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Gergues MM, Lalani LK, Kheirbek MA. Identifying dysfunctional cell types and circuits in animal models for psychiatric disorders with calcium imaging. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024:10.1038/s41386-024-01942-y. [PMID: 39122815 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01942-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
A central goal of neuroscience is to understand how the brain transforms external stimuli and internal bodily signals into patterns of activity that underlie cognition, emotional states, and behavior. Understanding how these patterns of activity may be disrupted in mental illness is crucial for developing novel therapeutics. It is well appreciated that psychiatric disorders are complex, circuit-based disorders that arise from dysfunctional activity patterns generated in discrete cell types and their connections. Recent advances in large-scale, cell-type specific calcium imaging approaches have shed new light on the cellular, circuit, and network-level dysfunction in animal models for psychiatric disorders. Here, we highlight a series of recent findings over the last ~10 years from in vivo calcium imaging studies that show how aberrant patterns of activity in discrete cell types and circuits may underlie behavioral deficits in animal models for several psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, and schizophrenia. by elucidating cell types and their activity patterns. These advances in calcium imaging in pre-clinical models demonstrate the power of cell-type-specific imaging tools in understanding the underlying dysfunction in cell types, activity patterns, and neural circuits that may contribute to disease and provide new blueprints for developing more targeted therapeutics and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark M Gergues
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lahin K Lalani
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mazen A Kheirbek
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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2
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Bach SV, Bauman AJ, Hosein D, Tuscher JJ, Ianov L, Greathouse KM, Henderson BW, Herskowitz JH, Martinowich K, Day JJ. Distinct roles of Bdnf I and Bdnf IV transcript variant expression in hippocampal neurons. Hippocampus 2024; 34:218-229. [PMID: 38362938 PMCID: PMC11039386 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) plays a critical role in brain development, dendritic growth, synaptic plasticity, as well as learning and memory. The rodent Bdnf gene contains nine 5' non-coding exons (I-IXa), which are spliced to a common 3' coding exon (IX). Transcription of individual Bdnf variants, which all encode the same BDNF protein, is initiated at unique promoters upstream of each non-coding exon, enabling precise spatiotemporal and activity-dependent regulation of Bdnf expression. Although prior evidence suggests that Bdnf transcripts containing exon I (Bdnf I) or exon IV (Bdnf IV) are uniquely regulated by neuronal activity, the functional significance of different Bdnf transcript variants remains unclear. To investigate functional roles of activity-dependent Bdnf I and IV transcripts, we used a CRISPR activation system in which catalytically dead Cas9 fused to a transcriptional activator (VPR) is targeted to individual Bdnf promoters with single guide RNAs, resulting in transcript-specific Bdnf upregulation. Bdnf I upregulation is associated with gene expression changes linked to dendritic growth, while Bdnf IV upregulation is associated with genes that regulate protein catabolism. Upregulation of Bdnf I, but not Bdnf IV, increased mushroom spine density, volume, length, and head diameter, and also produced more complex dendritic arbors in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. In contrast, upregulation of Bdnf IV, but not Bdnf I, in the rat hippocampus attenuated contextual fear expression. Our data suggest that while Bdnf I and IV are both activity-dependent, BDNF produced from these promoters may serve unique cellular, synaptic, and behavioral functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svitlana V. Bach
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Allison J. Bauman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Darya Hosein
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jennifer J. Tuscher
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lara Ianov
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Kelsey M. Greathouse
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Benjamin W. Henderson
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jeremy H. Herskowitz
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jeremy J. Day
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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Nelson ED, Tippani M, Ramnauth AD, Divecha HR, Miller RA, Eagles NJ, Pattie EA, Kwon SH, Bach SV, Kaipa UM, Yao J, Kleinman JE, Collado-Torres L, Han S, Maynard KR, Hyde TM, Martinowich K, Page SC, Hicks SC. An integrated single-nucleus and spatial transcriptomics atlas reveals the molecular landscape of the human hippocampus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.26.590643. [PMID: 38712198 PMCID: PMC11071618 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.26.590643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The hippocampus contains many unique cell types, which serve the structure's specialized functions, including learning, memory and cognition. These cells have distinct spatial topography, morphology, physiology, and connectivity, highlighting the need for transcriptome-wide profiling strategies that retain cytoarchitectural organization. Here, we generated spatially-resolved transcriptomics (SRT) and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) data from adjacent tissue sections of the anterior human hippocampus across ten adult neurotypical donors. We defined molecular profiles for hippocampal cell types and spatial domains. Using non-negative matrix factorization and transfer learning, we integrated these data to define gene expression patterns within the snRNA-seq data and infer the expression of these patterns in the SRT data. With this approach, we leveraged existing rodent datasets that feature information on circuit connectivity and neural activity induction to make predictions about axonal projection targets and likelihood of ensemble recruitment in spatially-defined cellular populations of the human hippocampus. Finally, we integrated genome-wide association studies with transcriptomic data to identify enrichment of genetic components for neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders across cell types, spatial domains, and gene expression patterns of the human hippocampus. To make this comprehensive molecular atlas accessible to the scientific community, both raw and processed data are freely available, including through interactive web applications.
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Teng Y, Niu J, Liu Y, Wang H, Chen J, Kong Y, Wang L, Lian B, Wang W, Sun H, Yue K. Ketamine alleviates fear memory and spatial cognition deficits in a PTSD rat model via the BDNF signaling pathway of the hippocampus and amygdala. Behav Brain Res 2024; 459:114792. [PMID: 38048914 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with traumatic stress experiences. This condition can be accompanied by learning and cognitive deficits. Studies have demonstrated that ketamine can rapidly and significantly alleviate symptoms in patients with chronic PTSD. Nonetheless, the effects of ketamine on neurocognitive impairment and its mechanism of action in PTSD remain unclear. METHODS In this study, different concentrations of ketamine (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) were evaluated in rat models of single prolonged stress and electrophonic shock (SPS&S). Expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and post-synaptic density-95 (PSD-95) in the hippocampus (HIP) and amygdala (AMG) were determined by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The data showed that rats subjected to SPS&S exhibited significant PTSD-like cognitive impairment. The effect of ketamine on SPS&S-induced neurocognitive function showed a U-shaped dose effect in rats. A single administration of ketamine at a dosage of 10-15 mg/kg resulted in significant changes in behavioral outcomes. These manifestations of improvement in cognitive function and molecular changes were reversed at high doses (15-20 mg/kg). CONCLUSION Overall, ketamine reversed SPS&S-induced fear and spatial memory impairment and the down-regulation of BDNF and BDNF-related PSD-95 signaling in the HIP and AMG. A dose equal to 15 mg/kg rapidly reversed the behavioral and molecular changes and promoted the amelioration of cognitive dysfunction. The enhanced association of BDNF signaling with PSD-95 effects could be involved in the therapeutic efficiency of ketamine for PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Teng
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - JiaYao Niu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - Han Wang
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - JinHong Chen
- School of Continuing Education, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - YuJia Kong
- School of Public Health, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - Ling Wang
- Clinical Competency Training Center, Medical experiment and training center, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - Bo Lian
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - WeiWen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, PR China
| | - HongWei Sun
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China.
| | - KuiTao Yue
- The Medical imaging Center, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, 2428# Yuhe Road, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China.
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Thomas CMP, Bouton ME, Green JT. Chemogenetic inhibition of the ventral hippocampus but not its direct projection to the prelimbic cortex attenuates context-specific operant responding. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1310478. [PMID: 38385002 PMCID: PMC10879379 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1310478] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous work has demonstrated the importance of the prelimbic cortex (PL) in contextual control of operant behavior. However, the associated neural circuitry responsible for providing contextual information to the PL is not well understood. In Pavlovian fear conditioning the ventral hippocampus (vH) and its projection to the PL have been shown to be important in supporting the effects of context on learning. The present experiments used chemogenetic inhibition of the direct vH-PL projection or the vH to determine involvement in expression of context-specific operant behavior. Rats were injected with an inhibitory DREADD (hM4Di) or mCherry-only into the vH, and subsequently trained to perform a lever press response for a food pellet in a distinct context. The DREADD ligand clozapine-n-oxide (CNO) was then delivered directly into the PL (experiment 1) and then systemically (experiment 2) prior to tests of the response in the training context as well as an equally familiar but untrained context. vH (systemic CNO) but not vH-PL (intra-PL CNO) inhibition was found to attenuate operant responding in its acquisition context. A third experiment, using the same rats, showed that chemogenetic inhibition of vH also reduced Pavlovian contextual fear. The present results suggest that multisynapatic connections between the vH and PL may be responsible for integration of contextual information with operant behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum M. P. Thomas
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Mark E. Bouton
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - John T. Green
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
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Xie P, Chen L, Wang J, Wang X, Yang S, Zhu G. Polysaccharides from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua prevent post-traumatic stress disorder behaviors in mice: Mechanisms from the perspective of synaptic injury, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117165. [PMID: 37696440 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a kind of depression syndrome, and its occurrence is related to deficiencies of the heart and kidney. Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua replenishes Qi and blood and tonifies the five zang organs, so it is widely used in TCM as a prescription for the treatment of depression syndrome. The polysaccharides in P. cyrtonema Hua (PSP) are the main active components of the herb, but the effects of PSP on PTSD and the mechanisms remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate the preventive effect of PSP on PTSD-like behaviors and to determine the mechanisms. METHODS We used behavioral tests to evaluate PTSD-like behaviors in mice. Synaptic changes were assessed by transmission electron microscopy. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to assess pathological changes to the hippocampus, and immunofluorescence staining was used to observe changes in astrocytes. Serum corticosterone (CORT), cytokine, and hippocampal oxidation-related indicator levels were evaluated by ELISA. We detected the expression levels of synaptic, oxidative, and inflammation-related proteins in the hippocampus by western blotting. RESULTS Single prolonged stress (SPS)-modeled mice exhibited significant PTSD-like phenotypes, including increased fear memory acquisition and anxiety-like behaviors. These behavioral changes were prevented by PSP administration. Compared to controls, SPS modeling increased serum CORT, cytokine, and hippocampal malondialdehyde levels; decreased superoxide dismutase activity; and caused losses in pyramidal neurons, astrocytes, and synapses in the CA1 region. At the molecular level, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, postsynaptic density protein 95, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), phospho-tyrosine kinase receptor B, activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and GluA1 decreased in SPS mice compared with the control group, while the expression of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), GluN2B, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein increased in SPS mice. Treatment with PSP counteracted these abnormal changes. Importantly, ML385, an Nrf2 inhibitor, blocked PSP's ability to ameliorate PTSD behaviors and abnormal protein expression. The NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 reduced the PTSD-like behaviors and normalized protein expression in SPS mice. CONCLUSION PSP prevents SPS-induced PTSD-like behaviors and synaptic damage by regulating oxidative stress and NLRP3-mediated inflammation, probably in an Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Xie
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, The Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230012, China.
| | - Lixia Chen
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, The Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230012, China.
| | - Juan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, The Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230012, China.
| | - Xuncui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, The Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230012, China.
| | - Shaojie Yang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, The Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230012, China; The Second Affiliation Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230061, China.
| | - Guoqi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, The Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230012, China.
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7
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Casagrande MA, Porto RR, Haubrich J, Kautzmann A, de Oliveira Álvares L. Emotional Value of Fear Memory and the Role of the Ventral Hippocampus in Systems Consolidation. Neuroscience 2023; 535:184-193. [PMID: 37944583 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have explored the circuitry involving the ventral hippocampus (vHPC), the amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex, a pathway mainly activated to store contextual information efficiently. Lesions in the vHPC impair remote memory, but not in the short term. However, how the vHPC is affected by distinct memory strength or its role in systems consolidation has not yet been elucidated. Here, we investigated how distinct training intensities, with strong or weak contextual fear conditioning, affect activation of the dorsal hippocampus (dHPC) and the vHPC. We found that the time course of memory consolidation differs in fear memories of different training intensities in both the dHPC and vHPC. Our results also indicate that memory generalization happens alongside greater activation of the vHPC, and these processes occur faster with stronger fear memories. The vHPC is required for the expression of remote fear memory and may control contextual fear generalization, a view corroborated by the fact that inactivation of the vHPC suppresses generalized fear expression, making memory more precise again. Systems consolidation occurs concomitantly with greater activation of the vHPC, which is accelerated in stronger fear memories. These findings lead us to propose that greater activation of the vHPC could be used as a marker for memory generalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Casagrande
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Memória, Departamento de Biofísica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Prédio 43422, Sala 216, CEP 91.501-970 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - R R Porto
- Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, Western Sydney University, School of Medicine, Cnr David Pilgrim Ave & Goldsmith Ave, Building 30, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | - J Haubrich
- Dept. of Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße, 150 MA 4/150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - A Kautzmann
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Memória, Departamento de Biofísica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Prédio 43422, Sala 216, CEP 91.501-970 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - L de Oliveira Álvares
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Memória, Departamento de Biofísica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Prédio 43422, Sala 216, CEP 91.501-970 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
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8
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Hu A, Zhao R, Ren B, Li Y, Lu J, Tai Y. Projection-Specific Heterogeneity of the Axon Initial Segment of Pyramidal Neurons in the Prelimbic Cortex. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:1050-1068. [PMID: 36849716 PMCID: PMC10313623 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01038-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The axon initial segment (AIS) is a highly specialized axonal compartment where the action potential is initiated. The heterogeneity of AISs has been suggested to occur between interneurons and pyramidal neurons (PyNs), which likely contributes to their unique spiking properties. However, whether the various characteristics of AISs can be linked to specific PyN subtypes remains unknown. Here, we report that in the prelimbic cortex (PL) of the mouse, two types of PyNs with axon projections either to the contralateral PL or to the ipsilateral basal lateral amygdala, possess distinct AIS properties reflected by morphology, ion channel expression, action potential initiation, and axo-axonic synaptic inputs from chandelier cells. Furthermore, projection-specific AIS diversity is more prominent in the superficial layer than in the deep layer. Thus, our study reveals the cortical layer- and axon projection-specific heterogeneity of PyN AISs, which may endow the spiking of various PyN types with exquisite modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankang Hu
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Baihui Ren
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yang Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Jiangteng Lu
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China.
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
- Shanghai Research Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Yilin Tai
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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9
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Bach SV, Bauman AJ, Hosein D, Tuscher JJ, Ianov L, Greathouse KM, Henderson BW, Herskowitz JH, Martinowich K, Day JJ. Distinct roles of Bdnf I and Bdnf IV transcript variant expression in hippocampal neurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.05.535694. [PMID: 37066216 PMCID: PMC10104043 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.05.535694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) plays a critical role in brain development, dendritic growth, synaptic plasticity, as well as learning and memory. The rodent Bdnf gene contains nine 5' non-coding exons (I-IXa), which are spliced to a common 3' coding exon (IX). Transcription of individual Bdnf variants, which all encode the same BDNF protein, is initiated at unique promoters upstream of each non-coding exon, enabling precise spatiotemporal and activity-dependent regulation of Bdnf expression. Although prior evidence suggests that Bdnf transcripts containing exon I (Bdnf I) or exon IV (Bdnf IV) are uniquely regulated by neuronal activity, the functional significance of different Bdnf transcript variants remains unclear. To investigate functional roles of activity-dependent Bdnf I and IV transcripts, we used a CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) system in which catalytically-dead Cas9 (dCas9) fused to a transcriptional activator (VPR) is targeted to individual Bdnf promoters with single guide RNAs (sgRNAs), resulting in transcript-specific Bdnf upregulation. Bdnf I upregulation is associated with gene expression changes linked to dendritic growth, while Bdnf IV upregulation is associated with genes that regulate protein catabolism. Upregulation of Bdnf I, but not Bdnf IV, increased mushroom spine density, volume, length, and head diameter, and also produced more complex dendritic arbors in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. In contrast, upregulation of Bdnf IV, but not Bdnf I, in the rat hippocampus attenuated contextual fear expression. Our data suggest that while Bdnf I and IV are both activity-dependent, BDNF produced from these promoters may serve unique cellular, synaptic, and behavioral functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svitlana V. Bach
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Allison J. Bauman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Darya Hosein
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jennifer J. Tuscher
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lara Ianov
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Kelsey M. Greathouse
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Benjamin W. Henderson
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jeremy H. Herskowitz
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jeremy J. Day
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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10
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Claes M, Geeraerts E, Plaisance S, Mentens S, Van den Haute C, De Groef L, Arckens L, Moons L. Chronic Chemogenetic Activation of the Superior Colliculus in Glaucomatous Mice: Local and Retrograde Molecular Signature. Cells 2022; 11:1784. [PMID: 35681479 PMCID: PMC9179903 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
One important facet of glaucoma pathophysiology is axonal damage, which ultimately disrupts the connection between the retina and its postsynaptic brain targets. The concurrent loss of retrograde support interferes with the functionality and survival of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Previous research has shown that stimulation of neuronal activity in a primary retinal target area-i.e., the superior colliculus-promotes RGC survival in an acute mouse model of glaucoma. To build further on this observation, we applied repeated chemogenetics in the superior colliculus of a more chronic murine glaucoma model-i.e., the microbead occlusion model-and performed bulk RNA sequencing on collicular lysates and isolated RGCs. Our study revealed that chronic target stimulation upon glaucomatous injury phenocopies the a priori expected molecular response: growth factors were pinpointed as essential transcriptional regulators both in the locally stimulated tissue and in distant, unstimulated RGCs. Strikingly, and although the RGC transcriptome revealed a partial reversal of the glaucomatous signature and an enrichment of pro-survival signaling pathways, functional rescue of injured RGCs was not achieved. By postulating various explanations for the lack of RGC neuroprotection, we aim to warrant researchers and drug developers for the complexity of chronic neuromodulation and growth factor signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Claes
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (M.C.); (E.G.); (S.M.)
| | - Emiel Geeraerts
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (M.C.); (E.G.); (S.M.)
| | | | - Stephanie Mentens
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (M.C.); (E.G.); (S.M.)
- Cellular Communication and Neurodegeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Chris Van den Haute
- Neurobiology and Gene Therapy Research Group, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- KU Leuven Viral Vector Core, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Cellular Communication and Neurodegeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Lut Arckens
- Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (M.C.); (E.G.); (S.M.)
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11
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Claes M, De Groef L, Moons L. The DREADDful Hurdles and Opportunities of the Chronic Chemogenetic Toolbox. Cells 2022; 11:1110. [PMID: 35406674 PMCID: PMC8998042 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The chronic character of chemogenetics has been put forward as one of the assets of the technique, particularly in comparison to optogenetics. Yet, the vast majority of chemogenetic studies have focused on acute applications, while repeated, long-term neuromodulation has only been booming in the past few years. Unfortunately, together with the rising number of studies, various hurdles have also been uncovered, especially in relation to its chronic application. It becomes increasingly clear that chronic neuromodulation warrants caution and that the effects of acute neuromodulation cannot be extrapolated towards chronic experiments. Deciphering the underlying cellular and molecular causes of these discrepancies could truly unlock the chronic chemogenetic toolbox and possibly even pave the way for chemogenetics towards clinical application. Indeed, we are only scratching the surface of what is possible with chemogenetic research. For example, most investigations are concentrated on behavioral read-outs, whereas dissecting the underlying molecular signature after (chronic) neuromodulation could reveal novel insights in terms of basic neuroscience and deregulated neural circuits. In this review, we highlight the hurdles associated with the use of chemogenetic experiments, as well as the unexplored research questions for which chemogenetics offers the ideal research platform, with a particular focus on its long-term application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Claes
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Lies De Groef
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Laboratory of Cellular Communication and Neurodegeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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12
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Alexandra Kredlow M, Fenster RJ, Laurent ES, Ressler KJ, Phelps EA. Prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and threat processing: implications for PTSD. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:247-259. [PMID: 34545196 PMCID: PMC8617299 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01155-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder can be viewed as a disorder of fear dysregulation. An abundance of research suggests that the prefrontal cortex is central to fear processing-that is, how fears are acquired and strategies to regulate or diminish fear responses. The current review covers foundational research on threat or fear acquisition and extinction in nonhuman animals, healthy humans, and patients with posttraumatic stress disorder, through the lens of the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in these processes. Research harnessing advances in technology to further probe the role of the prefrontal cortex in these processes, such as the use of optogenetics in rodents and brain stimulation in humans, will be highlighted, as well other fear regulation approaches that are relevant to the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and involve the prefrontal cortex, namely cognitive regulation and avoidance/active coping. Despite the large body of translational research, many questions remain unanswered and posttraumatic stress disorder remains difficult to treat. We conclude by outlining future research directions related to the role of the prefrontal cortex in fear processing and implications for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Alexandra Kredlow
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Robert J. Fenster
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDivision of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Emma S. Laurent
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Kerry J. Ressler
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDivision of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Phelps
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA
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13
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Ramnauth AD, Maynard KR, Kardian AS, Phan BN, Tippani M, Rajpurohit S, Hobbs JW, Cerceo Page S, Jaffe AE, Martinowich K. Induction of Bdnf from promoter I following electroconvulsive seizures contributes to structural plasticity in neurons of the piriform cortex. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:427-433. [PMID: 35183789 PMCID: PMC8957536 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) efficacy is hypothesized to depend on induction of molecular and cellular events that trigger neuronal plasticity. Investigating how electroconvulsive seizures (ECS) impact plasticity in animal models can help inform our understanding of basic mechanisms by which ECT relieves symptoms of depression. ECS-induced plasticity is associated with differential expression of unique isoforms encoding the neurotrophin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). HYPOTHESIS We hypothesized that cells expressing the Bdnf exon 1-containing isoform are important for ECS-induced structural plasticity in the piriform cortex, a highly epileptogenic region that is responsive to ECS. METHODS We selectively labeled Bdnf exon 1-expressing neurons in mouse piriform cortex using Cre recombinase dependent on GFP technology (CRE-DOG). We then quantified changes in dendrite morphology and density of Bdnf exon 1-expressing neurons. RESULTS Loss of promoter I-derived BDNF caused changes in spine density and morphology in Bdnf exon 1-expressing neurons following ECS. CONCLUSIONS Promoter I-derived Bdnf is required for ECS-induced dendritic structural plasticity in Bdnf exon 1-expressing neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony D. Ramnauth
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kristen R. Maynard
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alisha S. Kardian
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - BaDoi N. Phan
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,Computational Biology Department, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Madhavi Tippani
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sumita Rajpurohit
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - John W. Hobbs
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephanie Cerceo Page
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew E. Jaffe
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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14
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Gergues MM, Han KJ, Choi HS, Brown B, Clausing KJ, Turner VS, Vainchtein ID, Molofsky AV, Kheirbek MA. Circuit and molecular architecture of a ventral hippocampal network. Nat Neurosci 2020; 23:1444-1452. [PMID: 32929245 PMCID: PMC7606799 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-0705-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The ventral hippocampus (vHPC) is a critical hub in networks that process emotional information. While recent studies have indicated that ventral CA1 (vCA1) projection neurons are functionally dissociable, the basic principles of how the inputs and outputs of vCA1 are organized remain unclear. Here, we used viral and sequencing approaches to define the logic of the extended vCA1 circuit. Using high-throughput sequencing of genetically barcoded neurons (MAPseq) to map the axonal projections of thousands of vCA1 neurons, we identify a population of neurons that simultaneously broadcast information to multiple areas known to regulate the stress axis and approach-avoidance behavior. Through molecular profiling and viral input-output tracing of vCA1 projection neurons, we show how neurons with distinct projection targets may differ in their inputs and transcriptional signatures. These studies reveal new organizational principles of vCA1 that may underlie its functional heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark M Gergues
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kasey J Han
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hye Sun Choi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brandon Brown
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kelsey J Clausing
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Victoria S Turner
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ilia D Vainchtein
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anna V Molofsky
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mazen A Kheirbek
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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