Article abstract


Nature Neuroscience 10, 1151 - 1159 (2007)
Published online: 26 August 2007 | doi:10.1038/nn1960

OL-protocadherin is essential for growth of striatal axons and thalamocortical projections

Masato Uemura1, Shinsuke Nakao1,2, Shintaro T Suzuki3, Masatoshi Takeichi1,2 & Shinji Hirano1,4


The ventral telencephalon in the embryonic brain is thought to provide guidance cues for navigation of thalamocortical axons, but the mechanisms involved remain largely elusive. OL-protocadherin (OL-pc), a member of the cadherin superfamily, is highly expressed by striatal neurons in the developing ventral telencephalon. Here we show that OL-pc–deficient (Pcdh10-/-) mice have defects in axon pathways through the ventral telencephalon; for example, thalamocortical and corticothalamic projections cannot cross the ventral telencephalon. In the ventral telencephalon, striatal axons fail to grow out, and, concomitantly, the caudal portion of the globus pallidus and the associated 'corridor' thought to be important for thalamocortical fiber navigation do not form. The inability of the striatum to extend axons is also observed in vitro. These results show that OL-pc is essential for both elongation of striatal axons and patterning of the putative guidance cues for thalamocortical projections.

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  1. RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, 2-2-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan.
  2. Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
  3. Department of Bioscience, School of Science and Technology, Kwanseigakuin University, 2-1 Gakuen, Sanda-shi, Hyogo 669-1337, Japan.
  4. Formation and Recognition, PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 4-1-8 Honcho Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.

Correspondence to: Shinji Hirano1,4 e-mail: s-hirano@cdb.riken.jp

Correspondence to: Masatoshi Takeichi1,2 e-mail: takeichi@cdb.riken.jp

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