Corticogenesis in a mouse brain. Subplate neurons are coloured yellow.

Subplate neurons are among the first generated neurons in the mammalian cerebral cortex ^[1]. These neurons disappear during postnatal development and are important in establishing the correct wiring ^[2][3] and functional maturation ^[4] of the cerebral cortex. Subplate neurons appear to be selectively sensitive to injury (such as hypoxia) which in humans are associated with motor and cognitive defects ^[5].

Subplate neurons are the first cortical neurons to receive synaptic inputs from thalamic axons, establishing a temporary link between thalamic axons and their final target in layer 4. ^[6][7][8]. Later, thalamic axons invade layer 4 where they innervate layer 4 neurons. In the visual system thalamic axons to layer 4 form ocular dominance columns and this segregation of thalamic axons is impaired if subplate neurons are missing ^[9][10].

[edit] References

• ^  Ghosh, A. & Shatz, C. J. (1992) Involvement of subplate neurons in the formation of ocular dominance columns. Science 255, 1441-1443 PMID 1542795
• ^  Friauf, E., McConnell, S. K. & Shatz, C. J. (1990) Functional synaptic circuits in the subplate during fetal and early postnatal development of cat visual cortex. J. Neurosci. 10, 2601-2613 PMID 2388080
• ^  Rakic, P. (1977) Prenatal development of the visual system in rhesus monkey. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London Ser. B 278, 245-260 PMID 19781
• ^  Kostovic I, Rakic P.;(1098) "Cytology and time of origin of interstitial neurons in the white matter in infant and adult human and monkey telencephalon" J Neurocytol. 1980 Apr;9(2):219-42 [11]
• ^ McConnell SK, Ghosh A, Shatz CJ; (1989) "Subplate neurons pioneer the first axon pathway from the cerebral cortex" , Science, Sep 1;245(4921):978-82[12]
• ^ Kanold PO, Kara P, Reid RC, Shatz CJ.; (2003) "Role of subplate neurons in functional maturation of visual cortical columns.", Science Jul 25;301(5632):521-5[13]
• ^ McQuillen PS, Ferriero DM; (2005) "Perinatal subplate neuron injury: implications for cortical development and plasticity", Brain Pathol., Jul;15(3):250-60[14]

[edit] See also

• Cerebral Cortex
• Cortical column
• Cerebral hemisphere