Skip to main content
European Commission logo
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
CORDIS Web 30th anniversary CORDIS Web 30th anniversary
Content archived on 2024-06-18

Differentiation of GABAergic interneuron subtypes in the mouse cerebral cortex

Objective

GABAergic interneurons of the mammalian cerebral cortex display a variety of morphological and physiological behaviors that are thought to be crucial for both the development and the function of mature cortical circuits. Defects in cortical inhibition have been implicated in neurological and psychiatric disorders such as epilepsy, depression, anxiety, addiction, schizophrenia and autistic disorders. Research over the past decade has shown a common embryonic origin for most mouse cortical interneurons in the ganglionic eminences (ventral regions) of the telencephalon, from where they tangentially migrate to reach the cortex. Within the cortex, interneurons integrate into the local circuitry while they develop mature and distinct morphological and physiological properties. To achieve specific functions, different interneuron subtypes have to growth and pattern cell-type-specific dendrite and axon arborizations, and establish specific patterns of synaptic connections. The genetic programs that control the differentiation of distinct interneuron subtypes in the developing cerebral cortex are largely unknown. This proposal is aimed to understand how regulatory networks of transcription factors acting during the prolonged period of cortical interneuron differentiation, from progenitors in the ganglionic eminences to mature cortical interneurons, specify distinct cell fates. In particular, we will use in vitro (RNA interference) and in vivo (mouse models) approaches to understand the regulation and maintenance of terminal interneuron differentiation, including the pattern and growth of axonal arborizations. These studies will help to elucidate the mechanisms that regulate the development and function of the cerebral cortex in normal and pathological conditions.

Fields of science

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-3-IRG
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA
EU contribution
€ 100 000,00
Address
GRAN VIA DE LES CORTS CATALANES 585
08007 Barcelona
Spain

See on map

Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Jose Antonio Del Rio (Prof.)
Links
Total cost
No data