Subventricular zone radial glial cells maintain inhibitory neuron production in the human brain

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Source: Science Magazine

Original: https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adw1803?af=R...

Published: 2026-01-15T08:00:00Z

Scientists have discovered a new type of cell in the human brain that is responsible for maintaining the production of inhibitory neurons during brain development.[1] These cells, called subventricular zone radial glial cells (SVZ RGCs), are located in an area of ​​the brain called the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) and are unique to the human brain and primates, but are not found in mice.[1] The research team identified that SVZ RGC cells have distinct molecular properties, spatial distribution, morphology, and division behavior compared to other cell types.[1] These cells maintain the production of GABAergic inhibitory neurons and glial cells throughout human brain development, providing a biological basis for the prolonged duration of inhibitory neuron production in an evolutionary context.[1] The findings suggest that inhibitory neurons play an important role in increasing the flexibility of neural circuits and the computational capacity of the human brain.[3] This study represents an important contribution to the understanding of the mechanisms behind the development of the human brain and its evolutionary complexity.[1]