| Subplate and Cajal-Retzius neurons components of the cortical preplate are believed to be essential for the proper development of the neocortex. A transgenic mouse was created to permit the ablation of subplate and Cajal-Retzius neurons when they are born (embryonic days 11 and 12 in mice). This study has shown that destruction of a portion of these neurons resulted in a visible cortical lesion, hydrocephaly after birth, and early mortality of transgenic mice. Histological and immunohistochemistry examination showed that this was due to abnormal cortical development, characterized by dyslamination of the neocortex, and a change in the distribution pattern of golli-beta-galactosidase expressing cells and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD 67) positive cells within the neocortex. These results confirm that these neurons are important in corticogenesis. Moreover, these transgenic mice may serve as a cellular ablation animal model to study the effects of disruption of these early neuronal populations on cortical development. |
