Lecture 1: Dysfunction of Neural Stem Cells in the Developing and Adult Brain – Dr Daniel Berg

Question 1

How does the cortex develop?

Answer 1

Cortex development involves neurogenesis, starting with neural stem cells, and includes processes like radial glial cell formation, cell migration, and layer formation.

Question 2

Name different cell types in brain generation

Answer 2

Neural stem cells give rise to radial glia, intermediate progenitor cells, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells during brain development.

Question 3

Neurogenesis issues and study methods

Answer 3

Neurogenesis issues may lead to disorders. Studied through techniques such as RNA sequencing, organoids, and analysis of cell types and communication at various levels

Question 4

Microcephaly, macrocephaly, lissencephaly

Answer 4

Microcephaly: small head, intellectual disability. Macrocephaly: large head, mTOR pathway disruption. Lissencephaly: smooth brain surface, often due to genetic deletion (Miller-Dieker syndrome).

Question 5

Communication between brain regions

Answer 5

Networks involve interactions at the level of synapses, cells, populations, and entire brain regions.

Question 6

Cortex structure analysis levels

Answer 6

Study the brain at network, population, cell, synapse, and nucleus levels to understand its complexity.

Question 7

Neuronal comparison with elephants

Answer 7

Humans have three times as many neurons in the cortex as elephants; this reflects cognitive and computational capabilities.

Question 8

Functions of cerebral cortex lobes

Answer 8

Each lobe has distinct functions. Frontal: motor control, reasoning. Parietal: sensory information. Temporal: auditory and visual processing. Occipital: visual processing.

Question 9

RNA sequencing in cortex lobes

Answer 9

Despite cortical lobe divisions, RNA sequencing reveals a diverse range of cell types, indicating a complex system.

Question 10

Neural stem cells origin

Answer 10

All brain cells originate from neural stem cells, initially called neuroepithelial cells.

Question 11

Cortex development timeline

Answer 11

Most neurogenesis in the cortex occurs before birth. Folding occurs at 8-9 months, followed by myelin development after birth.

Question 12

Radial glia in cortex development

Answer 12

Neuroepithelial cells transform into radial glia, producing neural intermediate progenitor cells and various cell types.

Question 13

Types and functions of glial cells

Answer 13

Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes provide structural and functional support, contributing to synapse formation and myelination.

Question 14

Neuronal migration along radial fibers

Answer 14

Radial fibers serve as scaffolding for migrating neurons. In mice, these columns relate to the patterning of whiskers.

Question 15

Ventricular zone in brain development

Answer 15

The ventricular zone contains ventricular radial glia, serving as the origin of neural cells during cortical development.

Question 16

Outer radial glia in humans

Answer 16

Outer radial glia cells appear later, contributing to cortical development, expressing similar markers as ventricular radial glia.

Question 17

Mechanism of outer radial glia generation

Answer 17

Neuroepithelial cells self-renew, ventricular radial glia divide vertically, and outer radial glia divide horizontally.

Question 18

Notch signaling in development

Answer 18

Notch signaling is involved in cell fate determination during cortical development.

Question 19

Layers of developing cortex

Answer 19

Layers include ventricular zone, inner and outer subventricular zones, intermediate zone, cortical plate, marginal zone, and pial surface.

Question 20

Hippocampus neurogenesis

Answer 20

The hippocampus is unique, with neurogenesis occurring from birth into adulthood, involving radial glial-like cells.

Question 21

Organoids and brain development

Answer 21

Brain organoids derived from reprogrammed fibroblasts mimic specific brain areas and provide a 3D culture for studying brain development.

Question 22

Seckel syndrome and CPAP gene

Answer 22

Seckel syndrome, caused by a CPAP gene mutation, leads to intellectual disability, microcephaly, and altered cortical development.

Question 23

Zika virus and microcephaly

Answer 23

Zika virus primarily infects neural stem cells, causing microcephaly by reducing neural stem cell proliferation and thickness of the ventricular zone.

Question 24

Measuring brain disorders ethically

Answer 24

Organoids offer an ethical alternative to animal models, revealing insights into disorders like Meckelencephaly (macro) and Lissencephaly.

Question 25

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the brain

Answer 25

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, affects choroid plexus epithelial cells but not neural stem cells, neurons, or astrocytes, potentially leading to cytokine release.