Ten years following identification of Reelin as the product of the gene mutated in reeler mice, the signalling pathway activated by Reelin is being progressively unravelled with the identification of lipoprotein receptors as reelin receptors, of the Dab1 adapter and of some other proximal components in target cells. However, we are still a long way from understanding the action of this complex protein during brain development and maturation. The present review is organized in two parts. First, we summarize our present understanding of Reelin signalling. Then, we review critically some cell biological mechanisms for the action of Reelin based on recent studies on the development of the dentate gyrus, which has proved an extremely useful and tractable model system.
