COUP-TFI/Nr2f1 Orchestrates Intrinsic Neuronal Activity during Development of the Somatosensory Cortex. (23rd June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Del Pino, Isabel; Tocco, Chiara; Magrinelli, Elia; Marcantoni, Andrea; Ferraguto, Celeste; Tomagra, Giulia; Bertacchi, Michele; Alfano, Christian; Leinekugel, Xavier; Frick, Andreas; Studer, Michèle
• Is Part Of: Cerebral cortex. Volume 30:Number 11(2020)
• Page Start: 5667
• Page End: 5685
• Publication Date: 2020-06-23
• Subjects: Nr2f1/COUP-TFI -- intrinsic excitability -- spontaneous activity -- layer V pyramidal neurons -- somatosensory cortex; Cerebral cortex -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 612.825
• DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa137
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1047-3211

Abstract

Abstract: The formation of functional cortical maps in the cerebral cortex results from a timely regulated interaction between intrinsic genetic mechanisms and electrical activity. To understand how transcriptional regulation influences network activity and neuronal excitability within the neocortex, we used mice deficient for Nr2f1 (also known as COUP-TFI ), a key determinant of primary somatosensory (S1) area specification during development. We found that the cortical loss of Nr2f1 impacts on spontaneous network activity and synchronization of S1 cortex at perinatal stages. In addition, we observed alterations in the intrinsic excitability and morphological features of layer V pyramidal neurons. Accordingly, we identified distinct voltage-gated ion channels regulated by Nr2f1 that might directly influence intrinsic bioelectrical properties during critical time windows of S1 cortex specification. Altogether, our data suggest a tight link between Nr2f1 and neuronal excitability in the developmental sequence that ultimately sculpts the emergence of cortical network activity within the immature neocortex.