Topic: Cajal-Retzius cells

Our understanding of how developmental cell death contributes to the formation of brain circuits remains limited. Cajal-Retzius cells (CRs) constitute a major transient neuronal population in the mammalian neocortex, which largely disappears at the time of postnatal somatosensory maturation. In this study, we used mouse genetics, anatomical, functional and behavioral approaches to explore the impact of the early postnatal death of CRs in the maturation of the cortical circuit. We find that CRs apoptosis plays a crucial role in facilitating the proper development of inhibitory connectivity from

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is responsible for higher cognitive tasks, and its ‘malfunction’ is shared across serotonin (5-HT)-related neuropsychiatric disorders and often find its origins during development. Proper cortical development is directed by a sequence of intrinsic ( transcription factors, local placental-derived 5-HT) and extrinsic (instructing 5-HT and catecholaminergic afferents) events. Recently, our group has shown a functional interplay between the 5-HT and catecholaminergic prefrontal projection systems during development leading to a distortion in PFC cytoarchitecture. Lack o