Abstract
Central nervous system development is a complex process involving many interacting factors. MicroRNAs
have recently been identified as playing key intrinsic roles in development however few of their specific
targets have been identified in vivo. The transcription factor Sox9 has recently been identified as a target
of miR-124 in the adult mouse sub-ventricular zone. Here we investigate the expression of the microRNAs
miR-124, miR-128 and miR-23 and that of transcription factor Sox9, in neuroepithelial stem cells in the
developing spinal cord. Furthermore we investigate if neurogenesis in embryonic neuroepithelial cells
in the spinal cord might also be regulated by the interaction of Sox9 and miR-124. We provide evidence
of the spatial and temporal regulation of miR-124, miR-128, miR-23 and Sox9, and taken together with
recent findings we provide evidence that Sox9 may also be target of miR-124 in developing spinal cord neuroepithelial cells.