Sahni Lab
News & Impact

You are here

Corticospinal neuron subpopulation-specific developmental genes prospectively indicate mature segmentally specific axon projection targeting

PUBLICATION: 
Journal Article
Authors: 
Vibhu Sahni, Sara J. Shnider, Denis Jabaudon, Yasuhiro Itoh, Luciano C. Greig, Jeffrey D. Macklis
Year Published: 
2021
Publisher: 
Cell Reports (2021 Oct 19) Volume 37, Issue 3. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109843.
Full-Text on Cell Report

Abstract

For precise motor control, distinct subpopulations of corticospinal neurons (CSN) must extend axons to distinct spinal segments, from proximal targets in the brainstem and cervical cord to distal targets in thoracic and lumbar spinal segments. We find that developing CSN subpopulations exhibit striking axon targeting specificity in spinal white matter, which establishes the foundation for durable specificity of adult corticospinal circuitry. Employing developmental retrograde and anterograde labeling, and their distinct neocortical locations, we purified developing CSN subpopulations using fluorescence-activated cell sorting to identify genes differentially expressed between bulbar-cervical and thoracolumbar-projecting CSN subpopulations at critical developmental times. These segmentally distinct CSN subpopulations are molecularly distinct from the earliest stages of axon extension, enabling prospective identification even before eventual axon targeting decisions are evident in the spinal cord. This molecular delineation extends beyond simple spatial separation of these subpopulations in the cortex. Together, these results identify candidate molecular controls over segmentally specific corticospinal axon projection targeting.

Associated

Conditions & Recovery

Spinal Cord Injury icon
Around the world, between 300,000 and 500,000 people are living with a SCI.
Motor Recovery Icon
Write and walk again.
Pain and Sensory Recovery Icon
Pain free, touch and smell like before.