Visual activity regulates neural progenitor cells in developing xenopus CNS through musashi1.
Regulation of progenitor cell fate determines the numbers of neurons in the developing brain. While proliferation of neural progenitors predominates during early central nervous system (CNS) development, progenitor cell fate shifts toward differentiation as CNS circuits develop, suggesting that signals from developing circuits may regulate proliferation and differentiation. We tested whether activity regulates neurogenesis in vivo in the developing visual system of Xenopus tadpoles. Both cell proliferation and the number of musashi1-immunoreactive progenitors in the optic tectum decrease as visual system connections become stronger. Visual deprivation for 2 days increased proliferation of musashi1-immunoreactive radial glial progenitors, while visual experience increased neuronal differentiation. Morpholino-mediated knockdown and overexpression of musashi1 indicate that musashi1 is necessary and sufficient for neural progenitor proliferation in the CNS. These data demonstrate a mechanism by which increased brain activity in developing circuits decreases cell proliferation and increases neuronal differentiation through the downregulation of musashi1 in response to circuit activity.
The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Pranav
P
Sharma
Hollis T
HT
Cline
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007814:Larva; D064168:Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 7; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D012683:Sensory Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D014981:Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C068598:Msi1 protein, Xenopus; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; C509836:Mcm7 protein, Xenopus; D064168:Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 7