title: Molecular correlates of laminar differences in the macaque dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus.
abstract: In anthropoid primates, cells in the magnocellular and parvocellular layers of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) are distinguished by unique retinal inputs, receptive field properties, and laminar terminations of their axons in visual cortex. To identify genes underlying these phenotypic differences, we screened RNA from magnocellular and parvocellular layers of adult macaque dLGN for layer-specific differences in gene expression. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and in situ hybridization were used to confirm gene expression in adult and fetal macaque. Cellular localization of gene expression revealed 11 new layer-specific markers, of which 10 were enriched in magnocellular layers (BRD4, CAV1, EEF1A2, FAM108A1, INalpha, KCNA1, NEFH, NEFL, PPP2R2C, and SFRP2) and one was enriched in parvocellular and koniocellular layers (TCF7L2). These markers relate to functions involved in development, transcription, and cell signaling, with Wnt/beta-catenin and neurofilament pathways figuring prominently. A subset of markers was differentially expressed in the fetal dLGN during a developmental epoch critical for magnocellular and parvocellular pathway formation. These results provide new evidence for the molecular differentiation of magnocellular and parvocellular streams through the primate dLGN.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Karl D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Carol M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Edward G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Leo M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chalupa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000235:genetics; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051153:Wnt Proteins