REVIEW article
Front. Cell. Neurosci.
Sec. Non-Neuronal Cells
This article is part of the Research TopicReviews in non-neuronal cells 2024 & 2025View all 7 articles
Glial interactions in the formation and plasticity of the corpus callosum
Provisionally accepted
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Magdalenka, Poland
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The corpus callosum (CC) is the largest interhemispheric commissure in the eutherian brain, enabling inter-hemispheric sensory integration and higher-order cognitive functions. Historically viewed through a neuron-and axon-centric lens, extensive research has established that glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia) are essential regulators of CC ontogenesis. Astrocytic guidepost cells sculpt midline architecture and secrete axonal guidance cues; oligodendrocytes drive callosal axonal maturation and myelination; and microglia regulate their fasciculation and pruning, myelination patterns, and synaptic refinement. In addition to these cell-specific roles, coordinated bidirectional signaling between neurons and glia ensures that axon targeting, maturation, and interhemispheric integration proceed in a precisely orchestrated manner. Disruptions to these glial functions are implicated in congenital and developmental brain pathologies, including malformations and CC agenesis. This review integrates molecular, developmental, and translational insights to provide a comprehensive, mechanistic understanding of glial contributions to CC development and how their dysfunction shapes pathology.
Keywords: Corpus Callosum, Neurons, Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, Microglia, Animal Models
Received: 21 Aug 2025; Accepted: 10 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Czyrska, Ziętek, Bernat and Sampino. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Silvestre Sampino, samp_silv@live.it
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