0036-807528554291999Aug06ScienceEarly neocortical regionalization in the absence of thalamic innervation.906909906-9There is a long-standing controversy regarding the mechanisms that generate the functional subdivisions of the cerebral neocortex. One model proposes that thalamic axonal input specifies these subdivisions; the competing model postulates that patterning mechanisms intrinsic to the dorsal telencephalon generate neocortical regions. Gbx-2 mutant mice, whose thalamic differentiation is disrupted, were investigated. Despite the lack of cortical innervation by thalamic axons, neocortical region-specific gene expression (Cadherin-6, EphA-7, Id-2, and RZR-beta) developed normally. This provides evidence that patterning mechanisms intrinsic to the neocortex specify the basic organization of its functional subdivisions.Miyashita-LinE MEMNina Ireland Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0984, USA.HevnerRRWassarmanK MKMMartinezSSRubensteinJ LJLengNS34661-01A1NSNINDS NIH HHSUnited StatesR01 MH49428-01MHNIMH NIH HHSUnited StatesR01 MH51561-01A1MHNIMH NIH HHSUnited StatesJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.