MCT8 deficiency in Purkinje cells disrupts embryonic chicken cerebellar development

What is it about?

The brain needs thyroid hormones for normal development but these hormones can only enter the cells via specific transporters like MCT8. Mutations in this transporter in human leads to severe psychomotor deficits but the underlying mechanisms are not understood. We used the chicken embryo as a model and found that MCT8 is needed in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum to guide key events in the development of this part of the brain.

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