Transcriptomic insights into fate choice of pallial versus subpallial GABAergic neurons (scRNA-Seq)

The connectivity, activity, and plasticity of the telencephalon are shaped by pallial and subpallial GABAergic neurons, two large populations that are produced in the embryonic medial, caudal and lateral ganglionic eminences in a highly complicated manner. Dysregulated development of GABAergic neurons is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. However, knowledge about the specification of GABAergic neuron subtypes is limited. Here, using single-cell RNA sequencing combined with loss-of-function we delineated developmental trajectories and revealed transcriptional programs that specify GABAergic neuron subtypes in each GE lineage and transcription factors that direct lineage bifurcation decisions. Our study illuminates the control of production between pallial and subpallial populations and offers transcriptomic insights into the pathogenesis of GABAergic neuron-related disorders. Overall design: We conducted scRNA-seq of 20640 cells sampled from the ganglionic eminences of Foxg1fl/fl and Dlx5/6-Cre-IRES-EGFP; Foxg1fl/fl mice at E16.5