Chain Migration of Neuronal Precursors

TLDR

Adult mouse subventricular zone cells migrate up to 5 mm to the olfactory bulb, differentiating into neurons. Electron microscopy revealed that migrating chains consist of tightly apposed, elongated neuroblasts linked by membrane specializations. Migrating neuroblasts travel in chains through the rostral migratory stream, are ensheathed by GFAP‑positive cells, and move together without guidance from radial glia or axons.

Abstract

In the brain of adult mice, cells that divide in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle migrate up to 5 millimeters to the olfactory bulb where they differentiate into neurons. These migrating cells were found to move as chains through a well-defined pathway, the rostral migratory stream. Electron microscopic analysis of serial sections showed that these chains contained only closely apposed, elongated neuroblasts connected by membrane specializations. A second cell type, which contained glial fibrillary acidic protein, ensheathed the chains of migrating neuroblasts. Thus, during chain migration, neural precursors moved associated with each other and were not guided by radial glial or axonal fibers.