Robo1 regulates the migration and laminar distribution of upper-layer pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex

Laminar organization is a key feature of the mammalian cerebral cortex, but the mechanisms by which final positioning and "inside-out" distribution of neurons are determined remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Robo1, a member of the family of Roundabout receptors, regulates the correct positioning of layers II/III pyramidal neurons in the neocortex. Specifically, we used RNA interference in mice to suppress the expression of Robo1 in a subset of layers II/III neurons, and observed the positions of these cells at distinct developmental stages. In contrast to control neurons that migrated toward the pial surface by P1, Robo1-suppressed neurons exhibited a delay in entering the cortical plate at respective stages. Unexpectedly, after the first postnatal week, these neurons were predominantly located in the upper part of layers II/III, in contrast to control cells that were distributed throughout these layers. Sequential electroporation studies revealed that Robo1-suppressed cells failed to establish the characteristic inside-out neuronal distribution and, instead, they accumulated beneath the marginal zone regardless of their birthdate. These results demonstrate that Robo receptors play a crucial role in neocortical lamination and particularly in the positioning of layers II/III pyramidal neurons.