Spatio-temporal dynamics of macroglial cell organisation and proximity to blood vessels during postnatal development

Brain cortical development results from the proliferation, differentiation, migration and maturation of many cell types. While neuronal development is well characterized, the mechanisms regulating macroglial cells (oligodendrocytes and astrocytes) development remain largely unknown. Recent works suggest that the vascular system plays a key, yet under-evaluated role in this process. In this study, we investigated the spatial organization of macroglial cells within the parenchyma and relative to blood vessels. Using immunolabeling for Sry-box transcription factor (Sox) 9 (macroglial progenitors and astrocytes) and Sox10 (oligodendrocyte lineage), we determined macroglia density, distribution and proximity to blood vessels from postnatal day (P) 1 to P60 in the somatosensory cortex. We showed that Sox9+ cells were evenly distributed across cortical layers with regular intercellular spacing. In contrast, Sox10+ cells concentrated in deeper cortical layers, and exhibited a random distribution. Vascular density and branching increased markedly between P5 and P15 and macroglial cells were closer to blood vessels from P15 onward. We investigated possible alteration of astrocyte distribution in the cortex of MLC1-deficient mice, a model of Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts, in which astrocyte perivascular coverage is altered. No difference with the control condition were found both in young and adult mice, either in the density, distribution or distance to blood vessels. Altogether, we revealed distinct distribution and postnatal development patterns for astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the brain and in relation to the vasculature. Table of Contents Entry O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=199 SRC="FIGDIR/small/632893v3_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (66K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@10ab9f2org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@135c06dorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1ec4f65org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1509f08_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG O_LIFrom P5, Sox9 cells are evenly distributed, unlike Sox10 cells C_LIO_LIFrom P15, Sox9 cells are located closer to blood vessels than Sox10 cells C_LIO_LIDistribution of astrocytes is not altered in Mlc1 KO cortex C_LI