Fig. 4. Expression domains of Dlx1, Dlx2, Dlx5 and Dlx6 during mouse brain development. (Top) Schema of a transverse section through the E12.5 mouse telencephalon showing the combined expression of Dlx transcripts. Most cells in the subpallial telencephalon express Dlx1, Dlx2, Dlx5 or Dlx6 at some stage of their differentiation. The arrows indicate the migration from the subpallium to the pallium (cortex) (Marin and Rubenstein, 2001a). The boxed region on the left is used in the middle section to show the expression of Dlx2, Dlx1, Dlx5 and Dlx6. Dlx2 is primarily expressed in undifferentiated cells; it is expressed in scattered cells in the ventricular zone (green dots), in most cells in the subventricular zone (uniform green) and in scattered cells in the mantle zone (green dots). Dlx6 is primarily expressed in differentiated cells in the mantle zone (uniform peach). Dlx1 (red) and Dlx5 (blue) are expressed in intermediate patterns. (Bottom) A hypothesized genetic and biochemical pathway that proposes the sequential role of Dlx2, Dlx1, Dlx5 and Dlx6 at different stages of differentiation. Telencephalic regions are as follows. Pallium: neocortex (NCX) and palliocortex (PCX). Subpallium: lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE). Medial ganglionic eminence (MGE). Stages of differentiation: ventricular zone (VZ); subventricular zone (SVZ); mantle zone (MZ). LV, lateral ventricle (ventricle of telencephalon); III, third ventricle (ventricle of the diencephalon).

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