Continual reelin signaling by the prime neurogenic niche of the adult brain

Abstract

During development reelin sets the pace of neocortical neurogenesis enabling in turn newborn neurons to migrate, but whether and, if so, how reelin signaling affects the adult neurogenic niches remains uncertain. We show that reelin signaling, resulting in Dab1 phosphorylation, occurs in the ependymal-subependymal zone (EZ/SEZ) of the lateral ventricles where, along with its associated rostral migratory stream (RMS), the highest density of functional ApoER2 accumulates. Mice deficient for reelin, ApoER2 or Dab1 exhibit enlarged ventricles and dysplastic RMS. Moreover, while the conditional ablation of Dab1 in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) enlarges the ventricles and impairs neuroblasts clearance from the SEZ, the transgenic misexpression of reelin in NPCs of reelin-deficient mice normalizes the ventricular lumen and the density of ependymal cilia, ameliorating in turn neuroblasts migration; consistently, intraventricular infusion of reelin reroutes neuroblasts. These results demonstrate that reelin signaling persists sustaining the germinal niche of the lateral ventricles and influencing neuroblasts migration in the adult brain.