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Ross G, Radtke-Schuller S, Frohlich F. Ferret as a model system for studying the anatomy and function of the prefrontal cortex: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 162:105701. [PMID: 38718987 PMCID: PMC11162921 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
There is a lack of consensus on anatomical nomenclature, standards of documentation, and functional equivalence of the frontal cortex between species. There remains a major gap between human prefrontal function and interpretation of findings in the mouse brain that appears to lack several key prefrontal areas involved in cognition and psychiatric illnesses. The ferret is an emerging model organism that has gained traction as an intermediate model species for the study of top-down cognitive control and other higher-order brain functions. However, this research has yet to benefit from synthesis. Here, we provide a summary of all published research pertaining to the frontal and/or prefrontal cortex of the ferret across research scales. The targeted location within the ferret brain is summarized visually for each experiment, and the anatomical terminology used at time of publishing is compared to what would be the appropriate term to use presently. By doing so, we hope to improve clarity in the interpretation of both previous and future publications on the comparative study of frontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Ross
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Susanne Radtke-Schuller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Flavio Frohlich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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2
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Tai NC, Shinmyo Y, Kawasaki H. Astrocyte diversity in the ferret cerebrum revealed with astrocyte-specific genetic manipulation. Glia 2024. [PMID: 38884631 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes in the cerebrum play important roles such as the regulation of synaptic functions, homeostasis, water transport, and the blood-brain barrier. It has been proposed that astrocytes in the cerebrum acquired diversity and developed functionally during evolution. Here, we show that like human astrocytes, ferret astrocytes in the cerebrum exhibit various morphological subtypes which mice do not have. We found that layer 1 of the ferret cerebrum contained not only protoplasmic astrocytes but also pial interlaminar astrocytes and subpial interlaminar astrocytes. Morphologically polarized astrocytes, which have a long unbranched process, were found in layer 6. Like human white matter, ferret white matter exhibited four subtypes of astrocytes. Furthermore, our quantification showed that ferret astrocytes had a larger territory size and a longer radius length than mouse astrocytes. Thus, our results indicate that, similar to the human cerebrum, the ferret cerebrum has a well-developed diversity of astrocytes. Ferrets should be useful for investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to astrocyte diversity, the functions of each astrocyte subtype and the involvement of different astrocyte subtypes in various neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Chi Tai
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
- Sapiens Life Sciences, Evolution and Medicine Research Center, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yohei Shinmyo
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
- Department of Neurophysiology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kawasaki
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
- Sapiens Life Sciences, Evolution and Medicine Research Center, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
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3
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Garcia KE, Wang X, Santiago SE, Bakshi S, Barnes AP, Kroenke CD. Longitudinal MRI of the developing ferret brain reveals regional variations in timing and rate of growth. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae172. [PMID: 38679479 PMCID: PMC11056283 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Normative ferret brain development was characterized using magnetic resonance imaging. Brain growth was longitudinally monitored in 10 ferrets (equal numbers of males and females) from postnatal day 8 (P8) through P38 in 6-d increments. Template T2-weighted images were constructed at each age, and these were manually segmented into 12 to 14 brain regions. A logistic growth model was used to fit data from whole brain volumes and 8 of the individual regions in both males and females. More protracted growth was found in males, which results in larger brains; however, sex differences were not apparent when results were corrected for body weight. Additionally, surface models of the developing cortical plate were registered to one another using the anatomically-constrained Multimodal Surface Matching algorithm. This, in turn, enabled local logistic growth parameters to be mapped across the cortical surface. A close similarity was observed between surface area expansion timing and previous reports of the transverse neurogenic gradient in ferrets. Regional variation in the extent of surface area expansion and the maximum expansion rate was also revealed. This characterization of normative brain growth over the period of cerebral cortex folding may serve as a reference for ferret studies of brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara E Garcia
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Evansville, IN 47715, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States
| | - Sarah E Santiago
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, United States
| | - Stuti Bakshi
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States
| | - Anthony P Barnes
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, United States
| | - Christopher D Kroenke
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States
- Oregon Health and Science Advanced Imaging Research Center, Portland, OR 97239, United States
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4
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Kawasaki H. Investigation of the mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of folds of the cerebrum using gyrencephalic ferrets. J Comp Neurol 2024; 532:e25615. [PMID: 38587214 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The mammalian cerebrum has changed substantially during evolution, characterized by increases in neurons and glial cells and by the expansion and folding of the cerebrum. While these evolutionary alterations are thought to be crucial for acquiring higher cognitive functions, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of the mammalian cerebrum remain only partially understood. This is, in part, because of the difficulty in analyzing these mechanisms using mice only. To overcome this limitation, genetic manipulation techniques for the cerebrum of gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets have been developed. Furthermore, successful gene knockout in the ferret cerebrum has been accomplished through the application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. This review mainly highlights recent research conducted using gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets to investigate the mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of cortical folds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kawasaki
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
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5
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Keum D, Medina AE. The effect of developmental alcohol exposure on multisensory integration is larger in deeper cortical layers. Alcohol 2024:S0741-8329(24)00032-6. [PMID: 38417561 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are one of the most common causes of mental disability in the world. Despite efforts to increase public awareness of the risks of drinking during pregnancy, epidemiological studies indicate a prevalence of 1-6% in all births. There is growing evidence that deficits in sensory processing may contribute to social problems observed in FASD. Multisensory (MS) integration occurs when a combination of inputs from two sensory modalities leads to enhancement or suppression of neuronal firing. MS enhancement is usually linked to processes that facilitate cognition and reaction time, whereas MS suppression has been linked to filtering unwanted sensory information. The rostral portion of the posterior parietal cortex (PPr) of the ferret is an area that shows robust visual-tactile integration and displays both MS enhancement and suppression. Recently, our lab demonstrated that ferrets exposed to alcohol during the "third trimester equivalent" of human gestation show less MS enhancement and more MS suppression in PPr than controls. Here we complement these findings by comparing in vivo electrophysiological recordings from channels located in shallow and deep cortical layers. We observed that while the effects of alcohol (less MS enhancement and more MS suppression) were found in all layers, the magnitude of these effects were more pronounced in putative layers V-VI. These findings extend our knowledge on the sensory deficits of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongil Keum
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland, School of Medicine. 655 Baltimore, St. Baltimore, MD, 21230
| | - Alexandre E Medina
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland, School of Medicine. 655 Baltimore, St. Baltimore, MD, 21230.
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6
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Barresi M, Hickmott RA, Bosakhar A, Quezada S, Quigley A, Kawasaki H, Walker D, Tolcos M. Toward a better understanding of how a gyrified brain develops. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae055. [PMID: 38425213 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The size and shape of the cerebral cortex have changed dramatically across evolution. For some species, the cortex remains smooth (lissencephalic) throughout their lifetime, while for other species, including humans and other primates, the cortex increases substantially in size and becomes folded (gyrencephalic). A folded cortex boasts substantially increased surface area, cortical thickness, and neuronal density, and it is therefore associated with higher-order cognitive abilities. The mechanisms that drive gyrification in some species, while others remain lissencephalic despite many shared neurodevelopmental features, have been a topic of investigation for many decades, giving rise to multiple perspectives of how the gyrified cerebral cortex acquires its unique shape. Recently, a structurally unique germinal layer, known as the outer subventricular zone, and the specialized cell type that populates it, called basal radial glial cells, were identified, and these have been shown to be indispensable for cortical expansion and folding. Transcriptional analyses and gene manipulation models have provided an invaluable insight into many of the key cellular and genetic drivers of gyrification. However, the degree to which certain biomechanical, genetic, and cellular processes drive gyrification remains under investigation. This review considers the key aspects of cerebral expansion and folding that have been identified to date and how theories of gyrification have evolved to incorporate this new knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikaela Barresi
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Plenty Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
- ACMD, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Regent Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia
| | - Ryan Alexander Hickmott
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Plenty Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
- ACMD, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Regent Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia
| | - Abdulhameed Bosakhar
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Plenty Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Sebastian Quezada
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Plenty Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Anita Quigley
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Plenty Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
- ACMD, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Regent Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital, Regent Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia
| | - Hiroshi Kawasaki
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Takara-machi 13-1, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - David Walker
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Plenty Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Mary Tolcos
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Plenty Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
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7
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Akula SK, Exposito-Alonso D, Walsh CA. Shaping the brain: The emergence of cortical structure and folding. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2836-2849. [PMID: 38113850 PMCID: PMC10793202 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The cerebral cortex-the brain's covering and largest region-has increased in size and complexity in humans and supports higher cognitive functions such as language and abstract thinking. There is a growing understanding of the human cerebral cortex, including the diversity and number of cell types that it contains, as well as of the developmental mechanisms that shape cortical structure and organization. In this review, we discuss recent progress in our understanding of molecular and cellular processes, as well as mechanical forces, that regulate the folding of the cerebral cortex. Advances in human genetics, coupled with experimental modeling in gyrencephalic species, have provided insights into the central role of cortical progenitors in the gyrification and evolutionary expansion of the cerebral cortex. These studies are essential for understanding the emergence of structural and functional organization during cortical development and the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with cortical malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam K Akula
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - David Exposito-Alonso
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher A Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA.
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8
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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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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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9
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Anderson-Mondella CJJ, Maines TR, Tansey CM, Belser JA. Meeting Ferret Enrichment Needs in Infectious Disease Laboratory Settings. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2023; 62:518-524. [PMID: 37857467 PMCID: PMC10772907 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-23-000057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment is a necessary component of all research vivarium settings. However, appropriate enrichment decisions vary greatly depending on the species involved and the research use of the animals. The increasing use of ferrets in research settings-notably for modeling the pathogenicity and transmissibility of viral pathogens that require containment in ABSL-2 to -4 environments-presents a particular challenge for veterinary and research staff to ensure that enrichment needs for these animals are met consistently. Here, we discuss the species-specific enrichment needs of ferrets, enrichment considerations for ferrets housed in research settings, and the challenges and importance of providing appropriate enrichment during experimentation, including when ferrets are housed in high-containment facilities. This article is organized to support the easy availability of information that will facilitate the design and implementation of optimal environmental enrichment for ferrets used in diverse research efforts in vivarium settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Challie JJ Anderson-Mondella
- Comparative Medicine Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
- Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, Georgia; and
| | - Taronna R Maines
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Cassandra M Tansey
- Comparative Medicine Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jessica A Belser
- Immunology and Pathogenesis Branch, Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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10
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Morales A, Andrews MG. Approaches to investigating metabolism in human neurodevelopment using organoids: insights from intestinal and cancer studies. Development 2022; 149:dev200506. [PMID: 36255366 PMCID: PMC9720749 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Interrogating the impact of metabolism during development is important for understanding cellular and tissue formation, organ and systemic homeostasis, and dysregulation in disease states. To evaluate the vital functions metabolism coordinates during human brain development and disease, pluripotent stem cell-derived models, such as organoids, provide tractable access to neurodevelopmental processes. Despite many strengths of neural organoid models, the extent of their replication of endogenous metabolic programs is currently unclear and requires direct investigation. Studies in intestinal and cancer organoids that functionally evaluate dynamic bioenergetic changes provide a framework that can be adapted for the study of neural metabolism. Validation of in vitro models remains a significant challenge; investigation using in vivo models and primary tissue samples is required to improve our in vitro model systems and, concomitantly, improve our understanding of human development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandria Morales
- Schoolof Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Madeline G. Andrews
- Schoolof Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
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11
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Roboon J, Hattori T, Nguyen DT, Ishii H, Takarada-Iemata M, Kannon T, Hosomichi K, Maejima T, Saito K, Shinmyo Y, Mieda M, Tajima A, Kawasaki H, Hori O. Isolation of ferret astrocytes reveals their morphological, transcriptional, and functional differences from mouse astrocytes. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:877131. [PMID: 36274991 PMCID: PMC9584309 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.877131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes play key roles in supporting the central nervous system structure, regulating synaptic functions, and maintaining brain homeostasis. The number of astrocytes in the cerebrum has markedly increased through evolution. However, the manner by which astrocytes change their features during evolution remains unknown. Compared with the rodent brain, the brain of the ferret, a carnivorous animal, has a folded cerebral cortex and higher white to gray matter ratio, which are common features of the human brain. To further clarify the features of ferret astrocytes, we isolated astrocytes from ferret neonatal brains, cultured these cells, and compared their morphology, gene expression, calcium response, and proliferating ability with those of mouse astrocytes. The morphology of cultured ferret astrocytes differed from that of mouse astrocytes. Ferret astrocytes had longer and more branched processes, smaller cell bodies, and different calcium responses to glutamate, as well as had a greater ability to proliferate, compared to mouse astrocytes. RNA sequencing analysis revealed novel ferret astrocyte-specific genes, including several genes that were the same as those in humans. Astrocytes in the ferret brains had larger cell size, longer primary processes in larger numbers, and a higher proliferation rate compared to mouse astrocytes. Our study shows that cultured ferret astrocytes have different features from rodent astrocytes and similar features to human astrocytes, suggesting that they are useful in studying the roles of astrocytes in brain evolution and cognitive functions in higher animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jureepon Roboon
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Hattori
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
- *Correspondence: Tsuyoshi Hattori,
| | - Dinh Thi Nguyen
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ishii
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Mika Takarada-Iemata
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kannon
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Hosomichi
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Takashi Maejima
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kengo Saito
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yohei Shinmyo
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Michihiro Mieda
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Atsushi Tajima
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kawasaki
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Osamu Hori
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
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12
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Fasano G, Compagnucci C, Dallapiccola B, Tartaglia M, Lauri A. Teleost Fish and Organoids: Alternative Windows Into the Development of Healthy and Diseased Brains. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:855786. [PMID: 36034498 PMCID: PMC9403253 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.855786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The variety in the display of animals’ cognition, emotions, and behaviors, typical of humans, has its roots within the anterior-most part of the brain: the forebrain, giving rise to the neocortex in mammals. Our understanding of cellular and molecular events instructing the development of this domain and its multiple adaptations within the vertebrate lineage has progressed in the last decade. Expanding and detailing the available knowledge on regionalization, progenitors’ behavior and functional sophistication of the forebrain derivatives is also key to generating informative models to improve our characterization of heterogeneous and mechanistically unexplored cortical malformations. Classical and emerging mammalian models are irreplaceable to accurately elucidate mechanisms of stem cells expansion and impairments of cortex development. Nevertheless, alternative systems, allowing a considerable reduction of the burden associated with animal experimentation, are gaining popularity to dissect basic strategies of neural stem cells biology and morphogenesis in health and disease and to speed up preclinical drug testing. Teleost vertebrates such as zebrafish, showing conserved core programs of forebrain development, together with patients-derived in vitro 2D and 3D models, recapitulating more accurately human neurogenesis, are now accepted within translational workflows spanning from genetic analysis to functional investigation. Here, we review the current knowledge of common and divergent mechanisms shaping the forebrain in vertebrates, and causing cortical malformations in humans. We next address the utility, benefits and limitations of whole-brain/organism-based fish models or neuronal ensembles in vitro for translational research to unravel key genes and pathological mechanisms involved in neurodevelopmental diseases.
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13
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Cortical Organoids to Model Microcephaly. Cells 2022; 11:cells11142135. [PMID: 35883578 PMCID: PMC9320662 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
How the brain develops and achieves its final size is a fascinating issue that questions cortical evolution across species and man’s place in the animal kingdom. Although animal models have so far been highly valuable in understanding the key steps of cortical development, many human specificities call for appropriate models. In particular, microcephaly, a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by a smaller head circumference has been challenging to model in mice, which often do not fully recapitulate the human phenotype. The relatively recent development of brain organoid technology from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) now makes it possible to model human microcephaly, both due to genetic and environmental origins, and to generate developing cortical tissue from the patients themselves. These 3D tissues rely on iPSCs differentiation into cortical progenitors that self-organize into neuroepithelial rosettes mimicking the earliest stages of human neurogenesis in vitro. Over the last ten years, numerous protocols have been developed to control the identity of the induced brain areas, the reproducibility of the experiments and the longevity of the cultures, allowing analysis of the later stages. In this review, we describe the different approaches that instruct human iPSCs to form cortical organoids, summarize the different microcephalic conditions that have so far been modeled by organoids, and discuss the relevance of this model to decipher the cellular and molecular mechanisms of primary and secondary microcephalies.
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14
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Nano PR, Bhaduri A. Evaluation of advances in cortical development using model systems. Dev Neurobiol 2022; 82:408-427. [PMID: 35644985 PMCID: PMC10924780 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Compared with that of even the closest primates, the human cortex displays a high degree of specialization and expansion that largely emerges developmentally. Although decades of research in the mouse and other model systems has revealed core tenets of cortical development that are well preserved across mammalian species, small deviations in transcription factor expression, novel cell types in primates and/or humans, and unique cortical architecture distinguish the human cortex. Importantly, many of the genes and signaling pathways thought to drive human-specific cortical expansion also leave the brain vulnerable to disease, as the misregulation of these factors is highly correlated with neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. However, creating a comprehensive understanding of human-specific cognition and disease remains challenging. Here, we review key stages of cortical development and highlight known or possible differences between model systems and the developing human brain. By identifying the developmental trajectories that may facilitate uniquely human traits, we highlight open questions in need of approaches to examine these processes in a human context and reveal translatable insights into human developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia R Nano
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Aparna Bhaduri
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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15
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Lossi L. Anatomical features for an adequate choice of the experimental animal model in biomedicine: III. Ferret, goat, sheep, and horse. Ann Anat 2022; 244:151978. [PMID: 35787443 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2022.151978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The anatomical characteristics of each of the many species today employed in biomedical research are very important when selecting the correct animal model(s), especially for conducting translational research. In previous papers, these features have been considered for fish (D'Angelo et al. Ann. Anat, 2016, 205:75), the most common laboratory rodents, rabbits, and pigs (Lossi et al. 2016). I here follow this line of discussion by dealing with the importance of proper knowledge of ferrets, goats, sheep, and horses' main anatomical features in translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lossi
- University of Turin, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Turin, Italy; INN, Istituto Nazionale di Neuroscienze, Turin, Italy.
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16
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Kaluthantrige Don F, Kalebic N. Forebrain Organoids to Model the Cell Biology of Basal Radial Glia in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Brain Evolution. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:917166. [PMID: 35774229 PMCID: PMC9237216 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.917166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The acquisition of higher intellectual abilities that distinguish humans from their closest relatives correlates greatly with the expansion of the cerebral cortex. This expansion is a consequence of an increase in neuronal cell production driven by the higher proliferative capacity of neural progenitor cells, in particular basal radial glia (bRG). Furthermore, when the proliferation of neural progenitor cells is impaired and the final neuronal output is altered, severe neurodevelopmental disorders can arise. To effectively study the cell biology of human bRG, genetically accessible human experimental models are needed. With the pioneering success to isolate and culture pluripotent stem cells in vitro, we can now routinely investigate the developing human cerebral cortex in a dish using three-dimensional multicellular structures called organoids. Here, we will review the molecular and cell biological features of bRG that have recently been elucidated using brain organoids. We will further focus on the application of this simple model system to study in a mechanistically actionable way the molecular and cellular events in bRG that can lead to the onset of various neurodevelopmental diseases.
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17
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Shinmyo Y, Hamabe-Horiike T, Saito K, Kawasaki H. Investigation of the Mechanisms Underlying the Development and Evolution of the Cerebral Cortex Using Gyrencephalic Ferrets. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:847159. [PMID: 35386196 PMCID: PMC8977464 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.847159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian cerebral cortex has changed significantly during evolution. As a result of the increase in the number of neurons and glial cells in the cerebral cortex, its size has markedly expanded. Moreover, folds, called gyri and sulci, appeared on its surface, and its neuronal circuits have become much more complicated. Although these changes during evolution are considered to have been crucial for the acquisition of higher brain functions, the mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of the cerebral cortex of mammals are still unclear. This is, at least partially, because it is difficult to investigate these mechanisms using mice only. Therefore, genetic manipulation techniques for the cerebral cortex of gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets were developed recently. Furthermore, gene knockout was achieved in the ferret cerebral cortex using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. These techniques enabled molecular investigations using the ferret cerebral cortex. In this review, we will summarize recent findings regarding the mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of the mammalian cerebral cortex, mainly focusing on research using ferrets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohei Shinmyo
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Toshihide Hamabe-Horiike
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kengo Saito
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kawasaki
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
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18
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Kolnik S, Corry K, Hildahl K, Filteau J, White O, Brandon O, Farid L, Shearlock A, Moralejo D, Juul SE, Nance EA, Wood TR. Vitamin E Decreases Cytotoxicity and Mitigates Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Responses in a Ferret Organotypic Brain Slice Model of Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia. Dev Neurosci 2022; 44:233-245. [PMID: 35134797 DOI: 10.1159/000522485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The gyrencephalic ferret brain is an excellent model in which to study hypoxia-ischemia (HI), a significant contributor to neurological injury in neonates. Vitamin E, an essential fat-soluble antioxidant, reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in both animal models and neonates. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Vitamin E after oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) in an organotypic ferret brain slice model of neonatal HI. We hypothesized that Vitamin E would decrease cytotoxicity, inflammation, and oxidative stress in OGD-exposed brain slices. Term-equivalent ferrets were sacrificed at postnatal (P) day 21-23 and 300µM whole hemisphere brain slices were obtained. During a 24h rest period, slices were cultured in either non-treated control conditions or with Erastin, a promotor of oxidative stress. Slices were then exposed to 2h of OGD followed by Vitamin E (25-100 IU/kg), Erastin (10µM) or Ferrostatin (1µM), an inhibitor of ferroptosis. Relative cytotoxicity was determined using an LDH assay, cell death was quantified via nuclear propidium iodide (PI) staining, oxidative stress was quantified via cellular GSH (glutathione) levels and target genes responsive to oxidative stress and inflammation were evaluated by qRT-PCR. OGD increased cytotoxicity, which was significantly reduced by treatment with Vitamin E. Vitamin E also preserved GSH after OGD and decreased amplification of certain markers of oxidative stress (CHAC1, SLC7A11) and inflammation (TNF-alpha, IL-8). Vitamin E remained protective after pretreatment with Erastin and was more protective than Ferrostatin, presumably due to its added anti-inflammatory properties. Results from the ferret whole hemisphere OGD model support the premise that Vitamin E neuroprotection is mediated by restoring GSH and acutely decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress after neonatal HI brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kolnik
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kylie Corry
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kate Hildahl
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jeremy Filteau
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Olivia White
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Olivia Brandon
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lily Farid
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - AnnaMarie Shearlock
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Daniel Moralejo
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sandra E Juul
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Nance
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Thomas R Wood
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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19
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Ossola C, Kalebic N. Roots of the Malformations of Cortical Development in the Cell Biology of Neural Progenitor Cells. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:817218. [PMID: 35069108 PMCID: PMC8766818 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.817218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebral cortex is a structure that underlies various brain functions, including cognition and language. Mammalian cerebral cortex starts developing during the embryonic period with the neural progenitor cells generating neurons. Newborn neurons migrate along progenitors’ radial processes from the site of their origin in the germinal zones to the cortical plate, where they mature and integrate in the forming circuitry. Cell biological features of neural progenitors, such as the location and timing of their mitoses, together with their characteristic morphologies, can directly or indirectly regulate the abundance and the identity of their neuronal progeny. Alterations in the complex and delicate process of cerebral cortex development can lead to malformations of cortical development (MCDs). They include various structural abnormalities that affect the size, thickness and/or folding pattern of the developing cortex. Their clinical manifestations can entail a neurodevelopmental disorder, such as epilepsy, developmental delay, intellectual disability, or autism spectrum disorder. The recent advancements of molecular and neuroimaging techniques, along with the development of appropriate in vitro and in vivo model systems, have enabled the assessment of the genetic and environmental causes of MCDs. Here we broadly review the cell biological characteristics of neural progenitor cells and focus on those features whose perturbations have been linked to MCDs.
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20
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Salamon I, Rasin MR. Evolution of the Neocortex Through RNA-Binding Proteins and Post-transcriptional Regulation. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:803107. [PMID: 35082597 PMCID: PMC8784817 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.803107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The human neocortex is undoubtedly considered a supreme accomplishment in mammalian evolution. It features a prenatally established six-layered structure which remains plastic to the myriad of changes throughout an organism’s lifetime. A fundamental feature of neocortical evolution and development is the abundance and diversity of the progenitor cell population and their neuronal and glial progeny. These evolutionary upgrades are partially enabled due to the progenitors’ higher proliferative capacity, compartmentalization of proliferative regions, and specification of neuronal temporal identities. The driving force of these processes may be explained by temporal molecular patterning, by which progenitors have intrinsic capacity to change their competence as neocortical neurogenesis proceeds. Thus, neurogenesis can be conceptualized along two timescales of progenitors’ capacity to (1) self-renew or differentiate into basal progenitors (BPs) or neurons or (2) specify their fate into distinct neuronal and glial subtypes which participate in the formation of six-layers. Neocortical development then proceeds through sequential phases of proliferation, differentiation, neuronal migration, and maturation. Temporal molecular patterning, therefore, relies on the precise regulation of spatiotemporal gene expression. An extensive transcriptional regulatory network is accompanied by post-transcriptional regulation that is frequently mediated by the regulatory interplay between RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). RBPs exhibit important roles in every step of mRNA life cycle in any system, from splicing, polyadenylation, editing, transport, stability, localization, to translation (protein synthesis). Here, we underscore the importance of RBP functions at multiple time-restricted steps of early neurogenesis, starting from the cell fate transition of transcriptionally primed cortical progenitors. A particular emphasis will be placed on RBPs with mostly conserved but also divergent evolutionary functions in neural progenitors across different species. RBPs, when considered in the context of the fascinating process of neocortical development, deserve to be main protagonists in the story of the evolution and development of the neocortex.
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21
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Wood TR, Hildahl K, Helmbrecht H, Corry KA, Moralejo DH, Kolnik SE, Prater KE, Juul SE, Nance E. A ferret brain slice model of oxygen–glucose deprivation captures regional responses to perinatal injury and treatment associated with specific microglial phenotypes. Bioeng Transl Med 2021; 7:e10265. [PMID: 35600642 PMCID: PMC9115703 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Organotypic brain slice models are an ideal technological platform to investigate therapeutic options for hypoxic‐ischemic (HI) brain injury, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. The brain exhibits regional differences in the response to HI injury in vivo. This can be modeled using organotypic brain slices, which maintain three‐dimensional regional structures and reflect the regional differences in injury response. Here, we developed an organotypic whole hemisphere (OWH) slice culture model of HI injury using the gyrencephalic ferret brain at a developmental stage equivalent to a full‐term human infant in order to better probe region‐specific cellular responses to injury. Each slice encompassed the cortex, corpus callosum, subcortical white matter, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and thalamus. Regional responses to treatment with either erythropoietin (Epo) or the ketone body acetoacetate (AcAc) were highly heterogenous. While both treatments suppressed global injury responses and oxidative stress, significant neuroprotection was only seen in a subset of regions, with others displaying no response or potential exacerbation of injury. Similar regional heterogeneity was seen in the morphology and response of microglia to injury and treatment, which mirrored those seen after injury in vivo. Within each region, machine‐learning‐based classification of microglia morphological shifts in response to injury predicted the neuroprotective response to each therapy, with different morphologies associated with different treatment responses. This suggests that the ferret OWH slice culture model provides a platform for examining regional responses to injury in the gyrencephalic brain, as well as for screening combinations of therapeutics to provide global neuroprotection after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R. Wood
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
- Center on Human Development and Disability University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Kate Hildahl
- Department of Chemical Engineering University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Hawley Helmbrecht
- Department of Chemical Engineering University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Kylie A. Corry
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Daniel H. Moralejo
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Sarah E. Kolnik
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | | | - Sandra E. Juul
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
- Center on Human Development and Disability University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Elizabeth Nance
- Center on Human Development and Disability University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
- Department of Bioengineering University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
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22
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Evaluating Neuroprotective Effects of Uridine, Erythropoietin, and Therapeutic Hypothermia in a Ferret Model of Inflammation-Sensitized Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189841. [PMID: 34576001 PMCID: PMC8469346 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury, often in conjunction with an inflammatory insult, is the most common cause of death or disability in neonates. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the standard of care for HI encephalopathy in term and near-term infants. However, TH may not always be available or efficacious, creating a need for novel or adjunctive neurotherapeutics. Using a near-term model of inflammation-sensitized HI brain injury in postnatal day (P) 17 ferrets, animals were randomized to either the control group (n = 43) or the HI-exposed groups: saline vehicle (Veh; n = 42), Ur (uridine monophosphate, n = 23), Epo (erythropoietin, n = 26), or TH (n = 24) to test their respective therapeutic effects. Motor development was assessed from P21 to P42 followed by analysis of cortical anatomy, ex vivo MRI, and neuropathology. HI animals took longer to complete the motor assessments compared to controls, which was exacerbated in the Ur group. Injury resulted in thinned white matter tracts and narrowed cortical sulci and gyri, which was mitigated in Epo-treated animals in addition to normalization of cortical neuropathology scores to control levels. TH and Epo treatment also resulted in region-specific improvements in diffusion parameters on ex vivo MRI; however, TH was not robustly neuroprotective in any behavioral or neuropathological outcome measures. Overall, Ur and TH did not provide meaningful neuroprotection after inflammation-sensitized HI brain injury in the ferret, and Ur appeared to worsen outcomes. By comparison, Epo appears to provide significant, though not complete, neuroprotection in this model.
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23
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Kalebic N, Namba T. Inheritance and flexibility of cell polarity: a clue for understanding human brain development and evolution. Development 2021; 148:272121. [PMID: 34499710 PMCID: PMC8451944 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cell polarity is fundamentally important for understanding brain development. Here, we hypothesize that the inheritance and flexibility of cell polarity during neocortex development could be implicated in neocortical evolutionary expansion. Molecular and morphological features of cell polarity may be inherited from one type of progenitor cell to the other and finally transmitted to neurons. Furthermore, key cell types, such as basal progenitors and neurons, exhibit a highly flexible polarity. We suggest that both inheritance and flexibility of cell polarity are implicated in the amplification of basal progenitors and tangential dispersion of neurons, which are key features of the evolutionary expansion of the neocortex. Summary: We suggest that the inheritance and flexibility of cell polarity are implicated in the evolutionary expansion of the developing neocortex by promoting the amplification of neural progenitors and tangential migration of neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Takashi Namba
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFE - Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
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