TY - JOUR
T1 - Neural progenitors, patterning and ecology in neocortical origins
AU - Aboitiz, Francisco
AU - Zamorano, Francisco
PY - 2013/11/12
Y1 - 2013/11/12
N2 - The anatomical organization of the mammalian neocortex stands out among vertebrates for its laminar and columnar arrangement, featuring vertically oriented, excitatory pyramidal neurons. The evolutionary origin of this structure is discussed here in relation to the brain organization of other amniotes, i.e., the sauropsids (reptiles and birds). Specifically, we address the developmental modifications that had to take place to generate the neocortex, and to what extent these modifications were shared by other amniote lineages or can be considered unique to mammals. In this article, we propose a hypothesis that combines the control of proliferation in neural progenitor pools with the specification of regional morphogenetic gradients, yielding different anatomical results by virtue of the differential modulation of these processes in each lineage. Thus, there is a highly conserved genetic and developmental battery that becomes modulated in different directions according to specific selective pressures. In the case of early mammals, ecological conditions like nocturnal habits and reproductive strategies are considered to have played a key role in the selection of the particular brain patterning mechanisms that led to the origin of the neocortex.
AB - The anatomical organization of the mammalian neocortex stands out among vertebrates for its laminar and columnar arrangement, featuring vertically oriented, excitatory pyramidal neurons. The evolutionary origin of this structure is discussed here in relation to the brain organization of other amniotes, i.e., the sauropsids (reptiles and birds). Specifically, we address the developmental modifications that had to take place to generate the neocortex, and to what extent these modifications were shared by other amniote lineages or can be considered unique to mammals. In this article, we propose a hypothesis that combines the control of proliferation in neural progenitor pools with the specification of regional morphogenetic gradients, yielding different anatomical results by virtue of the differential modulation of these processes in each lineage. Thus, there is a highly conserved genetic and developmental battery that becomes modulated in different directions according to specific selective pressures. In the case of early mammals, ecological conditions like nocturnal habits and reproductive strategies are considered to have played a key role in the selection of the particular brain patterning mechanisms that led to the origin of the neocortex.
KW - Antihem
KW - Cortical hem
KW - Dorsal ventricular ridge
KW - Intermediate progenitors
KW - Nidopallium
KW - Pax6
KW - Reelin
KW - Subventricular zone
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84888359525&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fnana.2013.00038
DO - 10.3389/fnana.2013.00038
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84888359525
SN - 1662-5129
VL - 7
JO - Frontiers in Neuroanatomy
JF - Frontiers in Neuroanatomy
IS - NOV
M1 - 38
ER -