Abstract
The neocortex in mammals consists of neocortical areas, which are the regional differences that can be histochemically and morphologically distinguished (Brodmann, 1909). In order to understand the molecular mechanisms that form the areas and their functions in the adult neocortex, we have done a series of large scale screenings for the genes that are abundantly expressed in one of the representative areas (area 46, motor, TE and V1) and analyzed the detailed expression patterns. As the results, we have identified two groups of the genes that showed marked expression in the primary sensory area, particularly in V1, and association areas. The V1- selectively expression genes include OCC1/FSTL1, 5HT1B, 5HT2A, tetstican- 1, and - 2, while association area - selective genes include RBP4, PNMA5, SPARC, and SLITs. The V1 selective expression genes are to contribute to confer visual homeostasis under the dynamic change of the light amount. I speculate that the association area selective genes contribute to the enhancement of basal dendrites and spines of the pyramidal neurons in the association areas with several lines of evidence. The recent advance of gene technology in primates as presented in this particular issue of the journal will enable us to directly prove the function of these primate area- selective genes.
