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During development, telencephalic neuroepithelial cells proliferate and give rise to progenitors, which are responsible for the sequential generation of different types of neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the cerebral cortex. To date, telencephalic progenitors would be located in the ventricular (VZ) and subventricular (SVZ) zones. Their position along the rostro-caudal and dorsoventral axis is related to gene expression territories and the generation of specific cell types, such that dorsal telencephalic VZ/ZVZ generates glutamatergic neurons and ventral VZ/ZVZ GABAergic neurons. In this work we investigated the in vivo and in vitro proliferative potential of the marginal zone (MZ) described to harbor migrating and differentiating neurons during corticogenesis. We determined the phenotype of MZ proliferative cells and by clonal analysis with infection by GFP (green fluorescent protein) containing retroviruses we followed the lineages derived from the progenitors in vitro. Proliferative cells in vivo were labeled by BrdU (bromodeoxyuridine, S phase cell cycle marker) combined to immunohistochemistry for the identification of BrdU antigen and the phosphorylated form of H3 –histone (expressed at the end of G2 and during M phase of the cell cycle). We identified proliferative cells in mice MZ from embryonic day (E)14 (just after preplate division when MZ becomes distinguishable) and through all corticogenesis with a three fold increase in E18. Proliferative cells in the MZ do not express Pax6 or Tbr2, transcriptional factors typical of VZ and SVZ precursors respectively. During corticogenesis, this precursor population displays a latero-medial gradient of expression of Olig2, such that perinatally, all proliferative cells in the MZ express Olig2. Clonal lineage analysis from these precursors revealed a high gliogenic potential (~70% pure glial clones) when compared to VZ/SVZ (2,3%). Furthermore, MZ displays neurogenic potential since 30% of all clones contained neurons identified by class III β-tubulin immunolabeling. Here we show that pure glial clones in the MZ are significantly larger than those generated by VZ. Concluding, the dorsal MZ is a neurogenic and gliogenic niche in the developing cerebral cortex containing proliferative cells with distinct phenotypic characteristics from the VZ and SVZ. By clonal lineage analysis in vitro, we demonstrated different proliferative behaviors and neuro-gliogenic potential from cells isolated from the MZ and VZ/SVZ indicating a novel type of progenitor in the cerebral cortex.

Instituto do Cérebro

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