Implications of Extended Inhibitory Neuron Development

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 22; no. 10; p. 5113
• Main Authors: Kim, Jae-Yeon, Paredes, Mercedes F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 12.05.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Brain; Cell cycle; Cognitive tasks; DNA methylation; embryonic neurogenesis; Epigenetics; Female; Forebrain; functional network; Functional plasticity; GABAergic inhibitory neuron; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - metabolism; Genes; Gestational Age; gyrencephalic brain; Integration; Interneurons; Interneurons - metabolism; Mammals; Nervous system; Neural networks; Neural plasticity; Neurogenesis; Neurons; postnatal migration; Pregnancy; Prosencephalon - growth & development; Prosencephalon - metabolism; Review; γ-Aminobutyric acid; gyrencephalic brain; postnatal migration; embryonic neurogenesis; GABAergic inhibitory neuron; functional network
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105113

A prolonged developmental timeline for GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)-expressing inhibitory neurons (GABAergic interneurons) is an amplified trait in larger, gyrencephalic animals. In several species, the generation, migration, and maturation of interneurons take place over several months, in some cases persisting after birth. The late integration of GABAergic interneurons occurs in a region-specific pattern, especially during the early postnatal period. These changes can contribute to the formation of functional connectivity and plasticity, especially in the cortical regions responsible for higher cognitive tasks. In this review, we discuss GABAergic interneuron development in the late gestational and postnatal forebrain. We propose the protracted development of interneurons at each stage (neurogenesis, neuronal migration, and network integration), as a mechanism for increased complexity and cognitive flexibility in larger, gyrencephalic brains. This developmental feature of interneurons also provides an avenue for environmental influences to shape neural circuit formation.