Introduction

Down syndrome (DS) is the most frequent genetic cause of intellectual disability, with approximately 750 babies born annually in the UK. DS occurs due to partial or complete triplication of human chromosome 21 (HSA21; Trisomy 21). The neurodevelopmental phenotype is variable and associated with cognitive deficits and impairments in speech, motor and language functions. Whilst the neurological phenotype of DS changes over a lifetime, smaller whole brain volumes, predominantly in the cortex and cerebellum, have been observed in early fetal life [19, 45, 55]. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies show that the cortex develops with a simplified gyral appearance (less folded), reduced overall cortical surface area and volume, and abnormal cortical thickness in children and young adults with DS [33, 34]. These volumetric and more specific cortical alterations are prevalent in later-developing regions such as the frontal and temporal lobes [33, 34].

The over-expression of genes on HSA21, their associated pathways in addition to activation of global cellular responses and compensatory mechanisms of genes not on HSA21, are all thought to promote the atypical phenotypes observed in DS [16, 37, 38]. Human post-mortem studies of the fetal and neonatal brain with DS have described decreases in total and neuronal cell numbers, abnormal neuronal maturation, and altered lamination of the cortex which may contribute to the observed reductions in brain volumes [14, 32, 50, 54, 63], as seen on MRI. Development and expansion of the cerebral cortex is a tightly regulated process, beginning with neural precursor cell proliferation, followed by migration to the cortex, allowing for the formation of axonal connections. In fetuses with DS, decreased proliferation and increased cell death have been observed before 21 gestational weeks (GW) [7, 37, 38].

Cortical neurons and glia arise from radial glia progenitors [3, 21, 67]. Radial glia, present from embryogenesis, orchestrate and support cortical development by creating a scaffolding structure that incorporates signalling cues essential for radial and tangential migration of neurons to reach cortical targets [43, 49]. Proliferation is ongoing within the ventricular zone (VZ) and subventricular zone (SVZ) until 28 GW [31, 68]. The earliest born neurons are destined for deeper cortical layers (layer 5–6), and are subsquently followed by production and migration of upper layer neurons. The expansion of these neural progenitors is particularly important in forming gyrencephalic brains, such as the human brain [4, 5, 13, 21, 39, 46]. Any deviations to this tightly regulated process will impact normal neuronal migration, maturation and cortical development.

In the fetal brain with DS, it is not known whether radial glia are morphologically or functionally normal, or whether they contribute to atypical neuronal and cortical development. We have previously shown that in other forms of genetic mutations (ACTG1 variant), disturbances in radial glia and migratory signals dramatically affect brain development [62]. We and others recently found that quantifiable deviations in cortical growth arise from 28 to 30 GW in fetuses with DS, measured from T2-weighted fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [45, 55]. Altered radial glial function, impacting neuronal migration may underlie these cortical disturbances. Histological assessments of human post-mortem tissue provide the microscopic resolution to assess radial morphology and recent advances in in vivo MRI now provide the ability to acquire gestation-matched microstructural information about the developing brain.

The aims of this study, therefore, were to characterise radial glia expression pattern and morphology in the frontal lobe in the developing human brain with DS and age-matched euploid controls during the fetal period. It was hypothesised that alterations to radial glial morphology contribute to the altered cortical phenotypes observed in DS. Secondly, to explore whether microstructural information from in vivo MRI could reflect findings from histological assessment of human brain tissue, potentially providing in vivo biomarkers for specific cellular disturbances.

Materials and methods

Written informed parental consent was acquired in accordance with the National Health Services (NHS) UK guidelines, and study ethical approval was obtained from the National Research Ethics Services (West London), UK (07/H0707/139).

Cases

Nine post-mortem brains from fetuses/neonates with DS (post-menstrual age (PMA) range 15+6–39+4 GW, weeks + days, 5 female/4 male) and 9 euploid age-matched brains from control (PMA 18+0–39+2 GW, 2 female/7 male) fetuses/newborns were used in this study. These cases were obtained from the Perinatal Pathology Department, Imperial College Health Care NHS Trust, and St Thomas’ Hospital London, UK. PMA was calculated by gestational age (at delivery), plus age at death, therefore this was used as a more accurate measure of age. A clinical post-mortem examination was performed by a perinatal pathologist. All brains were assessed macroscopically and microscopically. Euploid age-matched control cases had no known genetic mutations/diagnosis and showed no significant brain pathology. The case details and neuropathological findings are summarised in Table 1.

Table 1 Down syndrome (DS) and age-matched euploid control case details. Summary of clinical case information of human post-mortem cases from age-matched Euploid and DS fetuses
Full size table

Tissue preparation

Following post-mortem examination, brains were routinely bisected by a pathologist, sampled from one hemisphere, and fixed with 4% formalin for 5–7 weeks (depending on size). The hemisphere tissue was from (left/right) was not always noted. Paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of the frontal lobe at the level of the caudate (anterior to Ammon’s Horn) were sectioned coronally at 6 µm (Leica RM2245 microtome, Leica Microsystems Ltd.) on superfrost plus slides [53, 61]. A section was used for routine haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain to assess for neuropathological changes and was used to identify our regions of interest (ROI; Fig. 1). To ensure that the ROI’s were consistent and comparable between cases, the sections that contained the anatomical landmarks such as the lateral ventricle and the head of the caudate were included (Fig. 1). Adjacent sections were used for immunohistochemical protocols below (1 section per stain).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Coronal section of regions of interest. Photomicrographs of Haemotoxlin and Eosin (H&E) stained (a) coronal section from the frontal lobe of a Down syndrome case at 19+5 weeks PMA showing the stratified transitional field (1–6) and regions of interest. b, c Coronal T2-weighted MRI images from (b) control, 23 weeks PMA and (c) Down syndrome, 22+5 weeks PMA, highlighting different regions based on T2-weighted signal intensities. Higher magnification of H&E stained frontal lobe coronal sections from (d) age-matched Euploid case at 24+2 weeks PMA, and (e) Down syndrome case at 23+4 weeks PMA. F Schematic of regions of interest and associated protein labels of radial glia. Scale bars indicated (a) 1 mm, (b, c) 200 µm. Abbreviations: –a anterior, CN caudate nucleus, CC corpus callosum, CP cortical plate, IZ intermediate zone, LV lateral ventricle, -m medial, RG radial glia (aRG; apical, bRG basal, oRG outer, vRG; ventral, tRG; truncated), SVZ subventricular zone (iSVZ; inner, oSVZ; outer), PMA post-menstrual age, STF stratified transitional field, SP subplate, VZ ventricular zone

Full size image

Immunohistochemistry

Routine immunohistochemistry was done as previously reported [53, 61, 62]. Primary and secondary antibodies are detailed in Table 2.

Table 2 Immunohistochemistry details. Primary and secondary antibody, Avidin–Biotin Complex (ABC) and DAB details [22, 26, 43, 47, 48]
Full size table

Neuroanatomy and regions of interest

Figure 1 shows ROIs that were characterised based on previously reported protein labels, laminar organization and stratified transitional fields (STF) detailed by Altman and Bayer [1]. The STFs are a large region of the developing brain (from ages 6.5 GW–37 GW), which are split into 6 layers [39, 47, 56]; Fig. 1.

The VZ and SVZ are the highly proliferative zones of the developing brain. From 13 GW, the SVZ is further subdivided into the inner SVZ (iSVZ) and the outer SVZ (oSVZ) [10, 39]. In the VZ, SVZ and intermediate zone (IZ) radial glia progenitors can be identified by SOX2, seen from 8 to 10 GW [21, 52, 56]. In the VZ, SVZ and IZ, radial glia and their fibres can be visualised with intermediate filament proteins vimentin and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) which are expressed from early as 6 GW [6, 11, 22, 67].

VZ/iSVZ: The VZ lines the lateral ventricle and is a high cellular dense area. The iSVZ is also highly cell dense, and contains intermediate progenitors [10, 46]. Both the VZ and iSVZ contain nuclei in an irregular organisation, in contrast to the radial orientation of cells in the oSVZ [21, 51]. Whilst there are molecular differences between the iSVZ and VZ, we have not assessed these and therefore have not discriminated between VZ/iSVZ but were able to visually discriminate the VZ/iSVZ from oSVZ (Fig. 1). In the human VZ/iSVZ, around 16–18 GW, apical radial glia become truncated, terminate in the oSVZ and can be identified with alpha-crystallin B chain (CRYAB) proteins [43, 56].

oSVZ: The oSVZ is directly superior to VZ/iSVZ and comparable to STF 4–6. We assessed the oSVZ-anterior (oSVZ-a) and oSVZ-medial (oSVZ-m) that were anterior to the caudate head [1, 43, 48]. The oSVZ-m was marked at approximately 30º to the caudate head (i.e. above the thickest region of the ganglionic eminence) (Fig. 1). Basal radial glia, present in the oSVZ, can be identified using homeodomain protein (HOPX) [43].

IZ: The IZ lies between the proliferative zones (VZ and SVZ) and the subplate and the cortical plate (CP). It lies superior to the ROIs described for the oSVZ, we assessed IZ-anterior (IZ-a) and IZ-medial (IZ-m), respectively, and comparable to STF 2–3 (Fig. 1).

Microscopy and image analysis

CRYAB and HOPX staining was visualised and qualitatively assessed with bright-field microscopy (Leica DM6000B, Leica Camera CTR6000, Leica Microsystems Ltd., UK) as previously described [53, 61].

SOX2, GFAP and Vimentin staining was visualised and assessed using Scanning Light Microscope (Motic Easy Scan Pro 6, USA), with extended depth of field capabilities, scanned at 40× magnification resolution. We objectively quantified positively stained particles of SOX2, GFAP and Vimentin, using Image Pro Premier Software, (Media Cybernetics, USA). An intensity threshold was set for each image (30–140 elements), in all four regions (oSVZ-a; oSVZ-m; IZ-a; IZ-m; Fig. 1) from samples that encompassed an ROI area (1.6–3.7 mm2). Using a colour analysis, we found that intensity ranges above 140 and below 30 would detect non-specific staining. The number of SOX2-immunopositive cells (minimum SOX2-positive particle area: 5 μm2) was calculated. GFAP-immunopositive and Vimentin–immunopositive cells and radial projections that occupied 7 μm2 to 1000 μm2 were included in analysis, to measure both percentage area stained and number of particles/mm2 (inclusive of some cells and radial fibers). Care was taken to exclude staining artifacts and exclude blood vessels (where possible). Additional morphology parameters were also obtained for GFAP and Vimentin-immunopositive particles; particle length (µm), particle area (µm2) and circularity (Cir = (4*A)/Pi*MaxFeret2; A = area and MaxFeret = maximum diameter, largest distance between two tangents). A circularity value of 0 = linear object, and value of 1 = perfectly circular object. We averaged anterior and medial ROIs to achieve total values for the oSVZ and IZ. Data was normalized to obtain immunopositive particles per mm2.

We determined the space between the radial glia processes in the IZ in sections labelled with GFAP and Vimentin. Using Otolith application (Image-Pro Premier; Media Cybernetics, USA) (Additional file 1: Figure S1), the image threshold was set, and 3 evenly spaced lines (approx. 1 mm) were drawn across the ROI (stained blood vessels were removed from the quantification). An intersection was classified as the point where a radial glia process and line meet. The number of intersections for each line and the space between the points of intersection (circuli; μm2) was calculated. Data from the 3 lines from IZ-a and IZ-m were then averaged to obtain a value for each case.

Data analysis

All immunohistopathology was analysed blinded to case. In our mid-gestation (15+6–24+2 GW) cohort; we qualitatively described the pattern of radial glia staining (CRYAB, HOPX, SOX2, GFAP, Vimentin) in the VZ/iSVZ. In the oSVZ and IZ, we objectively quantified positive staining of SOX2, GFAP and Vimentin. In our late-gestation cases (38+0–39+4 GW), due to low numbers we visually assessed CRYAB, HOPX, SOX2, GFAP and Vimentin. Statistical analyses were performed on SOX2, GFAP and Vimentin data using IBM SPSS for Windows software package (Version 25, IBM Corp., USA). Data was tested for normality using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Groups were compared using a General Linear Models (GLM) - ANCOVA, with PMA included as a covariate. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Graphs were produced using GraphPad Prism (version 8.0, GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA).

Fetal MRI patient recruitment

Two fetal cases were investigated to provide age-matched in vivo data on tissue microstructure. Ethical approval for fetal MRI was obtained from the West London and GTAC Research Ethics Committee (07/H0707/105). A control case (22 GW, no congenital abnormalities) and a DS case (21 GW) were recruited from the antenatal clinic at St Thomas’ Hospital. Diagnosis of DS was confirmed at birth.

Fetal MRI image acquisition

Images were acquired on a 3T MRI System (Philips Achieva; Philips Medical Systems, Best, The Netherlands) using a 32-channel cardiac array coil placed around the maternal abdomen using protocols developed for the developing Human Connectome Project [http://www.developingconnectome.org/] [12, 45]. Fetal T2-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging was acquired as previously detailed [9, 45].

Fetal diffusion processing and analysis

To explore a potential role for in vivo fetal MRI to define imaging correlates for underlying biological substrates, we assessed diffusion MRI-derived fibre directions in the fetal brain. Diffusion MRI is sensitive to microstructural properties in the order of cellular length scales and provides 3D spatial and angular information.

The pre-processing for diffusion MRI volumes included image denoising based on random matrix theory [8] and distortion correction [9]. The top shell (b = 1000 s/mm2) was used for motion correction and reconstruction of the diffusion weighted signal in the 4th order Spherical Harmonic basis using the method developed by [12] to a resolution of 2 × 2 × 2 mm3. This was followed by estimation of fibre orientation distributions (FODs) using white matter constrained spherical deconvolution [58]. The FODs were used as an input for probabilistic tractography [57] (performed in MRtrix3 [59]) in the segmented brain white matter region. Contrary to the common usage of tractography which aims to extract long-range connectivity between brain regions, we extracted local information that approaches the length-scale of the histological samples. Hence, to link local patterns across voxels, we performed tracking with comparatively short minimum streamline length (3 mm) and truncated streamlines at 15 mm.

In both the control and DS case, the streamlines were qualitatively analysed for 5 voxel-sized ROIs, selected to approximately correspond to the ROIs in the post-mortem histology samples (oSVZ-m, oSVZ-a, IZ-m, IZ-a) and the centre of the corpus callosum.

Results

Cases were divided into mid-gestation (Euploid; n = 6, PMA range: 18+0–24+1 GW, DS; n = 6, PMA range: 15+6– 23+4 GW) and late gestation (Euploid n = 3, PMA Range: 38+4 –39+2 GW; DS n = 3, PMA Range: 38+0–39+4 GW). One euploid and two DS cases had a congenital heart defect, with no overt brain injury or malformation. The euploid controls and five of the DS cases did not show any brain injury or malformation on gross and microscopic examination, as assessed by a pathologist. Two DS cases had evidence of white matter gliosis (both died postnatally), one had hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) (died < 12 h of birth), and two had evidence of peri-vascular/ventricular haemorrhages (posterior to regions assessed in this study). All case details are listed in Table 1. Based on H&E staining, DS cases from 20 GW (3/3 cases; Fig. 1e) showed that the CP and the VZ had a sparse cellular pattern when compared to the euploid controls (Fig. 1d).

Expression of CRYAB and HOPX across gestation

In the VZ/iSVZ and oSVZ we visually assessed radial glia markers CRYAB and HOPX at mid-gestation (PMA age range: 15–24 GW), and late gestation (38–39 GW), (Tables 1, 3).

Table 3 CRYAB and HOPX staining in the Ventricular and Subventricular Zones during mid-gestation in Down syndrome and age-matched euploid control brains
Full size table

CRYAB antibody stains apical (ventral/truncated) radial glia (Fig. 1f); [43, 56]. We found no CRYAB staining at 15 GW. From 18 to 24 GW CRYAB was present in cells and radial processes in the VZ/iSVZ (Table 3; Fig. 2A, C) in both DS and euploid cases. The radial projections were either punctate (3 cases) or continuous (1 case). No CRYAB staining was found in the IZ. In late gestation, CRYAB staining was localised predominantly to cells of astroglial morphology in the VZ and were now detected in white matter (former IZ) in both DS (Fig. 2G) and euploid cases (Fig. 2E).

Fig. 2
figure 2

CRYAB and HOPX in the developing brain. Photomicrographs of CRYAB (apical/ventral/truncated radial glia), and HOPX (basal/outer radial glia) in coronal frontal lobe sections in mid-gestation from (A, B) age-matched euploid, 22+2 weeks PMA and (C, D) Down syndrome 19+5 weeks PMA. (E–H) In late-gestation CRYAB and HOPX staining is cellular in both Down syndrome (38+4 weeks PMA) and euploid (39+1 weeks PMA) cases. Scale bars indicate (A–D) 500 µm, (i–iii) 50 µm, (E–H) 100 µm. Abbreviations: LV; lateral ventricle, SVZ; subventricular zone (iSVZ; inner, oSVZ; outer), PMA; post-menstrual age, VZ; ventricular zone

Full size image

HOPX stained basal radial glia (Fig. 1f), and was present in the nucleus and present in a proportion of cell processes [27, 43, 48]. From mid-gestation (15–24 GW), in both DS and euploid cases there was sparse expression of HOPX present in the VZ/iSVZ (Table 3; Fig. 2Bi, ii and Di, ii), strong expression in the oSVZ (Fig. 2Biii and Diii), and sparse expression in the IZ. In late gestation, the HOPX staining was nuclear, with a proportion of cells also having HOPX-positive processes. These were detected across all layers from the VZ, through to the cortex of both DS (n = 3, Fig. 2H) and euploid brains (n = 3, Fig. 2F).

SOX2 cells are decreased in the oSVZ in the DS brain

SOX2 is a neural stem progenitor cell marker (expressed in neural progenitors and populations of intermediate progenitors) and is highly expressed in radial glia cells [21, 24, 40, 43, 48, 56]. From mid-gestation (15–24 GW), in both euploid and DS brains (Fig. 3B, C), SOX2 was strongly expressed in the VZ/iSVZ but appeared cell dense in the euploid (Fig. 3B, E) compared to DS cases (Fig. 3C, F). In the oSVZ, SOX2 positive cells were present along radial striations (Fig. 3B, C) in both euploid and DS cases.

Fig. 3
figure 3

SOX2 cells in the oSVZ and IZ in mid-gestation. The number of SOX2 positive cells in the (A) oSVZ and (D) IZ across mid-gestation in age-matched euploid (black squares) and Down syndrome (grey circles) cases. Photomicrographs of SOX2 staining in the (B, C) iSVZ/oSVZ and (E, F) IZ in (B, E) euploid, 22+2 weeks PMA and Down syndrome, 21+1 weeks PMA. Scale bars indicate (B, C, E, F) 150 µm, (i) 5 µm. Abbreviations: IZ; intermediate zone, SVZ; subventricular zone (iSVZ; inner, oSVZ; outer), PMA; post-menstrual age

Full size image

The number of SOX2 positive cells was quantified in the oSVZ and IZ from mid-gestation (Fig. 3). We found cellular expression was highest early in development, and decreased across gestation in both euploid and DS frontal lobe sections. The number of SOX2 positive cells were greater in the oSVZ compared to the IZ. We found a significant difference between DS and euploid groups for SOX2 cells in the oSVZ (GLM, F = 6.173, p < 0.05). There was a trend that SOX2 cell number was lower in DS brains, at comparable gestational ages in the IZ (GLM, F = 4.118, p = 0.077). In late gestation, both euploid and DS, SOX2 immunopositive cells were sparse throughout both the euploid and DS brain.

GFAP and vimentin in DS and euploid frontal lobe from 15 GW show subtle deviations in the DS brain

GFAP and Vimentin are intermediate filament proteins expressed in radial glia as early as 5–6 GW [11, 22, 26, 67]. We saw strong GFAP and Vimentin positive staining present throughout the DS and euploid brain, from 15 GW, in the VZ through to the CP. At these ages (15–24 GW), both GFAP and Vimentin-positive staining was present in radial fibres and in some cell bodies. Vimentin positive staining was also present in blood vessels but these structures were omitted from the radial glia quantification.

We analysed the amount (% area staining) and number (particles/mm2) of GFAP in the oSVZ (Fig. 4A–D) and IZ (Fig. 4E–H) and found that with increasing gestation, GFAP decreased in both euploid and DS brains. In GFAP-positively stained particles (inclusive of radial fibres and some cells), we also found circularity (0 = line/fibres, 1 = circle/cell bodies) had a subtle increase with advancing gestation in both regions in the euploid brain; this increase was not observed in DS (Table 4). No significant differences in percent stained, particle circularity, length and area, between groups, from 15 to 24 GW was observed.

Fig. 4
figure 4

Amount and Number of GFAP and Vimentin in the oSVZ and IZ during mid-gestation. The amount (% area stained) and number (particles/mm2) of (A, B, E, F) GFAP and (I, J, M, N) Vimentin in the (A, B, I, J) oSVZ and (E, F, M, N) IZ during mid-gestation in age-matched euploid (black squares) and Down syndrome (grey circles) cases. Photomicrographs of (C, D, G, H) GFAP and (K, L, O, P) Vimentin in the (C, D, K, L) oSVZ and (G, H, O, P) IZ, in (C, G, k, O) Euploid and (D, H, L, P) Down syndrome. IZ intermediate zone, oSVZ outer subventricular zone, PMA post-menstrual age. Scale bars indicate (C, D, G, H, K, L, O, P) 150 µm, (i) 5 µm

Full size image
Table 4 Morphology parameters of GFAP and Vimentin labelled radial glia in the Down syndrome and age-matched Euploid brain
Full size table

The amount of Vimentin (% area staining) and the number (particles/mm2) in the oSVZ (Fig. 4I–L) and IZ (Fig. 4M–P) showed more variability across gestation in both euploid and DS brains. Circularity in the euploid brain regions, showed a subtle increase across gestation, which was not observed in DS brains (Table 4). No significant differences in percent stained, particle circularity, length and area, between groups, from 15 to 24 GW was observed.

In order to gain further insight into developmental changes that occur in radial glial fibres, we objectively assessed space between fibres in the IZ for GFAP and Vimentin positive radial glia (Fig. 5). The amount of space between GFAP-labelled radial glia appeared to increase across gestation (15–24 GW) in both euploid and DS brains (Fig. 5C–H; Table 4). Vimentin-radial glia showed some variability and there was no increase in average space between fibres across gestation in the IZ.

Fig. 5
figure 5

Space between radial glial fibres in the IZ. The average space between (A) GFAP and (B) Vimentin labelled radial glial fibres in the IZ across mid-gestation in age-matched euploid (black squares) and Down syndrome (grey circles) cases. Photomicrographs of GFAP staining across mid-gestation in (C–E) euploid and (F–H) Down syndrome cases. Scale bars indicate (C–H) 100 µm. IZ intermediate zone, PMA post-menstrual age

Full size image

Due to low number of cases in late gestation, we visually assessed the expression of GFAP and Vimentin from the VZ through to the cortex. GFAP was now present in cells of astrocytic morphology and a small proportion of radial like projections in the cortex (Additional file 2: Figure S2). GFAP-positive astrocytes in one DS case that had HIE, also had evidence of hypertrophic astrocytes (Additional file 2: Figure S2C). Vimentin-positive radial processes were still evident (39 GW), although fewer than earlier in development, in white matter regions in both DS (Additional file 2: Figure S2D) and euploid brains (Additional file 2: Figure S2B). Of interest, Vimentin staining was also present in cells and blood vessels across all gestational ages.

In vivo diffusion MRI in the fetal brain is comparable to histological assessments

Conventional T2-weighted images of both cases, euploid control (22 GW) and DS case (21 GW), were visually assessed by a neuroradiologist and confirmed to have normal appearance, with no injury or malformations and 2D biometry values within normal limits. We assessed in vivo diffusion MRI-derived fibre directions, in selected voxels (2 × 2 × 2 mm3) in the fetal brain (Fig. 6). Approximate mean diffusivity (scalar diffusivity) values for the control fetus (n = 1); Ventricle: 2.4 × 10−3 mm2/s; VZ: 1.1 × 10−3 mm2/s; SVZ: 1.5 × 10−3 mm2/s; Subplate/IZ: 1.8 × 10−3 mm2/s; Cortex: 1.3 × 10−3mm2/s; Corpus Callosum: 1.0 × 10−3 mm2/s. In the corpus callosum (ROI1) we observed a strong left to right orientation, as expected. In ROI2 and ROI3 which corresponds to the oSVZ, diffusion MRI revealed a large proportion of streamlines orientated superior to inferior, but a smaller number of streamlines orientated anterior to posterior. This was consistent with our immunohistochemical observations in the oSVZ, where we show strong bands/striations predominantly in one direction, with fewer streamlines distributed in the perpendicular direction (Fig. 6C, D). In the IZ (ROI4, ROI5), we noted that the orientation of streamlines reflected a predominantly radial orientation, consistent with our histological assessments. Importantly, we noted that streamline orientation was different between the oSVZ and IZ regions, on both control and DS brain imaging, consistent with histology.

Fig. 6
figure 6

Fetal diffusion MRI and immunohistochemistry in the fetal brain. Upper panels show a (A) Euploid (22 GW) and (B) DS (21 GW) fetal brain, following in vivo fetal MRI in sagittal plane, and 5 seed/regions of interest (ROI), approximately 1 × 1 × 1 voxel, (2 mm), corresponding to immunohistological ROIs assessed and the corpus callosum. The colour-coding of the tractography is based on the standard red, green, blue code to indicate directionality; red for left–right, green for anterior–posterior and blue for dorsal–ventral. The lower panel reflect GFAP and Vimentin labelled radial glia, with images rotated in a comparable plane to the fetal MRI images in the (C) Euploid and (D) DS brain, showing direction of fibres in comparable ROI 2 (oSVZ-M) and ROI 4 (IZ-M) stained with GFAP and Vimentin. S superior, I inferior. Scale bar indicates 2 mm on low magnification and 50 µm on high magnification photomicrographs

Full size image

Discussion

The aim of this study was to assess radial glial morphology and pattern of expression in DS and euploid age-matched brains during the fetal period. We assessed the VZ/iSVZ, oSVZ and IZ from mid-gestation 15–24 GW, which are regions that are structurally important for the generation and migration of neurons during this developmental window. We found the pattern of expression of radial glia markers was comparable, with subtle deviations between age-matched euploid and DS fetal brains. SOX2 cell numbers were significantly lower in the oSVZ in DS compared to euploid brains. Although numbers of cases assessed were small, with advancing gestation (15 to 24 GW), we found SOX2 cell number and amount and number of GFAP particles to decrease in both the oSVZ and IZ, and this occurred earlier in the DS brains compared to controls. There was no strong relationship with Vimentin across gestation in either region or group. We also show that recent advances in in vivo fetal diffusion MRI could complement and reflect histological analysis and allow for insight into the microstructural development from as early as 21 GW, potentially providing in vivo biomarkers of development.

We found a significant difference in the number of SOX2 cells in the oSVZ of DS brains, from 15 to 24 GW compared with age-matched euploid cases (Fig. 3). Due to the small number of cases assessed and the individual variability that exists in DS, this finding is inconclusive. However, it is consistent with several studies that have found reduced proliferation in the VZ and SVZ of DS brains, prior to 21 GW [7, 17, 18]. In the non-DS, typically developing brain, it has been reported that from 13 to 18 GW (earlier than we assessed), SOX2 cell numbers decrease in the VZ, and increase in the oSVZ suggesting this is when the oSVZ becomes the predominant proliferative zone [21, 35, 43, 48]. Basal radial glia populate the oSVZ, and from 17 to 18 GW compared to 23–24 GW there is a shift in the production of deep layer neurons to upper layer neurons [43]. Thus a reduction in SOX2 in the DS oSVZ brain may reflect decreased neuronal numbers and lack of cellular layer definition that has been previously described in layers II, III and IV in the developing DS cortex [14, 50, 54, 63, 64]. We also found SOX2 cell number decreased with advancing gestation in the oSVZ and IZ in both DS and euploid brains, with lower numbers in the DS brain. SOX2 protein is essential to ensure self-renewal of neuronal precursors and its expression is downregulated following differentiation to post-mitotic neuronal and glial cells [15, 20]. In late gestation, there were few SOX2 cells in either the DS or euploid brain, in agreement with Malik et al., who found after 28 GW SOX2 cells were more scarce in the SVZ (in the non-DS brain) [40].

We assessed the spatio-temporal pattern of apical (CRYAB) and basal (HOPX) radial glia and found it to be comparable in our DS and euploid brains. We found CRYAB in the VZ/iSVZ from 18 GW in both euploid and DS brains, with CRYAB-fibres truncating in the oSVZ, consistent with previous studies reporting the emergence of ‘discontinuous’ radial glia from 16 to 18 GW [11, 43, 48, 56]. In mid-gestation the morphology of CRYAB staining was consistent with GFAP and Vimentin positive fibres in the VZ and in late-gestation, CRYAB staining was cellular, with star shaped morphology consistent with astroglia in the VZ and white matter. CRYAB has been shown to co-localise with GFAP-positive astrocytes and PDGFRa (a marker of oligodendrocyte progenitors) in DS and control infants [30, 44]. Basal radial glia, labelled with HOPX, were sparse in the VZ/iSVZ, and strongly expressed in the oSVZ from 15 GW in both DS and euploid, with some HOPX cells containing short processes. Recently, it was found that at 15 GW, proliferating basal radial glia, labelled with SOX2 (nucleus) and HOPX (nucleus and processes) contained 6 distinct morphologies, with an increase in cellular complexity correlating with increased proliferation [27]. Whilst we did not analyse the number or morphology of our HOPX positive-cells, it would be of interest to further assess the relationship between HOPX cellular morphology and proliferation in the DS brain.

Once born, neurons begin a multi-step process to migrate along radial glial fibres from their birthplace, through the IZ and subplate to their final cortical location. Radial, tangential and multi-polar migration all occur with the support of radial glia fibres. We found the number and the amount of GFAP and Vimentin-positive staining decreased with advancing gestation, with this occurring earlier in DS brains compared to age-matched euploid brains. Cortical neurogenesis continues till at least 28 GW [40], and following peak neuronal production, radial glial cells begin to switch to gliogenesis. The slightly shifted pattern of expression of GFAP and Vimentin (and SOX2) in DS brains may reflect radial glia maturing into astroglia earlier, or becoming exhausted sooner which has been previously noted in the VZ of foetuses with DS between 18–20 GW [66]. In the VZ of DS fetuses (< 20GW) a greater number of GFAP-positive cells and vimentin-labelled radial glia was reported [37, 38, 66]. Guidi et al., (2018) have reported a comparable number of GFAP-labelled astrocytes and reduced number of neurons, suggestive of increased percentage of astrocytic cells (< 21GW), in the fusiform and inferior temporal gyrus [18]. We did not assess neuronal number in this study, but the decreased number of SOX2 cells in the oSVZ of DS and observed decreases in cortical volumes from fetal MRI studies could reflect decreased neuronal numbers observed in the cortex of the DS brain after birth [14, 45, 50, 55, 63].

In the IZ, we also assessed the space between GFAP-labelled fibres and found that this increased with advancing gestation in both the DS and euploid brain. Less densely packed radial glia have been reported from 24 to 29 GW, when compared to earlier in development 19–21 GW [65]. This maturational process could reflect radial fibres transitioning into mature astrocytes, which occurs between 15 and 35 GW [11, 41, 65, 67]. Space between vimentin fibres remained fairly consistent across 15–24 GW in our study comparable with other studies that have documented vimentin stained radial glia only regressing from 30 GW [11, 65]. Whilst GFAP and vimentin have a high co-expression, subtle differences in the pattern of expression have been previously reported [6, 11, 22, 67]. Perturbations to extracellular matrix components, which occupy the space between glia and neurons, have recently been shown to be involved in cortical folding, and are altered in the DS brain [36]. The extracellular matrix follow a tightly regulated process that supports the development, maintenance and organisation of the brain [25], our ongoing histological and MRI studies will further explore its relationship with GFAP and vimentin-labelled radial fibres.

Our preliminary assessment of fetal diffusion MRI from one DS and control fetal case showed that as early as 21 GW, it is possible to visualise streamlines reflecting radial fibre orientations in vivo in the developing fetal brain. Importantly, our immunohistochemistry and diffusion MRI showed a different pattern of radial glial fibre orientation between the oSVZ and IZ, in both the DS and age-matched euploid brains during mid-gestation. The oSVZ had bands of striations, with prominent spaces between these bands, whilst the IZ had traditional radially orientated fibres (Fig. 6). Correlating with histological studies, diffusion MRI of human post-mortem brains has added valuable insight into the development, pattern and regression of radial tracts across gestation [23, 60, 65]. From 30 to 41 GW radial glia have been documented to disappear [29, 65], with radial migration pathways beginning to regress as early as 22 GW in the inferior frontal cortex [42]. While our example demonstrates that fetal diffusion MRI and histology detect features with similar microstructural orientation, future research will require extensive parametric study for both reconstruction and analysis methods as well as an assessment of inter-subject variability to explore the development of the fetal brain in DS more quantitatively across gestation.

Whilst access to and assessment of human post-mortem tissue is immensely valuable, it has some limitations. The number of cases and amount of tissue available is limited. The presence of other pathologies such as acquired injuries or infection, could have further affected the results. The time till post-mortem, process and duration of tissue fixation and paraffin processing can effect tissue integrity and shrink brain tissue in variable degrees which can effect tissue quality and subsequent measures. Due to the low number of cases we chose not to calculate group averages and instead assessed and presented our data across gestation. Although this did limit statistical analysis, it highlighted valuable information regarding developmental changes in protein expression of radial glia, during this active period of neurodevelopment. In addition, it has been recently established that within the DS population, there is large individual variability [2, 28]. We have previously observed a wide range in the total and regional brain volumes in our fetal and neonatal DS brains [45], and such genetic variation needs to be recognised when investigating neurodevelopmental phenotypes in DS. The presence of co-morbidities such as a congenital heart defect, known to influence brain development in both the DS and non-DS population, may further contribute to individual variations in datasets.

Conclusions

Our neuropathological and fetal MRI findings show subtle but significant deviations in the DS brain prior to 24 GW, consistent with previous studies [50, 63]. We found SOX2 cell number was significantly less in DS, and whilst both DS and controls have a similar pattern of expression, these occur earlier in DS. These alterations could further contribute to the simplified gyral patterns and decreased cortical volumes that emerge in the DS brain. Recent advances in fetal MRI acquisition and analysis techniques taken together with a comparison with detailed regional histology could help define underlying biological substrates for objective MR imaging parameters. This now provides the potential for in vivo, non-invasive imaging based surrogate markers that could predict subsequent alterations in cortical development and their later neurocognitive correlates.