Ventricular zone: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:57, 9 February 2025

Region in the developing brain

Diagram showing the ventricular zone and subventricular zone in the developing brain.

The ventricular zone (VZ) is a region in the developing central nervous system (CNS) that plays a crucial role in the formation of the brain and spinal cord. It is located adjacent to the ventricular system of the brain, which is a network of interconnected cavities filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

Structure

The ventricular zone is characterized by a dense layer of neuroepithelial cells that line the walls of the brain's ventricles. These cells are highly proliferative and serve as the primary source of neurons and glial cells during early neurogenesis. As development progresses, the ventricular zone gives rise to the subventricular zone (SVZ), which continues to produce neural progenitors.

Function

The primary function of the ventricular zone is to generate the diverse cell types that populate the CNS. During early development, neuroepithelial cells in the VZ undergo symmetric and asymmetric cell divisions. Symmetric divisions expand the progenitor pool, while asymmetric divisions produce differentiated neurons and glial cells that migrate to their final destinations in the brain.

Development

The development of the ventricular zone is tightly regulated by a combination of intrinsic genetic programs and extrinsic signals. Key signaling pathways involved in VZ development include the Notch signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, and Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. These pathways coordinate the balance between progenitor proliferation and differentiation.

Clinical significance

Abnormalities in the development of the ventricular zone can lead to various neurodevelopmental disorders. For example, disruptions in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in the VZ are associated with conditions such as microcephaly, lissencephaly, and schizencephaly. Understanding the mechanisms governing VZ development is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies for these disorders.

Related pages

References

Rakic, P. (2009). "Evolution of the neocortex: a perspective from developmental biology." Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(10), 724-735.
Götz, M., & Huttner, W. B. (2005). "The cell biology of neurogenesis." Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 6(10), 777-788.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Ventricular zone''' is a transient layer of tissue containing neural stem cells, principally radial glial cells, of the developing central nervous system (CNS). It is the region adjacent to the ventricular system from which cells of the brain proliferate. In humans, the ventricular zone is most prominent during the first trimester of pregnancy.
+{{Short description|Region in the developing brain}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
+[[File:WikiVZSVZ.jpg|thumb|right|Diagram showing the ventricular zone and subventricular zone in the developing brain.]]
+The '''ventricular zone''' (VZ) is a region in the developing [[central nervous system]] (CNS) that plays a crucial role in the formation of the [[brain]] and [[spinal cord]]. It is located adjacent to the [[ventricular system]] of the brain, which is a network of interconnected cavities filled with [[cerebrospinal fluid]].
 ==Structure==
-The ventricular zone is a pseudostratified epithelium and is primarily composed of [[Radial glial cell|radial glial cells]]. These cells are named for their morphology, which includes a cell body located in the ventricular zone and two fibers: one that extends to the pial surface and another that contacts the ventricles.
+The ventricular zone is characterized by a dense layer of [[neuroepithelial cells]] that line the walls of the brain's ventricles. These cells are highly proliferative and serve as the primary source of [[neurons]] and [[glial cells]] during early [[neurogenesis]]. As development progresses, the ventricular zone gives rise to the [[subventricular zone]] (SVZ), which continues to produce neural progenitors.
+==Function==
+The primary function of the ventricular zone is to generate the diverse cell types that populate the CNS. During early development, neuroepithelial cells in the VZ undergo symmetric and asymmetric cell divisions. Symmetric divisions expand the progenitor pool, while asymmetric divisions produce differentiated neurons and glial cells that migrate to their final destinations in the brain.
 ==Development==
-The ventricular zone is the birthplace of all neurons in the [[Neocortex|neocortex]]. The first neurons are born from radial glial cells in the ventricular zone and migrate along the radial glial fibers to the preplate, which is a layer of neurons that forms just below the pia. As development progresses, the preplate splits into the marginal zone and the subplate, and newly born neurons migrate past the subplate to form the cortical plate.
+The development of the ventricular zone is tightly regulated by a combination of intrinsic genetic programs and extrinsic signals. Key signaling pathways involved in VZ development include the [[Notch signaling pathway]], [[Wnt signaling pathway]], and [[Sonic hedgehog]] (Shh) signaling. These pathways coordinate the balance between progenitor proliferation and differentiation.
 ==Clinical significance==
-The ventricular zone is of clinical significance because it is the site of origin of a common and aggressive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme. It is also the region where a type of brain malformation, periventricular heterotopia, is thought to originate.
+Abnormalities in the development of the ventricular zone can lead to various [[neurodevelopmental disorders]]. For example, disruptions in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in the VZ are associated with conditions such as [[microcephaly]], [[lissencephaly]], and [[schizencephaly]]. Understanding the mechanisms governing VZ development is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies for these disorders.
-==See also==
+==Related pages==
+* [[Subventricular zone]]
+* [[Neurogenesis]]
 * [[Neural stem cell]]
-* [[Neurogenesis]]
-* [[Radial glial cell]]
 ==References==
-<references />
+* Rakic, P. (2009). "Evolution of the neocortex: a perspective from developmental biology." Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(10), 724-735.
+* Götz, M., & Huttner, W. B. (2005). "The cell biology of neurogenesis." Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 6(10), 777-788.
+[[Category:Developmental neuroscience]]
 [[Category:Neuroanatomy]]
-[[Category:Developmental neuroscience]]
-[[Category:Neuroscience stubs]]
-{{stub}}