Reelin expression during embryonic brain development in lacertilian lizards

Cajal-retzius cells: Recent advances in identity and function

Cajal-Retzius cells (CRs) are a transient neuronal type of the developing cerebral cortex. Over the years, they have been shown or proposed to play important functions in neocortical and hippocampal morphogenesis, circuit formation, brain evolution and human pathology. Because of their short lifespan, CRs have been pictured as a purely developmental cell type, whose production and active elimination are both required for correct brain development. In this review, we present some of the findings that allow us to better appreciate the identity and diversity of this very special cell type, and propose a unified definition of what should be considered a Cajal-Retzius cell, especially when working with non-mammalian species or organoids. In addition, we highlight a flurry of recent studies pointing to the importance of CRs in the assembly of functional and dysfunctional cortical networks.

Potential Common Genetic Risks of Sporadic Parkinson's Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in the Han Population of Mainland China

Sporadic Parkinson’s disease (sPD) and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sALS) are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by progressive and selective neuron death, with some genetic similarities. In order to investigate the genetic risk factors common to both sPD and sALS, we carried out a screen of risk alleles for sALS and related loci in 530 sPD patients and 530 controls from the Han population of Mainland China (HPMC). We selected 27 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 10 candidate genes associated with sALS, and we performed allelotyping and genotyping to determine their frequencies in the study population as well as bioinformatics analysis to assess their functional significance in these diseases. The minor alleles of rs17115303 in DAB adaptor protein 1 (DAB1) gene and rs6030462 in protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type T (PTPRT) gene were correlated with increased risk of both sPD and sALS. Polymorphisms of rs17115303 and rs6030462 were associated with alterations in transcription factor binding sites, secondary structures, long non-coding RNA interactions, and nervous system regulatory networks; these changes involved biological processes associated with neural cell development, differentiation, neurogenesis, migration, axonogenesis, cell adhesion, and metabolism of phosphate-containing compounds. Thus, variants of DAB1 gene (rs17115303) and PTPRT gene (rs6030462) are risk factors common to sPD and sALS in the HPMC. These findings provide insight into the molecular pathogenesis of both diseases and can serve as a basis for the development of targeted therapies.

Analysis of the Expression Pattern of Cajal-Retzius Cell Markers in the Xenopus laevis Forebrain

Cajal-Retzius cells are essential for cortical development in mammals, and their involvement in the evolution of this structure has been widely postulated, but very little is known about their progenitor domains in non-mammalian vertebrates. Using in situhybridization and immunofluorescence techniques we analyzed the expression of some of the main Cajal-Retzius cell markers such as Dbx1, Ebf3, ER81, Lhx1, Lhx5, p73, Reelin, Wnt3a, Zic1, and Zic2 in the forebrain of the anuran Xenopus laevis, because amphibians are the only class of anamniote tetrapods and show a tetrapartite evaginated pallium, but no layered or nuclear organization. Our results suggested that the Cajal-Retzius cell progenitor domains were comparable to those previously described in amniotes. Thus, at dorsomedial telencephalic portions a region comparable to the cortical hem was defined in Xenopus based on the expression of Wnt3a, p73, Reelin, Zic1, and Zic2. In the septum, two different domains were observed: a periventricular dorsal septum, at the limit between the pallium and the subpallium, expressing Reelin, Zic1, and Zic2, and a related septal domain, expressing Ebf3, Zic1, and Zic2. In the lateral telencephalon, the ventral pallium next to the pallio-subpallial boundary, the lack of Dbx1 and the unique expression of Reelin during development defined this territory as the most divergent with respect to mammals. Finally, we also analyzed the expression of these markers at the prethalamic eminence region, suggested as Cajal-Retzius progenitor domain in amniotes, observing there Zic1, Zic2, ER81, and Lhx1 expression. Our data show that in anurans there are different subtypes and progenitor domains of Cajal-Retzius cells, which probably contribute to the cortical regional specification and territory-specific properties. This supports the notion that the basic organization of pallial derivatives in vertebrates follows a comparable fundamental arrangement, even in those that do not have a sophisticated stratified cortical structure like the mammalian cerebral cortex.

From Cell Types to an Integrated Understanding of Brain Evolution: The Case of the Cerebral Cortex

With the discovery of the incredible diversity of neurons, Cajal and coworkers laid the foundation of modern neuroscience. Neuron types are not only structural units of nervous systems but also evolutionary units, because their identities are encoded in the genome. With the advent of high-throughput cellular transcriptomics, neuronal identities can be characterized and compared systematically across species. The comparison of neurons in mammals, reptiles, and birds indicates that the mammalian cerebral cortex is a mosaic of deeply conserved and recently evolved neuron types. Using the cerebral cortex as a case study, this review illustrates how comparing neuron types across species is key to reconciling observations on neural development, neuroanatomy, circuit wiring, and physiology for an integrated understanding of brain evolution.

Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Cortical Evolution in Mammals

The remarkable sensory, motor, and cognitive abilities of mammals mainly depend on the neocortex. Thus, the emergence of the six-layered neocortex in reptilian ancestors of mammals constitutes a fundamental evolutionary landmark. The mammalian cortex is a columnar epithelium of densely packed cells organized in layers where neurons are generated mainly in the subventricular zone in successive waves throughout development. Newborn cells move away from their site of neurogenesis through radial or tangential migration to reach their specific destination closer to the pial surface of the same or different cortical area. Interestingly, the genetic programs underlying neocortical development diversified in different mammalian lineages. In this work, I will review several recent studies that characterized how distinct transcriptional programs relate to the development and functional organization of the neocortex across diverse mammalian lineages. In some primates such as the anthropoids, the neocortex became extremely large, especially in humans where it comprises around 80% of the brain. It has been hypothesized that the massive expansion of the cortical surface and elaboration of its connections in the human lineage, has enabled our unique cognitive capacities including abstract thinking, long-term planning, verbal language and elaborated tool making capabilities. I will also analyze the lineage-specific genetic changes that could have led to the modification of key neurodevelopmental events, including regulation of cell number, neuronal migration, and differentiation into specific phenotypes, in order to shed light on the evolutionary mechanisms underlying the diversity of mammalian brains including the human brain.

Study of pallial neurogenesis in shark embryos and the evolutionary origin of the subventricular zone

The dorsal part of the developing telencephalon is one of the brain areas that has suffered most drastic changes throughout vertebrate evolution. Its evolutionary increase in complexity was thought to be partly achieved by the appearance of a new neurogenic niche in the embryonic subventricular zone (SVZ). Here, a new kind of amplifying progenitors (basal progenitors) expressing Tbr2, undergo a second round of divisions, which is believed to have contributed to the expansion of the neocortex. Accordingly, the existence of a pallial SVZ has been classically considered exclusive of mammals. However, the lack of studies in ancient vertebrates precludes any clear conclusion about the evolutionary origin of the SVZ and the neurogenic mechanisms that rule pallial development. In this work, we explore pallial neurogenesis in a basal vertebrate, the shark Scyliorhinus canicula, through the study of the expression patterns of several neurogenic markers. We found that apical progenitors and radial migration are present in sharks, and therefore, their presence must be highly conserved throughout evolution. Surprisingly, we detected a subventricular band of ScTbr2-expressing cells, some of which also expressed mitotic markers, indicating that the existence of basal progenitors should be considered an ancestral condition rather than a novelty of mammals or amniotes. Finally, we report that the transcriptional program for the specification of glutamatergic pallial cells (Pax6, Tbr2, NeuroD, Tbr1) is also present in sharks. However, the segregation of these markers into different cell types is not clear yet, which may be linked to the lack of layering in anamniotes.

Expression of regulatory genes in the embryonic brain of a lizard and implications for understanding pallial organization and evolution

The comparison of gene expression patterns in the embryonic brain of mouse and chicken is being essential for understanding pallial organization. However, the scarcity of gene expression data in reptiles, crucial for understanding evolution, makes it difficult to identify homologues of pallial divisions in different amniotes. We cloned and analyzed the expression of the genes Emx1, Lhx2, Lhx9, and Tbr1 in the embryonic telencephalon of the lacertid lizard Psammodromus algirus. The comparative expression patterns of these genes, critical for pallial development, are better understood when using a recently proposed six‐part model of pallial divisions. The lizard medial pallium, expressing all genes, includes the medial and dorsomedial cortices, and the majority of the dorsal cortex, except the region of the lateral cortical superposition. The latter is rich in Lhx9 expression, being excluded as a candidate of dorsal or lateral pallia, and may belong to a distinct dorsolateral pallium, which extends from rostral to caudal levels. Thus, the neocortex homolog cannot be found in the classical reptilian dorsal cortex, but perhaps in a small Emx1‐expressing/Lhx9‐negative area at the front of the telencephalon, resembling the avian hyperpallium. The ventral pallium, expressing Lhx9, but not Emx1, gives rise to the dorsal ventricular ridge and appears comparable to the avian nidopallium. We also identified a distinct ventrocaudal pallial sector comparable to the avian arcopallium and to part of the mammalian pallial amygdala. These data open new venues for understanding the organization and evolution of the pallium.

Impaired Reelin-Dab1 Signaling Contributes to Neuronal Migration Deficits of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is associated with neurodevelopmental abnormalities, including defects in neuronal migration. However, the alterations in cell signaling mechanisms critical for migration and final positioning of neurons in TSC remain unclear. Our detailed cellular analyses reveal that reduced Tsc2 in newborn neurons causes abnormalities in leading processes of migrating neurons, accompanied by significantly delayed migration. Importantly, we demonstrate that Reelin-Dab1 signaling is aberrantly regulated in TSC mouse models and in cortical tubers from TSC patients owing to enhanced expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Cul5, a known mediator of pDab1 ubiquitination. Likewise, mTORC1 activation by Rheb overexpression generates similar neuronal and Reelin-Dab1 signaling defects, and directly upregulates Cul5 expression. Inhibition of mTORC1 by rapamycin treatment or by reducing Cul5 largely restores normal leading processes and positioning of migrating neurons. Thus, disrupted Reelin-Dab1 signaling is critically involved in the neuronal migration defects of TSC.

Genetic manipulation of reptilian embryos: toward an understanding of cortical development and evolution

The mammalian neocortex is a remarkable structure that is characterized by tangential surface expansion and six-layered lamination. However, how the mammalian neocortex emerged during evolution remains elusive. Because all modern reptiles have a homolog of the neocortex at the dorsal pallium, developmental analyses of the reptilian cortex are valuable to explore the origin of the neocortex. However, reptilian cortical development and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear, mainly due to technical difficulties with sample collection and embryonic manipulation. Here, we introduce a method of embryonic manipulations for the Madagascar ground gecko and Chinese softshell turtle. We established in ovo electroporation and an ex ovo culture system to address neural stem cell dynamics, neuronal differentiation and migration. Applications of these techniques illuminate the developmental mechanisms underlying reptilian corticogenesis, which provides significant insight into the evolutionary steps of different types of cortex and the origin of the mammalian neocortex.

Neuronal subtype specification in establishing mammalian neocortical circuits

The functional integrity of the neocortical circuit relies on the precise production of diverse neuron populations and their assembly during development. In recent years, extensive progress has been made in the understanding of the mechanisms that control differentiation of each neuronal type within the neocortex. In this review, we address how the elaborate neocortical cytoarchitecture is established from a simple neuroepithelium based on recent studies examining the spatiotemporal mechanisms of neuronal subtype specification. We further discuss the critical events that underlie the conversion of the stem amniotes cerebrum to a mammalian-type neocortex, and extend these key findings in the light of mammalian evolution to understand how the neocortex in humans evolved from common ancestral mammals.

Cajal, Retzius, and Cajal-Retzius cells

The marginal zone (MZ) of the prenatal cerebral cortex plays a crucial role in cellular migration and laminar patterning in the developing neocortex and its equivalent in the adult brain – layer I, participates in cortical circuitry integration within the adult neocortex. The MZ/layer I, which has also been called the plexiform layer and cell-poor zone of Meynert, among others, is home to several cell populations including glia, neurons, and Cajal–Retzius (CR) cells. Cajal once said that the MZ is one of the oldest formations in the phylogenetic series, and that the characteristics of layer I in human are similar in all vertebrates except fish (Ramon y Cajal, 1899). Despite the presence of CR cells in the MZ/layer I of all developing and adult vertebrate brains, and more than one hundred years of research, the phenotype and function of layer I cells have still not been clearly defined. Recent technological advances have yielded significant progress in functional and developmental studies, but much remains to be understood about neurons in MZ/layer I. Since the time of Retzius and Cajal, and continuing with modern era research from the likes of Marín-Padilla, the study of CR cells has been based on their morphological characteristics in Golgi staining. However, since Cajal’s initial description, the term “CR cell” has been applied differently and now is often used to indicate reelin (Reln)-positive cells in MZ/layer I. Here we review the history of work by Cajal, Retzius, and others pertaining to CR cells. We will establish a link between original descriptions of CR cell morphology by Cajal, Retzius, and others, and current understandings of the cell populations that reside in MZ/layer I based on the use of cellular markers. We propose to use the term “CR cell” for the class of neurons that express Reln in the MZ/layer I in both prenatal, developing and adult cerebral cortex.

Historical first descriptions of Cajal-Retzius cells: from pioneer studies to current knowledge

Santiago Ramón y Cajal developed a great body of scientific research during the last decade of 19th century, mainly between 1888 and 1892, when he published more than 30 manuscripts. The neuronal theory, the structure of dendrites and spines, and fine microscopic descriptions of numerous neural circuits are among these studies. In addition, numerous cell types (neuronal and glial) were described by Ramón y Cajal during this time using this “reazione nera” or Golgi method. Among these neurons were the special cells of the molecular layer of the neocortex. These cells were also termed Cajal cells or Retzius cells by other colleagues. Today these cells are known as Cajal–Retzius cells. From the earliest description, several biological aspects of these fascinating cells have been analyzed (e.g., cell morphology, physiological properties, origin and cellular fate, putative function during cortical development, etc). In this review we will summarize in a temporal basis the emerging knowledge concerning this cell population with specific attention the pioneer studies of Santiago Ramón y Cajal.

Reptiles: a new model for brain evo-devo research

Vertebrate brains exhibit vast amounts of anatomical diversity. In particular, the elaborate and complex nervous system of amniotes is correlated with the size of their behavioral repertoire. However, the evolutionary mechanisms underlying species-specific brain morphogenesis remain elusive. In this review we introduce reptiles as a new model organism for understanding brain evolution. These animal groups inherited ancestral traits of brain architectures. We will describe several unique aspects of the reptilian nervous system with a special focus on the telencephalon, and discuss the genetic mechanisms underlying reptile-specific brain morphology. The establishment of experimental evo-devo approaches to studying reptiles will help to shed light on the origin of the amniote brains.

Sites of origin and developmental dynamics of the neurons in the core and shell regions of torus semicircularis in the Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)

To know the embryogenesis of the core and shell regions of the midbrain auditory nucleus, a single dose of [(3)H]-thymidine was injected into the turtle embryos at peak stages of neurogenesis in the shell and core of the torus semicircularis. Following sequential survival times, labeled neurons and the dynamics of cell proliferation were examined. The expression of vimentin (VM), reelin, calbindin, parvalbumin, and substance P were also studied. The results showed that: 1) progenitor cells for the core and shell regions were generated in different sites of the ventricular zone; 2) the length of the cell cycle or S-phase for the shell region were both longer than those for the core region (4.7 and 3.2 hours longer, respectively), suggesting that mitotic activity in the core region is higher than it is in the shell region; 3) the elongated cell bodies of the labeled core and shell cells had close apposition to VM fibers, suggesting that the migration of these cells is guided by VM fibers; 4) the germinal sites of the core and shell constructed by projecting the orientation of radial VM fibers back to the ventricular zone was consistent with those obtained by short and sequential survival [(3)H]-thymidine radiography; and 5) the beginning of positive staining for parvalbumin in the core region was interposed between those for calbindin and substance P in the shell regions. This study contributes to the understanding of how auditory nuclei are organized and how their components developed and evolved.

Pallio-pallial tangential migrations and growth signaling: new scenario for cortical evolution?

Observations accruing in recent years imply that the areal patterning and size dimensioning of the mammalian neocortex are influenced by diverse sets of tangentially migrating glutamatergic neurons that invade the cortical plate and, in so doing, modify the properties of the neopallial proliferative compartments. This developmental scenario sheds new light upon the old issue of how the mammalian neocortex evolved its more complex structure from nonmammalian antecedent forms. In reviewing these novelties, I first point out the topological position of the neopallial island as a central component of the pallium in all gnathostomes, surrounded by a ring of prospective allocortical pallial regions and a more distant set of peripheral neighboring forebrain areas. Early patterning arises from the periphery via passive planar signaling. This process probably establishes the pallium field and its basic island plus allocortical ring organization, as well as a rough prepatterning of some regional subareas. Afterwards, patterning and modulated growth are also actively influenced by the convergence of separate streams of tangentially migrating subpial cells (partly peripheral and partly allocortical in origin) which collectively form the Cajal-Retzius neuronal population in layer I. Effects of these cells include the inside-out stratification of the cortical plate and they may also contribute to the evolutionary emergence of the 6-layered neocortical structure. The most recent addition to our knowledge of pallio-pallial migrations is the existence of a subsequent deep tangential migration of ventropallial cells into the neopallial primordium, whose signaling influence upon local progenitors magnifies the cortex population by 20%. These glutamatergic cells dispersedly invade the entire cortex but largely die postnatally. The crucial implications of these data for comparative thinking on mammalian neocortex evolution and interpretation of potential homologs in sauropsids are explored. Finally, a new conjecture regarding a possible role of the hitherto disregarded lateral pallium is advanced.

Evolution of cerebral cortical development

Understanding how the human cerebral cortex evolved to its present complex state is a fascinating topic for neuroscience, genetics, bioinformatics and comparative biology. To gain further insights into the origins of the mammalian neocortex and to understand how the cortex evolved to be able to serve more complex cognitive functions, we study the development of various extant species. Our aim is to correlate cortical cell numbers and neuronal cell types with the elaboration of cortical progenitor populations and their modes of proliferation in different species. There are several progenitors, i.e. the ventricular radial glia, the subventricular intermediate progenitors and subventricular (outer) radial glia types, but the contribution of each to cortical layers and cell types through specific lineages is not fully understood. Recent comparisons of the proportions of these progenitors in various species during embryonic neurogenesis have revealed the elaboration and cytoarchitectonic compartmentalization of the germinal zone, with alterations in the proportions of various types that can be included among the intermediate progenitors. Across species, larger and more diverse intermediate progenitor populations correlate with brain size and cortical cell diversity. Understanding the molecular and cellular interactions regulating the divisions of these intermediate progenitors not only has implications for cortical evolution but also relates to stem cell biology and illuminates the pathomechanisms of several cortical developmental disorders.

Building a human cortex: the evolutionary differentiation of Cajal-Retzius cells and the cortical hem

Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells are the most significant source of reelin, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein essential for cortical development. Strategically located in the marginal zone, CR cells control radial migration and laminar positioning of pyramidal neurons of the cortical plate. They degenerate and undergo cell death when cortical migration is completed. In human cortex development, reelin-expressing CR cells are already present in the early preplate, and continue to increase in number after the appearance of the cortical plate. In the course of the first half of gestation, the reelin signal in the marginal zone undergoes a huge amplification in parallel with the growth of the cortical plate and the expansion of the cortical surface. A significant source of CR cells is the cortical hem, a putative signalling centre at the interface of the prospective hippocampus and the choroid plexus. Hem-derived CR cells co-express reelin and p73, a transcription factor of the p53-family. They form the predominant CR cell population of the human neocortex. Characteristically, CR cells express the anti-apoptotic isoform DeltaNp73 which may be responsible for the protracted lifespan of human CR cells and the morphological differentiation of their axonal plexus. This dense fibre plexus, absent in lower mammals, amplifies the reelin-signal and establishes a physical boundary between the cortical plate and the marginal zone. In this review, we analyze the multiple sources of reelin/p73 positive CR cells at the interface of various telencephalic centres and the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricles. Additional populations of CR cells may derive from the thalamic eminence in the ventral thalamus and from the strionuclear neuroepithelium, or 'amygdalar hem'. Comparative studies in a variety of species indicate that the cortical hem is the main origin of CR cells destined for the neocortex, and is most highly developed in the human brain. The close association between cortical hem and choroid plexus suggests a concerted role in the evolutionary increase of CR cells, amplification of the reelin signal in the marginal zone, and cortical expansion.

Reelin expression during embryonic development of the pig brain

Background

Reelin is an extracellular glycoprotein of crucial importance in the developmental organisation of neurons in the mammalian cerebral cortex and other laminated brain regions. The pig possesses a gyrencephalic brain that bears resemblance to the human brain. In order to establish an animal model for neuronal migration disorders in the pig, we have studied the expression pattern and structure of Reelin during pig brain development.

Results

We determined the sequence of pig Reelin mRNA and protein and identified a high degree of homology to human Reelin. A peak in Reelin mRNA and protein expression is present during the period of major neurogenesis and neuronal migration. This resembles observations for human brain development. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the highest expression of Reelin in the Cajal-Reztius cells of the marginal zone, in resemblance with observations for the developing brain in humans and other mammalian species.

Conclusions

We conclude that the pig might serve as an alternative animal model to study Reelin functions and that manipulation of the pig Reelin could allow the establishment of an animal model for human neuronal migration disorders.

Expression of reelin, its receptors and its intracellular signaling protein, Disabled1 in the canary brain: relationships with the song control system

Songbirds produce learned vocalizations that are controlled by a specialized network of neural structures, the song control system. Several nuclei in this song control system demonstrate a marked degree of adult seasonal plasticity. Nucleus volume varies seasonally based on changes in cell size or spacing, and in the case of nucleus HVC and area X on the incorporation of new neurons. Reelin, a large glycoprotein defective in reeler mice, is assumed to determine the final location of migrating neurons in the developing brain. In mammals, reelin is also expressed in the adult brain but its functions are less well characterized. We investigated the relationships between the expression of reelin and/or its receptors and the dramatic seasonal plasticity in the canary (Serinus canaria) brain. We detected a broad distribution of the reelin protein, its mRNA and the mRNAs encoding for the reelin receptors (VLDLR and ApoER2) as well as for its intracellular signaling protein, Disabled1. These different mRNAs and proteins did not display the same neuroanatomical distribution and were not clearly associated, in an exclusive manner, with telencephalic brain areas that incorporate new neurons in adulthood. Song control nuclei were associated with a particular specialized expression of reelin and its mRNA, with the reelin signal being either denser or lighter in the song nucleus than in the surrounding tissue. The density of reelin-immunoreactive structures did not seem to be affected by 4 weeks of treatment with exogenous testosterone. These observations do not provide conclusive evidence that reelin plays a prominent role in the positioning of new neurons in the adult canary brain but call for additional work on this protein analyzing its expression comparatively during development and in adulthood with a better temporal resolution at critical points in the reproductive cycle when brain plasticity is known to occur.

Distribution of insoluble cAMP-dependent kinase type RI and RII in the lizard and turtle central nervous system

cAMP is a universal second messenger. In eucaryotes it acts mainly via protein kinases composed of regulatory (R) and catalytic subunits; their subcellular distribution may differ according to the cell type. In rodent brain, peculiar detergent-insoluble RIalpha aggregates were previously described in neurons of areas related to the limbic system, while RIIbeta is more evenly distributed also in non-nervous cells. It is unclear whether the regional distribution of regulatory subunits is typical of mammalian brain. Western blots and immunohistochemistry showed that in lizard brains a large fraction of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory isoforms is insoluble, as in mammals. Insoluble RIalpha and RII regulatory isoforms were not evenly distributed but organized in clearly separated aggregates. Numerous RII aggregates were present in almost all brain regions and were found also in non-nervous cells. As shown by immunohistochemistry and equilibrium binding of fluorescently tagged cAMP, RIalpha aggregates were restricted to neurons of some brain regions: telencephalon, particularly medial cortical areas, dorsal ventricular ridge, olfactory pathways, medial hypothalamus and cerebellar granular layer were intensely labelled. A very weak RIalpha labelling was detected in the brainstem reticular formation, in the periaqueductal gray and in the spinal cord dorsal horn. A similar distribution of RIalpha aggregates was also found in turtle brains. Their distribution is reminiscent of that observed in mammals, although with some differences in relative intensity and persistence. The supramolecular organization of the RIalpha isoform may help in establishing homologies and differences between brain areas involved in visceroemotional control.

The superficial layers of the superior colliculus are cytoarchitectually and myeloarchitectually disorganized in the reelin-deficient mouse, reeler

The causative gene for the reeler mouse is reelin which encodes Reelin protein, an extracellular molecule. In the present study, we have examined the cytoarchitecture, myeloarchitecture, and afferent/efferent systems of the superior colliculus (SC) of the reeler mouse. In the reeler, the laminar structures of the superficial three layers of the SC were disorganized and intermingled into a single layer, i.e., the superficial fused layer (SuF), as previously reported in the reelin-deficient SRK rat (Sakakibara et al., Develop. Brain Res. 141:1-13). Next, we have investigated the course and terminals of visual corticotectal and retinotectal projections with an injection of biocytin into the visual cortex or an injection of cholera toxin subunit B into the retina, respectively. In the reeler, anterogradely labeled visual corticotectal and retinotectal fibers took an aberrant course within the SuF, resulting in abnormal myeloarchitecture of the superficial SC of the reeler. Retrograde labeling of tectospinal tract neurons could not show any differences between the normal and reeler mice, suggesting that the deep layers of the reeler SC are cytoarchitectually normal. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical studies have shown that reelin mRNA and Reelin protein were both recognized in the normal SC. These results suggest that Reelin protein plays some roles in histogenesis of the superficial layers of the SC.

Comparative aspects of p73 and Reelin expression in Cajal-Retzius cells and the cortical hem in lizard, mouse and human

Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells of the mammalian neocortex co-express the extracellular matrix protein Reelin and p73, a transcription factor involved in cell death and survival. Most neocortical CR cells derive from the cortical hem, with minor additional sources. We analyzed the distribution of Reelin and p73 immunoreactive (ir) neurons in the telencephalon of Lacerta galloti from early embryonic stages to hatching. Numerous Reelin-ir cells appeared in the pallial MZ from the preplate stage onward. Conversely, p73-ir cells were rare in the pallial preplate and not observed in the cortical plate. Subpallial p73-ir cells spread from the septum and the telencephalic-diencephalic boundary to the pial surface of the basal forebrain and amygdala, respectively, where they co-expressed Reelin and p73. A small group of Reelin/p73-ir CR cells appeared in a rudimentary cortical hem at the interface of the medial cortex and choroid plexus. Comparison with early embryonic stages of mice and humans showed similar foci of p73-ir cells in the septum and at the telencephalic-diencephalic boundary and revealed an increasing prominence of the cortical hem, in parallel with increasing numbers of neocortical Reelin/p73 positive CR cells, which attain highest differentiation in the human brain. Our data show that Reelin-expression in the pallium is evolutionarily conserved and independent of a cortical hem, and suggest that p73 in the cortical hem may be involved in the evolutionary increase in number and complexity of the mammalian neocortical CR cells.

Ancestry of the mammalian preplate and its derivatives: evolutionary relicts or embryonic adaptations?

Mammalian cortical development is preceded by the elaboration of a transient preplate, which is split into a superficial marginal zone and a deep subplate after the arrival of the cortical plate. There has been some controversy in the evolutionary interpretation of this transient structure, as some propose it to represent the ancestral cortex or pallium of non-mammals, while others consider it to be a phylogenetic novelty. The preplate and its derivatives contain components derived by both tangential and radial migration. Tangentially migrating elements include pioneer neurons and interneurons, both of subpallial origin, and Cajal-Retzius cells, mostly of pallial origin. Pioneer neurons were probably present in the ancestors of mammals, but may have changed their original superficial position to one below the developing cortex, thus attracting thalamic afferents in the subcortical white matter, and making them penetrate the cortex radially. In mammals, Cajal-Retzius cells appear to have increased both in number and on their level of reelin expression, perhaps in the context of controlling the final stages of migration in a radially expanding neoocortex. Radial-migrating cells are partly represented by the pyramidal-like cells of the subplate. These neurons resemble the excitatory elements of the adult reptilian cortex, but is not clear whether they are their true homologues. One possibility is that these cells appeared by virtue of a heterochronic process in which the earliest radial elements of the cortical plate began to be produced at progressively earlier developmental stages. Thus, we conclude that the mammalian preplate and its derivatives contain both ancestral and derived elements, all of which have been modified in the course of mammalian evolution to support an increasingly complex cortical plate development.

Reelin mouse mutants as models of cortical development disorders

Developmental defects in neuronal positioning and synaptic connectivity are commonly found in neurological diseases, and they are believed to underlie many cognitive and affective disorders. Several mouse mutants are currently available that model at least some aspects of human developmental brain disorders. With the identification of the genes mutated in these animals and the study of the cellular basis of the phenotypes, we have taken significant strides toward an understanding of the mechanisms controlling proper brain development and the consequences of their dysfunction. In particular, mouse mutants deficient in the Reelin gene have provided valuable insights into the mechanisms of cortical development. Absence of Reelin expression in the spontaneous mutant mouse reeler leads to extensive defects in neuronal position and dendrite development. In humans, loss of Reelin results in a type of lissencephaly with severe cortical and cerebellar malformation. Genetic and biochemical studies using mouse mutants suggest that the Lis1 protein may participate in the Reelin signaling pathway controlling cortical development. Reduced levels of Reelin are also present in postmortem brains of patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a possible link with this cognitive disorder. The regulation of the Reelin gene may thus provide insights into the mechanisms of this disease.

Reelin expression in the retina and optic tectum of developing common brown trout

Reelin (RELN) is an extracellular matrix protein largely related with laminar organization in several brain areas. The development of RELN immunoreactivity in the retina and the optic tectum of the brown trout are analyzed with a monoclonal (142) antibody against RELN whose suitability has been ascertained by western blot. In the retina of embryos and alevins, RELN immunoreactivity is detected in cells of the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner nuclear layer (INL), and in the inner plexiform layer (IPL), where it appears as "diffuse" material confined to the ON-sublayer. In juveniles, RELN expression becomes restricted to a stripe of cells in the INL. RELN-immunoreactive (RELN-ir) cells are absent from the outer nuclear layer (ONL) at any developmental stage. The developmental pattern of RELN expression in the trout retina shows many similarities with that of amniotes: (a) RELN expression parallels the vitreal to scleral progression of differentiation of the retina and, within each cell layer, RELN immunoreactivity appears confined to a subpopulation of postmitotic cells; (b) at early stages RELN expression is exclusively observed in the central retina and as maturation progresses from the center to the periphery, more RELN-ir cells are observed following the same spatial pattern. Differences with amniotes are noted regarding the absence of RELN expression in the GCL and INL in adulthood, and in the ONL at any developmental stage. In the optic tectum (OT) of trout, as in amniotes, RELN immunoreactivity increases within specific cell layers as lamination proceeds, and decreases when it is complete, except in the stratum opticum (SO), where RELN-ir cells are observed throughout life. Time-course expression of RELN in the OT suggests a role in the early modeling of synaptic contacts and the accommodation of new retinal arriving axons throughout life.

Reelin immunoreactivity in the adult sea lamprey brain

The expression of reelin, a large extracellular matrix glycoprotein, was studied in the brain of pre-spawning adult sea lampreys by immunohistochemistry using two monoclonal antibodies against this protein. Reelin immunoreactive (reln-ir) neurons were observed in the olfactory bulb, and pallial and subpallial regions in the telencephalon. In the diencephalon, reln-ir cells were observed in some hypothalamic nuclei, in the nucleus of Bellonci, and in the habenula. In the mesencephalon, this protein was detected in several nuclei related with the centrifugal visual system, although the optic tectum was devoid of immunoreactivity. The hindbrain showed several nuclei with immunopositive neurons, including the branchiomeric nerve motor nuclei and also some groups of non-giant cells of the reticular formation. The rostral spinal cord showed some immunopositive neurons mainly located in lateral and ventral positions. Overall, the pattern of distribution of reelin in the adult sea lamprey correlates with the previously reported in other adult vertebrates. Furthermore, the wide distribution of reelin in the adult lamprey brain is consistent with a possible existence of different roles for this protein not related with development in the central nervous system (CNS) of vertebrates (i.e. neuronal plasticity and/or maintenance).

Alternative splicing modulates Disabled-1 (Dab1) function in the developing chick retina

The Reelin-Disabled 1 (Dab1)-signaling pathway plays a critical role in neuronal cell positioning in the brain. We have isolated two alternatively spliced variants of Dab1 from chick retina, an early form (chDab1-E) expressed in undifferentiated cells and a late form (chDab1-L) expressed in amacrine and ganglion cells. A key difference between the two forms is the exclusion in chDab1-E of two Src-related tyrosine kinase recognition sites implicated in Reelin-mediated Dab1 tyrosine phosphorylation. Retinal cultures transfected with a chDab1-L expression construct undergo a dramatic change in morphology, accompanied by the formation of numerous thin elongated processes, increased tyrosine phosphorylation, activation of Src family kinase(s) and increased levels of the axonal outgrowth protein growth-associated protein-43. In contrast, chDab1-E transfectants retain an undifferentiated morphology. Mutational analysis implicates a specific tyrosine (tyr-198) in the morphological and biochemical alterations associated with chDab1-L expression. We propose that alternative splicing of chDab1 represents an effective and flexible way of regulating the Reelin-Dab1-signaling pathway in a mixed cell population, by ensuring that secreted Reelin activates the signaling cascade only in target neuronal cells.

Reelin-immunoreactive neurons, axons, and neuropil in the adult ferret brain: evidence for axonal secretion of reelin in long axonal pathways

Reelin is a large secretable protein which, when developmentally defective, causes the reeler brain malformation in mice and a recessive form of lissencephaly with cerebellar hypoplasia in humans. In addition, Reelin is heavily expressed throughout the adult brain, although its function/s there are still poorly understood. To gain insight into which adult neuronal circuits may be under the influence of Reelin, we systematically mapped Reelin-immunoreactive neuronal somata, axons, and neuropil in the brain and brainstem of ferrets. Results show that Reelin immunoreactivity is found in widespread but specific sets of neuronal bodies, axonal tracts, and gray matter neuropil regions. Depending on the region, the immunoreactive neuronal somata correspond to interneurons, projection neurons, or both. Some well-defined axonal projection systems are immunoreactive, whereas most other white matter tracts are unlabeled. The labeled pathways include, among others, the lateral olfactory tract, the entorhinohippocampal (perforant) pathway, the retroflex bundle, and the stria terminalis. Labeled axons in these tracts contain large numbers of discrete, very small, immunoreactive particles, suggestive of secretory vesicles under the light microscope. The neuropil in the terminal arborization fields of these axons is also heavily immunoreactive. Taken together, our observations are consistent with the notion that some neurons may anterogradely transport Reelin along their axons in large membrane-bound secretory vesicles (Derer et al. [2001] J. Comp. Neurol. 440:136-143) and secrete it into their terminal arborization fields, which may be quite distant from the somata synthesizing the protein. These findings have implications for identifying where Reelin acts in adult brain circuits.

Effects of testosterone on Reelin expression in the brain of male European starlings

Reelin, a large glycoprotein defective in reeler mice, is assumed to determine the final location of migrating neurons in the developing brain. We studied the expression of Reelin in the brain of adult male European starlings that had been treated or not with exogenous testosterone. Reelin-immunoreactive cells and fibers were widely distributed in the forebrain including areas in and around the song control nucleus, HVC. No labeling was detected in other song control nuclei with the exception of nucleus uvaeformis, which was delineated by a dense cluster of Reelin-immunoreactive perikarya. Reelin is thus expressed in areas incorporating new neurons in adulthood, such as HVC. Reelin expression was sharply decreased by testosterone in HVC, nucleus uvaeformis and dorsal thalamus but not in other brain regions. These results are consistent with the idea that seasonal changes in Reelin expression modulate the incorporation of neurons within HVC. The presence of Reelin in other brain areas that do not incorporate new neurons in adulthood indicates, however, that this protein must play other unrelated roles in the adult brain. Additional studies should now be carried out to determine the specific role played by this protein in the seasonal plasticity of the songbird brain.

Reelin expression during embryonic brain development in Crocodylus niloticus

The expression of reelin mRNA and protein was studied during embryonic brain development in the Nile crocodile Crocodylus niloticus, using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. In the forebrain, reelin was highly expressed in the olfactory bulb, septal nuclei, and subpial neurons in the marginal zone of the cerebral cortex, dorsal ventricular ridge, and basal forebrain. At early stages, reelin mRNA was also detected in subventricular zones. In the diencephalon, the ventral lateral geniculate nuclei and reticular nuclei were strongly positive, with moderate expression in the habenula and focal expression in the hypothalamus. High expression levels were noted in the retina, the tectum, and the external granule cell layer of the cerebellum. In the brainstem, there was a high level of signal in cochleovestibular, sensory trigeminal, and some reticular nuclei. No expression was observed in the cortical plate or Purkinje cells. Comparison with reelin expression during brain development in mammals, birds, turtles, and lizards reveals evolutionarily conserved, homologous features that presumably define the expression profile in stem amniotes. The crocodilian cortex contains subpial reelin-positive cells that are also p73 positive, suggesting that they are homologous to mammalian Cajal-Retzius cells, although they express the reelin gene less intensely. Furthermore, the crocodilian cortex does not contain the subcortical reelin-positive cells that are typical of lizards but expresses reelin in subventricular zones at early stages. These observations confirm that reelin is prominently expressed in many structures of the embryonic brain in all amniotes and further emphasize the unique amplification of reelin expression in mammalian Cajal-Retzius cells and its putative role in the evolution of the cerebral cortex.

The role of reelin in the development and evolution of the cerebral cortex

Reelin is an extracellular matrix protein that is defective in reeler mutant mice and plays a key role in the organization of architectonic patterns, particularly in the cerebral cortex. In mammals, a "reelin signal" is activated when reelin, secreted by Cajal-Retzius neurons, binds to receptors of the lipoprotein receptor family on the surface of cortical plate cells, and triggers Dab1 phosphorylation. As reelin is a key component of cortical development in mammals, comparative embryological studies of reelin expression were carried out during cortical development in non-mammalian amniotes (turtles, squamates, birds and crocodiles) in order to assess the putative role of reelin during cortical evolution. The data show that reelin is present in the cortical marginal zone in all amniotes, and suggest that reelin has been implicated in the evolution of the radial organization of the cortical plate in the synapsid lineage leading from stem amniotes to mammals, as well as in the lineage leading to squamates, thus providing an example of homoplastic evolution (evolutionary convergence). The mechanisms by which reelin instructs radial cortical organization in these two lineages seem different: in the synapsid lineage, a drastic amplification of reelin production occurred in Cajal-Retzius cells, whereas in squamates, in addition to reelin-secreting cells in the marginal zone, a second layer of reelin-producing cells developed in the subcortex. Altogether, our results suggest that the reelin-signaling pathway has played a significant role in shaping the evolution of cortical development.

Conserved and divergent patterns of Reelin expression in the zebrafish central nervous system

The protein Reelin is suggested to function in cell-cell interactions and in mediating neuronal migrations in layered central nervous system structures. With the aim of shedding light on the development of the teleost telencephalon, which forms through the process of eversion and results in the formation of a nonlaminar pallium, we isolated a zebrafish ortholog of the reelin gene and studied its expression in developing and adult brain. The pattern of expression is highly dynamic during the first 24-72 hours of development. By 5 days postfertilization, high amounts of reelin mRNA are found in the dorsal telencephalon, thalamic and hypothalamic regions, pretectal nuclei, optic tectum, cerebellum, hindbrain, reticular formation, and spinal cord, primarily confined to postmitotic neurons. This pattern persists in 1- to 3-month-old zebrafish. This study, together with reports on reelin expression in other vertebrates, shows that reelin mRNA distribution is conserved in many regions of the vertebrate brain. A major exception is that reelin is expressed in the majority of the cells of the dorsal regions of the everted telencephalon in zebrafish embryos, whereas it is restricted to specific neuronal populations in the developing telencephalon of amniotes. To better understand the origin of these differences, we analyzed reelin expression in the telencephalon of an amphibian. Telencephalic reelin expression in Xenopus laevis shows more similarities with the sauropsidian than with the teleostean pattern. Thus, the differences in the telencephalic expression of reelin between teleosts and tetrapods are likely to be due to different roles for Reelin during eversion, a process that is specific for the teleost telencephalon.

Reelin immunoreactivity in the larval sea lamprey brain

In order to analyze the presence of a reelin-like protein in the brain of a primitive vertebrate with a laminar-type brain, such as the sea lamprey, Western blot and immunohistochemical approaches were employed by using the G10 and 142 reelin-specific monoclonal antibodies. Western blots of lamprey brain extracts showed bands of about 400 kDa, 180 kDa and others below 100 kDa; similar bands were observed in samples from rat cerebellum. In different larval stages there was a prominent reelin immunolabeling associated with the olfactory bulb, pallial regions, habenula, hypothalamus and optic tectum. In addition, the olfactory and optic tracts, as well as the afferent and efferent (fasciculus retroflexus) tracts of the habenular ganglion, also showed immunopositivity in these stages. Interestingly, the highest level of labeling was observed in premetamorphic larvae, just prior to entering the metamorphic stage. These data indicate that reelin expression is also prominent in brains of primitive vertebrates without layered cortical regions, suggesting that some physiological roles of reelin not related to the regulation of neuronal migration in layered cortical regions (i.e. involvement in axon pathfinding, synaptogenesis, dendritic arborization and neuronal plasticity) might have appeared earlier in evolution.

An hypothesis on the early evolution of the development of the isocortex

We propose an hypothesis on the evolutionary origin of the unique inside-out developmental gradient of the isocortex, in which deep layers originate before superficial layers. This contrasts with the development of the reptilian cortex, which originates in an outside-in gradient. In mice, a mutated protein, reelin, produces the reeler phenotype, whose cortex has an outside-in neurogenetic gradient like in reptiles. Reelin is normally located in the marginal layer of the developing cerebral cortex, and its normal function has been proposed to be a stop signal that prevents radially migrating cells from moving into the marginal zone. Additionally, mutations on the kinase Cdk5, or in its neuronal-specific activator p35, produce a deficit similar to reeler in that the neurogenetic gradient is outside-in. However, contrary to reeler, in which no cell-sparse layer I is observed, in these mice, a well-defined layer I exists, which suggests that migrating cells respond normally to reelin. Apparently, Cdk5/p35 participate in permitting cortical cells to move across pre-existing (earlier produced) cortical layers, in order to be able to contact reelin once they reach the marginal zone. We suggest that the evolutionary advent of the mammalian cortical inside-out gradient became partly possible through the activation of the Cdk5/p35 pathway, which permitted migrating cells to move across layers of older cells. At about the same time, reelin became an important element in cortical development as it prevented neuronal migration into the marginal zone (cortical layer I) and facilitated the migration of neurons past postmigratory elements.

The inverted neurogenetic gradient of the mammalian isocortex: development and evolution

In this paper we review recent evidence on the molecular control of cell migration in the isocortex, and present an hypothesis for the evolutionary origin of the inside-out neurogenetic gradient of this structure. We suggest that there are at least two key factors involved in the acquisition of the inside-out gradient: (i) the expression of the protein reelin, which arrests the migration of cortical plate cells by detaching them from the radial glial fiber. This permits younger neurons to use the same fiber to migrate past the previous neurons; and (ii) the second factor is an intracellular signaling pathway dependent on a cyclin-dependent protein kinase (Cdk5). Cdk5 may work by inhibiting N-cadherin mediated cell aggregation as young cells cross the cortical plate, permitting them to move to the more superficial layers. Interestingly, the mutation in Cdk5 affects the migration of only those cells belonging to superficial layers, which are considered to be an evolutionary acquisition of the mammalian isocortex.

Reelin-immunoreactive neurons in the adult vertebrate pallium

Reelin, an extracellular matrix protein, plays a crucial role in cortical development. By using Reelin-immunohistochemistry in different vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals : insectivores, odontocetes, rodents, carnivores and man) we show here that Reelin is also expressed by a variety of neurons in the adult pallium. In the everted telencephalon of the zebrafish, Reelin-positive neurons are widely distributed over the dorsal pallium. In land vertebrates, the most consistent and evolutionary conserved location of Reelin-expressing neurons is in the cell-sparse molecular layer associated with laminated cortical organization. We describe an additional heterogeneous population of Reelin-positive neurons outside the molecular layer, the location and distribution of which are more variable, and which may reflect major evolutionary changes in cortical architecture. In squamate reptiles, the Reelin-negative main cell layer is flanked by a superficial and a deep plexiform layer which both contain Reelin-expressing neurons. In mammals, Reelin-positive interneurons are dispersed throughout layers II--VI; the human neocortex is particularly poor in Reelin-positive interneurons. Reelin is also expressed by large stellate and modified pyramidal neurons in layer II of the mammalian entorhinal cortex, and in the superficial lateral cortex of lizards. Examination of this cell population (layer II Pre-alpha) in human brains of different age groups points to a decrease in Reelin-expression in the course of adult life.

Cortical development: receiving reelin

Recent genetic and biochemical studies indicate that lipoprotein receptors are components of the neuronal receptor for Reelin, mediating the glycoprotein's essential function in cortical development. At least eight cadherin-related neuronal receptors may also play a part in this signalling system.