Gap Junctions: Multifaceted Regulators of Embryonic Cortical Development

Overview

Journal Trends Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2008 Apr 12

PMID 18403031

Citations 78

Authors

Laura A B Elias

Arnold R Kriegstein

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The morphological development of the cerebral cortex from a primitive neuroepithelium into a complex laminar structure underlying higher cognition must rely on a network of intercellular signaling. Gap junctions are widely expressed during embryonic development and provide a means of cell-cell contact and communication. We review the roles of gap junctions in regulating the proliferation of neural progenitors as well as the migration and differentiation of young neurons in the embryonic cerebral cortex. There is substantial evidence that although gap junctions act in the classical manner coupling neural progenitors, they also act as hemichannels mediating the spread of calcium waves across progenitor cell populations and as adhesive molecules aiding neuronal migration. Gap junctions are thus emerging as multifaceted regulators of cortical development playing diverse roles in intercellular communication.

Citing Articles

Calcium and Neural Stem Cell Proliferation.

Diaz-Pina D, Rivera-Ramirez N, Garcia-Lopez G, Diaz N, Molina-Hernandez A Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(7).

PMID: 38612887 PMC: 11012558. DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074073.

Cellular junction dynamics and Alzheimer's disease: a comprehensive review.

Asghari K, Niknam Z, Mohammadpour-Asl S, Chodari L Mol Biol Rep. 2024; 51(1):273.

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Deciphering the Calcium Code: A Review of Calcium Activity Analysis Methods Employed to Identify Meaningful Activity in Early Neural Development.

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P2X7 receptor activation awakes a dormant stem cell niche in the adult spinal cord.

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