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. 2021 Aug 12;9:681122. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.681122

FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 4

PFN1 loss perturbs brain development and causes malformations of cortex and cerebellum through altered cellular compositions. Pfn1–/– mice exhibit smaller brains, with size reductions, particularly of the cortex (–25%) and cerebellum (–50%). Defects in cortical development are caused prenatally by a distinct subset of neural progenitor cells, known as basal radial glia. PFN1 loss affects the orientation of basal radial glia cell divisions during development, causing transiently ectopic neurogenesis. Adult mice show abnormal invaginations of the neocortex while cortical layering is principally preserved (Kullmann et al., 2020). Cerebellar hypoplasia develops postnatally by migration defects of cerebellar granule cells and Purkinje cells (Kullmann et al., 2011, 2012, 2015). Impaired adhesion and migration of cerebellar granule cells along the processes of Bergmann glia are causative for this phenotype. bRG, basal radial glia; aRG, apical radial Glia; CP, cortical plate; IZ/SP, intermediate zone/subplate; SVZ, subventiruclar zone; VZ, ventricular zone; BG- Bergmann Glia; CG- cerebellar granule cells; PC- purkinje cells; EGL, external granular layer; ML, Molecular layer; PCL, Purkinje cell layer; ICL, Internal granular layer; P60, postnatal day 60.