Molecular architecture of the mouse nervous system
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The mammalian nervous system executes complex behaviors controlled by specialized, precisely positioned, and interacting cell types. Here, we used RNA sequencing of half a million single cells to create a detailed census of cell types in the mouse nervous system. We mapped cell types spatially and derived a hierarchical, data-driven taxonomy. Neurons were the most diverse and were grouped by developmental anatomical units and by the expression of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Neuronal diversity was driven by genes encoding cell identity, synaptic connectivity, neurotransmission, and membrane conductance. We discovered seven distinct, regionally restricted astrocyte types that obeyed developmental boundaries and correlated with the spatial distribution of key glutamate and glycine neurotransmitters. In contrast, oligodendrocytes showed a loss of regional identity followed by a secondary diversification. The resource presented here lays a solid foundation for understanding the molecular architecture of the mammalian nervous system and enables genetic manipulation of specific cell types.
Date Issued
2018-08-09
Date Acceptance
2018-06-08
Citation
Cell, 2018, 174 (4), pp.999-1014.e22
ISSN
0092-8674
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Start Page
999
End Page
1014.e22
Journal / Book Title
Cell
Volume
174
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.
This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Subjects
06 Biological Sciences
11 Medical And Health Sciences
Developmental Biology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-08-09