51
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Potilinski MC, Lorenc V, Perisset S, Gallo JE. Mechanisms behind Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss in Diabetes and Therapeutic Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072351. [PMID: 32231131 PMCID: PMC7177797 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes produces several changes in the body triggered by high glycemia. Some of these changes include altered metabolism, structural changes in blood vessels and chronic inflammation. The eye and particularly the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are not spared, and the changes eventually lead to cell loss and visual function impairment. Understanding the mechanisms resulting in RGC damage and loss from diabetic retinopathy is essential to find an effective treatment. This review focuses mainly on the signaling pathways and molecules involved in RGC loss and the potential therapeutic approaches for the prevention of this cell death. Throughout the manuscript it became evident that multiple factors of different kind are responsible for RGC damage. This shows that new therapeutic agents targeting several factors at the same time are needed. Alpha-1 antitrypsin as an anti-inflammatory agent may become a suitable option for the treatment of RGC loss because of its beneficial interaction with several signaling pathways involved in RGC injury and inflammation. In conclusion, alpha-1 antitrypsin may become a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of RGC loss and processes behind diabetic retinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Constanza Potilinski
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidad Austral-CONICET, Av. J.D. Perón 1500, 1629 Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina; (M.C.P.); (V.L.); (S.P.)
| | - Valeria Lorenc
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidad Austral-CONICET, Av. J.D. Perón 1500, 1629 Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina; (M.C.P.); (V.L.); (S.P.)
| | - Sofía Perisset
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidad Austral-CONICET, Av. J.D. Perón 1500, 1629 Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina; (M.C.P.); (V.L.); (S.P.)
| | - Juan Eduardo Gallo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidad Austral-CONICET, Av. J.D. Perón 1500, 1629 Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina; (M.C.P.); (V.L.); (S.P.)
- Departamento de Oftalmologia, Hospital Universitario Austral, Av. Juan Perón 1500, 1629 Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +54-91164038725
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52
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Berry MJ, Tkačik G. Clustering of Neural Activity: A Design Principle for Population Codes. Front Comput Neurosci 2020; 14:20. [PMID: 32231528 PMCID: PMC7082423 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2020.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose that correlations among neurons are generically strong enough to organize neural activity patterns into a discrete set of clusters, which can each be viewed as a population codeword. Our reasoning starts with the analysis of retinal ganglion cell data using maximum entropy models, showing that the population is robustly in a frustrated, marginally sub-critical, or glassy, state. This leads to an argument that neural populations in many other brain areas might share this structure. Next, we use latent variable models to show that this glassy state possesses well-defined clusters of neural activity. Clusters have three appealing properties: (i) clusters exhibit error correction, i.e., they are reproducibly elicited by the same stimulus despite variability at the level of constituent neurons; (ii) clusters encode qualitatively different visual features than their constituent neurons; and (iii) clusters can be learned by downstream neural circuits in an unsupervised fashion. We hypothesize that these properties give rise to a "learnable" neural code which the cortical hierarchy uses to extract increasingly complex features without supervision or reinforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Berry
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Gašper Tkačik
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
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53
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Nguyen-Ba-Charvet KT, Rebsam A. Neurogenesis and Specification of Retinal Ganglion Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21020451. [PMID: 31936811 PMCID: PMC7014133 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21020451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Across all species, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the first retinal neurons generated during development, followed by the other retinal cell types. How are retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) able to produce these cell types in a specific and timely order? Here, we will review the different models of retinal neurogenesis proposed over the last decades as well as the extrinsic and intrinsic factors controlling it. We will then focus on the molecular mechanisms, especially the cascade of transcription factors that regulate, more specifically, RGC fate. We will also comment on the recent discovery that the ciliary marginal zone is a new stem cell niche in mice contributing to retinal neurogenesis, especially to the generation of ipsilateral RGCs. Furthermore, RGCs are composed of many different subtypes that are anatomically, physiologically, functionally, and molecularly defined. We will summarize the different classifications of RGC subtypes and will recapitulate the specification of some of them and describe how a genetic disease such as albinism affects neurogenesis, resulting in profound visual deficits.
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54
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Quan Y, Wu Y, Zhan Z, Yang Y, Chen X, Wu K, Yu M. Inhibition of the leucine-rich repeat protein lingo-1 enhances RGC survival in optic nerve injury. Exp Ther Med 2019; 19:619-629. [PMID: 31885701 PMCID: PMC6913235 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2019.8250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Leucine-rich repeat and immunoglobulin-like domain-containing nogo receptor-interacting protein 1 (lingo-1) is selectively expressed on neurons and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system and acts as a negative regulator in neural repair, implying a potential role in optic neuropathy. The aim of the present study was to determine whether adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) vector-mediated transfer of lingo-1 short hairpin RNA could reduce nerve crush-induced axonal degeneration and enhance axonal regeneration following optic nerve (ON) injury in vivo. The expression of lingo-1 was knocked down in vivo using a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged AAV2 encoding lingo-1 shRNA via intravitreal injection in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Silencing effects of AAV2-lingo-1-shRNA were confirmed by detecting GFP labelling of RGCs, and by quantifying lingo-1 expression levels with reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Rats received an intravitreal injection of AAV2-lingo-1-shRNA or negative control shRNA. The ON crush (ONC) injury was performed 2 weeks after the intravitreal injection. RGC density, lesion volume of the injured ON and the visual electrophysiology [flash visual evoked potential (F-VEP)] at different time points post-injury were determined. Transduction with lingo-1-shRNA decreased lingo-1 expression levels and promoted RGC survival following ONC. Lingo-1-shRNA promoted ON tissue repair and functional recovery. The mechanism underlying the effect of AAV2-lingo-1-shRNA on RGCs may be the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) at Ser473 and activation of the Akt signaling pathway acting downstream of lingo-1. The results of the current study indicate that the inhibition of lingo-1 may enhance RGC survival and facilitate functional recovery following ON injury, representing a promising potential strategy for the repair of optic neuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadan Quan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China
| | - Yali Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China
| | - Zongyi Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China
| | - Yangfan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China
| | - Xiaotao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China
| | - Kaili Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China
| | - Minbin Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China
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55
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Reinhard K, Li C, Do Q, Burke EG, Heynderickx S, Farrow K. A projection specific logic to sampling visual inputs in mouse superior colliculus. eLife 2019; 8:e50697. [PMID: 31750831 PMCID: PMC6872211 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Using sensory information to trigger different behaviors relies on circuits that pass through brain regions. The rules by which parallel inputs are routed to downstream targets are poorly understood. The superior colliculus mediates a set of innate behaviors, receiving input from >30 retinal ganglion cell types and projecting to behaviorally important targets including the pulvinar and parabigeminal nucleus. Combining transsynaptic circuit tracing with in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiological recordings, we observed a projection-specific logic where each collicular output pathway sampled a distinct set of retinal inputs. Neurons projecting to the pulvinar or the parabigeminal nucleus showed strongly biased sampling from four cell types each, while six others innervated both pathways. The visual response properties of retinal ganglion cells correlated well with those of their disynaptic targets. These findings open the possibility that projection-specific sampling of retinal inputs forms a basis for the selective triggering of behaviors by the superior colliculus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Reinhard
- Neuro-Electronics Research FlandersLeuvenBelgium
- VIBLeuvenBelgium
- Department of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Chen Li
- Neuro-Electronics Research FlandersLeuvenBelgium
- VIBLeuvenBelgium
- Department of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Quan Do
- Neuro-Electronics Research FlandersLeuvenBelgium
- Northeastern UniversityBostonUnited States
| | - Emily G Burke
- Neuro-Electronics Research FlandersLeuvenBelgium
- Northeastern UniversityBostonUnited States
| | | | - Karl Farrow
- Neuro-Electronics Research FlandersLeuvenBelgium
- VIBLeuvenBelgium
- Department of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- IMECLeuvenBelgium
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56
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Ohlemacher SK, Langer KB, Fligor CM, Feder EM, Edler MC, Meyer JS. Advances in the Differentiation of Retinal Ganglion Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1186:121-140. [PMID: 31654388 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-28471-8_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technology has revolutionized the field of biology through the unprecedented ability to study the differentiation of human cells in vitro. In the past decade, hPSCs have been applied to study development, model disease, develop drugs, and devise cell replacement therapies for numerous biological systems. Of particular interest is the application of this technology to study and treat optic neuropathies such as glaucoma. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the primary cell type affected in these diseases, and once lost, they are unable to regenerate in adulthood. This necessitates the development of strategies to study the mechanisms of degeneration as well as develop translational therapeutic approaches to treat early- and late-stage disease progression. Numerous protocols have been established to derive RGCs from hPSCs, with the ability to generate large populations of human RGCs for translational applications. In this review, the key applications of hPSCs within the retinal field are described, including the use of these cells as developmental models, disease models, drug development, and finally, cell replacement therapies. In greater detail, the current report focuses on the differentiation of hPSC-derived RGCs and the many unique characteristics associated with these cells in vitro including their genetic identifiers, their electrophysiological activity, and their morphological maturation. Also described is the current progress in the use of patient-specific hPSCs to study optic neuropathies affecting RGCs, with emphasis on the use of these RGCs for studying disease mechanisms and pathogenesis, drug screening, and cell replacement therapies in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Ohlemacher
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kirstin B Langer
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Clarisse M Fligor
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Elyse M Feder
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Michael C Edler
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jason S Meyer
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA. .,Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA. .,Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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57
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Shi Q, Gupta P, Boukhvalova AK, Singer JH, Butts DA. Functional characterization of retinal ganglion cells using tailored nonlinear modeling. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8713. [PMID: 31213620 PMCID: PMC6581951 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45048-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian retina encodes the visual world in action potentials generated by 20-50 functionally and anatomically-distinct types of retinal ganglion cell (RGC). Individual RGC types receive synaptic input from distinct presynaptic circuits; therefore, their responsiveness to specific features in the visual scene arises from the information encoded in synaptic input and shaped by postsynaptic signal integration and spike generation. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of tools for characterizing the computations reflected in RGC spike output. Therefore, we developed a statistical model, the separable Nonlinear Input Model, to characterize the excitatory and suppressive components of RGC receptive fields. We recorded RGC responses to a correlated noise ("cloud") stimulus in an in vitro preparation of mouse retina and found that our model accurately predicted RGC responses at high spatiotemporal resolution. It identified multiple receptive fields reflecting the main excitatory and suppressive components of the response of each neuron. Significantly, our model accurately identified ON-OFF cells and distinguished their distinct ON and OFF receptive fields, and it demonstrated a diversity of suppressive receptive fields in the RGC population. In total, our method offers a rich description of RGC computation and sets a foundation for relating it to retinal circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Shi
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States.
| | - Pranjal Gupta
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | | | - Joshua H Singer
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
- Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Daniel A Butts
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
- Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
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58
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Varadarajan SG, Huberman AD. Uniformity from Diversity: Vast-Range Light Sensing in a Single Neuron Type. Cell 2019; 171:738-740. [PMID: 29100070 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The brightness of our visual environment varies tremendously from day to night. In this issue of Cell, Milner and Do describe how the population of retinal neurons responsible for entrainment of the brain's circadian clock cooperate to encode irradiance across a wide range of ambient-light intensities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supraja G Varadarajan
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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59
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Johnson KP, Zhao L, Kerschensteiner D. A Pixel-Encoder Retinal Ganglion Cell with Spatially Offset Excitatory and Inhibitory Receptive Fields. Cell Rep 2019; 22:1462-1472. [PMID: 29425502 PMCID: PMC5826572 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The spike trains of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the only source of visual information to the brain. Here, we genetically identify an RGC type in mice that functions as a pixel encoder and increases firing to light increments (PixON-RGC). PixON-RGCs have medium-sized dendritic arbors and non-canonical center-surround receptive fields. From their receptive field center, PixON-RGCs receive only excitatory input, which encodes contrast and spatial information linearly. From their receptive field surround, PixON-RGCs receive only inhibitory input, which is temporally matched to the excitatory center input. As a result, the firing rate of PixON-RGCs linearly encodes local image contrast. Spatially offset (i.e., truly lateral) inhibition of PixON-RGCs arises from spiking GABAergic amacrine cells. The receptive field organization of PixON-RGCs is independent of stimulus wavelength (i.e., achromatic). PixON-RGCs project predominantly to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the thalamus and likely contribute to visual perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith P Johnson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Lei Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Daniel Kerschensteiner
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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60
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Hong YK, Burr EF, Sanes JR, Chen C. Heterogeneity of retinogeniculate axon arbors. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 49:948-956. [PMID: 29883007 PMCID: PMC6286704 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The retinogeniculate synapse transmits information from retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in the eye to thalamocortical relay neurons in the visual thalamus, the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN). Studies in mice have identified genetic markers for distinct classes of RGCs encoding different features of the visual space, facilitating the dissection of RGC subtype-specific physiology and anatomy. In this study, we examine the morphological properties of axon arbors of the BD-RGC class of ON-OFF direction selective cells that, by definition, exhibit a stereotypic dendritic arbor and termination pattern in the retina. We find that axon arbors from the same class of RGCs exhibit variations in their structure based on their target region of the dLGN. Our findings suggest that target regions may influence the morphologic and synaptic properties of their afferent inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y. Kate Hong
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, U.S.A
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, 52 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A
| | - Eliza F. Burr
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, U.S.A
| | - Joshua R. Sanes
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, 52 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A
| | - Chinfei Chen
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, U.S.A
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61
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Activity Correlations between Direction-Selective Retinal Ganglion Cells Synergistically Enhance Motion Decoding from Complex Visual Scenes. Neuron 2019; 101:963-976.e7. [PMID: 30709656 PMCID: PMC6424814 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Neurons in sensory systems are often tuned to particular stimulus features. During complex naturalistic stimulation, however, multiple features may simultaneously affect neuronal responses, which complicates the readout of individual features. To investigate feature representation under complex stimulation, we studied how direction-selective ganglion cells in salamander retina respond to texture motion where direction, velocity, and spatial pattern inside the receptive field continuously change. We found that the cells preserve their direction preference under this stimulation, yet their direction encoding becomes ambiguous due to simultaneous activation by luminance changes. The ambiguities can be resolved by considering populations of direction-selective cells with different preferred directions. This gives rise to synergistic motion decoding, yielding more information from the population than the summed information from single-cell responses. Strong positive response correlations between cells with different preferred directions amplify this synergy. Our results show how correlated population activity can enhance feature extraction in complex visual scenes. Direction-selective ganglion cells respond to motion as well as luminance changes This obscures the readout of direction from single cells under complex texture motion Population decoding improves direction readout supralinearly over individual cells Strong spike correlations further enhance readout through increased synergy
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62
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El-Danaf RN, Huberman AD. Sub-topographic maps for regionally enhanced analysis of visual space in the mouse retina. J Comp Neurol 2018; 527:259-269. [PMID: 29675855 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
In many species, neurons are unevenly distributed across the retina, leading to nonuniform analysis of specific visual features at certain locations in visual space. In recent years, the mouse has emerged as a premiere model for probing visual system function, development, and disease. Thus, achieving a detailed understanding of mouse visual circuit architecture is of paramount importance. The general belief is that mice possess a relatively even topographic distribution of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)-the output neurons of the eye. However, mouse RGCs include ∼30 subtypes; each responds best to a specific feature in the visual scene and conveys that information to central targets. Given the crucial role of RGCs and the prominence of the mouse as a model, we asked how different RGC subtypes are distributed across the retina. We targeted and filled individual fluorescently tagged RGC subtypes from across the retinal surface and evaluated the dendritic arbor extent and soma size of each cell according to its specific retinotopic position. Three prominent RGC subtypes: On-Off direction selective RGCs, object-motion-sensitive RGCs, and a specialized subclass of nonimage-forming RGCs each had marked topographic variations in their dendritic arbor sizes. Moreover, the pattern of variation was distinct for each RGC subtype. Thus, there is increasing evidence that the mouse retina encodes visual space in a region-specific manner. As a consequence, some visual features are sampled far more densely at certain retinal locations than others. These findings have implications for central visual processing, perception, and behavior in this prominent model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana N El-Danaf
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.,Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.,Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford, California.,BioX, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
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63
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Molecular Fingerprinting of On-Off Direction-Selective Retinal Ganglion Cells Across Species and Relevance to Primate Visual Circuits. J Neurosci 2018; 39:78-95. [PMID: 30377226 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1784-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to detect moving objects is an ethologically salient function. Direction-selective neurons have been identified in the retina, thalamus, and cortex of many species, but their homology has remained unclear. For instance, it is unknown whether direction-selective retinal ganglion cells (DSGCs) exist in primates and, if so, whether they are the equivalent to mouse and rabbit DSGCs. Here, we used a molecular/circuit approach in both sexes to address these issues. In mice, we identify the transcription factor Satb2 (special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2) as a selective marker for three RGC types: On-Off DSGCs encoding motion in either the anterior or posterior direction, a newly identified type of Off-DSGC, and an Off-sustained RGC type. In rabbits, we find that expression of Satb2 is conserved in On-Off DSGCs; however, it has evolved to include On-Off DSGCs encoding upward and downward motion in addition to anterior and posterior motion. Next, we show that macaque RGCs express Satb2 most likely in a single type. We used rabies virus-based circuit-mapping tools to reveal the identity of macaque Satb2-RGCs and discovered that their dendritic arbors are relatively large and monostratified. Together, these data indicate Satb2-expressing On-Off DSGCs are likely not present in the primate retina. Moreover, if DSGCs are present in the primate retina, it is unlikely that they express Satb2.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The ability to detect object motion is a fundamental feature of almost all visual systems. Here, we identify a novel marker for retinal ganglion cells encoding directional motion that is evolutionarily conserved in mice and rabbits, but not in primates. We show in macaque monkeys that retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that express this marker comprise a single type and are morphologically distinct from mouse and rabbit direction-selective RGCs. Our findings indicate that On-Off direction-selective retinal neurons may have evolutionarily diverged in primates and more generally provide novel insight into the identity and organization of primate parallel visual pathways.
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64
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Varadarajan SG, Huberman AD. Assembly and repair of eye-to-brain connections. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 53:198-209. [PMID: 30339988 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Vision is the sense humans rely on most to navigate the world and survive. A tremendous amount of research has focused on understanding the neural circuits for vision and the developmental mechanisms that establish them. The eye-to-brain, or 'retinofugal' pathway remains a particularly important model in these contexts because it is essential for sight, its overt anatomical features relate to distinct functional attributes and those features develop in a tractable sequence. Much progress has been made in understanding the growth of retinal axons out of the eye, their selection of targets in the brain, the development of laminar and cell type-specific connectivity within those targets, and also dendritic connectivity within the retina itself. Moreover, because the retinofugal pathway is prone to degeneration in many common blinding diseases, understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that establish connectivity early in life stands to provide valuable insights into approaches that re-wire this pathway after damage or loss. Here we review recent progress in understanding the development of retinofugal pathways and how this information is important for improving visual circuit regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supraja G Varadarajan
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States; Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States; BioX, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States; Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States.
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65
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Ribeiro IMA, Drews M, Bahl A, Machacek C, Borst A, Dickson BJ. Visual Projection Neurons Mediating Directed Courtship in Drosophila. Cell 2018; 174:607-621.e18. [PMID: 30033367 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Many animals rely on vision to detect, locate, and track moving objects. In Drosophila courtship, males primarily use visual cues to orient toward and follow females and to select the ipsilateral wing for courtship song. Here, we show that the LC10 visual projection neurons convey essential visual information during courtship. Males with LC10 neurons silenced are unable to orient toward or maintain proximity to the female and do not predominantly use the ipsilateral wing when singing. LC10 neurons preferentially respond to small moving objects using an antagonistic motion-based center-surround mechanism. Unilateral activation of LC10 neurons recapitulates the orienting and ipsilateral wing extension normally elicited by females, and the potency with which LC10 induces wing extension is enhanced in a state of courtship arousal controlled by male-specific P1 neurons. These data suggest that LC10 is a major pathway relaying visual input to the courtship circuits in the male brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês M A Ribeiro
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Max Plank Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; Institute of Molecular Pathology, Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Drews
- Max Plank Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Armin Bahl
- Max Plank Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christian Machacek
- Institute of Molecular Pathology, Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Borst
- Max Plank Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Barry J Dickson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Institute of Molecular Pathology, Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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66
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Swarup G, Sayyad Z. Altered Functions and Interactions of Glaucoma-Associated Mutants of Optineurin. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1287. [PMID: 29951055 PMCID: PMC6008547 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Optineurin (OPTN) is an adaptor protein that is involved in mediating a variety of cellular processes such as signaling, vesicle trafficking, and autophagy. Certain mutations in OPTN (gene OPTN) are associated with primary open angle glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal motor neuron disease. Glaucoma-associated mutations of OPTN are mostly missense mutations. OPTN mediates its functions by interacting with various proteins and altered interactions of OPTN mutants with various proteins primarily contribute to functional defects. It interacts with Rab8, myosin VI, Huntigtin, TBC1D17, and transferrin receptor to mediate various membrane vesicle trafficking pathways. It is an autophagy receptor that mediates cargo-selective as well as non-selective autophagy. Glaucoma-associated mutants of OPTN, E50K, and M98K, cause defective vesicle trafficking, autophagy, and signaling that contribute to death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Transgenic mice expressing E50K-OPTN show loss of RGCs and persistent reactive gliosis. TBK1 protein kinase, which mediates E50K-OPTN and M98K-OPTN induced cell death, is emerging as a potential drug target. Autoimmunity has been implicated in glaucoma but involvement of OPTN or its mutants in autoimmnity has not been explored. In this review, we highlight the main functions of OPTN and how glaucoma-associated mutants alter these functions. We also discuss some of the controversies, such as the role of OPTN in signaling to transcription factor NF-κB, interferon signaling, and use of RGC-5 cell line as a cell culture model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghanshyam Swarup
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
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67
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Abstract
The thalamocortical pathway is the main route of communication between the eye and the cerebral cortex. During embryonic development, thalamocortical afferents travel to L4 and are sorted by receptive field position, eye of origin, and contrast polarity (i.e., preference for light or dark stimuli). In primates and carnivores, this sorting involves numerous afferents, most of which sample a limited region of the binocular field. Devoting abundant thalamocortical resources to process a limited visual field has a clear advantage: It allows many stimulus combinations to be sampled at each spatial location. Moreover, the sampling efficiency can be further enhanced by organizing the afferents in a cortical grid for eye input and contrast polarity. We argue that thalamocortical interactions within this eye-polarity grid can be used to represent multiple stimulus combinations found in nature and to build an accurate cortical map for multidimensional stimulus space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Kremkow
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jose-Manuel Alonso
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, College of Optometry, State University of New York, New York, NY 10036, USA;
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68
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Cang J, Savier E, Barchini J, Liu X. Visual Function, Organization, and Development of the Mouse Superior Colliculus. Annu Rev Vis Sci 2018; 4:239-262. [PMID: 29852095 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-vision-091517-034142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) is the most prominent visual center in mice. Studies over the past decade have greatly advanced our understanding of the function, organization, and development of the mouse SC, which has rapidly become a popular model in vision research. These studies have described the diverse and cell-type-specific visual response properties in the mouse SC, revealed their laminar and topographic organizations, and linked the mouse SC and downstream pathways with visually guided behaviors. Here, we summarize these findings, compare them with the rich literature of SC studies in other species, and highlight important gaps and exciting future directions. Given its clear importance in mouse vision and the available modern neuroscience tools, the mouse SC holds great promise for understanding the cellular, circuit, and developmental mechanisms that underlie visual processing, sensorimotor transformation, and, ultimately, behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Cang
- Department of Biology and Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA;
| | - Elise Savier
- Department of Biology and Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA;
| | - Jad Barchini
- Department of Functional Architecture and Development of Cerebral Cortex, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
| | - Xiaorong Liu
- Department of Biology and Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA;
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69
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Liang L, Fratzl A, Goldey G, Ramesh RN, Sugden AU, Morgan JL, Chen C, Andermann ML. A Fine-Scale Functional Logic to Convergence from Retina to Thalamus. Cell 2018; 173:1343-1355.e24. [PMID: 29856953 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Numerous well-defined classes of retinal ganglion cells innervate the thalamus to guide image-forming vision, yet the rules governing their convergence and divergence remain unknown. Using two-photon calcium imaging in awake mouse thalamus, we observed a functional arrangement of retinal ganglion cell axonal boutons in which coarse-scale retinotopic ordering gives way to fine-scale organization based on shared preferences for other visual features. Specifically, at the ∼6 μm scale, clusters of boutons from different axons often showed similar preferences for either one or multiple features, including axis and direction of motion, spatial frequency, and changes in luminance. Conversely, individual axons could "de-multiplex" information channels by participating in multiple, functionally distinct bouton clusters. Finally, ultrastructural analyses demonstrated that retinal axonal boutons in a local cluster often target the same dendritic domain. These data suggest that functionally specific convergence and divergence of retinal axons may impart diverse, robust, and often novel feature selectivity to visual thalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Liang
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alex Fratzl
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Laboratory of Synaptic Mechanisms, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Science, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Glenn Goldey
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Rohan N Ramesh
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Arthur U Sugden
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Josh L Morgan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Chinfei Chen
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Mark L Andermann
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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70
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Circadian Behavioral Responses to Light and Optic Chiasm-Evoked Glutamatergic EPSCs in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus of ipRGC Conditional vGlut2 Knock-Out Mice. eNeuro 2018; 5:eN-NWR-0411-17. [PMID: 29756029 PMCID: PMC5944003 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0411-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) innervate the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a circadian oscillator that functions as a biological clock. ipRGCs use vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGlut2) to package glutamate into synaptic vesicles and light-evoked resetting of the SCN circadian clock is widely attributed to ipRGC glutamatergic neurotransmission. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is also packaged into vesicles in ipRGCs and PACAP may be coreleased with glutamate in the SCN. vGlut2 has been conditionally deleted in ipRGCs in mice [conditional knock-outs (cKOs)] and their aberrant photoentrainment and residual attenuated light responses have been ascribed to ipRGC PACAP release. However, there is no direct evidence that all ipRGC glutamatergic neurotransmission is eliminated in vGlut2 cKOs. Here, we examined two lines of ipRGC vGlut2 cKO mice for SCN-mediated behavioral responses under several lighting conditions and for ipRGC glutamatergic neurotransmission in the SCN. Circadian behavioral responses varied from a very limited response to light to near normal photoentrainment. After collecting behavioral data, hypothalamic slices were prepared and evoked EPSCs (eEPSCs) were recorded from SCN neurons by stimulating the optic chiasm. In cKOs, glutamatergic eEPSCs were recorded and all eEPSC parameters examined (stimulus threshold, amplitude, rise time or time-to-peak and stimulus strength to evoke a maximal response) were similar to controls. We conclude that a variable number but functionally significant percentage of ipRGCs in two vGlut2 cKO mouse lines continue to release glutamate. Thus, the residual SCN-mediated light responses in these cKO mouse lines cannot be attributed solely to ipRGC PACAP release.
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71
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Guido W. Development, form, and function of the mouse visual thalamus. J Neurophysiol 2018; 120:211-225. [PMID: 29641300 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00651.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the thalamus is the exclusive relay of retinal information en route to the visual cortex. Although much of our understanding about dLGN comes from studies done in higher mammals, such as the cat and primate, the mouse as a model organism has moved to the forefront as a tractable experimental platform to examine cell type-specific relations. This review highlights our current knowledge about the development, structure, and function of the mouse dLGN.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Guido
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine , Louisville, Kentucky
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72
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Abstract
The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the thalamus is the principal conduit for visual information from retina to visual cortex. Viewed initially as a simple relay, recent studies in the mouse reveal far greater complexity in the way input from the retina is combined, transmitted, and processed in dLGN. Here we consider the structural and functional organization of the mouse retinogeniculate pathway by examining the patterns of retinal projections to dLGN and how they converge onto thalamocortical neurons to shape the flow of visual information to visual cortex.
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73
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Divergent midbrain circuits orchestrate escape and freezing responses to looming stimuli in mice. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1232. [PMID: 29581428 PMCID: PMC5964329 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03580-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals respond to environmental threats, e.g. looming visual stimuli, with innate defensive behaviors such as escape and freezing. The key neural circuits that participate in the generation of such dimorphic defensive behaviors remain unclear. Here we show that the dimorphic behavioral patterns triggered by looming visual stimuli are mediated by parvalbumin-positive (PV+) projection neurons in mouse superior colliculus (SC). Two distinct groups of SC PV+ neurons form divergent pathways to transmit threat-relevant visual signals to neurons in the parabigeminal nucleus (PBGN) and lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (LPTN). Activations of PV+ SC-PBGN and SC-LPTN pathways mimic the dimorphic defensive behaviors. The PBGN and LPTN neurons are co-activated by looming visual stimuli. Bilateral inactivation of either nucleus results in the defensive behavior dominated by the other nucleus. Together, these data suggest that the SC orchestrates dimorphic defensive behaviors through two separate tectofugal pathways that may have interactions. In response to environmental threats, such as visual looming stimuli, mice either freeze or escape. Here the authors demonstrate that these two behaviors are mediated by separate tectofugal pathways formed by parvalbumin-positive neurons in the superior colliculus.
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74
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Langer KB, Ohlemacher SK, Phillips MJ, Fligor CM, Jiang P, Gamm DM, Meyer JS. Retinal Ganglion Cell Diversity and Subtype Specification from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 10:1282-1293. [PMID: 29576537 PMCID: PMC5998302 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the projection neurons of the retina and transmit visual information to postsynaptic targets in the brain. While this function is shared among nearly all RGCs, this class of cell is remarkably diverse, comprised of multiple subtypes. Previous efforts have identified numerous RGC subtypes in animal models, but less attention has been paid to human RGCs. Thus, efforts of this study examined the diversity of RGCs differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and characterized defined subtypes through the expression of subtype-specific markers. Further investigation of these subtypes was achieved using single-cell transcriptomics, confirming the combinatorial expression of molecular markers associated with these subtypes, and also provided insight into more subtype-specific markers. Thus, the results of this study describe the derivation of RGC subtypes from hPSCs and will support the future exploration of phenotypic and functional diversity within human RGCs. Unique transcriptional profiles demonstrate diversity among hPSC-derived RGCs Numerous RGC subtypes characterized from hPSC-derived RGCs Molecular markers identified for RGC subtypes through single-cell RNA-seq analysis
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin B Langer
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Sarah K Ohlemacher
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - M Joseph Phillips
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Clarisse M Fligor
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Peng Jiang
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - David M Gamm
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Jason S Meyer
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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75
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Morphological properties of medial amygdala-projecting retinal ganglion cells in the Mongolian gerbil. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2018; 61:644-650. [PMID: 29564599 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-017-9275-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The amygdala is a limbic structure that is involved in many brain functions, including emotion, learning and memory. It has been reported that melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) innervate the medial amygdala (MeA). However, whether conventional RGCs (cRGCs) project to the MeA remains unknown. The goal of this study was to determine if cRGCs project to the MeA and to determine the morphological properties of MeA-projecting RGCs (MeA-RGCs). Retrogradely labeled RGCs in whole-mount retinas were intracellularly injected to reveal their dendritic morphologies. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to selectively label ipRGCs (MeA-ipRGCs) and cRGCs (MeA-cRGCs). The results showed that 95.7% of the retrogradely labeled cells were cRGCs and that the rest were ipRGCs. Specifically, MeA-cRGCs consist of two morphological types. The majority of them exhibit small but dense dendritic fields and diffuse ramification patterns as previously reported in RGB2 (95%), while the rest exhibit small but sparse dendritic branching patterns resembling those of RGB3 cells (5%). MeA-ipRGCs consist of M1 and M2 subtypes. The MeA-RGCs showed an even retinal distribution patterns. The soma and dendritic field sizes of the MeA-RGCs did not vary with eccentricity. In conclusion, the present results suggest that MeA-RGCs are structurally heterogeneous. These direct RGCs that input to the MeA could be important for regulating amygdala functions.
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76
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Monavarfeshani A, Stanton G, Van Name J, Su K, Mills WA, Swilling K, Kerr A, Huebschman NA, Su J, Fox MA. LRRTM1 underlies synaptic convergence in visual thalamus. eLife 2018; 7:e33498. [PMID: 29424692 PMCID: PMC5826289 DOI: 10.7554/elife.33498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It has long been thought that the mammalian visual system is organized into parallel pathways, with incoming visual signals being parsed in the retina based on feature (e.g. color, contrast and motion) and then transmitted to the brain in unmixed, feature-specific channels. To faithfully convey feature-specific information from retina to cortex, thalamic relay cells must receive inputs from only a small number of functionally similar retinal ganglion cells. However, recent studies challenged this by revealing substantial levels of retinal convergence onto relay cells. Here, we sought to identify mechanisms responsible for the assembly of such convergence. Using an unbiased transcriptomics approach and targeted mutant mice, we discovered a critical role for the synaptic adhesion molecule Leucine Rich Repeat Transmembrane Neuronal 1 (LRRTM1) in the emergence of retinothalamic convergence. Importantly, LRRTM1 mutant mice display impairment in visual behaviors, suggesting a functional role of retinothalamic convergence in vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aboozar Monavarfeshani
- Developmental and Translational Neurobiology CenterVirginia Tech Carilion Research InstituteRoanokeUnited States
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
| | - Gail Stanton
- Developmental and Translational Neurobiology CenterVirginia Tech Carilion Research InstituteRoanokeUnited States
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of MedicineRoanokeUnited States
| | - Jonathan Van Name
- Developmental and Translational Neurobiology CenterVirginia Tech Carilion Research InstituteRoanokeUnited States
| | - Kaiwen Su
- Developmental and Translational Neurobiology CenterVirginia Tech Carilion Research InstituteRoanokeUnited States
| | - William A Mills
- Developmental and Translational Neurobiology CenterVirginia Tech Carilion Research InstituteRoanokeUnited States
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate ProgramVirginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
| | - Kenya Swilling
- Developmental and Translational Neurobiology CenterVirginia Tech Carilion Research InstituteRoanokeUnited States
| | - Alicia Kerr
- Developmental and Translational Neurobiology CenterVirginia Tech Carilion Research InstituteRoanokeUnited States
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate ProgramVirginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
| | | | - Jianmin Su
- Developmental and Translational Neurobiology CenterVirginia Tech Carilion Research InstituteRoanokeUnited States
| | - Michael A Fox
- Developmental and Translational Neurobiology CenterVirginia Tech Carilion Research InstituteRoanokeUnited States
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of MedicineRoanokeUnited States
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77
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Seabrook TA, Burbridge TJ, Crair MC, Huberman AD. Architecture, Function, and Assembly of the Mouse Visual System. Annu Rev Neurosci 2018; 40:499-538. [PMID: 28772103 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-071714-033842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Vision is the sense humans rely on most to navigate the world, make decisions, and perform complex tasks. Understanding how humans see thus represents one of the most fundamental and important goals of neuroscience. The use of the mouse as a model for parsing how vision works at a fundamental level started approximately a decade ago, ushered in by the mouse's convenient size, relatively low cost, and, above all, amenability to genetic perturbations. In the course of that effort, a large cadre of new and powerful tools for in vivo labeling, monitoring, and manipulation of neurons were applied to this species. As a consequence, a significant body of work now exists on the architecture, function, and development of mouse central visual pathways. Excitingly, much of that work includes causal testing of the role of specific cell types and circuits in visual perception and behavior-something rare to find in studies of the visual system of other species. Indeed, one could argue that more information is now available about the mouse visual system than any other sensory system, in any species, including humans. As such, the mouse visual system has become a platform for multilevel analysis of the mammalian central nervous system generally. Here we review the mouse visual system structure, function, and development literature and comment on the similarities and differences between the visual system of this and other model species. We also make it a point to highlight the aspects of mouse visual circuitry that remain opaque and that are in need of additional experimentation to enrich our understanding of how vision works on a broad scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania A Seabrook
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Timothy J Burbridge
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520;
| | - Michael C Crair
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520;
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.,Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California 94303; .,Bio-X, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
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78
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Seabrook TA, Dhande OS, Ishiko N, Wooley VP, Nguyen PL, Huberman AD. Strict Independence of Parallel and Poly-synaptic Axon-Target Matching during Visual Reflex Circuit Assembly. Cell Rep 2017; 21:3049-3064. [PMID: 29241535 PMCID: PMC6333306 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of sensory information to drive specific behaviors relies on circuits spanning long distances that wire up through a range of axon-target recognition events. Mechanisms assembling poly-synaptic circuits and the extent to which parallel pathways can "cross-wire" to compensate for loss of one another remain unclear and are crucial to our understanding of brain development and models of regeneration. In the visual system, specific retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) project to designated midbrain targets connected to downstream circuits driving visuomotor reflexes. Here, we deleted RGCs connecting to pupillary light reflex (PLR) midbrain targets and discovered that axon-target matching is tightly regulated. RGC axons of the eye-reflex pathway avoided vacated PLR targets. Moreover, downstream PLR circuitry is maintained; hindbrain and peripheral components retained their proper connectivity and function. These findings point to a model in which poly-synaptic circuit development reflects independent, highly stringent wiring of each parallel pathway and downstream station.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania A Seabrook
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Onkar S Dhande
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Nao Ishiko
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Victoria P Wooley
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Phong L Nguyen
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94303, USA; Bio-X, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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79
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In Vivo Imaging of CNS Injury and Disease. J Neurosci 2017; 37:10808-10816. [PMID: 29118209 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1826-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In vivo optical imaging has emerged as a powerful tool with which to study cellular responses to injury and disease in the mammalian CNS. Important new insights have emerged regarding axonal degeneration and regeneration, glial responses and neuroinflammation, changes in the neurovascular unit, and, more recently, neural transplantations. Accompanying a 2017 SfN Mini-Symposium, here, we discuss selected recent advances in understanding the neuronal, glial, and other cellular responses to CNS injury and disease with in vivo imaging of the rodent brain or spinal cord. We anticipate that in vivo optical imaging will continue to be at the forefront of breakthrough discoveries of fundamental mechanisms and therapies for CNS injury and disease.
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80
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Stafford BK, Huberman AD. Signal Integration in Thalamus: Labeled Lines Go Cross-Eyed and Blurry. Neuron 2017; 93:717-720. [PMID: 28231456 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The brain uses sensory information from the periphery to create percepts. In this issue of Neuron, Rompani et al. (2017) show that visual signals are combined in unexpected ways that vastly expand the possible representations of the outside world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin K Stafford
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; BioX, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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81
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Morrie RD, Feller MB. Motion Vision: Cortical Preferences Influenced by Retinal Direction Selectivity. Curr Biol 2017; 27:R710-R713. [PMID: 28743019 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.05.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
A recent study shows that retinal direction selectivity influences a subset of cells in primary visual cortex which respond to the optic flow associated with forward motion, while other cortical direction selective cells perform this computation independently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D Morrie
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA.
| | - Marla B Feller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA.
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82
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Pérez de Sevilla Müller L, Solomon A, Sheets K, Hapukino H, Rodriguez AR, Brecha NC. Multiple cell types form the VIP amacrine cell population. J Comp Neurol 2017; 527:133-158. [PMID: 28472856 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Amacrine cells are a heterogeneous group of interneurons that form microcircuits with bipolar, amacrine and ganglion cells to process visual information in the inner retina. This study has characterized the morphology, neurochemistry and major cell types of a VIP-ires-Cre amacrine cell population. VIP-tdTomato and -Confetti (Brainbow2.1) mouse lines were generated by crossing a VIP-ires-Cre line with either a Cre-dependent tdTomato or Brainbow2.1 reporter line. Retinal sections and whole-mounts were evaluated by quantitative, immunohistochemical, and intracellular labeling approaches. The majority of tdTomato and Confetti fluorescent cell bodies were in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and a few cell bodies were in the ganglion cell layer (GCL). Fluorescent processes ramified in strata 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). All tdTomato fluorescent cells expressed syntaxin 1A and GABA-immunoreactivity indicating they were amacrine cells. The average VIP-tdTomato fluorescent cell density in the INL and GCL was 535 and 24 cells/mm2 , respectively. TdTomato fluorescent cells in the INL and GCL contained VIP-immunoreactivity. The VIP-ires-Cre amacrine cell types were identified in VIP-Brainbow2.1 retinas or by intracellular labeling in VIP-tdTomato retinas. VIP-1 amacrine cells are bistratified, wide-field cells that ramify in strata 1, 4, and 5, VIP-2A and 2B amacrine cells are medium-field cells that mainly ramify in strata 3 and 4, and VIP-3 displaced amacrine cells are medium-field cells that ramify in strata 4 and 5 of the IPL. VIP-ires-Cre amacrine cells form a neuropeptide-expressing cell population with multiple cell types, which are likely to have distinct roles in visual processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Pérez de Sevilla Müller
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at Los Angeles, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1763
| | - Alexander Solomon
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at Los Angeles, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1763
| | - Kristopher Sheets
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at Los Angeles, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1763
| | - Hinekura Hapukino
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at Los Angeles, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1763
| | - Allen R Rodriguez
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at Los Angeles, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1763
| | - Nicholas C Brecha
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at Los Angeles, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1763.,Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at Los Angeles, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1763.,Department of Ophthalmology and the Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at Los Angeles, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1763.,CURE Digestive Diseases Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at Los Angeles, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1763.,Veterans Administration Greater Los Angeles Health System, Los Angeles, California, 90073
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83
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Zhang C, Kolodkin AL, Wong RO, James RE. Establishing Wiring Specificity in Visual System Circuits: From the Retina to the Brain. Annu Rev Neurosci 2017; 40:395-424. [PMID: 28460185 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-072116-031607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The retina is a tremendously complex image processor, containing numerous cell types that form microcircuits encoding different aspects of the visual scene. Each microcircuit exhibits a distinct pattern of synaptic connectivity. The developmental mechanisms responsible for this patterning are just beginning to be revealed. Furthermore, signals processed by different retinal circuits are relayed to specific, often distinct, brain regions. Thus, much work has focused on understanding the mechanisms that wire retinal axonal projections to their appropriate central targets. Here, we highlight recently discovered cellular and molecular mechanisms that together shape stereotypic wiring patterns along the visual pathway, from within the retina to the brain. Although some mechanisms are common across circuits, others play unconventional and circuit-specific roles. Indeed, the highly organized connectivity of the visual system has greatly facilitated the discovery of novel mechanisms that establish precise synaptic connections within the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Zhang
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195; ,
| | - Alex L Kolodkin
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205; ,
| | - Rachel O Wong
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195; ,
| | - Rebecca E James
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205; ,
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84
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Huang L, Yuan T, Tan M, Xi Y, Hu Y, Tao Q, Zhao Z, Zheng J, Han Y, Xu F, Luo M, Sollars PJ, Pu M, Pickard GE, So KF, Ren C. A retinoraphe projection regulates serotonergic activity and looming-evoked defensive behaviour. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14908. [PMID: 28361990 PMCID: PMC5381010 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals promote their survival by avoiding rapidly approaching objects that indicate threats. In mice, looming-evoked defensive responses are triggered by the superior colliculus (SC) which receives direct retinal inputs. However, the specific neural circuits that begin in the retina and mediate this important behaviour remain unclear. Here we identify a subset of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that controls mouse looming-evoked defensive responses through axonal collaterals to the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and SC. Looming signals transmitted by DRN-projecting RGCs activate DRN GABAergic neurons that in turn inhibit serotoninergic neurons. Moreover, activation of DRN serotoninergic neurons reduces looming-evoked defensive behaviours. Thus, a dedicated population of RGCs signals rapidly approaching visual threats and their input to the DRN controls a serotonergic self-gating mechanism that regulates innate defensive responses. Our study provides new insights into how the DRN and SC work in concert to extract and translate visual threats into defensive behavioural responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Huang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Tifei Yuan
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097, China
| | - Minjie Tan
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yue Xi
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yu Hu
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qian Tao
- Psychology Department, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zhikai Zhao
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jiajun Zheng
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yushui Han
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Fuqiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Minmin Luo
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Zhongguancun Life Science, Park 7 Science Park Road, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Patricia J Sollars
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583, USA
| | - Mingliang Pu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Gary E Pickard
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, USA
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Department of Ophthalmology and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Chaoran Ren
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
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85
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Nasir-Ahmad S, Lee SCS, Martin PR, Grünert U. Melanopsin-expressing ganglion cells in human retina: Morphology, distribution, and synaptic connections. J Comp Neurol 2017; 527:312-327. [PMID: 28097654 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells are intrinsically photosensitive cells that are involved in non-image forming visual processes such as the pupillary light reflex and circadian entrainment but also contribute to visual perception. Here we used immunohistochemistry to study the morphology, density, distribution, and synaptic connectivity of melanopsin-expressing ganglion cells in four post mortem human donor retinas. Two types of melanopsin-expressing ganglion cells were distinguished based on their dendritic stratification near either the outer or the inner border of the inner plexiform layer. Outer stratifying cells make up on average 60% of the melanopsin-expressing cells. About half of the melanopsin-expressing cells (or 80% of the outer stratifying cells) have their soma displaced to the inner nuclear layer. Inner stratifying cells have their soma exclusively in the ganglion cell layer and include a small proportion of bistratified cells. The dendritic field diameter of melanopsin-expressing cells ranges from 250 (near the fovea) to 1,000 µm in peripheral retina. The dendritic trees of outer stratifying cells cover the retina independent of soma location. The dendritic fields of both outer and inner stratifying cells show a high degree of overlap with a coverage factor of approximately two. Melanopsin-expressing cells occur at an average peak density of between ∼20 and ∼40 cells/mm2 at about 2 mm eccentricity, the density drops to below ∼10 cells/mm2 at about 8 mm eccentricity. Both the outer and inner stratifying dendrites express postsynaptic density (PSD95) immunoreactive puncta suggesting that they receive synaptic input from bipolar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subha Nasir-Ahmad
- Save Sight Institute and Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
| | - Sammy C S Lee
- Save Sight Institute and Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
| | - Paul R Martin
- Save Sight Institute and Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
| | - Ulrike Grünert
- Save Sight Institute and Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
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86
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Martersteck EM, Hirokawa KE, Evarts M, Bernard A, Duan X, Li Y, Ng L, Oh SW, Ouellette B, Royall JJ, Stoecklin M, Wang Q, Zeng H, Sanes JR, Harris JA. Diverse Central Projection Patterns of Retinal Ganglion Cells. Cell Rep 2017; 18:2058-2072. [PMID: 28228269 PMCID: PMC5357325 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.01.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how >30 types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the mouse retina each contribute to visual processing in the brain will require more tools that label and manipulate specific RGCs. We screened and analyzed retinal expression of Cre recombinase using 88 transgenic driver lines. In many lines, Cre was expressed in multiple RGC types and retinal cell classes, but several exhibited more selective expression. We comprehensively mapped central projections from RGCs labeled in 26 Cre lines using viral tracers, high-throughput imaging, and a data processing pipeline. We identified over 50 retinorecipient regions and present a quantitative retina-to-brain connectivity map, enabling comparisons of target-specificity across lines. Projections to two major central targets were notably correlated: RGCs projecting to the outer shell or core regions of the lateral geniculate projected to superficial or deep layers within the superior colliculus, respectively. Retinal images and projection data are available online at http://connectivity.brain-map.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Martersteck
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Mariah Evarts
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Amy Bernard
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Xin Duan
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Lydia Ng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Seung W Oh
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | | | | | - Quanxin Wang
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Joshua R Sanes
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Julie A Harris
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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87
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Prieur DS, Rebsam A. Retinal axon guidance at the midline: Chiasmatic misrouting and consequences. Dev Neurobiol 2017; 77:844-860. [PMID: 27907266 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The visual representation of the outside world relies on the appropriate connectivity between the eyes and the brain. Retinal ganglion cells are the sole neurons that send an axon from the retina to the brain, and thus the guidance decisions of retinal axons en route to their targets in the brain shape the neural circuitry that forms the basis of vision. Here, we focus on the choice made by retinal axons to cross or avoid the midline at the optic chiasm. This decision allows each brain hemisphere to receive inputs from both eyes corresponding to the same visual hemifield, and is thus crucial for binocular vision. In achiasmatic conditions, all retinal axons from one eye project to the ipsilateral brain hemisphere. In albinism, abnormal guidance of retinal axons at the optic chiasm leads to a change in the ratio of contralateral and ipsilateral projections with the consequence that each brain hemisphere receives inputs primarily from the contralateral eye instead of an almost equal distribution from both eyes in humans. In both cases, this misrouting of retinal axons leads to reduced visual acuity and poor depth perception. While this defect has been known for decades, mouse genetics have led to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms at play in retinal axon guidance and at the origin of the guidance defect in albinism. In addition, fMRI studies on humans have now confirmed the anatomical and functional consequences of axonal misrouting at the chiasm that were previously only assumed from animal models. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 77: 844-860, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine S Prieur
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, UMR-S 839, Paris, 75005, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, 75005, France.,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Alexandra Rebsam
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, UMR-S 839, Paris, 75005, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, 75005, France.,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, 75005, France
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88
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Kolodkin AL, Hiesinger PR. Wiring visual systems: common and divergent mechanisms and principles. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2017; 42:128-135. [PMID: 28064004 PMCID: PMC5316370 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The study of visual systems has a rich history, leading to the discovery and understanding of basic principles underlying the elaboration of neuronal connectivity. Recent work in model organisms such as fly, fish and mouse has yielded a wealth of new insights into visual system wiring. Here, we consider how axonal and dendritic patterning in columns and laminae influence synaptic partner selection in these model organisms. We highlight similarities and differences among disparate visual systems with the goal of identifying common and divergent principles for visual system wiring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex L Kolodkin
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - P Robin Hiesinger
- Division of Neurobiology of the Institute for Biology, Free University Berlin, Germany.
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89
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Zhaoping L. From the optic tectum to the primary visual cortex: migration through evolution of the saliency map for exogenous attentional guidance. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2016; 40:94-102. [PMID: 27420378 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent data have supported the hypothesis that, in primates, the primary visual cortex (V1) creates a saliency map from visual input. The exogenous guidance of attention is then realized by means of monosynaptic projections to the superior colliculus, which can select the most salient location as the target of a gaze shift. V1 is less prominent, or is even absent in lower vertebrates such as fish; whereas the superior colliculus, called optic tectum in lower vertebrates, also receives retinal input. I review the literature and propose that the saliency map has migrated from the tectum to V1 over evolution. In addition, attentional benefits manifested as cueing effects in humans should also be present in lower vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhaoping
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, UK.
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90
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Lim JHA, Stafford BK, Nguyen PL, Lien BV, Wang C, Zukor K, He Z, Huberman AD. Neural activity promotes long-distance, target-specific regeneration of adult retinal axons. Nat Neurosci 2016; 19:1073-84. [PMID: 27399843 PMCID: PMC5708130 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Axons in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) fail to regenerate after injury. Here we show that if retinal ganglion cell (RGC) activity is increased by visual stimulation or using chemogenetics, their axons regenerate. We also show that if enhancement of neural activity is combined with elevation of the cell growth-promoting pathway involving mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), RGC axons regenerate the long distances necessary to re-innervate the brain. Analysis of genetically-labeled RGCs revealed this regrowth can be target specific: RGC axons navigated back to their correct visual targets and avoided targets incorrect for their function. Moreover, these regenerated connections were successful in partially rescuing a subset of visual behaviors. Our findings indicate that combining neural activity with activation of mTOR can serve as powerful tool for enhancing axon regeneration and they highlight the remarkable capacity of CNS neurons to re-establish accurate circuit connections in the adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Hwan A Lim
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Benjamin K Stafford
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Phong L Nguyen
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Brian V Lien
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Chen Wang
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Katherine Zukor
- Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Department, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Zhigang He
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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91
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Morrie RD, Feller MB. Development of synaptic connectivity in the retinal direction selective circuit. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2016; 40:45-52. [PMID: 27380013 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 05/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Direction selectivity is a classic neuronal computation that has been described in many different sensory systems. The circuit basis of this computation is perhaps best understood in the retina, where direction selectivity is the result of asymmetric connectivity patterns between excitatory and inhibitory circuit components. Retinal direction selective circuits emerge before eye-opening, though components of the circuit undergo refinement after vision begins. These features make the direction selective circuit a rich model in which to investigate neuronal circuit assembly. In this Opinion, we highlight recent experiments investigating the contribution of various molecular cues, as well as neuronal activity, to the development of the retinal direction selective circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D Morrie
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, United States
| | - Marla B Feller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, United States; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, United States.
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92
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Abstract
The mammalian retina is an important model system for studying neural circuitry: Its role in sensation is clear, its cell types are relatively well defined, and its responses to natural stimuli-light patterns-can be studied in vitro. To solve the retina, we need to understand how the circuits presynaptic to its output neurons, ganglion cells, divide the visual scene into parallel representations to be assembled and interpreted by the brain. This requires identifying the component interneurons and understanding how their intrinsic properties and synapses generate circuit behaviors. Because the cellular composition and fundamental properties of the retina are shared across species, basic mechanisms studied in the genetically modifiable mouse retina apply to primate vision. We propose that the apparent complexity of retinal computation derives from a straightforward mechanism-a dynamic balance of synaptic excitation and inhibition regulated by use-dependent synaptic depression-applied differentially to the parallel pathways that feed ganglion cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Demb
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511;
| | - Joshua H Singer
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742;
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