  Phosphorylation of SCG10/stathmin-2 determines multipolar stage exit and neuronal migration rate; ; et al in Nature Neuroscience (2011) Detailed reference viewed: 16 (2 ULg)EFHC1 interacts with microtubules to regulate cell division and cortical developmentde Nijs, Laurence  ; Leon, Christine ; Nguyen, Laurent et alin Nature Neuroscience (2009), 12(10), 1266-74 Mutations in the EFHC1 gene are linked to juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), one of the most frequent forms of idiopathic generalized epilepsies. JME is associated with subtle alterations of cortical and ... [more ▼] Mutations in the EFHC1 gene are linked to juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), one of the most frequent forms of idiopathic generalized epilepsies. JME is associated with subtle alterations of cortical and subcortical architecture, but the underlying pathological mechanism remains unknown. We found that EFHC1 is a microtubule-associated protein involved in the regulation of cell division. In vitro, EFHC1 loss of function disrupted mitotic spindle organization, impaired M phase progression, induced microtubule bundling and increased apoptosis. EFHC1 impairment in the rat developing neocortex by ex vivo and in utero electroporation caused a marked disruption of radial migration. We found that this effect was a result of cortical progenitors failing to exit the cell cycle and defects in the radial glia scaffold organization and in the locomotion of postmitotic neurons. Therefore, we propose that EFHC1 is a regulator of cell division and neuronal migration during cortical development and that disruption of its functions leads to JME [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 81 (25 ULg)Alpha-fetoprotein protects the developing female mouse brain from masculinization and defeminization by estrogensBakker, Julie ; ; Douhard, Quentin et alin Nature Neuroscience (2006), 9(2), 220-226 Two clearly opposing views exist on the function of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a fetal plasma protein that binds estrogens with high affinity, in the sexual differentiation of the rodent brain. AFP has been ... [more ▼] Two clearly opposing views exist on the function of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a fetal plasma protein that binds estrogens with high affinity, in the sexual differentiation of the rodent brain. AFP has been proposed to either prevent the entry of estrogens or to actively transport estrogens into the developing female brain. The availability of Afp mutant mice (Afp(-/-)) now finally allows us to resolve this longstanding controversy concerning the role of AFP in brain sexual differentiation, and thus to determine whether prenatal estrogens contribute to the development of the female brain. Here we show that the brain and behavior of female Afp(-/-) mice were masculinized and defeminized. However, when estrogen production was blocked by embryonic treatment with the aromatase inhibitor 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione, the feminine phenotype of these mice was rescued. These results clearly demonstrate that prenatal estrogens masculinize and defeminize the brain and that AFP protects the female brain from these effects of estrogens. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 26 (6 ULg) Experience-dependent changes in cerebral activation during human REM sleepMaquet, Pierre ; Laureys, Steven ; Peigneux, Philippe et alin Nature Neuroscience (2000), 3(8), 831-836 The function of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep is stiil unknown. One prevailing hypothesis suggests that REM sleep is important in processing memory traces. Here, using positron emission tomography (PET ... [more ▼] The function of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep is stiil unknown. One prevailing hypothesis suggests that REM sleep is important in processing memory traces. Here, using positron emission tomography (PET) and regional cerebral blood flow measurements, we show that waking experience influences regional brain activity during subsequent sleep. Several brain areas activated during the execution of a serial reaction time task during wakefulness were significantly more active during REM sleep in subjects previously trained on the task than in non-trained subjects. These results support the hypothesis that memory traces are processed during REM sleep in humans. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 545 (5 ULg) |
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