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Abstract
Radial glia cells perform a dual function in the developing nervous system as precursor
cells and guides for migrating neurons. We show here that during forebrain neurogenesis,
the transcription factor Pax6 is specifically localized in radial glia cells of the
cortex but not of the basal telencephalon. In Pax6-deficient mice, cortical radial
glia cells were altered in their morphology, number, tenascin-C (TN-C) expression,
and cell cycle. We show that some of these alterations are cell-autonomous, whereas
others were rescued by coculturing with wild-type cortical cells. Our results suggest
that Pax6 plays an essential role in the differentiation of cortical radial glia.
Thus, despite their widespread distribution, radial glia cells are regionally specified
in the developing CNS.