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Hindbrain networks important for sensation and arousal contain diverse neuronal populations with distinct projections, yet share specific characteristics such as neurotransmitter expression. The relationship between the function of these neurons, their developmental origin, and the timing of their migration remains unclear. Mice lacking the proneural transcription factor Math 1 (Atoh 1) lose neurons essential for hearing, balance, and unconscious proprioception. By using a new, inducible Math Cre*PR allele, we found that Math 1 is also required for the conscious proprioceptive system, including excitatory projection neurons of the dorsal column nuclei and for vital components of the interoceptive system, such as Barrington's nucleus, that is closely associated with arousal. In addition to specific networks, Math I lineages shared specific neurotransmitter expression, including glutamate, acetylcholine, somatostatin, corticotropin releasing hormone, and nitric oxide. These findings identify twenty novel Math I lineages and indicate that the Math I network functions partly as an interface for conscious (early-born) and unconscious (late-born) proprioceptive inputs to the cortex and cerebellum, respectively. In addition, these data provide previously unsuspected genetic and developmental links between proprioception, interoception, hearing, and arousal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The rhombic lip (RL) is an embryonic proliferative neuroepithelium that generates several groups of hindbrain neurons. However, the precise boundaries and derivatives of the RL have never been genetically identified. We use β-galactosidase expressed from the Math1 locus in Math1-heterozygous and Math1-null mice to track RL-derived cells and to evaluate their developmental requirements for Math1. We uncover a Math1-dependent rostral rhombic-lip migratory stream (RLS) that generates some neurons of the parabrachial, lateral lemniscal, and deep cerebellar nuclei, in addition to cerebellar granule neurons. A more caudal Math1-dependent cochlear extramural stream (CES) generates the ventral cochlear nucleus and cochlear granule neurons. Similarly, mossy-fiber precerebellar nuclei require Math1, whereas the inferior olive and locus coeruleus do not. We propose that Math1 expression delimits the extent of the rhombic lip and is required for the generation of the hindbrain superficial migratory streams, all of which contribute neurons to the proprioceptive/vestibular/auditory sensory network. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]