Molecular controls over neocortical neuronal diversity and oligodendrocyte development

Eiman Abdel-Azim

Much of the remarkable processing capacity of the neocortex lies in the precisely orchestrated generation of diverse neuronal subtypes. Heterogeneous glial populations must subsequently be generated to ensure that neurons function and communicate appropriately. An emerging understanding of neocortical development has revealed at least two major molecular transitions that establish neuronal and glial heterogeneity. The first involves the spatial molecular parcellation of dorsal (pallial) progenitors that generate excitatory long-distance cortical projection neurons, from ventral (subpallial) progenitors that generate inhibitory locally-projecting cortical interneurons. Postmitotic molecular programs that also differ between pallial and subpallial domains then ensure that neurons differentiate appropriately. The second transition involves the temporal parcellation of early molecular...