title: Identification of distinct telencephalic progenitor pools for neuronal diversity in the amygdala.
abstract: The development of the amygdala, a central structure of the limbic system, remains poorly understood. We found that two spatially distinct and early-specified telencephalic progenitor pools marked by the homeodomain transcription factor Dbx1 are major sources of neuronal cell diversity in the mature mouse amygdala. We found that Dbx1-positive cells of the ventral pallium generate the excitatory neurons of the basolateral complex and cortical amygdala nuclei. Moreover, Dbx1-derived cells comprise a previously unknown migratory stream that emanates from the preoptic area (POA), a ventral telencephalic domain adjacent to the diencephalic border. The Dbx1-positive, POA-derived population migrated specifically to the amygdala and, as defined by both immunochemical and electrophysiological criteria, generated a unique subclass of inhibitory neurons in the medial amygdala nucleus. Thus, this POA-derived population represents a previously unknown progenitor pool dedicated to the limbic system.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Suite 645, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Peijun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guillermo M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lanuza
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cocas
authors.forename: Molly M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Huntsman
authors.forename: Joshua G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Corbin
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D055879:Gene Knock-In Techniques; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics; D007763:Lac Operon; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C103403:Dbx1 protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases