1
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Mani A, Yang X, Zhao TA, Leyrer ML, Schreck D, Berson DM. A circuit suppressing retinal drive to the optokinetic system during fast image motion. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5142. [PMID: 37612305 PMCID: PMC10447436 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40527-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) assists stabilization of the retinal image during head rotation. OKN is driven by ON direction selective retinal ganglion cells (ON DSGCs), which encode both the direction and speed of global retinal slip. The synaptic circuits responsible for the direction selectivity of ON DSGCs are well understood, but those sculpting their slow-speed preference remain enigmatic. Here, we probe this mechanism in mouse retina through patch clamp recordings, functional imaging, genetic manipulation, and electron microscopic reconstructions. We confirm earlier evidence that feedforward glycinergic inhibition is the main suppressor of ON DSGC responses to fast motion, and reveal the source for this inhibition-the VGluT3 amacrine cell, a dual neurotransmitter, excitatory/inhibitory interneuron. Together, our results identify a role for VGluT3 cells in limiting the speed range of OKN. More broadly, they suggest VGluT3 cells shape the response of many retinal cell types to fast motion, suppressing it in some while enhancing it in others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Mani
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Xinzhu Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Tiffany A Zhao
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Megan L Leyrer
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Daniel Schreck
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - David M Berson
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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2
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Varadarajan SG, Wang F, Dhande OS, Le P, Duan X, Huberman AD. Postsynaptic neuronal activity promotes regeneration of retinal axons. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112476. [PMID: 37141093 PMCID: PMC10247459 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The wiring of visual circuits requires that retinal neurons functionally connect to specific brain targets, a process that involves activity-dependent signaling between retinal axons and their postsynaptic targets. Vision loss in various ophthalmological and neurological diseases is caused by damage to the connections from the eye to the brain. How postsynaptic brain targets influence retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon regeneration and functional reconnection with the brain targets remains poorly understood. Here, we established a paradigm in which the enhancement of neural activity in the distal optic pathway, where the postsynaptic visual target neurons reside, promotes RGC axon regeneration and target reinnervation and leads to the rescue of optomotor function. Furthermore, selective activation of retinorecipient neuron subsets is sufficient to promote RGC axon regeneration. Our findings reveal a key role for postsynaptic neuronal activity in the repair of neural circuits and highlight the potential to restore damaged sensory inputs via proper brain stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supraja G Varadarajan
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Onkar S Dhande
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Phung Le
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xin Duan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, 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; BioX, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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3
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Harris SC, Dunn FA. Asymmetric retinal direction tuning predicts optokinetic eye movements across stimulus conditions. eLife 2023; 12:e81780. [PMID: 36930180 PMCID: PMC10023158 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Across species, the optokinetic reflex (OKR) stabilizes vision during self-motion. OKR occurs when ON direction-selective retinal ganglion cells (oDSGCs) detect slow, global image motion on the retina. How oDSGC activity is integrated centrally to generate behavior remains unknown. Here, we discover mechanisms that contribute to motion encoding in vertically tuned oDSGCs and leverage these findings to empirically define signal transformation between retinal output and vertical OKR behavior. We demonstrate that motion encoding in vertically tuned oDSGCs is contrast-sensitive and asymmetric for oDSGC types that prefer opposite directions. These phenomena arise from the interplay between spike threshold nonlinearities and differences in synaptic input weights, including shifts in the balance of excitation and inhibition. In behaving mice, these neurophysiological observations, along with a central subtraction of oDSGC outputs, accurately predict the trajectories of vertical OKR across stimulus conditions. Thus, asymmetric tuning across competing sensory channels can critically shape behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott C Harris
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Felice A Dunn
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
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4
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Santana NNM, Silva EHA, dos Santos SF, Costa MSMO, Nascimento Junior ES, Engelberth RCJG, Cavalcante JS. Retinorecipient areas in the common marmoset ( Callithrix jacchus): An image-forming and non-image forming circuitry. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1088686. [PMID: 36817647 PMCID: PMC9932520 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1088686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian retina captures a multitude of diverse features from the external environment and conveys them via the optic nerve to a myriad of retinorecipient nuclei. Understanding how retinal signals act in distinct brain functions is one of the most central and established goals of neuroscience. Using the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a monkey from Northeastern Brazil, as an animal model for parsing how retinal innervation works in the brain, started decades ago due to their marmoset's small bodies, rapid reproduction rate, and brain features. In the course of that research, a large amount of new and sophisticated neuroanatomical techniques was developed and employed to explain retinal connectivity. As a consequence, image and non-image-forming regions, functions, and pathways, as well as retinal cell types were described. Image-forming circuits give rise directly to vision, while the non-image-forming territories support circadian physiological processes, although part of their functional significance is uncertain. Here, we reviewed the current state of knowledge concerning retinal circuitry in marmosets from neuroanatomical investigations. We have also highlighted the aspects of marmoset retinal circuitry that remain obscure, in addition, to identify what further research is needed to better understand the connections and functions of retinorecipient structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelyane Nayara M. Santana
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Eryck H. A. Silva
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Sâmarah F. dos Santos
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Miriam S. M. O. Costa
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Department of Morphology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Expedito S. Nascimento Junior
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Department of Morphology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Rovena Clara J. G. Engelberth
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Jeferson S. Cavalcante
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil,*Correspondence: Jeferson S. Cavalcante,
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5
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Hunyara JL, Foshe S, Varadarajan SG, Gribble KD, Huberman AD, Kolodkin AL. Characterization of non-alpha retinal ganglion cell injury responses reveals a possible block to restoring ipRGC function. Exp Neurol 2022; 357:114176. [PMID: 35870522 PMCID: PMC9549754 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Visual impairment caused by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon damage or degeneration affects millions of individuals throughout the world. While some progress has been made in promoting long-distance RGC axon regrowth following injury, it remains unclear whether RGC axons can properly reconnect with their central targets to restore visual function. Additionally, the regenerative capacity of many RGC subtypes remains unknown in part due to a lack of available genetic tools. Here, we use a new mouse line, Sema6ACreERT2, that labels On direction-selective RGCs (oDSGCs) and characterize the survival and regenerative potential of these cells following optic nerve crush (ONC). In parallel, we use a previously characterized mouse line, Opn4CreERT2, to answer these same questions for M1 intrinsically photosensitive RGCs (ipRGCs). We find that both M1 ipRGCs and oDSGCs are resilient to injury but do not display long-distance axon regrowth following Lin28a overexpression. Unexpectedly, we found that M1 ipRGC, but not oDSGC, intraretinal axons exhibit ectopic branching and are misaligned near the optic disc between one- and three-weeks following injury. Additionally, we observe that numerous ectopic presynaptic specializations associate with misguided ipRGC intraretinal axons. Taken together, these results reveal insights into the injury response of M1 ipRGCs and oDSGCs, providing a foundation for future efforts seeking to restore visual system function following injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L Hunyara
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Sierra Foshe
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | | | - Katherine D Gribble
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alex L Kolodkin
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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6
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Al-Khindi T, Sherman MB, Kodama T, Gopal P, Pan Z, Kiraly JK, Zhang H, Goff LA, du Lac S, Kolodkin AL. The transcription factor Tbx5 regulates direction-selective retinal ganglion cell development and image stabilization. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4286-4298.e5. [PMID: 35998637 PMCID: PMC9560999 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The diversity of visual input processed by the mammalian visual system requires the generation of many distinct retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types, each tuned to a particular feature. The molecular code needed to generate this cell-type diversity is poorly understood. Here, we focus on the molecules needed to specify one type of retinal cell: the upward-preferring ON direction-selective ganglion cell (up-oDSGC) of the mouse visual system. Single-cell transcriptomic profiling of up- and down-oDSGCs shows that the transcription factor Tbx5 is selectively expressed in up-oDSGCs. The loss of Tbx5 in up-oDSGCs results in a selective defect in the formation of up-oDSGCs and a corresponding inability to detect vertical motion. A downstream effector of Tbx5, Sfrp1, is also critical for vertical motion detection but not up-oDSGC formation. These results advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that specify a rare retinal cell type and show how disrupting this specification leads to a corresponding defect in neural circuitry and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timour Al-Khindi
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Michael B Sherman
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Takashi Kodama
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Preethi Gopal
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Zhiwei Pan
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - James K Kiraly
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Loyal A Goff
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Sascha du Lac
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alex L Kolodkin
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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7
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Nanjappa R, Dilbeck MD, Economides JR, Horton JC. Fundus imaging of retinal ganglion cells transduced by retrograde transport of rAAV2-retro. Exp Eye Res 2022; 219:109084. [PMID: 35460667 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Access of adeno-associated virus (AAV) to ganglion cells following intravitreal injection for gene therapy is impeded by the internal limiting membrane of the retina. As an alternative, one could transduce ganglion cells via retrograde transport after virus injection into a retinal target nucleus. It is unknown if recombinant AAV2-retro (rAAV2-retro), a variant of AAV2 developed specifically for retrograde transport, is capable of transducing retinal ganglion cells. To address this issue, equal volumes of rAAV2-retro-hSyn-EGFP and rAAV2-retro-hSyn-mCherry were mixed in a micropipette and injected into the rat superior colliculus. The time-course of viral transduction was tracked by performing serial in vivo fundus imaging. Cells that were labeled by the fluorophores within the first week remained consistent in distribution and relative signal strength on follow-up imaging. Most transduced cells were double-labeled, but some were labeled by only EGFP or mCherry. Fundus images were later aligned with retinal wholemounts. Ganglion cells in the wholemounts matched precisely the cells imaged by fundus photography. As seen in the fundus images, ganglion cells in wholemounts were sometimes labeled by only EGFP or mCherry. Overall, there was detectable label in 32-41% of ganglion cells. Analysis of the number of cells labeled by 0, 1, or 2 fluorophores, based on Poisson statistics, yielded an average of 0.66 virions transducing each ganglion cell. Although this represents a low number relative to the quantity of virus injected into the superior colliculus, the ganglion cells showed sustained and robust fluorescent labeling. In the primate, injection of rAAV2-retro into the lateral geniculate nucleus might provide a viable approach for the transduction of ganglion cells, bypassing the obstacles that have prevented effective gene delivery via intravitreal injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Nanjappa
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Mikayla D Dilbeck
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - John R Economides
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Jonathan C Horton
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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8
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Abstract
Retinal circuits transform the pixel representation of photoreceptors into the feature representations of ganglion cells, whose axons transmit these representations to the brain. Functional, morphological, and transcriptomic surveys have identified more than 40 retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types in mice. RGCs extract features of varying complexity; some simply signal local differences in brightness (i.e., luminance contrast), whereas others detect specific motion trajectories. To understand the retina, we need to know how retinal circuits give rise to the diverse RGC feature representations. A catalog of the RGC feature set, in turn, is fundamental to understanding visual processing in the brain. Anterograde tracing indicates that RGCs innervate more than 50 areas in the mouse brain. Current maps connecting RGC types to brain areas are rudimentary, as is our understanding of how retinal signals are transformed downstream to guide behavior. In this article, I review the feature selectivities of mouse RGCs, how they arise, and how they are utilized downstream. Not only is knowledge of the behavioral purpose of RGC signals critical for understanding the retinal contributions to vision; it can also guide us to the most relevant areas of visual feature space. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Vision Science, Volume 8 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kerschensteiner
- John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Department of Neuroscience; Department of Biomedical Engineering; and Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA;
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9
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Varadarajan SG, Hunyara JL, Hamilton NR, Kolodkin AL, Huberman AD. Central nervous system regeneration. Cell 2022; 185:77-94. [PMID: 34995518 PMCID: PMC10896592 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neurons of the mammalian central nervous system fail to regenerate. Substantial progress has been made toward identifying the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie regenerative failure and how altering those pathways can promote cell survival and/or axon regeneration. Here, we summarize those findings while comparing the regenerative process in the central versus the peripheral nervous system. We also highlight studies that advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying neural degeneration in response to injury, as many of these mechanisms represent primary targets for restoring functional neural circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John L Hunyara
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Natalie R Hamilton
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alex L Kolodkin
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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10
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Ruff T, Peters C, Matsumoto A, Ihle SJ, Morales PA, Gaitanos L, Yonehara K, Del Toro D, Klein R. FLRT3 Marks Direction-Selective Retinal Ganglion Cells That Project to the Medial Terminal Nucleus. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:790466. [PMID: 34955746 PMCID: PMC8696037 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.790466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian retina extracts a multitude of diverse features from the visual scene such as color, contrast, and direction of motion. These features are transmitted separately to the brain by more than 40 different retinal ganglion cell (RGC) subtypes. However, so far only a few genetic markers exist to fully characterize the different RGC subtypes. Here, we present a novel genetic Flrt3-CreERT2 knock-in mouse that labels a small subpopulation of RGCs. Using single-cell injection of fluorescent dyes in Flrt3 positive RGCs, we distinguished four morphological RGC subtypes. Anterograde tracings using a fluorescent Cre-dependent Adeno-associated virus (AAV) revealed that a subgroup of Flrt3 positive RGCs specifically project to the medial terminal nucleus (MTN), which is part of the accessory optic system (AOS) and is essential in driving reflex eye movements for retinal image stabilization. Functional characterization using ex vivo patch-clamp recordings showed that the MTN-projecting Flrt3 RGCs preferentially respond to downward motion in an ON-fashion. These neurons distribute in a regular pattern and most of them are bistratified at the level of the ON and OFF bands of cholinergic starburst amacrine cells where they express the known ON-OFF direction-selective RGC marker CART. Together, our results indicate that MTN-projecting Flrt3 RGCs represent a new functionally homogeneous AOS projecting direction-selective RGC subpopulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Ruff
- Department of Molecules, Signaling, and Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Peters
- Department of Molecules, Signaling, and Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Akihiro Matsumoto
- Department of Biomedicine, Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Stephan J Ihle
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pilar Alcalá Morales
- Department of Molecules, Signaling, and Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Louise Gaitanos
- Department of Molecules, Signaling, and Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Keisuke Yonehara
- Department of Biomedicine, Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Daniel Del Toro
- Department of Molecules, Signaling, and Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurosciences, IDIBAPS, CIBERNED, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rüdiger Klein
- Department of Molecules, Signaling, and Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
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11
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Rochon PL, Theriault C, Rangel Olguin AG, Krishnaswamy A. The cell adhesion molecule Sdk1 shapes assembly of a retinal circuit that detects localized edges. eLife 2021; 10:e70870. [PMID: 34545809 PMCID: PMC8514235 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Nearly 50 different mouse retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types sample the visual scene for distinct features. RGC feature selectivity arises from their synapses with a specific subset of amacrine (AC) and bipolar cell (BC) types, but how RGC dendrites arborize and collect input from these specific subsets remains poorly understood. Here we examine the hypothesis that RGCs employ molecular recognition systems to meet this challenge. By combining calcium imaging and type-specific histological stains, we define a family of circuits that express the recognition molecule Sidekick-1 (Sdk1), which include a novel RGC type (S1-RGC) that responds to local edges. Genetic and physiological studies revealed that Sdk1 loss selectively disrupts S1-RGC visual responses, which result from a loss of excitatory and inhibitory inputs and selective dendritic deficits on this neuron. We conclude that Sdk1 shapes dendrite growth and wiring to help S1-RGCs become feature selective.
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12
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Development of the vertebrate retinal direction-selective circuit. Dev Biol 2021; 477:273-283. [PMID: 34118273 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The vertebrate retina contains an array of neural circuits that detect distinct features in visual space. Direction-selective (DS) circuits are an evolutionarily conserved retinal circuit motif - from zebrafish to rodents to primates - specialized for motion detection. During retinal development, neuronal subtypes that wire DS circuits form exquisitely precise connections with each other to shape the output of retinal ganglion cells tuned for specific speeds and directions of motion. In this review, we follow the chronology of DS circuit development in the vertebrate retina, including the cellular, molecular, and activity-dependent mechanisms that regulate the formation of DS circuits, from cell birth and migration to synapse formation and refinement. We highlight recent findings that identify genetic programs critical for specifying neuronal subtypes within DS circuits and molecular interactions essential for responses along the cardinal axes of motion. Finally, we discuss the roles of DS circuits in visual behavior and in certain human visual disease conditions. As one of the best-characterized circuits in the vertebrate retina, DS circuits represent an ideal model system for studying the development of neural connectivity at the level of individual genes, cells, and behavior.
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13
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Oswald J, Kegeles E, Minelli T, Volchkov P, Baranov P. Transplantation of miPSC/mESC-derived retinal ganglion cells into healthy and glaucomatous retinas. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2021; 21:180-198. [PMID: 33816648 PMCID: PMC7994731 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Optic neuropathies, including glaucoma, are a group of neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), leading to irreversible vision loss. While previous studies demonstrated the potential to replace RGCs with primary neurons from developing mouse retinas, their use is limited clinically. We demonstrate successful transplantation of mouse induced pluripotent stem cell (miPSC)/mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC)-derived RGCs into healthy and glaucomatous mouse retinas, at a success rate exceeding 65% and a donor cell survival window of up to 12 months. Transplanted Thy1-GFP+ RGCs were able to polarize within the host retina and formed axonal processes that followed host axons along the retinal surface and entered the optic nerve head. RNA sequencing of donor RGCs re-isolated from host retinas at 24 h and 1 week post-transplantation showed upregulation of cellular pathways mediating axonal outgrowth, extension, and guidance. Additionally, we provide evidence of subtype-specific diversity within miPSC-derived RGCs prior to transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Oswald
- The Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Evgenii Kegeles
- Life Sciences Research Center, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudniy 141700, Russia
| | - Tomas Minelli
- The Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Pavel Volchkov
- Life Sciences Research Center, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudniy 141700, Russia
- Research Institute of Personalized Medicine, National Center for Personalized Medicine of Endocrine Diseases, The National Medical Research Center for Endocrinology, Moscow 117036, Russia
| | - Petr Baranov
- The Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Corresponding author: Petr Baranov, The Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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14
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Cushnie AK, El-Nahal HG, Bohlen MO, May PJ, Basso MA, Grimaldi P, Wang MZ, de Velasco Ezequiel MF, Sommer MA, Heilbronner SR. Using rAAV2-retro in rhesus macaques: Promise and caveats for circuit manipulation. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 345:108859. [PMID: 32668316 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent genetic technologies such as opto- and chemogenetics allow for the manipulation of brain circuits with unprecedented precision. Most studies employing these techniques have been undertaken in rodents, but a more human-homologous model for studying the brain is the nonhuman primate (NHP). Optimizing viral delivery of transgenes encoding actuator proteins could revolutionize the way we study neuronal circuits in NHPs. NEW METHOD: rAAV2-retro, a popular new capsid variant, produces robust retrograde labeling in rodents. Whether rAAV2-retro's highly efficient retrograde transport would translate to NHPs was unknown. Here, we characterized the anatomical distribution of labeling following injections of rAAV2-retro encoding opsins or DREADDs in the cortico-basal ganglia and oculomotor circuits of rhesus macaques. RESULTS rAAV2-retro injections in striatum, frontal eye field, and superior colliculus produced local labeling at injection sites and robust retrograde labeling in many afferent regions. In every case, however, a few brain regions with well-established projections to the injected structure lacked retrogradely labeled cells. We also observed robust terminal field labeling in downstream structures. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) Patterns of labeling were similar to those obtained with traditional tract-tracers, except for some afferent labeling that was noticeably absent. CONCLUSIONS rAAV2-retro promises to be useful for circuit manipulation via retrograde transduction in NHPs, but caveats were revealed by our findings. Some afferently connected regions lacked retrogradely labeled cells, showed robust axon terminal labeling, or both. This highlights the importance of anatomically characterizing rAAV2-retro's expression in target circuits in NHPs before moving to manipulation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana K Cushnie
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Hala G El-Nahal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Martin O Bohlen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Paul J May
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, 39216, United States
| | - Michele A Basso
- Fuster Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Neurobiology, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, Univ. of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Piercesare Grimaldi
- Fuster Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Neurobiology, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, Univ. of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Maya Zhe Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | | | - Marc A Sommer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Sarah R Heilbronner
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
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15
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Rozbesky D, Verhagen MG, Karia D, Nagy GN, Alvarez L, Robinson RA, Harlos K, Padilla‐Parra S, Pasterkamp RJ, Jones EY. Structural basis of semaphorin-plexin cis interaction. EMBO J 2020; 39:e102926. [PMID: 32500924 PMCID: PMC7327498 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019102926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Semaphorin ligands interact with plexin receptors to contribute to functions in the development of myriad tissues including neurite guidance and synaptic organisation within the nervous system. Cell-attached semaphorins interact in trans with plexins on opposing cells, but also in cis on the same cell. The interplay between trans and cis interactions is crucial for the regulated development of complex neural circuitry, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are uncharacterised. We have discovered a distinct mode of interaction through which the Drosophila semaphorin Sema1b and mouse Sema6A mediate binding in cis to their cognate plexin receptors. Our high-resolution structural, biophysical and in vitro analyses demonstrate that monomeric semaphorins can mediate a distinctive plexin binding mode. These findings suggest the interplay between monomeric vs dimeric states has a hereto unappreciated role in semaphorin biology, providing a mechanism by which Sema6s may balance cis and trans functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Rozbesky
- Division of Structural BiologyWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Marieke G Verhagen
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceUMC Utrecht Brain CenterUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Dimple Karia
- Division of Structural BiologyWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Gergely N Nagy
- Division of Structural BiologyWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Luis Alvarez
- Cellular ImagingWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Ross A Robinson
- Division of Structural BiologyWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Present address:
Immunocore LtdAbingdonUK
| | - Karl Harlos
- Division of Structural BiologyWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Sergi Padilla‐Parra
- Division of Structural BiologyWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Cellular ImagingWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Present address:
Department of Infectious DiseasesFaculty of Life Sciences & MedicineKing's College LondonLondonUK
- Present address:
Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular BiophysicsKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - R Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceUMC Utrecht Brain CenterUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Edith Yvonne Jones
- Division of Structural BiologyWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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16
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Weiss AR, Liguore WA, Domire JS, Button D, McBride JL. Intra-striatal AAV2.retro administration leads to extensive retrograde transport in the rhesus macaque brain: implications for disease modeling and therapeutic development. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6970. [PMID: 32332773 PMCID: PMC7181773 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63559-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, AAV2.retro, a new capsid variant capable of efficient retrograde transport in brain, was generated in mice using a directed evolution approach. However, it remains unclear to what degree transport will be recapitulated in the substantially larger and more complex nonhuman primate (NHP) brain. Here, we compared the biodistribution of AAV2.retro with its parent serotype, AAV2, in adult macaques following delivery into the caudate and putamen, brain regions which comprise the striatum. While AAV2 transduction was primarily limited to the injected brain regions, AAV2.retro transduced cells in the striatum and in dozens of cortical and subcortical regions with known striatal afferents. We then evaluated the capability of AAV2.retro to deliver disease-related gene cargo to biologically-relevant NHP brain circuits by packaging a fragment of human mutant HTT, the causative gene mutation in Huntington’s disease. Following intra-striatal delivery, pathological mHTT-positive protein aggregates were distributed widely among cognitive, motor, and limbic cortico-basal ganglia circuits. Together, these studies demonstrate strong retrograde transport of AAV2.retro in NHP brain, highlight its utility in developing novel NHP models of brain disease and suggest its potential for querying circuit function and delivering therapeutic genes in the brain, particularly where treating dysfunctional circuits, versus single brain regions, is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison R Weiss
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, USA
| | - William A Liguore
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, USA
| | - Jacqueline S Domire
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, USA
| | - Dana Button
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, USA
| | - Jodi L McBride
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, USA. .,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA. .,Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA.
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17
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Vigouroux RJ, Cesar Q, Chédotal A, Nguyen-Ba-Charvet KT. Revisiting the role of Dcc in visual system development with a novel eye clearing method. eLife 2020; 9:51275. [PMID: 32096760 PMCID: PMC7062470 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Deleted in Colorectal Carcinoma (Dcc) receptor plays a critical role in optic nerve development. Whilst Dcc is expressed postnatally in the eye, its function remains unknown as Dcc knockouts die at birth. To circumvent this drawback, we generated an eye-specific Dcc mutant. To study the organization of the retina and visual projections in these mice, we also established EyeDISCO, a novel tissue clearing protocol that removes melanin allowing 3D imaging of whole eyes and visual pathways. We show that in the absence of Dcc, some ganglion cell axons stalled at the optic disc, whereas others perforated the retina, separating photoreceptors from the retinal pigment epithelium. A subset of visual axons entered the CNS, but these projections are perturbed. Moreover, Dcc-deficient retinas displayed a massive postnatal loss of retinal ganglion cells and a large fraction of photoreceptors. Thus, Dcc is essential for the development and maintenance of the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin J Vigouroux
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Quénol Cesar
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Alain Chédotal
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
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18
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Spatiotemporally Asymmetric Excitation Supports Mammalian Retinal Motion Sensitivity. Curr Biol 2019; 29:3277-3288.e5. [PMID: 31564498 PMCID: PMC6865067 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The detection of visual motion is a fundamental function of the visual system. How motion speed and direction are computed together at the cellular level, however, remains largely unknown. Here, we suggest a circuit mechanism by which excitatory inputs to direction-selective ganglion cells in the mouse retina become sensitive to the motion speed and direction of image motion. Electrophysiological, imaging, and connectomic analyses provide evidence that the dendrites of ON direction-selective cells receive spatially offset and asymmetrically filtered glutamatergic inputs along motion-preference axis from asymmetrically wired bipolar and amacrine cell types with distinct release dynamics. A computational model shows that, with this spatiotemporal structure, the input amplitude becomes sensitive to speed and direction by a preferred direction enhancement mechanism. Our results highlight the role of an excitatory mechanism in retinal motion computation by which feature selectivity emerges from non-selective inputs.
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