Patterning of the basal telencephalon and hypothalamus is essential for guidance of cortical projections - PubMed (original) (raw)
. 2002 Feb;129(3):761-73.
doi: 10.1242/dev.129.3.761.
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- PMID: 11830575
- DOI: 10.1242/dev.129.3.761
Free article
Patterning of the basal telencephalon and hypothalamus is essential for guidance of cortical projections
Oscar Marín et al. Development. 2002 Feb.
Free article
Abstract
We have investigated the mechanisms that control the guidance of corticofugal projections as they extend along different subdivisions of the forebrain. To this aim, we analyzed the development of cortical projections in mice that lack Nkx2-1, a homeobox gene whose expression is restricted to two domains within the forebrain: the basal telencephalon and the hypothalamus. Molecular respecification of the basal telencephalon and hypothalamus in Nkx2-1-deficient mice causes a severe defect in the guidance of layer 5 cortical projections and ascending fibers of the cerebral peduncle. These axon tracts take an abnormal path when coursing through both the basal telencephalon and hypothalamus. By contrast, loss of Nkx2-1 function does not impair guidance of corticothalamic or thalamocortical axons. In vitro experiments demonstrate that the basal telencephalon and the hypothalamus contain an activity that repels the growth of cortical axons, suggesting that loss of this activity is the cause of the defects observed in Nkx2-1 mutants. Furthermore, analysis of the expression of candidate molecules in the basal telencephalon and hypothalamus of Nkx2-1 mutants suggests that Slit2 contributes to this activity.
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- K02MH 01046-01/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
- R01 DA 12462/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States
- R01 MH 49428-01/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
- R01 MH 51561-01A1/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
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