Reelin Controls Progenitor Cell Migration in the Healthy and Pathological Adult Mouse Brain
Figure 4
Effect of Reelin on SVZ cell migration in vitro.
Reelin triggers cell detachment from the chains of migrating progenitors and increases migration speed. A: Schematic diagram of SVZ explant cultures in the presence or absence of a focal source of Reelin. Aggregates of HEK cells stably expressing Reelin (or DsRed for controls) were placed in close proximity to SVZ explants. The length of chains formed by cells migrating out of the explants was measured in 3 independent points proximally and distally to the HEK aggregate. B: Quantification of individual cells detached from the chains. C–F: Migration pattern in the absence (C,D) and presence (E,F) of Reelin. D, F: Magnification of white rectangle in C and E respectively. A large number of isolated cells migrating outside the chains can be seen in the presence of Reelin. G: Chain length proximal and distal to HEK aggregates producing Reelin. No difference can be observed between proximal and distal chain length, thereby arguing against a chemoattractant effect of Reelin. H: Chain length in Reelin versus DsRed conditions, showing a significant lengthening in the presence of Reelin. I,J: video time-lapse recording of individual migrating cells in the absence (I) or presence (J) of Reelin, with trajectory colored (blue to red along 9 h). K: Quantification of migration speed (average of more than 200 cells from 3 independent experiments). Scale bar in C,E = 100 µm; in D,F,I,J = 50 µm.