First published online August 18, 2003
Development 130, e1901 (2003)
Copyright © 2003 The Company of Biologists Limited
New role for reelin
The secreted glycoprotein reelin is thought to control neuronal migration
in the developing vertebrate CNS by directly acting on neurons. Now, Hartfuss
et al. report that reelin may also affect neuronal migration by regulating
radial glial cell morphology in a region-specific manner (see
p. 4597). These cells
are characterised by long radial processes that facilitate the migration of
newborn neurons in the developing cerebral cortex. The authors found that in
reeler mutant mice (which lack reelin), fewer neurons than normal had radial
processes in the ventricular zone of the cortex, but not elsewhere in the
brain. Moreover, in vitro, reelin increased levels of brain lipid-binding
protein (which possibly influences radial glial cell morphology) and the
extension of the processes of cortical, but not of basal ganglia-derived,
radial glial cells. These effects, the authors show, are due to reelin
signalling directly to radial glia.
Related articles in Development:
- Reelin signaling directly affects radial glia morphology and biochemical maturation
- Eva Hartfuss, Eckart Förster, Hans H. Bock, Michael A. Hack, Pierre Leprince, Juan M. Luque, Joachim Herz, Michael Frotscher, and Magdalena Götz
Development 2003 130: 4597-4609.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
