2026/02/16 by Sophie A. Gobeil, Francisco Da Silveira Neto, Giulia Silvestrelli +5 · 1 voice
Neuroscience · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms #Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation #Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
paper · doi:10.64898/2026.02.12.705305
openalex publication_date 2026/02/16 · openalex created_date 2026/02/17 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15
SUMMARY The complexity and specificity of movement in vertebrates is driven by a rich diversity of spinal motor and interneuron cell types. During development, eleven spinal cord progenitor domains generate an equivalent number of cardinal neuron types. How progenitor domains, individual progenitors, and post-mitotic diversity relate is still unknown. We performed high-resolution, single-progenitor cell lineage tracing in the embryonic mouse spinal cord using mosaic analysis with double markers (MADM). Our quantitative study of lineage progression revealed that spinal cord progenitors undergo highly variable numbers of proliferative, neurogenic, and gliogenic cell divisions. The nascent clonally-related neurons migrate radially over large distances, span the dorsoventral axis, and even cross the midline, demonstrating striking bilaterality. Molecular and morphometric analysis indicate high levels of progenitor multipotency, with an individual progenitor capable of producing several molecularly and morphologically distinct neuron types, as well as astrocytes. These findings redefine spinal cord development as a process in which lineage variability—rather than rigid progenitor identity—drives the generation of cellular diversity.