Summary
The formation and transformation of embryonic neocortical cell layers has been studied by means of autoradiographic and morphometric methods in the light of the concept of a dual origin of mammalian neocortex (Marin-Padilla, 1978; Raedler and Raedler, 1978).
A primordial plexiform layer begins to form on ED 13, when the first postmitotic preneurons enter the area between ventricular layer and pial basement membrane. Before this stage the area was occupied by single fibres and processes of the ventricular cells only. The further development of the primordial plexiform layer is characterized by a linear increase in width, mainly due to the addition of migrating preneurons and ingrowing fibre bundles. The older preneurons of the primordial plexiform layer are situated outermost in the layer, the younger ones at its inner circumference. The differentiation accordingly follows an outside — inside gradient. The preneurons of this layer are designed to become either the Cajal-Retzius cells of Layer I or subcortical neurons (Layer VII) (Rickmann et al., 1977).
While the mitotic activity of cells in the ventricular layer decreases only gradually during the course of neurogenesis, the thickness of the ventricular layer (in the lateral part of neocortex) decreases dramatically from ED 16 on. At the same time the cortical plate starts to form. This is brought about by a translocation of ultrastructurally rather undifferentiated ventricular daughter cells from the inner to the outer circumference of the cerebral wall. The width of the cortical plate grows almost exponentially, especially its medial part. Its development is characterized by the addition of preneurons on its outer circumference while maturation takes place at its inner border.
The significance of these developmental features with regard to neocortical histogenesis is discussed.
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Raedler, E., Raedler, A. & Feldhaus, S. Dynamical aspects of neocortical histogenesis in the rat. Anat Embryol 158, 253–269 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301816
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301816