Cited by 274Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsDevelopmental Biology and Gene RegulationFetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders

Making bigger brains–the evolution of neural-progenitor-cell division

Fish, Jennifer L., Dehay, Colette, Kennedy, Henry, Huttner, Wieland B.·2008·Journal of Cell Science

Abstract

Relative brain size differs markedly between species. This variation might ultimately result from differences in the cell biology of neural progenitors, which might underlie their different proliferative potential. On the basis of the cell-biological properties of neural progenitors of animals of varying brain size and complexity (namely, Drosophila melanogaster, rodents and primates), we hypothesize that the evolution of four related cell-biological features has contributed to increases in neuron number. Three of these features–the pseudostratification of the progenitor layer, the loss of (Inscuteable-mediated) mitotic-spindle rotation and the evolution of proteins (such as Aspm) that maintain the precision of symmetric progenitor division–affect the mode of cell division in the apically dividing progenitors of the ventricular zone. The fourth feature, however, concerns the evolution of the basally dividing progenitors of the subventricular zone. In rodents, these basal (or intermediate) progenitors lack cell polarity, whereas in primates a subpopulation of radial, presumably polarized, progenitors has evolved (outer-subventricular-zone progenitors). These cells undergo basal mitoses and are thought to retain epithelial characteristics. We propose the epithelial-progenitor hypothesis, which argues that evolutionary changes that promote the maintenance of epithelial features in neural progenitors, including outer-subventricular-zone progenitors, have been instrumental in the expansion of the cerebral cortex in primates.

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Crossref · 10.1242/jcs.023465

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  • oRGs are present in large numbers in gyrencephalic primates and are considered pivotal to the evolutionary increase in human cortex size and complexity.

    “oRGs are present in large numbers in gyrencephalic primates22,23,40–44 and are considered pivotal to the evolutionary increase in human cortex size and complexity45,46.”

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Authors
Fish, J. L., Dehay, C., Kennedy, H., & Huttner, W. B.
Affiliations
  • Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (DE)
  • Lyon 1 Université (FR)
  • Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
Venue
Journal of Cell Science
Published
2008-09-01
Volume
121
Issue
17
Pages
2783-2793
ISSN
  • 0021-9533 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-9137
OpenAlex
W2150225740
Cited by
274
References
91
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 27
FWCI
1.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Cell Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-06-NEUR-0010)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
Keywords
brain size evolution, neuron number, ASPM, symmetric cell division, ventricular zone, subventricular zone, intermediate progenitor cells, outer subventricular zone, cell polarity, primates, Drosophila melanogaster, rodents
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Cell Division, Biological Evolution, Humans, Neurons, Stem Cells

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