Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 5-15-2021

Abstract

The human brain consists of 86 billion neurons compared to rodent brain, which consists of 75 million neurons, and the underlying mechanisms for the increased complexity of the primate cortex are not fully elucidated. However, an increase in specific cell populations, including calretinin-expressing (CALB2/CR) interneurons (INs), has been identified. In my thesis work, I demonstrate that human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) differentiated to neurons by default patterning give rise to this CR population in vitro, providing a method to study their development.

Chapter I reviews cortical development and hPSCs as an appropriate proxy for studying human cortical development. Chapter II describes a unique cell population of CR-expressing INs, while Chapter III discusses results from molecular manipulation of this cell population. Finally, Chapter IV provides a focused discussion on possible differences in the origin of GABAergic INs in primate brain and the next directions this work can take.

Keywords

cortical development, GABA, interneurons, human pluripotent stem cells, default patterning, calretinin

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Biomedical Sciences

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program

First Committee Member (Chair)

Jason P. Weick

Second Committee Member

Bill Shuttleworth

Third Committee Member

Lee Anna Cunningham

Fourth Committee Member

Nora Perrone-Bizzozero

Fifth Committee Member

Surojit Paul

Download

Share

COinS