Subarachnoid cerebrospinal fluid is essential for normal development of the cerebral cortex

Publication date: Available online 28 November 2019Source: Seminars in Cell & Developmental BiologyAuthor(s): Jaleel Miyan, Sarah Cains, Stephanie Larcombe, Naila Naz, Alicia Requena Jimenez, David Bueno, Angel GatoAbstractThe central nervous system develops around a fluid filled space which persists in the adult within the ventricles, spinal canal and around the outside of the brain and spinal cord. Ventricular fluid is known to act as a growth medium and stimulator of proliferation and differentiation to neural stem cells but the role of CSF in the subarachnoid space has not been fully investigated except for its role in the recently described “glymphatic” system. Fundamental changes occur in the control and coordination of CNS development upon completion of brain stem and spinal cord development and initiation of cortical development. These include changes in gene expression, changes in fluid and fluid source from neural tube fluid to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), changes in fluid volume, composition and fluid flow pathway, with exit of high volume CSF into the subarachnoid space and the critical need for fluid drainage. We used a number of experimental approaches to test a predicted critical role for CSF in development of the cerebral cortex in rodents and humans. Data from fetuses affected by spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus are correlated with experimental evidence on proliferation and migration of cortical cells from the germinal epithelium in rodent neural tube defe...
Source: Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology - Category: Cytology Source Type: research