The anterior commissure forms the first axon connections between the two sides of the embryonic telencephalon. We investigated the role of the transmembrane receptor Frizzled-3a in the development of this commissure using zebrafish as an experimental model. Knock down of Frizzled-3a resulted in complete loss of the anterior commissure. This defect was accompanied by a loss of the glial bridge, ...

The forebrain cholinergic system consists of the cholinergic interneurons of the striatum and projection neurons that are distributed in loosely defined groups along the basal forebrain. Forebrain cholinergic neurons (FCNs) are born between E11 and E15, begin to express cholinergic markers at late embryonic stages, invade their projection target areas postnatally and continue to mature for week...

The forebrain cholinergic system consists of the cholinergic interneurons of the striatum and projection neurons that are distributed in loosely defined groups along the basal forebrain. Forebrain cholinergic neurons (FCNs) are born between E11 and E15, begin to express cholinergic markers at late embryonic stages, invade their projection target areas postnatally and continue to mature for week...

Various stem cell niches of the brain have differential requirements for Cyclin A2. Cyclin A2 loss results in marked cerebellar dysmorphia, whereas forebrain growth is retarded during early embryonic development yet achieves normal size at birth. To understand the differential requirements of distinct brain regions for Cyclin A2, we utilized neuroanatomical, transgenic mouse, and mathematical m...

During development of mammalian cerebral cortex, two classes of glial cells are thought to underlie the establishment of cell patterning. In the embryonic period, migration of young neurons is supported by a system of radial glial cells spanning the thickness of the cortical wall. In the neonatal period, neuronal function is assisted by the physiological support of a second class of astroglial ...

The serotonin 5-HT(4) receptor (5-HT(4)R) is coded by a complex gene that produces four mRNA splice variants in mice (5-HT(4(a))R, 5-HT(4(b))R, 5-HT(4(e))R, 5-HT(4(f))R). This receptor has highly dynamic expression in brain development and its splice variants differ in their developmental trajectories. Since 5-HT(4)Rs are important in forebrain function (including forebrain control of serotoner...

Mechanical tension is a direct and immediate stimulus for neurite initiation and elongation from peripheral neurons. We report here that the relationship between tension and neurite outgrowth is equally initimate for embryonic chick forebrain neurons. Culture of forebrain neurons was unusually simple and reliable, and some of these cells undergo early events of axonal-dendritic polarity. Neurit...