engleski

Stem cell markers in transient fetal zones of the developing human cerebral cortex

Transient fetal zones are a characteristic feature of the developing human cerebral cortex. Proliferative ventricular (VZ) and subventricular (SVZ) zones are a major pool of neuroepithelial stem cells which are neural and glial precursors. After being born in proliferative zones, postmitotic neurons migrate through the intermediate (IZ) and subplate (SP) zone to reach their final target - the cortical plate (CP). Interestingly, beside in the proliferative zones, stem cell markers are also found in other transient fetal zones. The aim of our study was to identify stem cells and cells with proliferative capacity in the human non-proliferative, connectivity-rich synaptic SP during early and mid-fetal period utilizing double and triple immunofluorescence. Therefore, we used SOX2 as a transcription factor responsible for upholding the identity of neural stem cells and Nestin as an intermediate filament protein present in dividing cells during early neurogenesis. Our results showed that both SOX2 and Nestin are also expressed in the non- proliferative SP zone during early and mid-fetal development, which opens a question about their neurodevelopmental role in corticogenesis. In conclusion, presence of SOX2+ cells outside proliferative zones suggests possible different roles of these cells other than proliferative.

human brain development ; cerebral cortex ; neural stem cells ; subplate

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