Progenitor cell diversity in the developing mouse neocortex

In the mammalian neocortex, diverse projection neuron types are generated by the same pool of neural progenitors in sequential waves. How neuronal cell type specification is related to developmental timing remains unclear. To determine whether neural progenitor cell heterogeneity correlates with neuronal type specification, we performed single cell RNA sequencing analysis of the developing mouse neocortex (E10.5 through E18.5) by Drop-Seq. We uncovered cellular and molecular diversity among neuroepithelial cells, radial glial cells, intermediate progenitors and neuron types. Dorsal forebrain tissues were collected from embryonic day 10.5, 12.5, 14.5, 15.5, 16.5 and 18.5 CD-1 mice (Charles River), dissociated into single cells, captured by the Drop-Seq protocol and analyzed for cell clusters and differential gene expression.在哺乳动物新皮层中，同一神经祖细胞库通过时序性的波状发生过程，可产生多种不同的投射神经元类型。目前，神经元细胞类型特化与发育时序之间的关联机制仍未明确。为探究神经祖细胞异质性是否与神经元类型特化存在相关性，我们采用Drop-Seq技术，对胚胎期E10.5至E18.5的发育中小鼠新皮层开展了单细胞RNA测序（single cell RNA sequencing）分析。我们在神经上皮细胞、放射状胶质细胞、中间祖细胞及各类神经元中，揭示了细胞与分子层面的多样性。我们从胚胎期10.5、12.5、14.5、15.5、16.5及18.5的CD-1小鼠（Charles River）中采集背侧前脑组织，将其解离为单细胞后，通过Drop-Seq实验流程完成单细胞捕获，并对细胞簇与差异基因表达情况进行分析。