Origin of Cortical Species-specific Distinctions

SUMMARY STATEMENT on which Merit has been based The major goal of this Merit Award was to elucidate the mechanisms of development of the primate cerebral cortex that are most relevant to humans but cannot be adequately studied experimentally in non-primate species. We proposed to perform unique research on molecular and cellular mechanisms of cortical development with focus on association areas and particularly the prefrontal cortex (PFC) that are linked to major cognitive disorders and addiction susceptibility but cannot be studied adequately in human. Thus, in the original application we proposed to perform multidisciplinary experimental research in non-human primate (NHP) Macaques Rhesus within the scope of 3 Specific Aims that were approved with high rate by the Study Section: Aim 1: deals with genetic determinants of early cortical expansion and functional analysis of proliferation/differentiation of radial glial cells (RGCs) in NHPs. Aim 2 deals with commitment of RGCs leading to laminar specificity of neuro- and gliogenesis and region-specific contributions of Hopx+ bRGC to neuro- and glio-genesis analysis in fetal macaque. Aim 3: deals with the role of neuropil and white matter growth in cortical expansion and gyrification and genetic basis of the cortical neuropil explosion and role of incoming/outgrowing axon tracts and emerging sulci/gyri in NHP.