Abstract
Radial glial cells in the cerebral cortex serve as progenitors for neurons and glia and guide the migration of cortical neurons. The integrin alpha3beta1 is thought to mediate interactions of migrating neurons with radial glial cells and to function as a receptor for the reelin signaling molecule. Here, we challenge this view and demonstrate that beta1 integrins in migrating neurons are not essential for the formation of cell layers in the cerebral cortex. Cortical cell layers also form normally in mice deficient in the integrin alpha3beta1. However, we provide evidence that beta1 integrins in radial glia control the morphological differentiation of both glia and neurons. We conclude that beta1 integrins in radial glia are required for the proper development of the cerebral cortex, whereas beta1 integrins in migrating neurons are not essential for glial-guided migration and reelin signaling.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Cell Count
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Cell Differentiation / genetics
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Cell Differentiation / physiology
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Cell Movement / genetics
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Cell Movement / physiology
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Cells, Cultured
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Cerebral Cortex / cytology
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Cerebral Cortex / embryology*
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Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
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Crosses, Genetic
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Gene Targeting / methods
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Integrases / genetics
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Integrin alpha3beta1 / genetics
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Integrin alpha3beta1 / physiology
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Integrin beta1 / genetics
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Integrin beta1 / physiology*
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Intermediate Filament Proteins / genetics
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Mice
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Mice, Neurologic Mutants
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Mice, Transgenic
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Nestin
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Neuroglia / cytology
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Neuroglia / metabolism*
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / physiology*
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Reelin Protein
Substances
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Integrin alpha3beta1
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Integrin beta1
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Intermediate Filament Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Nes protein, mouse
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Nestin
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Reelin Protein
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Cre recombinase
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Integrases
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Reln protein, mouse