Central Nervous System- Basic Neuropathology

Question No. 5. The Answer is: (A). The followings are true:

1.   They are the first neurons to mature.

2.   They are most prominent during the 16^th to 20^th week of gestation.

3.   They are found in the superficial or subpial location in the cerebral cortex.

Discussion: Cajal-Retzius cells are large neurons of the human embryonic marginal zone described by Retzius and Cajal a century ago. They are localized at the surface of the entire cerebral cortex for a large part of the time during cortical development. Cajal-Retzius cells are the first neuron to mature, most prominent during the 16^th to 20^th week of gestation, and  95% of them  disappear after the first postnatal week. Their ultimate fate is not clearly understood. Cajal-Retzius cells, and their secreted gene product, reelin, play an important role for neuronal migration and proper corticogenesis.

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