title: NG2 glia are required for vessel network formation during embryonic development.
abstract: The NG2(+) glia, also known as polydendrocytes or oligodendrocyte precursor cells, represent a new entity among glial cell populations in the central nervous system. However, the complete repertoire of their roles is not yet identified. The embryonic NG2(+) glia originate from the Nkx2.1(+) progenitors of the ventral telencephalon. Our analysis unravels that, beginning from E12.5 until E16.5, the NG2(+) glia populate the entire dorsal telencephalon. Interestingly, their appearance temporally coincides with the establishment of blood vessel network in the embryonic brain. NG2(+) glia are closely apposed to developing cerebral vessels by being either positioned at the sprouting tip cells or tethered along the vessel walls. Absence of NG2(+) glia drastically affects the vascular development leading to severe reduction of ramifications and connections by E18.5. By revealing a novel and fundamental role for NG2(+) glia, our study brings new perspectives to mechanisms underlying proper vessels network formation in embryonic brains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Shilpi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valloton
authors.affiliation: INSERM U1050, Collège de France, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brunet
authors.affiliation: INSERM U1050, Collège de France, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eichmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9229-7520
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hornung
authors.affiliation: Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Cecile
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2750-3164
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lebrand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000196:embryology*
keywords: NG2+ glia; Nkx2.1; OPCs; angiogenesis; mouse; neuroscience; polydendrocyte