Specific contribution of neurons from the Dbx1 lineage to the piriform cortex.

The piriform cortex (PC) is a major cortical processing center for the sense of smell that receives direct inputs from the olfactory bulb. In mice, the PC consists of three neuronal layers, which are populated by cells with distinct developmental origins. One origin of PC neurons is the pool of Dbx1-expressing neural progenitors located in the ventral pallium at the pallial-subpallial boundary. Since the precise mechanisms of PC neuron development are largely unknown, we sought to define the distribution, timing of neurogenesis, morphology and projection patterns of PC neurons from the Dbx1 lineage. We found that Dbx1-lineage neurons are preferentially distributed in layer 2 and enriched in the ventral portion of the PC. Further, Dbx1 neurons are early-born neurons and contribute to most neuronal subtypes in the PC. Our data also revealed an enrichment of Dbx1-lineage neurons in the ventral anterior PC that project to the orbitofrontal cortex. These findings suggest a specific association between the developmental origin of PC neurons and their neuronal properties.

Citation

Thando Shabangu, Hung-Lun Chen, Zi-Hui Zhuang, Alessandra Pierani, Chien-Fu F Chen, Shen-Ju Chou. Specific contribution of neurons from the Dbx1 lineage to the piriform cortex. Scientific reports. 2021 Apr 16;11(1):8349

PMID: 33863910

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