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The amygdaloid complex represents a group of telencephalic
nuclei and cortical areas that control emotional
and social behavior. Amygdalar development is poorly
understood. It is generally accepted that the structures
of the amygdala originate from the neuroepithelium at
both sides of the pallial–subpallial boundary. In the
present study, we mapped the expression of 13 members
of the cadherin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules,
which provide an adhesive code for the
development and maintenance of functional structures
in the central nervous system (CNS). Five classic cadherins
(Cdh4, Cdh6, Cdh7, Cdh8, Cdh11) and eight
delta-protocadherins (Pcdh1, Pcdh7, Pcdh8, Pcdh9,
Pcdh10, Pcdh11, PCdh17, PCdh19) were studied by in
situ hybridization in the postnatal (P5) and adult mouse
amygdala. In the different parts of the amygdala, each
of these (proto-) cadherins shows a distinct and spatially
restricted expression pattern that is highly similar
at postnatal and adult stages. The combinatorial
expression of (proto-) cadherins allows the distinction
of multiple molecular subdivisions within the amygdala
that partially coincide with previously described morphological
divisions. Beyond these expected results, a
number of novel molecular subdivisions and subpopulations
of cells were identified; for example, additional
molecular subdomains, patches, or cell aggregates with
distinct (proto-) cadherin expression in several nuclei/
areas of the amygdala. We also show that several cadherins
are molecular markers for particular functional
subsystems within the amygdala, such as in the olfactory
projections. In summary, (proto-) cadherins provide
a code of potentially adhesive cues that can aid the
understanding of functional organization in the amygdala.
J. Comp. Neurol. 520:3982–4012, 2012.
Grant sponsor: international exchange between Germany and Spain; Grant number: HD2008-0069 (to C.R. and L.M.); Grant sponsor: Spanish Ministry of Education and Science and FEDER, DGICYT-FEDER; Grant number: BFU2009-07212/BFI (to L.M.). |