近日，
通过整合狨猴的空间转录组学、磁共振成像和逆行标记，该课题组研究人员发现了两个相反的分子梯度，它们分别来自异位皮质和初级感觉皮质，经历了出生后的改进。这些梯度调和了关于皮层扩张的相互矛盾的假设，并表征了不同的皮层区域。皮层梯度与丘脑基因表达和丘脑皮质投影模式一致。在梯度交叉点，默认模式网络和额极在人类和狨猴中表现出相似的分子特征，尽管在功能连接上存在物种特异性差异。梯度相关基因的比较分析表明，狨猴和人类的听觉皮层高度相似，但与猕猴不同，可能反映了复杂的发声。总之，这些相反的梯度代表了灵长类动物皮层的基本组织原则。
研究人员表示，灵长类动物大脑中组织细胞多样性和连通性的原理仍然是未知的。
附：英文原文
Title: An opposing molecular gradient axis underlies primate cortical organization
Author: Zhi Huang, Qianqian Yang, Shenglong Li, Xiaojia Zhu, He Wang, Jixuan Lin, Yafeng Zhan, Yan Wu, Zefang Wang, Piotr Majka, Haichao Qu, Nafiseh Atapour, Tao Yang, Youning Lin, Luman Cui, Yong-Gang Yao, Zhifeng Liang, Zhen Liu, Chao Li, Wu Wei, Yi Zhou, Shaojie Ma, Zhiming Shen, Xiaoyu Wei, Xun Xu, Shiping Liu, Chengyu Li, Muming Poo, Longqi Liu, Marcello G. P. Rosa, Yidi Sun, Shijie Hao, Cirong Liu
Issue&Volume: 2026-04-16
Abstract: The principles organizing cellular diversity and connectivity in primate brains remain elusive. By integrating spatial transcriptomics, magnetic resonance imaging, and retrograde labeling in marmosets, we identified two opposing molecular gradients that undergo postnatal refinement, emanating from allocortices and primary sensory cortices, respectively. These gradients reconcile conflicting hypotheses on cortical expansion and characterize distinct cortical areas. Cortical gradients align with thalamic gene expression and thalamocortical projection patterns. At gradient intersections, the default mode network and frontal pole exhibited similar molecular features in humans and marmosets, despite species-specific differences in functional connectivity. Comparative analysis of gradient-related genes showed that marmoset and human auditory cortices are highly similar but differ from those of macaques, potentially reflecting complex vocalization. Together, these opposing gradients represent a fundamental organizing principle of the primate cortex.
DOI: aea2673
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aea2673