics Department of Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sharon L Juliano
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics Department of Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Li H, Jin G, Qin J, Tian M, Shi J, Yang W, Tan X, Zhang X, Zou L. Characterization and identification of Sox2+ radial glia cells derived from rat embryonic cerebral cortex. Histochem Cell Biol 2011; 136:515-26. [DOI: 10.1007/s00418-011-0864-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/05/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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