Reelin and brain development

Over the last 50 years, the reeler mutant mouse has become an important model for studying normal and abnormal development in the cerebral cortex and other regions of the brain. However, we are only just beginning to understand the actions of reelin - the protein that is affected by the reeler mutation - at the molecular and cellular level. This review discusses the most recent advances in this research field, and considers the merits of the various models that have been put forward to explain how reelin works.