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Cattarinussi G, Di Giorgio A, Sambataro F. Cerebellar dysconnectivity in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is associated with cognitive and clinical variables. Schizophr Res 2024; 267:497-506. [PMID: 38582653 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abnormal cerebellar functional connectivity (FC) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). However, the patterns of cerebellar dysconnectivity in these two disorders and their association with cognitive functioning and clinical symptoms have not been fully clarified. In this study, we examined cerebellar FC alterations in SCZ and BD-I and their association with cognition and psychotic symptoms. METHODS Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data of 39 SCZ, 43 BD-I, and 61 healthy controls from the Consortium for Neuropsychiatric Phenomics dataset were examined. The cerebellum was parcellated into ten functional networks, and seed-based FC was calculated for each cerebellar system. Principal component analyses were used to reduce the dimensionality of the diagnosis-related FC and cognitive variables. Multiple regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between FC and cognitive and clinical data. RESULTS We observed decreased cerebellar FC with the frontal, temporal, occipital, and thalamic areas in individuals with SCZ, and a more widespread decrease in cerebellar FC in individuals with BD-I, involving the frontal, cingulate, parietal, temporal, occipital, and thalamic regions. SCZ had increased within-cerebellum and cerebellar frontal FC compared to BD-I. In BD-I, memory and verbal learning performances, which were higher compared to SCZ, showed a greater interaction with cerebellar FC patterns. Additionally, patterns of increased cortico-cerebellar FC were marginally associated with positive symptoms in patients. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that shared and distinct patterns of cortico-cerebellar dysconnectivity in SCZ and BD-I could underlie cognitive impairments and psychotic symptoms in these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Cattarinussi
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Annabella Di Giorgio
- Department of Mental Health and Addictions, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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2
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Kebschull JM, Casoni F, Consalez GG, Goldowitz D, Hawkes R, Ruigrok TJH, Schilling K, Wingate R, Wu J, Yeung J, Uusisaari MY. Cerebellum Lecture: the Cerebellar Nuclei-Core of the Cerebellum. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:620-677. [PMID: 36781689 PMCID: PMC10951048 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01506-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
The cerebellum is a key player in many brain functions and a major topic of neuroscience research. However, the cerebellar nuclei (CN), the main output structures of the cerebellum, are often overlooked. This neglect is because research on the cerebellum typically focuses on the cortex and tends to treat the CN as relatively simple output nuclei conveying an inverted signal from the cerebellar cortex to the rest of the brain. In this review, by adopting a nucleocentric perspective we aim to rectify this impression. First, we describe CN anatomy and modularity and comprehensively integrate CN architecture with its highly organized but complex afferent and efferent connectivity. This is followed by a novel classification of the specific neuronal classes the CN comprise and speculate on the implications of CN structure and physiology for our understanding of adult cerebellar function. Based on this thorough review of the adult literature we provide a comprehensive overview of CN embryonic development and, by comparing cerebellar structures in various chordate clades, propose an interpretation of CN evolution. Despite their critical importance in cerebellar function, from a clinical perspective intriguingly few, if any, neurological disorders appear to primarily affect the CN. To highlight this curious anomaly, and encourage future nucleocentric interpretations, we build on our review to provide a brief overview of the various syndromes in which the CN are currently implicated. Finally, we summarize the specific perspectives that a nucleocentric view of the cerebellum brings, move major outstanding issues in CN biology to the limelight, and provide a roadmap to the key questions that need to be answered in order to create a comprehensive integrated model of CN structure, function, development, and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus M Kebschull
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Filippo Casoni
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, and San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - G Giacomo Consalez
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, and San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniel Goldowitz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Richard Hawkes
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Tom J H Ruigrok
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Karl Schilling
- Department of Anatomy, Anatomy & Cell Biology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, 53115, Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany
| | - Richard Wingate
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Joshua Wu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Joanna Yeung
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Marylka Yoe Uusisaari
- Neuronal Rhythms in Movement Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-Son, Kunigami-Gun, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan.
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Koster KP, Sherman SM. Convergence of inputs from the basal ganglia with layer 5 of motor cortex and cerebellum in mouse motor thalamus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.14.584958. [PMID: 38559179 PMCID: PMC10979938 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.14.584958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
A key to motor control is the motor thalamus, where several inputs converge. One excitatory input originates from layer 5 of primary motor cortex (M1L5), while another arises from the deep cerebellar nuclei (Cb). M1L5 terminals distribute throughout the motor thalamus and overlap with GABAergic inputs from the basal ganglia output nuclei, the internal segment of the globus pallidus (GPi) and substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr). In contrast, it is thought that Cb and basal ganglia inputs are segregated. Therefore, we hypothesized that one potential function of the GABAergic inputs from basal ganglia is to selectively inhibit, or gate, excitatory signals from M1L5 in the motor thalamus. Here, we tested this possibility and determined the circuit organization of mouse (both sexes) motor thalamus using an optogenetic strategy in acute slices. First, we demonstrated the presence of a feedforward transthalamic pathway from M1L5 through motor thalamus. Importantly, we discovered that GABAergic inputs from the GPi and SNr converge onto single motor thalamic cells with excitatory synapses from M1L5 and, unexpectedly, Cb as well. We interpret these results to indicate that a role of the basal ganglia is to gate the thalamic transmission of M1L5 and Cb information to cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin P. Koster
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - S. Murray Sherman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
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4
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Cavarretta F, Jaeger D. Modeling Synaptic Integration of Bursty and β Oscillatory Inputs in Ventromedial Motor Thalamic Neurons in Normal and Parkinsonian States. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0237-23.2023. [PMID: 37989589 PMCID: PMC10726287 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0237-23.2023] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The ventromedial motor thalamus (VM) is implicated in multiple motor functions and occupies a central position in the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical loop. It integrates glutamatergic inputs from motor cortex (MC) and motor-related subcortical areas, and it is a major recipient of inhibition from basal ganglia. Previous in vitro experiments performed in mice showed that dopamine depletion enhances the excitability of thalamocortical (TC) neurons in VM due to reduced M-type potassium currents. To understand how these excitability changes impact synaptic integration in vivo, we constructed biophysically detailed mouse VM TC model neurons fit to normal and dopamine-depleted conditions, using the NEURON simulator. These models allowed us to assess the influence of excitability changes with dopamine depletion on the integration of synaptic inputs expected in vivo We found that VM neuron models in the dopamine-depleted state showed increased firing rates with the same synaptic inputs. Synchronous bursting in inhibitory input from the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR), as observed in parkinsonian conditions, evoked a postinhibitory firing rate increase with a longer duration in dopamine-depleted than control conditions, due to different M-type potassium channel densities. With β oscillations in the inhibitory inputs from SNR and the excitatory inputs from cortex, we observed spike-phase locking in the activity of the models in normal and dopamine-depleted states, which relayed and amplified the oscillations of the inputs, suggesting that the increased β oscillations observed in VM of parkinsonian animals are predominantly a consequence of changes in the presynaptic activity rather than changes in intrinsic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dieter Jaeger
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322
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5
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Nishiyama H, Nishiyama N, Zemelman BV. Loss of Purkinje cells in the developing cerebellum strengthens the cerebellothalamic synapses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.01.564864. [PMID: 37961231 PMCID: PMC10635038 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.01.564864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Cerebellar damage early in life often causes long-lasting motor, social, and cognitive impairments, suggesting the roles of the cerebellum in developing a broad spectrum of behaviors. This recent finding has promoted research on how cerebellar damage affects the development of the cerebral cortex, the brain region responsible for higher-order control of all behaviors. However, the cerebral cortex is not directly connected to the cerebellum. The thalamus is the direct postsynaptic target of the cerebellum, sending cerebellar outputs to the cerebral cortex. Despite its crucial position in cerebello-cerebral interaction, thalamic susceptibility to cerebellar damage remains largely unclear. Here, we studied the consequences of early cerebellar perturbation on thalamic development. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings showed that the synaptic organization of the cerebellothlamic circuit is similar to that of the primary sensory thalamus, in which aberrant sensory activity alters synaptic circuit formation. The hemizygous deletion of the tuberous sclerosis complex-1 ( Tsc1 ) gene in the Purkinje cell-known to cause Purkinje cell hypoactivity and autistic behaviors-did not alter cerebellothalamic synapses or intrinsic membrane properties of thalamic neurons. However, the ablation of Purkinje cells in the developing cerebellum strengthened the cerebellothalamic synapses and enhanced thalamic suprathreshold activities. These results suggest that the cerebellothalamic circuit is resistant to moderate perturbation in the developing cerebellum, such as the reduced firing rate of Purkinje cells, and that autistic behaviors are not necessarily linked to thalamic abnormality. Still, Purkinje cell loss alters the thalamic circuit, suggesting the vulnerability of the thalamus to substantial disturbance in the developing cerebellum.
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Kumbhare D, Azam MA, Hadimani R, Toms J, Weistroffer G, Atulasimha J, Baron MS. Healthy and pathological pallidal regulation of thalamic burst versus tonic mode firing: a computational simulation. Neuroreport 2023; 34:773-780. [PMID: 37756165 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms by which the basal ganglia influence the pallidal-receiving thalamus remain to be adequately defined. Our prior in vivo recordings in fully alert normal and dystonic rats revealed that normally fast tonic discharging entopeduncular [EP, rodent equivalent of the globus pallidus internus (GPi)] neurons are pathologically slow, highly irregular, and bursty under dystonic conditions. This, in turn, induces pallidal-receiving thalamic movement-related neurons to change from a healthy burst predominant to a pathological tonic-predominant resting firing mode. This study aims to understand the pallidal influence on thalamic firing modes using computational simulations. We inputted various combinations of healthy and pathological (dystonic) in vivo neuronal recordings to the Rubin and Terman's computational model of low threshold spiking pallidothalamic neurons. The input sets consist of representative tonic, burst, irregular tonic and irregular burst inputs collected from EP/GPi in our animal lab. Initial test combinations of EP/ GPi input to the model were identical to the neuronal population distributions observed in vivo. The thalamic neuron model outputted similar firing rate and mode as observed in corresponding in-vivo thalamus. Further influence of each individual patterns was also delineated. By simulating the firing properties of encountered neurons, the basal ganglia output is suggested to critically act as firing mode selector for thalamic motor relay neurons. By selecting and determining the timing and extent of opening of thalamic T-type calcium channels via GABAergic hyperpolarizing input, GPi neurons are in position to precisely orchestrate thalamocortical burst motor signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Kumbhare
- Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
- McGuire Research Institute, Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center
| | - Md Ali Azam
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Ravi Hadimani
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jamie Toms
- Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - George Weistroffer
- McGuire Research Institute, Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University
| | - Jayasimha Atulasimha
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Mark S Baron
- Southeast Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC), Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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7
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Sibener LJ, Mosberger AC, Chen TX, Athalye VR, Murray JM, Costa RM. Dissociable roles of thalamic nuclei in the refinement of reaches to spatial targets. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.20.558560. [PMID: 37790555 PMCID: PMC10542479 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.20.558560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Reaches are complex movements that are critical for survival, and encompass the control of different aspects such as direction, speed, and endpoint precision. Complex movements have been postulated to be learned and controlled through distributed motor networks, of which the thalamus is a highly connected node. Still, the role of different thalamic circuits in learning and controlling specific aspects of reaches has not been investigated. We report dissociable roles of two distinct thalamic nuclei - the parafascicular (Pf) and ventroanterior/ventrolateral (VAL) nuclei - in the refinement of spatial target reaches in mice. Using 2-photon calcium imaging in a head-fixed joystick task where mice learned to reach to a target in space, we found that glutamatergic neurons in both areas were most active during reaches early in learning. Reach-related activity in both areas decreased late in learning, as movement direction was refined and reaches increased in accuracy. Furthermore, the population dynamics of Pf, but not VAL, covaried in different subspaces in early and late learning, but eventually stabilized in late learning. The neural activity in Pf, but not VAL, encoded the direction of reaches in early but not late learning. Accordingly, bilateral lesions of Pf before, but not after learning, strongly and specifically impaired the refinement of reach direction. VAL lesions did not impact direction refinement, but instead resulted in increased speed and target overshoot. Our findings provide new evidence that the thalamus is a critical motor node in the learning and control of reaching movements, with specific subnuclei controlling distinct aspects of the reach early in learning.
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8
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Gilloteaux J, De Swert K, Suain V, Brion JP, Nicaise C. Loss of Ephaptic Contacts in the Murine Thalamus during Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome. Ultrastruct Pathol 2023; 47:398-423. [PMID: 37477534 DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2023.2232452] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM A murine model mimicking osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) revealed with histology in the relay posterolateral (VPL) and ventral posteromedial (VPM) thalamic nuclei adjoined nerve cell bodies in chronic hyponatremia, amongst the damaged 12 h and 48 h after reinstatement of osmolality. This report aims to verify and complement with ultrastructure other neurophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biochemistry data to assess the connexin-36 protein, as part of those hinted close contacts.This ODS investigation included four groups of mice: Sham (NN; n = 13), hyponatremic (HN; n = 11), those sacrificed 12 h after a fast restoration of normal natremia (ODS12h; n = 6) and mice sacrificed 48 h afterward, or ODS48 h (n = 9). Out of these, thalamic zones samples included NN (n = 2), HN (n = 2), ODS12h (n = 3) and ODS48h (n = 3). RESULTS Ultrastructure illustrated junctions between nerve cell bodies that were immunolabeled with connexin36 (Cx36) with light microscopy and Western blots. These cell's junctions were reminiscent of low resistance junctions characterized in other regions of the CNS with electrophysiology. Contiguous neurons showed neurolemma contacts in intact and damaged tissues according to their location in the ODS zones, at 12 h and 48 h post correction along with other demyelinating alterations. Neurons and ephaptic contact measurements indicated the highest alterations, including nerve cell necrosis in the ODS epicenter and damages decreased toward the outskirts of the demyelinated zone. CONCLUSION Ephapses contained C × 36between intact or ODS injured neurons in the thalamus appeared to be resilient beyond the core degraded tissue injuries. These could maintain intercellular ionic and metabolite exchanges between these lesser injured regions and, thus, would partake to some brain plasticity repairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Gilloteaux
- Department of Medicine, URPHyM, NARILIS, Université de Namur, Namur, Belgium
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, St George's University School of Medicine, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Kathleen De Swert
- Department of Medicine, URPHyM, NARILIS, Université de Namur, Namur, Belgium
| | - Valérie Suain
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Pierre Brion
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Charles Nicaise
- Department of Medicine, URPHyM, NARILIS, Université de Namur, Namur, Belgium
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Spampinato DA, Casula EP, Koch G. The Cerebellum and the Motor Cortex: Multiple Networks Controlling Multiple Aspects of Behavior. Neuroscientist 2023:10738584231189435. [PMID: 37649430 DOI: 10.1177/10738584231189435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
The cerebellum and its thalamic projections to the primary motor cortex (M1) are well known to play an essential role in executing daily actions. Anatomic investigations in animals and postmortem humans have established the reciprocal connections between these regions; however, how these pathways can shape cortical activity in behavioral contexts and help promote recovery in neuropathological conditions remains not well understood. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive description of these pathways in animals and humans and discuss how novel noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) methods can be used to gain a deeper understanding of the cerebellar-M1 connections. In the first section, we focus on recent animal literature that details how information sent from the cerebellum and thalamus is integrated into an broad network of cortical motor neurons. We then discuss how NIBS approaches in humans can be used to reliably assess the connectivity between the cerebellum and M1. Moreover, we provide the latest perspectives on using advanced NIBS approaches to investigate and modulate multiple cerebellar-cortical networks involved in movement behavior and plasticity. Finally, we discuss how these emerging methods have been used in translation research to produce long-lasting modifications of cerebellar-thalamic-M1 to restore cortical activity and motor function in neurologic patients.
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Asemi-Rad A, Ghiyamihoor F, Consalez GG, Marzban H. Ablation of Projection Glutamatergic Neurons in the Lateral Cerebellar Nuclei Alters Motor Coordination in Vglut2-Cre+ Mice. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023:10.1007/s12311-023-01575-9. [PMID: 37289359 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01575-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cerebellar nuclei (CN) constitute the sole cerebellar output to the rest of the central nervous system and play a central role in cerebellar circuits. Accumulating evidence from both human genetics and animal studies point to a crucial role for CN connectivity in neurological diseases, including several types of ataxia. However, because of the compact and restricted topography and close functional connection between the CN and the cerebellar cortex, identifying cerebellar deficits exclusively linked to CN is challenging. In this study, we have experimentally ablated large projection glutamatergic neurons of the lateral CN and evaluated the impact of this selective manipulation on motor coordination in mice. To this end, through stereotaxic surgery, we injected the lateral CN of Vglut2-Cre+ mice with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) encoding a Cre-dependent diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR), followed by an intraperitoneal injection of diphtheria toxin (DT) to ablate the glutamatergic neurons of the lateral nucleus. Double immunostaining of cerebellar sections with anti-SMI32 and -GFP antibodies revealed GFP expression and provided evidence of SMI32+ neuron degeneration at the site of AAV injection in the lateral nucleus of Vglut2-Cre+ mice. No changes were observed in Vglut2-Cre negative mice. Analysis of motor coordination by rotarod test indicated that the latency to fall was significantly different before and after AAV/DT injection in the Vglut2-Cre+ group. Elapsed time and number of steps in the beam walking test were significantly higher in AAV/DT injected Vglut2-Cre+ AAV/DT mice compared to controls. We demonstrate for the first time that partial degeneration of glutamatergic neurons in the lateral CN is sufficient to induce an ataxic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Asemi-Rad
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Rady Faculty of Health science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Farshid Ghiyamihoor
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Rady Faculty of Health science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - G Giacomo Consalez
- Division of Neuroscience, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Hassan Marzban
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
- The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Rady Faculty of Health science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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Moreno M, Minjarez C, Todorovic SM, Quillinan N. Distinct excitability of thalamocortical neurons correlates with the presence of cerebellar afferents. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.26.542536. [PMID: 37292810 PMCID: PMC10246008 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.26.542536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Thalamocortical (TC) neurons within the ventrolateral thalamus (VL) receive projections from the cerebellum and the basal ganglia (BG) to facilitate motor and non-motor functions. Tonic and rebound firing patterns in response to excitatory cerebellar and inhibitory BG inputs, respectively, are a canonical feature of TC neurons and plays a key role in signal processing. The intrinsic excitability of TC neurons has a strong influence on how they respond to synaptic inputs, however, it is unknown whether their afferents influence their firing properties. Understanding the input-specific firing patterns could shed light into movement disorders with cerebellar or BG involvement. Here, we used whole-cell electrophysiology in brain slices from C57BL/6 mice to investigate the firing of TC neurons with optogenetic confirmation of cerebellar or BG afferents. TC neurons with cerebellar afferents exhibited higher tonic and rebound firing rates than those with BG afferents. This increased firing was associated with faster action potential depolarization kinetics and a smaller afterhyperpolarization potential. We also found differences in the passive membrane properties and sag currents during hyperpolarization. Despite higher rebound firing in TC neurons with cerebellar afferents, there were no differences in T-type calcium channel function compared to those with BG inputs. These data suggest input-specific differences in sodium and SK, but not T-type calcium channels, impact firing properties in TC populations. Altogether, we showed that the pronounced divergence observed in TC neuron firing properties correlate with its heterogeneous anatomical connectivity, which could signify a distinct signal integration and processing by these neurons. Keypoints Thalamocortical neurons in the VL with cerebellar afferents have higher intrinsic tonic and rebound firing properties than those with basal ganglia afferents.Membrane resistance and action potential depolarization slope were different based on the presence of cerebellar afferents.Despite elevated rebound burst firing, T-type mediated currents did not correlate with increased firing in neurons with cerebellar afferents.
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12
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Streng ML, Froula JM, Krook-Magnuson E. The cerebellum's understated role and influences in the epilepsies. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 183:106160. [PMID: 37209926 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106160] [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: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime, but current treatment options leave as many as half of all epilepsy patients with uncontrolled seizures. In addition to the burden of the seizures themselves, chronic epilepsy can be associated with cognitive deficits, structural changes, and devastating negative outcomes such as sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Thus, major challenges in epilepsy research surround the need to both develop new therapeutic targets for intervention as well as shed light on the mechanisms by which chronic epilepsy can lead to comorbidities and negative outcomes. Despite not being traditionally associated with epilepsy or seizures, the cerebellum has emerged as not only a brain region that can serve as an important target for seizure control, but one that may also be profoundly impacted by chronic epilepsy. Here, we discuss targeting the cerebellum for potential therapeutic intervention and discuss pathway insights gained from recent optogenetic studies. We then review observations of cerebellar alterations during seizures and in chronic epilepsy, as well as the potential for the cerebellum to be a seizure focus. Cerebellar alterations in epilepsy may be critical to patient outcomes, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the cerebellum in the epilepsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha L Streng
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Jessica M Froula
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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13
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Ciapponi C, Li Y, Osorio Becerra DA, Rodarie D, Casellato C, Mapelli L, D’Angelo E. Variations on the theme: focus on cerebellum and emotional processing. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1185752. [PMID: 37234065 PMCID: PMC10206087 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1185752] [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: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum operates exploiting a complex modular organization and a unified computational algorithm adapted to different behavioral contexts. Recent observations suggest that the cerebellum is involved not just in motor but also in emotional and cognitive processing. It is therefore critical to identify the specific regional connectivity and microcircuit properties of the emotional cerebellum. Recent studies are highlighting the differential regional localization of genes, molecules, and synaptic mechanisms and microcircuit wiring. However, the impact of these regional differences is not fully understood and will require experimental investigation and computational modeling. This review focuses on the cellular and circuit underpinnings of the cerebellar role in emotion. And since emotion involves an integration of cognitive, somatomotor, and autonomic activity, we elaborate on the tradeoff between segregation and distribution of these three main functions in the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Ciapponi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Yuhe Li
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Dimitri Rodarie
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Centro Ricerche Enrico Fermi, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Casellato
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lisa Mapelli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Egidio D’Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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14
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Heck DH, Fox MB, Correia Chapman B, McAfee SS, Liu Y. Cerebellar control of thalamocortical circuits for cognitive function: A review of pathways and a proposed mechanism. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1126508. [PMID: 37064161 PMCID: PMC10097962 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1126508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
There is general agreement that cerebrocerebellar interactions via cerebellothalamocortical pathways are essential for a cerebellar cognitive and motor functions. Cerebellothalamic projections were long believed target mainly the ventral lateral (VL) and part of the ventral anterior (VA) nuclei, which project to cortical motor and premotor areas. Here we review new insights from detailed tracing studies, which show that projections from the cerebellum to the thalamus are widespread and reach almost every thalamic subnucleus, including nuclei involved in cognitive functions. These new insights into cerebellothalamic pathways beyond the motor thalamus are consistent with the increasing evidence of cerebellar cognitive function. However, the function of cerebellothalamic pathways and how they are involved in the various motor and cognitive functions of the cerebellum is still unknown. We briefly review literature on the role of the thalamus in coordinating the coherence of neuronal oscillations in the neocortex. The coherence of oscillations, which measures the stability of the phase relationship between two oscillations of the same frequency, is considered an indicator of increased functional connectivity between two structures showing coherent oscillations. Through thalamocortical interactions coherence patterns dynamically create and dissolve functional cerebral cortical networks in a task dependent manner. Finally, we review evidence for an involvement of the cerebellum in coordinating coherence of oscillations between cerebral cortical structures. We conclude that cerebellothalamic pathways provide the necessary anatomical substrate for a proposed role of the cerebellum in coordinating neuronal communication between cerebral cortical areas by coordinating the coherence of oscillations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Detlef H. Heck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, United States
| | - Mia B. Fox
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Brittany Correia Chapman
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Samuel S. McAfee
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, United States
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15
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Benarroch E. What Is the Involvement of the Cerebellum During Sleep? Neurology 2023; 100:572-577. [PMID: 36941065 PMCID: PMC10033165 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000207161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
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16
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The deep cerebellar nuclei to striatum disynaptic connection contributes to skilled forelimb movement. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112000. [PMID: 36656714 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112000] [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: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar-thalamo-striatal synaptic communication has been implicated in a wide range of behaviors, including goal-directed actions, and is altered in cerebellar dystonia. However, its detailed connectivity through the thalamus and its contribution to the execution of forelimb movements is unclear. Here, we use trans-synaptic and retrograde tracing, ex vivo slice recordings, and optogenetic inhibitions during the execution of unidirectional or sequential joystick displacements to demonstrate that the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) influence the dorsal striatum with a very high probability. We show that this mainly occurs through the centrolateral (CL), parafascicular (PF), and ventrolateral (VL) nuclei of the thalamus, observing that the DCN→VL and DCN→CL pathways contribute to the execution of unidirectional forelimb displacements while the DCN→PF and DCN→thalamo→striatal pathways contribute to the appropriate execution of forelimb reaching and sequential displacements. These findings highlight specific contributions of the different cerebellar-thalamo-striatal paths to the control of skilled forelimb movement.
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17
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Doubliez A, Nio E, Senovilla-Sanz F, Spatharioti V, Apps R, Timmann D, Lawrenson CL. The cerebellum and fear extinction: evidence from rodent and human studies. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1166166. [PMID: 37152612 PMCID: PMC10160380 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1166166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the cerebellum in emotional control has gained increasing interest, with studies showing it is involved in fear learning and memory in both humans and rodents. This review will focus on the contributions of the cerebellum to the extinction of learned fear responses. Extinction of fearful memories is critical for adaptive behaviour, and is clinically relevant to anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, in which deficits in extinction processes are thought to occur. We present evidence that supports cerebellar involvement in fear extinction, from rodent studies that investigate molecular mechanisms and functional connectivity with other brain regions of the known fear extinction network, to fMRI studies in humans. This evidence is considered in relation to the theoretical framework that the cerebellum is involved in the formation and updating of internal models of the inner and outer world by detecting errors between predicted and actual outcomes. In the case of fear conditioning, these internal models are thought to predict the occurrence of an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US), and when the aversive US is unexpectedly omitted during extinction learning the cerebellum uses prediction errors to update the internal model. Differences between human and rodent studies are highlighted to help inform future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Doubliez
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Enzo Nio
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Fernando Senovilla-Sanz
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Vasiliki Spatharioti
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Apps
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Charlotte L. Lawrenson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Charlotte L. Lawrenson,
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18
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Anatomical Development of the Cerebellothalamic Tract in Embryonic Mice. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233800. [PMID: 36497060 PMCID: PMC9738252 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233800] [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: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The main connection from cerebellum to cerebrum is formed by cerebellar nuclei axons that synapse in the thalamus. Apart from its role in coordinating sensorimotor integration in the adult brain, the cerebello-thalamic tract (CbT) has also been implicated in developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders. Although the development of the cerebellum, thalamus and cerebral cortex have been studied, there is no detailed description of the ontogeny of the mammalian CbT. Here we investigated the development of the CbT at embryonic stages using transgenic Ntsr1-Cre/Ai14 mice and in utero electroporation of wild type mice. Wide-field, confocal and 3D light-sheet microscopy of immunohistochemical stainings showed that CbT fibers arrive in the prethalamus between E14.5 and E15.5, but only invade the thalamus after E16.5. We quantified the spread of CbT fibers throughout the various thalamic nuclei and found that at E17.5 and E18.5 the ventrolateral, ventromedial and parafascicular nuclei, but also the mediodorsal and posterior complex, become increasingly innervated. Several CbT fiber varicosities express vesicular glutamate transporter type 2 at E18.5, indicating cerebello-thalamic synapses. Our results provide the first quantitative data on the developing murine CbT, which provides guidance for future investigations of the impact that cerebellum has on thalamo-cortical networks during development.
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19
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Mesodiencephalic junction GABAergic inputs are processed separately from motor cortical inputs in the basilar pons. iScience 2022; 25:104641. [PMID: 35800775 PMCID: PMC9254490 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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20
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Aïssa HB, Sala RW, Georgescu Margarint EL, Frontera JL, Varani AP, Menardy F, Pelosi A, Hervé D, Léna C, Popa D. Functional abnormalities in the cerebello-thalamic pathways in a mouse model of DYT25 dystonia. eLife 2022; 11:79135. [PMID: 35699413 PMCID: PMC9197392 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dystonia is often associated with functional alterations in the cerebello-thalamic pathways, which have been proposed to contribute to the disorder by propagating pathological firing patterns to the forebrain. Here, we examined the function of the cerebello-thalamic pathways in a model of DYT25 dystonia. DYT25 (Gnal+/−) mice carry a heterozygous knockout mutation of the Gnal gene, which notably disrupts striatal function, and systemic or striatal administration of oxotremorine to these mice triggers dystonic symptoms. Our results reveal an increased cerebello-thalamic excitability in the presymptomatic state. Following the first dystonic episode, Gnal+/- mice in the asymptomatic state exhibit a further increase of the cerebello-thalamo-cortical excitability, which is maintained after θ-burst stimulations of the cerebellum. When administered in the symptomatic state induced by a cholinergic activation, these stimulations decreased the cerebello-thalamic excitability and reduced dystonic symptoms. In agreement with dystonia being a multiregional circuit disorder, our results suggest that the increased cerebello-thalamic excitability constitutes an early endophenotype, and that the cerebellum is a gateway for corrective therapies via the depression of cerebello-thalamic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hind Baba Aïssa
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Romain W Sala
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Elena Laura Georgescu Margarint
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Jimena Laura Frontera
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Andrés Pablo Varani
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Fabien Menardy
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Assunta Pelosi
- Inserm UMR-S 1270, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Université, Sciences and Technology Faculty, Paris, France.,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Denis Hervé
- Inserm UMR-S 1270, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Université, Sciences and Technology Faculty, Paris, France.,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Clément Léna
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Daniela Popa
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
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21
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Coutant B, Frontera JL, Perrin E, Combes A, Tarpin T, Menardy F, Mailhes-Hamon C, Perez S, Degos B, Venance L, Léna C, Popa D. Cerebellar stimulation prevents Levodopa-induced dyskinesia in mice and normalizes activity in a motor network. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3211. [PMID: 35680891 PMCID: PMC9184492 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30844-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic Levodopa therapy, the gold-standard treatment for Parkinson's Disease (PD), leads to the emergence of involuntary movements, called levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). Cerebellar stimulation has been shown to decrease LID severity in PD patients. Here, in order to determine how cerebellar stimulation induces LID alleviation, we performed daily short trains of optogenetic stimulations of Purkinje cells (PC) in freely moving LID mice. We demonstrated that these stimulations are sufficient to suppress LID or even prevent their development. This symptomatic relief is accompanied by the normalization of aberrant neuronal discharge in the cerebellar nuclei, the motor cortex and the parafascicular thalamus. Inhibition of the cerebello-parafascicular pathway counteracted the beneficial effects of cerebellar stimulation. Moreover, cerebellar stimulation reversed plasticity in D1 striatal neurons and normalized the overexpression of FosB, a transcription factor causally linked to LID. These findings demonstrate LID alleviation and prevention by daily PC stimulations, which restore the function of a wide motor network, and may be valuable for LID treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bérénice Coutant
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Jimena Laura Frontera
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Elodie Perrin
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), College de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Adèle Combes
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Thibault Tarpin
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Fabien Menardy
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Caroline Mailhes-Hamon
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Perez
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), College de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Bertrand Degos
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), College de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Venance
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), College de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Clément Léna
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Daniela Popa
- Neurophysiology of Brain Circuits Team, Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005, Paris, France.
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22
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Jung SJ, Vlasov K, D’Ambra AF, Parigi A, Baya M, Frez EP, Villalobos J, Fernandez-Frentzel M, Anguiano M, Ideguchi Y, Antzoulatos EG, Fioravante D. Novel Cerebello-Amygdala Connections Provide Missing Link Between Cerebellum and Limbic System. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:879634. [PMID: 35645738 PMCID: PMC9136059 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.879634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum is emerging as a powerful regulator of cognitive and affective processing and memory in both humans and animals and has been implicated in affective disorders. How the cerebellum supports affective function remains poorly understood. The short-latency (just a few milliseconds) functional connections that were identified between the cerebellum and amygdala—a structure crucial for the processing of emotion and valence—more than four decades ago raise the exciting, yet untested, possibility that a cerebellum-amygdala pathway communicates information important for emotion. The major hurdle in rigorously testing this possibility is the lack of knowledge about the anatomy and functional connectivity of this pathway. Our initial anatomical tracing studies in mice excluded the existence of a direct monosynaptic connection between the cerebellum and amygdala. Using transneuronal tracing techniques, we have identified a novel disynaptic circuit between the cerebellar output nuclei and the basolateral amygdala. This circuit recruits the understudied intralaminar thalamus as a node. Using ex vivo optophysiology and super-resolution microscopy, we provide the first evidence for the functionality of the pathway, thus offering a missing mechanistic link between the cerebellum and amygdala. This discovery provides a connectivity blueprint between the cerebellum and a key structure of the limbic system. As such, it is the requisite first step toward obtaining new knowledge about cerebellar function in emotion, thus fundamentally advancing understanding of the neurobiology of emotion, which is perturbed in mental and autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se Jung Jung
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Ksenia Vlasov
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Alexa F. D’Ambra
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Abhijna Parigi
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Mihir Baya
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Edbertt Paul Frez
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Maribel Anguiano
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Yoichiro Ideguchi
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Evan G. Antzoulatos
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Diasynou Fioravante
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Diasynou Fioravante
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23
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Biel A, Castanza AS, Rutherford R, Fair SR, Chifamba L, Wester JC, Hester ME, Hevner RF. AUTS2 Syndrome: Molecular Mechanisms and Model Systems. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:858582. [PMID: 35431798 PMCID: PMC9008325 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.858582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
AUTS2 syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes intellectual disability, microcephaly, and other phenotypes. Syndrome severity is worse when mutations involve 3' regions (exons 9-19) of the AUTS2 gene. Human AUTS2 protein has two major isoforms, full-length (1259 aa) and C-terminal (711 aa), the latter produced from an alternative transcription start site in exon 9. Structurally, AUTS2 contains the putative "AUTS2 domain" (∼200 aa) conserved among AUTS2 and its ohnologs, fibrosin, and fibrosin-like-1. Also, AUTS2 contains extensive low-complexity sequences and intrinsically disordered regions, features typical of RNA-binding proteins. During development, AUTS2 is expressed by specific progenitor cell and neuron types, including pyramidal neurons and Purkinje cells. AUTS2 localizes mainly in cell nuclei, where it regulates transcription and RNA metabolism. Some studies have detected AUTS2 in neurites, where it may regulate cytoskeletal dynamics. Neurodevelopmental functions of AUTS2 have been studied in diverse model systems. In zebrafish, auts2a morphants displayed microcephaly. In mice, excision of different Auts2 exons (7, 8, or 15) caused distinct phenotypes, variously including neonatal breathing abnormalities, cerebellar hypoplasia, dentate gyrus hypoplasia, EEG abnormalities, and behavioral changes. In mouse embryonic stem cells, AUTS2 could promote or delay neuronal differentiation. Cerebral organoids, derived from an AUTS2 syndrome patient containing a pathogenic missense variant in exon 9, exhibited neocortical growth defects. Emerging technologies for analysis of human cerebral organoids will be increasingly useful for understanding mechanisms underlying AUTS2 syndrome. Questions for future research include whether AUTS2 binds RNA directly, how AUTS2 regulates neurogenesis, and how AUTS2 modulates neural circuit formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alecia Biel
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Anthony S. Castanza
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Ryan Rutherford
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Summer R. Fair
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Lincoln Chifamba
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jason C. Wester
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Mark E. Hester
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Robert F. Hevner
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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24
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Schwitalla JC, Pakusch J, Mücher B, Brückner A, Depke DA, Fenzl T, De Zeeuw CI, Kros L, Hoebeek FE, Mark MD. Controlling absence seizures from the cerebellar nuclei via activation of the G q signaling pathway. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:197. [PMID: 35305155 PMCID: PMC8934336 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04221-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Absence seizures (ASs) are characterized by pathological electrographic oscillations in the cerebral cortex and thalamus, which are called spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs). Subcortical structures, such as the cerebellum, may well contribute to the emergence of ASs, but the cellular and molecular underpinnings remain poorly understood. Here we show that the genetic ablation of P/Q-type calcium channels in cerebellar granule cells (quirky) or Purkinje cells (purky) leads to recurrent SWDs with the purky model showing the more severe phenotype. The quirky mouse model showed irregular action potential firing of their cerebellar nuclei (CN) neurons as well as rhythmic firing during the wave of their SWDs. The purky model also showed irregular CN firing, in addition to a reduced firing rate and rhythmicity during the spike of the SWDs. In both models, the incidence of SWDs could be decreased by increasing CN activity via activation of the Gq-coupled designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) or via that of the Gq-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptor 1. In contrast, the incidence of SWDs was increased by decreasing CN activity via activation of the inhibitory Gi/o-coupled DREADD. Finally, disrupting CN rhythmic firing with a closed-loop channelrhodopsin-2 stimulation protocol confirmed that ongoing SWDs can be ceased by activating CN neurons. Together, our data highlight that P/Q-type calcium channels in cerebellar granule cells and Purkinje cells can be relevant for epileptogenesis, that Gq-coupled activation of CN neurons can exert anti-epileptic effects and that precisely timed activation of the CN can be used to stop ongoing SWDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Johanna Pakusch
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Brix Mücher
- Department of Zoology and Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Alexander Brückner
- Institute of Physiology I, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dominic Alexej Depke
- European Institute of Molecular Imaging, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas Fenzl
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Chris I De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3015 AA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Dutch Academy for Arts and Sciences, 1105, BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lieke Kros
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3015 AA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Freek E Hoebeek
- Department for Developmental Origins of Disease, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital and Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 EA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Melanie D Mark
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
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25
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Ventromedial Thalamus-Projecting DCN Neurons Modulate Associative Sensorimotor Responses in Mice. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:459-473. [PMID: 34989972 PMCID: PMC9106783 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00810-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) integrate various inputs to the cerebellum and form the final cerebellar outputs critical for associative sensorimotor learning. However, the functional relevance of distinct neuronal subpopulations within the DCN remains poorly understood. Here, we examined a subpopulation of mouse DCN neurons whose axons specifically project to the ventromedial (Vm) thalamus (DCNVm neurons), and found that these neurons represent a specific subset of DCN units whose activity varies with trace eyeblink conditioning (tEBC), a classical associative sensorimotor learning task. Upon conditioning, the activity of DCNVm neurons signaled the performance of conditioned eyeblink responses (CRs). Optogenetic activation and inhibition of the DCNVm neurons in well-trained mice amplified and diminished the CRs, respectively. Chemogenetic manipulation of the DCNVm neurons had no effects on non-associative motor coordination. Furthermore, optogenetic activation of the DCNVm neurons caused rapid elevated firing activity in the cingulate cortex, a brain area critical for bridging the time gap between sensory stimuli and motor execution during tEBC. Together, our data highlights DCNVm neurons' function and delineates their kinematic parameters that modulate the strength of associative sensorimotor responses.
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Kang S, Jun S, Baek SJ, Park H, Yamamoto Y, Tanaka-Yamamoto K. Recent Advances in the Understanding of Specific Efferent Pathways Emerging From the Cerebellum. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:759948. [PMID: 34975418 PMCID: PMC8716603 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.759948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum has a long history in terms of research on its network structures and motor functions, yet our understanding of them has further advanced in recent years owing to technical developments, such as viral tracers, optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulation, and single cell gene expression analyses. Specifically, it is now widely accepted that the cerebellum is also involved in non-motor functions, such as cognitive and psychological functions, mainly from studies that have clarified neuronal pathways from the cerebellum to other brain regions that are relevant to these functions. The techniques to manipulate specific neuronal pathways were effectively utilized to demonstrate the involvement of the cerebellum and its pathways in specific brain functions, without altering motor activity. In particular, the cerebellar efferent pathways that have recently gained attention are not only monosynaptic connections to other brain regions, including the periaqueductal gray and ventral tegmental area, but also polysynaptic connections to other brain regions, including the non-primary motor cortex and hippocampus. Besides these efferent pathways associated with non-motor functions, recent studies using sophisticated experimental techniques further characterized the historically studied efferent pathways that are primarily associated with motor functions. Nevertheless, to our knowledge, there are no articles that comprehensively describe various cerebellar efferent pathways, although there are many interesting review articles focusing on specific functions or pathways. Here, we summarize the recent findings on neuronal networks projecting from the cerebellum to several brain regions. We also introduce various techniques that have enabled us to advance our understanding of the cerebellar efferent pathways, and further discuss possible directions for future research regarding these efferent pathways and their functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seulgi Kang
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, South Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, South Korea
| | - Soyoung Jun
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, South Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, South Korea
| | - Soo Ji Baek
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, South Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, South Korea
| | - Heeyoun Park
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yukio Yamamoto
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, South Korea
| | - Keiko Tanaka-Yamamoto
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, South Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, South Korea
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Distinct Fastigial Output Channels and Their Impact on Temporal Lobe Seizures. J Neurosci 2021; 41:10091-10107. [PMID: 34716233 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0683-21.2021] [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: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite being canonically considered a motor control structure, the cerebellum is increasingly recognized for important roles in processes beyond this traditional framework, including seizure suppression. Excitatory fastigial neurons project to a large number of downstream targets, and it is unclear whether this broad targeting underlies seizure suppression, or whether a specific output may be sufficient. To address this question, we used the intrahippocampal kainic acid mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy, male and female animals, and a dual-virus approach to selectively label and manipulate fastigial outputs. We examined fastigial neurons projecting to the superior colliculus, medullary reticular formation, and central lateral nucleus of the thalamus, and found that these comprise largely nonoverlapping populations of neurons that send collaterals to unique sets of additional, somewhat overlapping, thalamic and brainstem regions. We found that neither optogenetic stimulation of superior colliculus nor reticular formation output channels attenuated hippocampal seizures. In contrast, on-demand stimulation of fastigial neurons targeting the central lateral nucleus robustly inhibited seizures. Our results indicate that fastigial control of hippocampal seizures does not require simultaneous modulation of many fastigial output channels. Rather, selective modulation of the fastigial output channel to the central lateral thalamus, specifically, is sufficient for seizure control. More broadly, our data highlight the concept of specific cerebellar output channels, whereby discrete cerebellar nucleus neurons project to specific aggregates of downstream targets, with important consequences for therapeutic interventions.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The cerebellum has an emerging relationship with nonmotor systems and may represent a powerful target for therapeutic intervention in temporal lobe epilepsy. We find, as previously reported, that fastigial neurons project to numerous brain regions via largely segregated output channels, and that projection targets cannot be predicted simply by somatic locations within the nucleus. We further find that on-demand optogenetic excitation of fastigial neurons projecting to the central lateral nucleus of the thalamus-but not fastigial neurons projecting to the reticular formation, superior colliculus, or ventral lateral thalamus-is sufficient to attenuate hippocampal seizures.
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Dooley JC, Sokoloff G, Blumberg MS. Movements during sleep reveal the developmental emergence of a cerebellar-dependent internal model in motor thalamus. Curr Biol 2021; 31:5501-5511.e5. [PMID: 34727521 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
With our eyes closed, we can track a limb's moment-to-moment location in space. If this capacity relied solely on sensory feedback from the limb, we would always be a step behind because sensory feedback takes time: for the execution of rapid and precise movements, such lags are not tolerable. Nervous systems solve this problem by computing representations-or internal models-that mimic movements as they are happening, with the associated neural activity occurring after the motor command but before sensory feedback. Research in adults indicates that the cerebellum is necessary to compute internal models. What is not known, however, is when-and under what conditions-this computational capacity develops. Here, taking advantage of the unique kinematic features of the discrete, spontaneous limb twitches that characterize active sleep, we captured the developmental emergence of a cerebellar-dependent internal model. Using rats at postnatal days (P) 12, P16, and P20, we compared neural activity in the ventral posterior (VP) and ventral lateral (VL) thalamic nuclei, both of which receive somatosensory input but only the latter of which receives cerebellar input. At all ages, twitch-related activity in VP lagged behind the movement, consistent with sensory processing; similar activity was observed in VL through P16. At P20, however, VL activity no longer lagged behind movement but instead precisely mimicked the movement itself; this activity depended on cerebellar input. In addition to demonstrating the emergence of internal models of movement, these findings implicate twitches in their development and calibration through, at least, the preweanling period.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C Dooley
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Greta Sokoloff
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Mark S Blumberg
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52245, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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30
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Vaasjo LO, Han X, Thurmon AN, Tiemroth AS, Berndt H, Korn M, Figueroa A, Reyes R, Feliciano-Ramos PA, Galazo MJ. Characterization and manipulation of Corticothalamic neurons in associative cortices using Syt6-Cre transgenic mice. J Comp Neurol 2021; 530:1020-1048. [PMID: 34617601 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Corticothalamic interactions between associative cortices and higher order thalamic nuclei are involved in high-cognitive functions such as decision-making and working memory. Corticothalamic neurons (CTn) in the prefrontal cortex and other associative areas have been much less studied than their counterparts in the primary sensory areas. The availability of characterized transgenic tools to study CTn in associative areas will facilitate their study and contribute to overcome the scarcity of data about their properties, network dynamics, and contribution to cognitive functions. Here, we characterized the Syt6-Cre (KI148Gsat/Mmud) transgenic mouse line, by tracking expression of a Cre-mediated reporter. In this line, Cre-reporter is strongly expressed in the prefrontal, motor, cingulate, and retrosplenial cortices, as well as in other brain areas including the cerebellum and the olfactory tubercle. Cortical expression starts embryonically and reaches the adult expression pattern by postnatal day 15. In the cortex, Cre-reporter is expressed by layer 6-CTn and by layer 5-CTn to a lesser extent. We quantified Syt6-Cre+ CTn axon varicosities to estimate the distribution and density of putative corticothalamic driver and modulator inputs to thalamic nuclei in the medial, midline, intralaminar, anterior, and motor groups. Also, we characterized the effect of optogenetic stimulation of Syt6-Cre+ neurons in the activity of the prefrontal cortex. CTn stimulation in the prefrontal cortex induces an oscillatory activity in the local field potential that resembles the cortical downstates typically observed during slow-wave sleep or quiet wake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee O Vaasjo
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Xiao Han
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Abbigail N Thurmon
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Alina S Tiemroth
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Hallie Berndt
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Madelyn Korn
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Alexandra Figueroa
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Rosa Reyes
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Pedro A Feliciano-Ramos
- Department Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maria J Galazo
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.,Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Ma KY, Cai XY, Wang XT, Wang ZX, Huang WM, Wu ZY, Feng ZY, Shen Y. Three-Dimensional Heterogeneity of Cerebellar Interposed Nucleus-Recipient Zones in the Thalamic Nuclei. Neurosci Bull 2021; 37:1529-1541. [PMID: 34609736 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00780-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum is conceptualized as a processor of complex movements and is also endowed with roles in cognitive and emotional behaviors. Although the axons of deep cerebellar nuclei are known to project to primary thalamic nuclei, macroscopic investigation of the characteristics of these projections, such as the spatial distribution of recipient zones, is lacking. Here, we studied the output of the cerebellar interposed nucleus (IpN) to the ventrolateral (VL) and centrolateral (CL) thalamic nuclei using electrophysiological recording in vivo and trans-synaptic viral tracing. We found that IpN stimulation induced mono-synaptic evoked potentials (EPs) in the VL but not the CL region. Furthermore, both the EPs induced by the IpN and the innervation of IpN projections displayed substantial heterogeneity across the VL region in three-dimensional space. These findings indicate that the recipient zones of IpN inputs vary between and within thalamic nuclei and may differentially control thalamo-cortical networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuang-Yi Ma
- Department of Physiology and Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xin-Yu Cai
- Department of Physiology and Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xin-Tai Wang
- Department of Physiology and Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhao-Xiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Wan-Meng Huang
- Department of Physiology and Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Wu
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhou-Yan Feng
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Ying Shen
- Department of Physiology and Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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Homologous organization of cerebellar pathways to sensory, motor, and associative forebrain. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109721. [PMID: 34551311 PMCID: PMC8506234 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar outputs take polysynaptic routes to reach the rest of the brain, impeding conventional tracing. Here, we quantify pathways between the cerebellum and forebrain by using transsynaptic tracing viruses and a whole-brain analysis pipeline. With retrograde tracing, we find that most descending paths originate from the somatomotor cortex. Anterograde tracing of ascending paths encompasses most thalamic nuclei, especially ventral posteromedial, lateral posterior, mediodorsal, and reticular nuclei. In the neocortex, sensorimotor regions contain the most labeled neurons, but we find higher densities in associative areas, including orbital, anterior cingulate, prelimbic, and infralimbic cortex. Patterns of ascending expression correlate with c-Fos expression after optogenetic inhibition of Purkinje cells. Our results reveal homologous networks linking single areas of the cerebellar cortex to diverse forebrain targets. We conclude that shared areas of the cerebellum are positioned to provide sensory-motor information to regions implicated in both movement and nonmotor function. Pisano et al. use transsynaptic tracing and whole-brain light-sheet microscopy to quantitatively map cerebellar paths to and from the forebrain, including relatively dense projections to the prefrontal neocortex. Divergence of paths from single injection sites suggests that a single cerebellar region can influence multiple thalamic and neocortical targets at once.
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Abstract
Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder, but current treatment options provide limited efficacy and carry the potential for problematic adverse effects. There is an immense need to develop new therapeutic interventions in epilepsy, and targeting areas outside the seizure focus for neuromodulation has shown therapeutic value. While not traditionally associated with epilepsy, anatomical, clinical, and electrophysiological studies suggest the cerebellum can play a role in seizure networks, and importantly, may be a potential therapeutic target for seizure control. However, previous interventions targeting the cerebellum in both preclinical and clinical studies have produced mixed effects on seizures. These inconsistent results may be due in part to the lack of specificity inherent with open-loop electrical stimulation interventions. More recent studies, using more targeted closed-loop optogenetic approaches, suggest the possibility of robust seizure inhibition via cerebellar modulation for a range of seizure types. Therefore, while the mechanisms of cerebellar inhibition of seizures have yet to be fully elucidated, the cerebellum should be thoroughly revisited as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in epilepsy. This article is part of the Special Issue "NEWroscience 2018.
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Dacre J, Colligan M, Clarke T, Ammer JJ, Schiemann J, Chamosa-Pino V, Claudi F, Harston JA, Eleftheriou C, Pakan JMP, Huang CC, Hantman AW, Rochefort NL, Duguid I. A cerebellar-thalamocortical pathway drives behavioral context-dependent movement initiation. Neuron 2021; 109:2326-2338.e8. [PMID: 34146469 PMCID: PMC8315304 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Executing learned motor behaviors often requires the transformation of sensory cues into patterns of motor commands that generate appropriately timed actions. The cerebellum and thalamus are two key areas involved in shaping cortical output and movement, but the contribution of a cerebellar-thalamocortical pathway to voluntary movement initiation remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated how an auditory "go cue" transforms thalamocortical activity patterns and how these changes relate to movement initiation. Population responses in dentate/interpositus-recipient regions of motor thalamus reflect a time-locked increase in activity immediately prior to movement initiation that is temporally uncoupled from the go cue, indicative of a fixed-latency feedforward motor timing signal. Blocking cerebellar or motor thalamic output suppresses movement initiation, while stimulation triggers movements in a behavioral context-dependent manner. Our findings show how cerebellar output, via the thalamus, shapes cortical activity patterns necessary for learned context-dependent movement initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Dacre
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Matt Colligan
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Thomas Clarke
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Julian J Ammer
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Julia Schiemann
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Victor Chamosa-Pino
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Federico Claudi
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - J Alex Harston
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Constantinos Eleftheriou
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Janelle M P Pakan
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | - Nathalie L Rochefort
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ian Duguid
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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Takahashi N, Moberg S, Zolnik TA, Catanese J, Sachdev RNS, Larkum ME, Jaeger D. Thalamic input to motor cortex facilitates goal-directed action initiation. Curr Biol 2021; 31:4148-4155.e4. [PMID: 34302741 PMCID: PMC8478854 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Prompt execution of planned motor action is essential for survival. The interactions between frontal cortical circuits and the basal ganglia are central to goal-oriented action selection and initiation.1-4 In rodents, the ventromedial thalamic nucleus (VM) is one of the critical nodes that conveys the output of the basal ganglia to the frontal cortical areas including the anterior lateral motor cortex (ALM).5-9 Recent studies showed the critical role of ALM and its interplay with the motor thalamus in preparing sensory-cued rewarded movements, specifically licking.10-12 Work in primates suggests that the basal ganglia output to the motor thalamus transmits an urgency or vigor signal,13-15 which leads to shortened reaction times and faster movement initiation. As yet, little is known about what signals are transmitted from the motor thalamus to the cortex during cued movements and how these signals contribute to movement initiation. In the present study, we employed a tactile-cued licking task in mice while monitoring reaction times of the initial lick. We found that inactivation of ALM delayed the initiation of cued licking. Two-photon Ca2+ imaging of VM axons revealed that the majority of the axon terminals in ALM were transiently active during licking. Their activity was predictive of the time of the first lick. Chemogenetic and optogenetic manipulation of VM axons in ALM indicated that VM inputs facilitate the initiation of cue-triggered and impulsive licking in trained mice. Our results suggest that VM thalamocortical inputs increase the probability and vigor of initiating planned motor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Takahashi
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sara Moberg
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Timothy A Zolnik
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Julien Catanese
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Robert N S Sachdev
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthew E Larkum
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dieter Jaeger
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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Akyuz E, Ozenen C, Pinyazhko OR, Poshyvak OB, Godlevsky LS. Cerebellar contribution to absence epilepsy. Neurosci Lett 2021; 761:136110. [PMID: 34256107 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136110] [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: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The new aggregate data analyses revealed the earlier missing role of cerebellum long-term electrical stimulation in the absence epilepsy. Neurophysiologic data gained by authors favor that cerebellar serial deep brain stimulation (DBS) (100 Hz) causes the transformation of penicillin-induced cortical focal discharges into prolonged 3,5-3,75 sec oscillations resembling spike-wave discharges (SWD) in cats. Such SWDs were not organized in the form of bursts and persisted continuously after stimulation. Therefore, the appearance of prolonged periods of SWD is regarded as a tonic cerebellar influence upon pacemaker of SWD and might be caused by the long-lasting DBS-induced increase of GABA-ergic extrasynaptic inhibition in the forebrain networks. The absence seizure facilitation caused by cerebellar DBS was discussed with the reviewed data on optogenetic stimulation, neuronal activity of cerebellar structures, and imaging data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enes Akyuz
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of International Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Cansu Ozenen
- Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Faculty of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey
| | - Oleh R Pinyazhko
- Pharmacology Department, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine; Department of Civilization Diseases and Regenerative Medicine, WSIiZ, Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Olesya B Poshyvak
- Pharmacology Department, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Leonid S Godlevsky
- Department of Biophysics, Informatics and Medical Devices, Odesa National Medical University, 2, Valikhovsky Lane, Odesa 65082, Ukraine.
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Eelkman Rooda OHJ, Kros L, Faneyte SJ, Holland PJ, Gornati SV, Poelman HJ, Jansen NA, Tolner EA, van den Maagdenberg AMJM, De Zeeuw CI, Hoebeek FE. Single-pulse stimulation of cerebellar nuclei stops epileptic thalamic activity. Brain Stimul 2021; 14:861-872. [PMID: 34022430 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.05.002] [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: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epileptic (absence) seizures in the cerebral cortex can be stopped by pharmacological and optogenetic stimulation of the cerebellar nuclei (CN) neurons that innervate the thalamus. However, it is unclear how such stimulation can modify underlying thalamo-cortical oscillations. HYPOTHESIS Here we tested whether rhythmic synchronized thalamo-cortical activity during absence seizures can be desynchronized by single-pulse optogenetic stimulation of CN neurons to stop seizure activity. METHODS We performed simultaneous thalamic single-cell and electrocorticographical recordings in awake tottering mice, a genetic model of absence epilepsy, to investigate the rhythmicity and synchronicity. Furthermore, we tested interictally the impact of single-pulse optogenetic CN stimulation on thalamic and cortical recordings. RESULTS We show that thalamic firing is highly rhythmic and synchronized with cortical spike-and-wave discharges during absence seizures and that this phase-locked activity can be desynchronized upon single-pulse optogenetic stimulation of CN neurons. Notably, this stimulation of CN neurons was more effective in stopping seizures than direct, focal stimulation of groups of afferents innervating the thalamus. During interictal periods, CN stimulation evoked reliable but heterogeneous responses in thalamic cells in that they could show an increase or decrease in firing rate at various latencies, bi-phasic responses with an initial excitatory and subsequent inhibitory response, or no response at all. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that stimulation of CN neurons and their fibers in thalamus evokes differential effects in its downstream pathways and desynchronizes phase-locked thalamic neuronal firing during seizures, revealing a neurobiological mechanism that may explain how cerebellar stimulation can stop seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar H J Eelkman Rooda
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015, AA Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015, AA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lieke Kros
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015, AA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sade J Faneyte
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015, AA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Peter J Holland
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Simona V Gornati
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015, AA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Huub J Poelman
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015, AA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nico A Jansen
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300, RC Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300, RC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Else A Tolner
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300, RC Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300, RC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Arn M J M van den Maagdenberg
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300, RC Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300, RC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Chris I De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015, AA Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Dutch Academy for Arts and Sciences, 1105, BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Freek E Hoebeek
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015, AA Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department for Developmental Origins of Disease, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center and Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Utrecht Medical Center, 3508, AB Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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38
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Jiang J, Zou G, Liu J, Zhou S, Xu J, Sun H, Zou Q, Gao JH. Functional connectivity of the human hypothalamus during wakefulness and nonrapid eye movement sleep. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:3667-3679. [PMID: 33960583 PMCID: PMC8249893 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal experiments indicate that the hypothalamus plays an essential role in regulating the sleep–wake cycle. A recent neuroimaging study conducted under resting wakefulness conditions suggested the presence of a wake‐promoting region and a sleep‐promoting region in the human posterior hypothalamus and anterior hypothalamus, respectively, and interpreted their anticorrelated organization in resting‐state functional networks as evidence for their opposing roles in sleep–wake regulation. However, whether and how the functional networks of the two hypothalamic regions reorganize according to their wake‐ or sleep‐promoting roles during sleep are unclear. Here, we constructed functional networks of the posterior and anterior hypothalamus during wakefulness and nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep using simultaneous electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging data collected from 62 healthy participants. The functional networks of the posterior and anterior hypothalamus exhibited inversely correlated organizations during both wakefulness and NREM sleep. The connectivity strength of the posterior hypothalamic functional network was stronger during wakefulness than during stable sleep. From wakefulness to sleep, the anterior cingulate gyrus, paracingulate gyrus, insular cortex, and fontal operculum cortex showed decreased positive connectivity, while the precentral gyrus and postcentral gyrus showed decreased negative connectivity with the posterior hypothalamus. Additionally, the insular cortex and frontal operculum cortex showed negative connectivity during wakefulness and positive connectivity during sleep with the anterior hypothalamus, exhibiting an increasing trend. These findings provide insights into the correspondence between the functional network organizations and hypothalamic sleep–wake regulation in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Jiang
- Beijing City Key Lab for Medical Physics and Engineering, Institute of Heavy Ion Physics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Guangyuan Zou
- Beijing City Key Lab for Medical Physics and Engineering, Institute of Heavy Ion Physics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayi Liu
- Beijing City Key Lab for Medical Physics and Engineering, Institute of Heavy Ion Physics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuqin Zhou
- Beijing City Key Lab for Medical Physics and Engineering, Institute of Heavy Ion Physics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Beijing City Key Lab for Medical Physics and Engineering, Institute of Heavy Ion Physics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongqiang Sun
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
| | - Qihong Zou
- Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Hong Gao
- Beijing City Key Lab for Medical Physics and Engineering, Institute of Heavy Ion Physics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.,McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
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39
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Tanaka M, Kunimatsu J, Suzuki TW, Kameda M, Ohmae S, Uematsu A, Takeya R. Roles of the Cerebellum in Motor Preparation and Prediction of Timing. Neuroscience 2021; 462:220-234. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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40
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Schäfer CB, Gao Z, De Zeeuw CI, Hoebeek FE. Temporal dynamics of the cerebello-cortical convergence in ventro-lateral motor thalamus. J Physiol 2021; 599:2055-2073. [PMID: 33492688 PMCID: PMC8048920 DOI: 10.1113/jp280455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Ventrolateral thalamus (VL) integrates information from cerebellar nuclei and motor cortical layer VI. Inputs from the cerebellar nuclei evoke large-amplitude responses that depress upon repetitive stimulation while layer VI inputs from motor cortex induce small-amplitude facilitating responses. We report that the spiking of VL neurons can be determined by the thalamic membrane potential, the frequency of cerebellar inputs and the duration of pauses after cerebellar high frequency stimulation. Inputs from motor cortical layer VI shift the VL membrane potential and modulate the VL spike output in response to cerebellar stimulation. These results help us to decipher how the cerebellar output is integrated in VL and modulated by motor cortical input. ABSTRACT Orchestrating complex movements requires well-timed interaction of cerebellar, thalamic and cerebral structures, but the mechanisms underlying the integration of cerebro-cerebellar information in motor thalamus remain largely unknown. Here we investigated how excitatory inputs from cerebellar nuclei (CN) and primary motor cortex layer VI (M1-L6) neurons may regulate the activity of neurons in the mouse ventrolateral (VL) thalamus. Using dual-optical stimulation of the CN and M1-L6 axons and in vitro whole-cell recordings of the responses in VL neurons, we studied the individual responses as well as the effects of combined CN and M1-L6 stimulation. Whereas CN inputs evoked large-amplitude responses that were depressed upon repetitive stimulation, M1-L6 inputs elicited small-amplitude responses that were facilitated upon repetitive stimulation. Moreover, pauses in CN stimuli could directly affect VL spiking probability, an effect that was modulated by VL membrane potential. When CN and M1-L6 pathways were co-activated, motor cortical afferents increased the thalamic spike output in response to cerebellar stimulation, indicating that CN and M1 synergistically, yet differentially, control the membrane potential and spiking pattern of VL neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhenyu Gao
- Department of NeuroscienceErasmus MCRotterdam3015 AAThe Netherlands
| | - Chris I. De Zeeuw
- Department of NeuroscienceErasmus MCRotterdam3015 AAThe Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for NeuroscienceRoyal Dutch Academy of Arts & ScienceAmsterdam1105 BAThe Netherlands
| | - Freek E. Hoebeek
- Department of NeuroscienceErasmus MCRotterdam3015 AAThe Netherlands
- Department for Developmental Origins of Disease, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital and Brain CenterUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht3584 EAThe Netherlands
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41
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Cerebral Cortical Activity Following Non-invasive Cerebellar Stimulation-a Systematic Review of Combined TMS and EEG Studies. THE CEREBELLUM 2020; 19:309-335. [PMID: 31907864 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-019-01093-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum sends dense projections to both motor and non-motor regions of the cerebral cortex via the cerebellarthalamocortical tract. The integrity of this tract is crucial for healthy motor and cognitive function. This systematic review examines research using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the cerebellum with combined cortical electroencephalography (EEG) to explore the temporal features of cerebellar-cortical connectivity. A detailed discussion of the outcomes and limitations of the studies meeting review criteria is presented. Databases were searched between 1 December 2017 and 6 December 2017, with Scopus alerts current as of 23 July 2019. Of the 407 studies initially identified, 10 met review criteria. Findings suggested that cerebellar-cortical assessment is suited to combined TMS and EEG, although work is required to ensure experimental procedures are optimal for eliciting a reliable cerebellar response from stimulation. A distinct variation in methodologies and outcome measures employed across studies, and small sample sizes limited the conclusions that could be drawn regarding the electrophysiological signatures of cerebellar-cortical communication. This review highlights the need for stringent protocols and methodologies for cerebellar-cortical assessments via combined TMS and EEG. With these in place, combined TMS and EEG will provide a valuable means for exploring cerebellar connectivity with a wide range of cortical sites. Assessments have the potential to aid in the understanding of motor and cognitive function in both healthy and clinical groups, and provide insights into long-range neural communication generally.
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42
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De Zeeuw CI. Bidirectional learning in upbound and downbound microzones of the cerebellum. Nat Rev Neurosci 2020; 22:92-110. [PMID: 33203932 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-020-00392-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Over the past several decades, theories about cerebellar learning have evolved. A relatively simple view that highlighted the contribution of one major form of heterosynaptic plasticity to cerebellar motor learning has given way to a plethora of perspectives that suggest that many different forms of synaptic and non-synaptic plasticity, acting at various sites, can control multiple types of learning behaviour. However, there still seem to be contradictions between the various hypotheses with regard to the mechanisms underlying cerebellar learning. The challenge is therefore to reconcile these different views and unite them into a single overall concept. Here I review our current understanding of the changes in the activity of cerebellar Purkinje cells in different 'microzones' during various forms of learning. I describe an emerging model that indicates that the activity of each microzone is bound to either increase or decrease during the initial stages of learning, depending on the directional and temporal demands of its downstream circuitry and the behaviour involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris I De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands. .,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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43
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Xu W, De Carvalho F, Clarke AK, Jackson A. Communication from the cerebellum to the neocortex during sleep spindles. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 199:101940. [PMID: 33161064 PMCID: PMC7938225 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/30/2022]
Abstract
Surprisingly little is known about neural activity in the sleeping cerebellum. Using long-term wireless recording, we characterised dynamic cerebro-thalamo-cerebellar interactions during natural sleep in monkeys. Similar sleep cycles were evident in both M1 and cerebellum as cyclical fluctuations in firing rates as well as a reciprocal pattern of slow waves and sleep spindles. Directed connectivity from motor cortex to the cerebellum suggested a neocortical origin of slow waves. Surprisingly however, spindles were associated with a directional influence from the cerebellum to motor cortex, conducted via the thalamus. Furthermore, the relative phase of spindle-band oscillations in the neocortex and cerebellum varied systematically with their changing amplitudes. We used linear dynamical systems analysis to show that this behaviour could only be explained by a system of two coupled oscillators. These observations appear inconsistent with a single spindle generator within the thalamo-cortical system, and suggest instead a cerebellar contribution to neocortical sleep spindles. Since spindles are implicated in the off-line consolidation of procedural learning, we speculate that this may involve communication via cerebello-thalamo-neocortical pathways in sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - F De Carvalho
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - A K Clarke
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - A Jackson
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK.
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44
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HippoBellum: Acute Cerebellar Modulation Alters Hippocampal Dynamics and Function. J Neurosci 2020; 40:6910-6926. [PMID: 32769107 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0763-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we examine what effects acute manipulation of the cerebellum, a canonically motor structure, can have on the hippocampus, a canonically cognitive structure. In male and female mice, acute perturbation of the cerebellar vermis (lobule 4/5) or simplex produced reliable and specific effects in hippocampal function at cellular, population, and behavioral levels, including evoked local field potentials, increased hippocampal cFos expression, and altered CA1 calcium event rate, amplitudes, and correlated activity. We additionally noted a selective deficit on an object location memory task, which requires objection-location pairing. We therefore combined cerebellar optogenetic stimulation and CA1 calcium imaging with an object-exploration task, and found that cerebellar stimulation reduced the representation of place fields near objects, and prevented a shift in representation to the novel location when an object was moved. Together, these results clearly demonstrate that acute modulation of the cerebellum alters hippocampal function, and further illustrates that the cerebellum can influence cognitive domains.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The cerebellum, a canonically motor-related structure, is being increasingly recognized for its influence on nonmotor functions and structures. The hippocampus is a brain region critical for cognitive functions, such as episodic memory and spatial navigation. To investigate how modulation of the cerebellum may impact the hippocampus, we stimulated two sites of the cerebellar cortex and examined hippocampal function at multiple levels. We found that cerebellar stimulation strongly modulates hippocampal activity, disrupts spatial memory, and alters object-location processing. Therefore, a canonically cognitive brain area, the hippocampus, is sensitive to cerebellar modulation.
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45
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Nashef A, Cohen O, Harel R, Israel Z, Prut Y. Reversible Block of Cerebellar Outflow Reveals Cortical Circuitry for Motor Coordination. Cell Rep 2020; 27:2608-2619.e4. [PMID: 31141686 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.04.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Coordinated movements are achieved by well-timed activation of selected muscles. This process relies on intact cerebellar circuitry, as demonstrated by motor impairments following cerebellar lesions. Based on anatomical connectivity and symptoms observed in cerebellar patients, we hypothesized that cerebellar dysfunction should disrupt the temporal patterns of motor cortical activity, but not the selected motor plan. To test this hypothesis, we reversibly blocked cerebellar outflow in primates while monitoring motor behavior and neural activity. This manipulation replicated the impaired motor timing and coordination characteristic of cerebellar ataxia. We found extensive changes in motor cortical activity, including loss of response transients at movement onset and decoupling of task-related activity. Nonetheless, the spatial tuning of cells was unaffected, and their early preparatory activity was mostly intact. These results indicate that the timing of actions, but not the selection of muscles, is regulated through cerebellar control of motor cortical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulraheem Nashef
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, IMRIC and ELSC, The Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Oren Cohen
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, IMRIC and ELSC, The Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Ran Harel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Zvi Israel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yifat Prut
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, IMRIC and ELSC, The Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel.
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46
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Ohtsuki G, Shishikura M, Ozaki A. Synergistic excitability plasticity in cerebellar functioning. FEBS J 2020; 287:4557-4593. [PMID: 32367676 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum, a universal processor for sensory acquisition and internal models, and its association with synaptic and nonsynaptic plasticity have been envisioned as the biological correlates of learning, perception, and even thought. Indeed, the cerebellum is no longer considered merely as the locus of motor coordination and its learning. Here, we introduce the mechanisms underlying the induction of multiple types of plasticity in cerebellar circuit and give an overview focusing on the plasticity of nonsynaptic intrinsic excitability. The discovery of long-term potentiation of synaptic responsiveness in hippocampal neurons led investigations into changes of their intrinsic excitability. This activity-dependent potentiation of neuronal excitability is distinct from that of synaptic efficacy. Systematic examination of excitability plasticity has indicated that the modulation of various types of Ca2+ - and voltage-dependent K+ channels underlies the phenomenon, which is also triggered by immune activity. Intrinsic plasticity is expressed specifically on dendrites and modifies the integrative processing and filtering effect. In Purkinje cells, modulation of the discordance of synaptic current on soma and dendrite suggested a novel type of cellular learning mechanism. This property enables a plausible synergy between synaptic efficacy and intrinsic excitability, by amplifying electrical conductivity and influencing the polarity of bidirectional synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, the induction of intrinsic plasticity in the cerebellum correlates with motor performance and cognitive processes, through functional connections from the cerebellar nuclei to neocortex and associated regions: for example, thalamus and midbrain. Taken together, recent advances in neuroscience have begun to shed light on the complex functioning of nonsynaptic excitability and the synergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gen Ohtsuki
- The Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University, Japan.,Department of Biophysics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Science, Japan.,Department of Drug Discovery Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Mari Shishikura
- Department of Biophysics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Science, Japan
| | - Akitoshi Ozaki
- Department of Biophysics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Science, Japan
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47
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Zhang LB, Zhang J, Sun MJ, Chen H, Yan J, Luo FL, Yao ZX, Wu YM, Hu B. Neuronal Activity in the Cerebellum During the Sleep-Wakefulness Transition in Mice. Neurosci Bull 2020; 36:919-931. [PMID: 32430873 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-020-00511-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar malfunction can lead to sleep disturbance such as excessive daytime sleepiness, suggesting that the cerebellum may be involved in regulating sleep and/or wakefulness. However, understanding the features of cerebellar regulation in sleep and wakefulness states requires a detailed characterization of neuronal activity within this area. By performing multiple-unit recordings in mice, we showed that Purkinje cells (PCs) in the cerebellar cortex exhibited increased firing activity prior to the transition from sleep to wakefulness. Notably, the increased PC activity resulted from the inputs of low-frequency non-PC units in the cerebellar cortex. Moreover, the increased PC activity was accompanied by decreased activity in neurons of the deep cerebellar nuclei at the non-rapid eye-movement sleep-wakefulness transition. Our results provide in vivo electrophysiological evidence that the cerebellum has the potential to actively regulate the sleep-wakefulness transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Bin Zhang
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.,State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Daping Hospital/Research Institute of Surgery, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Meng-Jia Sun
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.,Squadron 10, Battalion 3, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jie Yan
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Fen-Lan Luo
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Zhong-Xiang Yao
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Ya-Min Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Daping Hospital/Research Institute of Surgery, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
| | - Bo Hu
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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48
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The Optogenetic Revolution in Cerebellar Investigations. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072494. [PMID: 32260234 PMCID: PMC7212757 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum is most renowned for its role in sensorimotor control and coordination, but a growing number of anatomical and physiological studies are demonstrating its deep involvement in cognitive and emotional functions. Recently, the development and refinement of optogenetic techniques boosted research in the cerebellar field and, impressively, revolutionized the methodological approach and endowed the investigations with entirely new capabilities. This translated into a significant improvement in the data acquired for sensorimotor tests, allowing one to correlate single-cell activity with motor behavior to the extent of determining the role of single neuronal types and single connection pathways in controlling precise aspects of movement kinematics. These levels of specificity in correlating neuronal activity to behavior could not be achieved in the past, when electrical and pharmacological stimulations were the only available experimental tools. The application of optogenetics to the investigation of the cerebellar role in higher-order and cognitive functions, which involves a high degree of connectivity with multiple brain areas, has been even more significant. It is possible that, in this field, optogenetics has changed the game, and the number of investigations using optogenetics to study the cerebellar role in non-sensorimotor functions in awake animals is growing. The main issues addressed by these studies are the cerebellar role in epilepsy (through connections to the hippocampus and the temporal lobe), schizophrenia and cognition, working memory for decision making, and social behavior. It is also worth noting that optogenetics opened a new perspective for cerebellar neurostimulation in patients (e.g., for epilepsy treatment and stroke rehabilitation), promising unprecedented specificity in the targeted pathways that could be either activated or inhibited.
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49
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Brown AM, White JJ, van der Heijden ME, Zhou J, Lin T, Sillitoe RV. Purkinje cell misfiring generates high-amplitude action tremors that are corrected by cerebellar deep brain stimulation. eLife 2020; 9:e51928. [PMID: 32180549 PMCID: PMC7077982 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tremor is currently ranked as the most common movement disorder. The brain regions and neural signals that initiate the debilitating shakiness of different body parts remain unclear. Here, we found that genetically silencing cerebellar Purkinje cell output blocked tremor in mice that were given the tremorgenic drug harmaline. We show in awake behaving mice that the onset of tremor is coincident with rhythmic Purkinje cell firing, which alters the activity of their target cerebellar nuclei cells. We mimic the tremorgenic action of the drug with optogenetics and present evidence that highly patterned Purkinje cell activity drives a powerful tremor in otherwise normal mice. Modulating the altered activity with deep brain stimulation directed to the Purkinje cell output in the cerebellar nuclei reduced tremor in freely moving mice. Together, the data implicate Purkinje cell connectivity as a neural substrate for tremor and a gateway for signals that mediate the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Brown
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Joshua J White
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Meike E van der Heijden
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Joy Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Tao Lin
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Roy V Sillitoe
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
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50
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Abstract
The thalamus is a neural processor and integrator for the activities of the forebrain. Surprisingly, little is known about the roles of the "cerebellar" thalamus despite the anatomical observation that all the cortico-cerebello-cortical loops make relay in the main subnuclei of the thalamus. The thalamus displays a broad range of electrophysiological responses, such as neuronal spiking, bursting, or oscillatory rhythms, which contribute to precisely shape and to synchronize activities of cortical areas. We emphasize that the cerebellar thalamus deserves a renewal of interest to better understand its specific contributions to the cerebellar motor and associative functions, especially at a time where the anatomy between cerebellum and basal ganglia is being rewritten.
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