CNS development, Pharmacology of CNS Flashcards
What does the process of gastrulation give us?
Three germ layers
- ectoderm
- mesoderm
- endoderm
What are the derivates of ectoderm at the end of development?
CNS PNS Sensory epithelium of ear, nose and eye Epidermis, hair and nails Subcutaneous, mammary and pituitary glands Teeth enamel
Describe the development of the notochord from the primitive node.
A tube extends from the primitive node, under the ectoderm in the opposite direction to the primitive streak
The tube forms first the axial process, then the notochordal process and finally the notochord
Forms in a transient patterning structure mediated by molecular signalling and controlling the direction of embryonic folding
What is the relationship of the notochord with their underlying ectoderm?
Inductive relationship
What causes the thickening of the overlying ectoderm (creates the neural plate)?
The appearance of the notochord and mesoderm
What do the cells of the neural plate make up?
Neuroectoderm - initial event in the process of neutralisation
What happens to the neural plate once it has been formed?
It lengthens and the lateral edges elevate, forming neural folds and a depressed mid region forms the neural groove
The folds approach each other in the midline and then fuse, forming the neural tube
What does the bending of the neural plate depend on?
Intrinsic factors- cytoskeleton - stage of the cell cycle
Extrinsic factors - adhesion points, e.g. Within notochord, surface ectoderm
What are the four stages of neurulation?
Shaping
Folding
Elevation
Convergence
What cells are present under the neural folds of the neural plate, and aid the elevation and convergence?
Neural crest cells
Describe the signalling that occurs in neurulation.
Upregulation of fibroblast growth factor and inhibition of BMP-4 causes induction of the neural plate
Chordin and Noggin (BMP-4 antagonists) are expressed
How does the neural tube close?
The neural plate switches from E-Caherin expression to N-cadherin expressionThis allows the two neural crests to recognise each other as the same tissue and fuse
What do the neural crest cells give rise to?
Melanocytes
Odontoblasts
Tracheal cartilage Enterochromaffin cells
Laryngeal cartilage Parafollicular cells
All ganglia/adrenal medulla
Spiral membrane
Schwann cells
Describe two problems which can arise from a disruption in the migration of neural crest cells?
Treacher Collins syndrome- underdevelopment of zygomatic bones and ears - mutation in TCOF 1 gene
Di - George syndrome - cleft palate, cardiac abnormalities, abnormal facies and thymic aplasia
How and when does fusion of the neural tube occur?
Fusion begins in the cervical region and proceeds in caudal and cephalic directions Closure occurs in week 4
- anterior end by day 25
- posterior end by day 27
What are the open ends of the neural tube called?
The anterior and posterior neuropore - they connect with the overlying amniotic sac
What are neuroblasts?
These are what the neuroepithelial cells give rise to once the neural tube has closed
They form the mantle layer- becomes the grey matter of the spinal cord
What is the marginal layer of the neural tube?
The outer layer of the neural tube, containing nerve fibres emerging from the neuroblasts in the mantle layer- myelinated not of nerve fibres
- White matter of the spinal cord
What is the space in the middle of the neural tube called, and what does it become?
It’s called the sulcus limitans, and eventually becomes the central canal
What is the name of the cells surrounding the sulcus limitans
Neuroepithelial cells
What is the name for the mantle layer in the posterior neural tube?
Alar plate - becomes the dorsal sensory horn
What is the name for the mantle layer in the anterior neural tube?
Basal plate - becomes the ventral motor horn
How do the motor axons grow from the spinal cord?
They grow straight out of neurons in the basal plate- become ventral root fibres- carry motor innervation
How do sensory axons develop?
Neurons in the dorsal root ganglia extend towards the dorsal horn and the periphery - will become the dorsal root fibres- carry sensory innervation
What week does brain development occur in?
Week 3
- 3 brain vesicles are present
What are the names of the initial 3 primary brain vesicles?
Forebrain - prosencephalon
Midbrain - mesencephalon
Hindbrain - rhombencephalon
What is the flexure that is formed in the mesencephalon?
Cephalic flexure - the head fold - bends convex dorsally
What is the name of the flexure in the rhombencephalon?
Pontine flexure - bends convex ventrally
What is the flexure between the rhombencephalon and the spinal cord?
Temporary - between weeks 5 and 7- convex dorsally
What are the divisions of the 3 primary brain vesicles?
Prosencephalon - telencephalon- diencephalon
Mesencephalon stays the same
Rhombencephalon - metencephalon - myelencephalon
When do the 3 primary brain vesicles divide?
Week 5- 5 part brain appears
What are the derivates of the telencephalon?
Cerebrum
What are the derivates of the diencephalon?
Eye cup
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus
Thalamus
What are the derivates of the mesencephalon?
The midbrain
What are the derivates of the metencephalon?
Pons and the cerebellum
What are the derivates of the myelencephalon?
Medullary oblongata
What are the neural tube defects that arise if there is a failure in the anterior and posterior neuropores?
Anterior neuropore failure - anencephaly
Posterior neuropore failure - spina bifida (most commonly in the lumbrosacral region)
What are the three types of spina bifida?
Spina bifida occulta
Meningocele
Myelomeningocele
Which cerebral abnormality is associated with spina bifida?
Hydrocephalus - water on the brain- raised intracranial pressure- large head shape
What are mesenchymal cells?
The are epithelial cells that have made the E-cadherin to N-cadherin transition - epithelial to mesenchymal transition
What do the meninges develop from?
The mesenchymal cells and neural crest cells
When do the meninges develop?
Days 20-35 as the mesenchymal and neural crest cells migrate around the neural tubule
What are the initial structures formed in meningeal development?
External layer - dura materInternal layer - arachnoid and pia maters
Fluid filled spaces - the subarachnoid space