VeCell: A Fiji Plugin to unveil differences in spatio-temporal dynamics of macroglial cell development and proximity to blood vessels

Cortical development results from the proliferation, differentiation, migration and maturation of many cell types. While neuronal development has been extensively studied, the mechanisms regulating the development and maturation of macroglial cells (oligodendrocytes and astrocytes) are still largely to be determined. Here we present VeCell, a Fiji plugin designed to analyse the development of macroglial cells. Using immunolabeling for two transcription factors, Sox9 (specific to macroglial progenitors and astrocytes) and Sox10 (specific to oligodendrocyte lineage), we determined their density, distribution within and across cortical layers and distance to the blood vessels from postnatal day (P) 5 and P60 in the somatosensory cortex. We found that Sox9+ cells are evenly distributed in the cortex with regular intercellular distances and comparable densities between the upper and lower parts of the cortex. In contrast, Sox10+ cells are predominantly concentrated in the lower cortical layers, and exhibited a more random distribution with variable distances between cells. Finally, while confirming the increased density and branching of the vascular network after P5, we also showed that macroglial cells are closer to blood vessels from P15 onward. In summary, VeCell provides a valuable tool for analyzing the development and spatial organization of macroglial cells. Our findings in the cortex reveal distinct patterns of distribution and proximity to the vasculature for macroglial cells during postnatal development. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of glial maturation and highlight the dynamic interplay between macroglial cells and the vascular network, offering new avenues for future research into brain development and function.