A study titled Molecular Architecture of the Developing Mouse Brain, published in the Nature journal by the Karolinska Institue, Sweden, and the EPFL has made a molecular atlas of the fetus’s brain development.
The study comes at a time when scientists have been trying to understand how different cell types develop. The study used the mice-based single-cell technology that identified 800 cell types as the fetus develops.
The researchers mapped the developmental and genetic projections of the brain’s embryonic cells to their fate as mature brains cells. As a result, they developed a better understanding of the embryonic development of specialized brain cells. They were also able to collect information that enables healthcare workers to develop better approaches to neurodegenerative disorders.
According to the lead study author, professor Sten Linnarson, while many scientists are aware of different cells and how the brain develops, their atlas provides more details and higher resolution.
How researchers conducted the study
Researchers evaluated the brain samples of mouse embryos from their seventh day of fertilization until they were born to confirm their findings. Then, using mathematical methods and highly effective sequencing techniques, they got 290,000 profiles of gene expression and 800 cells that were active during development.
The team also tracked the development of neurons from neuronal progenitor cells. In addition, they timed the appearance of neuroblasts. Neuroblasts are the first nerve cells to appear in the brain. These cells seemed to play a role in motor and sensory functions. They noticed that neuroblasts in mice would appear on the 9th day of development, which they compare to the first trimester of pregnancy in humans.
The researchers managed to find another type of neuronal progenitor cell called radial glial cells. These cells produce messengers which guide the development of other brain cells. Scientists also identified various other cell populations, the largest of which was in the forebrain. The smallest population of neuronal cells was ependymal cells. These cells produce fluid in the spinal cord and brain.
Researchers hope other specialists can use their atlas
Researchers hope that other scientists can use the atlas to identify the causes of neurodegenerative diseases and the affected cells, thus creating treatment and prevention measures. Furthermore, they can use it to find the cause of malignant brain cancer.
