Development of prefrontal cortex

Abstract

During evolution, the cerebral cortex advances by increasing in surface and the introduction of new cytoarchitectonic areas among which the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is considered to be the substrate of highest cognitive functions. Although neurons of the PFC are generated before birth, the differentiation of its neurons and development of synaptic connections in humans extend to the 3rd decade of life. During this period, synapses as well as neurotransmitter systems including their receptors and transporters, are initially overproduced followed by selective elimination. Advanced methods applied to human and animal models, enable investigation of the cellular mechanisms and role of specific genes, non-coding regulatory elements and signaling molecules in control of prefrontal neuronal production and phenotypic fate, as well as neuronal migration to establish layering of the PFC. Likewise, various genetic approaches in combination with functional assays and immunohistochemical and imaging methods reveal roles of neurotransmitter systems during maturation of the PFC. Disruption, or even a slight slowing of the rate of neuronal production, migration and synaptogenesis by genetic or environmental factors, can induce gross as well as subtle changes that eventually can lead to cognitive impairment. An understanding of the development and evolution of the PFC provide insight into the pathogenesis and treatment of congenital neuropsychiatric diseases as well as idiopathic developmental disorders that cause intellectual disabilities.

Putative Roles of SETBP1 Dosage on the SET Oncogene to Affect Brain Development

“…The posterior neural tube becomes the spinal column while the anterior neural tube balloons out to become forebrain (telencephalon) and midbrain/hindbrain (mesencephalon/diencephalon) structures derived from proliferating cells from the neuroectoderm ( Stiles and Jernigan, 2010 ). To create the future forebrain for example, neurogenesis begins in the telencephalic primordium with the symmetrical expansion of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the ventricular zone (VZ) ( Bystron et al, 2008 ; Kolk and Rakic, 2022 ). Some NSCs form a dorso-ventrally anchored scaffold and become radial glial cells, which form the migration pathways for subsequently differentiating neurons ( Rakic, 1990 ).…”

Opioid Receptor-Mediated Regulation of Neurotransmission in the Brain

“…The cortex is involved with many higher functions, including planning, processing sensory information, memory, decision making, and emotional processing ( Lamotte et al, 2021 ; Nadeau, 2021 ; Kolk and Rakic, 2022 ). All three opioid receptors are found in the cortex; the presence, modulation of neural activity, and behavioral role of cortical opioid receptors varies across different cortical areas, and these are involved with analgesia, morphine-induced locomotor sensitization, reducing anxiety, and with the rewarding and locomotor stimulation effects of opioids ( Saitoh et al, 2018 ; Wang et al, 2020 ; Jiang et al, 2021 ).…”

Prenatal Zinc Deficient Mice as a Model for Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…Cross fostering of the offspring restored brain zinc levels in prenatal zinc-deficient mice as early as postnatal day 3. Therefore, prenatal zinc deficiency targeted a critical time window of prenatal and early postnatal brain development, a significant period of synaptogenesis within the CNS [ 56 , 57 , 58 ].…”