Sensory perception is one of the most fundamental brain functions allowing individuals to properly interact and adapt a constantly changing environment. This process requires integration bottom-up top-down neuronal activity that centrally mediated by basal forebrain, region has been linked series cognitive processes such as attention alertness.
 Here, we review latest research using optoge...

The embryonic forebrain germinal zone contains two separate and additive populations of epidermal growth factor (EGF)- and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-responsive stem cells that both exhibit self-renewal and multipotentiality. Although cumulative S phase labeling studies have investigated the proliferation kinetics of the overall population of precursor cells within the forebrain germinal zo...

Extracellular glutamate concentrations are regulated by glial and neuronal transporter proteins. Four glutamate transporter subtypes have been identified in rat brain; GLAST and GLT-1 are primarily astrocytic, whereas EAAC1 and EAAT4 are neuronal. Using immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry with subtype-specific antipeptide antibodies, we examined the protein expression and regional and cellu...

Three major axon pathways cross the midline of the vertebrate forebrain early in embryonic development: the postoptic commissure (POC), the anterior commissure (AC) and the optic nerve. We show that a small population of Gfap+ astroglia spans the midline of the zebrafish forebrain in the position of, and prior to, commissural and retinal axon crossing. These glial ;bridges' form in regions devo...

The insulin receptor-related receptor (IRR) has recently been identified as a member of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase family; however, its endogenous ligand and biological function are still unknown. In contrast to the very widespread pattern of expression of the homologous insulin and IGF-I receptors, IRR demonstrates a very restricted cellular distribution. Using in situ hybridization ...

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, a small number of cells scattered in the hypothalamic region of the basal forebrain, play an important role in reproductive function. These cells originate in the olfactory placode and migrate into the basal forebrain in late embryonic life. Here, we show that reelin, which is expressed along the route of the migrating cells, has an inhibitory role...

Neurological symptoms in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and associated brain lesions are thought to arise from abnormal embryonic neurogenesis due to inherited mutations in Tsc1 or Tsc2. Neurogenesis persists postnatally in the human subventricular zone (SVZ) where slow-growing tumors containing Tsc-mutant cells are generated in TSC patients. However, whether Tsc-mutant neurons from the postn...