1
|
Giez C, Noack C, Sakib E, Hofacker LM, Repnik U, Bramkamp M, Bosch TCG. Satiety controls behavior in Hydra through an interplay of pre-enteric and central nervous system-like neuron populations. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114210. [PMID: 38787723 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Hunger and satiety can have an influence on decision-making, sensory processing, and motor behavior by altering the internal state of the brain. This process necessitates the integration of peripheral sensory stimuli into the central nervous system. Here, we show how animals without a central nervous system such as the cnidarian Hydra measure and integrate satiety into neuronal circuits and which specific neuronal populations are involved. We demonstrate that this simple nervous system, previously referred to as diffuse, has an endodermal subpopulation (N4) similar to the enteric nervous system (feeding-associated behavior) and an ectodermal population (N3) that performs central nervous system-like functions (physiology/motor). This view of a supposedly simple nervous system could open an important window into the origin of more complex nervous systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Giez
- Zoological Institute, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany; Neural Circuits and Evolution Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK.
| | - Christopher Noack
- Zoological Institute, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Ehsan Sakib
- Zoological Institute, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Lisa-Marie Hofacker
- Zoological Institute, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Urska Repnik
- Centrale Microscopy, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Marc Bramkamp
- Centrale Microscopy, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany; Institute for General Microbiology, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Thomas C G Bosch
- Zoological Institute, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yuste R. Breaking the neural code of a cnidarian: Learning principles of neuroscience from the "vulgar" Hydra. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 86:102869. [PMID: 38552547 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The cnidarian Hydra vulgaris is a small polyp with a nervous system of few hundred neurons belonging to a dozen cell types, organized in two nerve nets without cephalization or ganglia. Using this simple neural "chassis", Hydra can maintain a stable repertoire of behaviors, even performing complex fixed-action patterns, such as somersaulting and feeding. The ability to image the activity of Hydra's entire neural and muscle tissue has revealed that Hydra's nerve nets are divided into coactive ensembles of neurons, associated with specific movements. These ensembles can be activated by neuropeptides and interact using cross-inhibition circuits and implement integrate-to-threshold algorithms. In addition, Hydra's nervous system can self-assemble from dissociated cells in a stepwise modular architecture. Studies of Hydra and other cnidarians could enable the systematic deciphering of the neural basis of its behavior and help provide perspective on basic principles of neuroscience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Yuste
- Neurotechnology Center, Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Brown JW, Berg OH, Boutko A, Stoerck C, Boersma MA, Frost WN. Division of labor for defensive retaliation and preemption by the peripheral and central nervous systems in the nudibranch Berghia. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2175-2185.e4. [PMID: 38718797 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.038] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Relatively little is known about how peripheral nervous systems (PNSs) contribute to the patterning of behavior in which their role transcends the simple execution of central motor commands or mediation of reflexes. We sought to draw inferences to this end in the aeolid nudibranch Berghia stephanieae, which generates a rapid, dramatic defense behavior, "bristling." This behavior involves the coordinated movement of cerata, dozens of venomous appendages emerging from the animal's mantle. Our investigations revealed that bristling constitutes a stereotyped but non-reflexive two-stage behavior: an initial adduction of proximate cerata to sting the offending stimulus (stage 1) followed by a coordinated radial extension of remaining cerata to create a pincushion-like defensive screen around the animal (stage 2). In decerebrated specimens, stage 1 bristling was preserved, while stage 2 bristling was replaced by slower, uncoordinated ceratal movements. We conclude from these observations that, first, the animal's PNS and central nervous system (CNS) mediate stages 1 and 2 of bristling, respectively; second, the behavior propagates through the body utilizing both peripheral- and central-origin nerve networks that support different signaling kinetics; and third, the former network inhibits the latter in the body region being stimulated. These findings extend our understanding of the PNS' computational capacity and provide insight into a neuroethological scheme in which the CNS and PNS both independently and interactively pattern different aspects of non-reflexive behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey W Brown
- Stanson Toshok Center for Brain Function and Repair, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA; School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Ondine H Berg
- Neuroscience Program, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL 60045, USA
| | - Anastasiya Boutko
- The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Cody Stoerck
- Department of Psychology, California State University at Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA
| | | | - William N Frost
- Stanson Toshok Center for Brain Function and Repair, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA; School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA; The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hanson A, Reme R, Telerman N, Yamamoto W, Olivo-Marin JC, Lagache T, Yuste R. Automatic monitoring of neural activity with single-cell resolution in behaving Hydra. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5083. [PMID: 38429381 PMCID: PMC10907378 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55608-2] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to record every spike from every neuron in a behaving animal is one of the holy grails of neuroscience. Here, we report coming one step closer towards this goal with the development of an end-to-end pipeline that automatically tracks and extracts calcium signals from individual neurons in the cnidarian Hydra vulgaris. We imaged dually labeled (nuclear tdTomato and cytoplasmic GCaMP7s) transgenic Hydra and developed an open-source Python platform (TraSE-IN) for the Tracking and Spike Estimation of Individual Neurons in the animal during behavior. The TraSE-IN platform comprises a series of modules that segments and tracks each nucleus over time and extracts the corresponding calcium activity in the GCaMP channel. Another series of signal processing modules allows robust prediction of individual spikes from each neuron's calcium signal. This complete pipeline will facilitate the automatic generation and analysis of large-scale datasets of single-cell resolution neural activity in Hydra, and potentially other model organisms, paving the way towards deciphering the neural code of an entire animal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alison Hanson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Neurotechnology Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Raphael Reme
- UMR3691, BioImage Analysis Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Noah Telerman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Neurotechnology Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wataru Yamamoto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Neurotechnology Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Thibault Lagache
- UMR3691, BioImage Analysis Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Rafael Yuste
- Department of Biological Sciences, Neurotechnology Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Laeverenz-Schlogelhofer H, Wan KY. Bioelectric control of locomotor gaits in the walking ciliate Euplotes. Curr Biol 2024; 34:697-709.e6. [PMID: 38237598 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.051] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Diverse animal species exhibit highly stereotyped behavioral actions and locomotor sequences as they explore their natural environments. In many such cases, the neural basis of behavior is well established, where dedicated neural circuitry contributes to the initiation and regulation of certain response sequences. At the microscopic scale, single-celled eukaryotes (protists) also exhibit remarkably complex behaviors and yet are completely devoid of nervous systems. Here, to address the question of how single cells control behavior, we study locomotor patterning in the exemplary hypotrich ciliate Euplotes, a highly polarized cell, which actuates a large number of leg-like appendages called cirri (each a bundle of ∼25-50 cilia) to swim in fluids or walk on surfaces. As it navigates its surroundings, a walking Euplotes cell is routinely observed to perform side-stepping reactions, one of the most sophisticated maneuvers ever observed in a single-celled organism. These are spontaneous and stereotyped reorientation events involving a transient and fast backward motion followed by a turn. Combining high-speed imaging with simultaneous time-resolved electrophysiological recordings, we show that this complex coordinated motion sequence is tightly regulated by rapid membrane depolarization events, which orchestrate the activity of different cirri on the cell. Using machine learning and computer vision methods, we map detailed measurements of cirri dynamics to the cell's membrane bioelectrical activity, revealing a differential response in the front and back cirri. We integrate these measurements with a minimal model to understand how Euplotes-a unicellular organism-manipulates its membrane potential to achieve real-time control over its motor apparatus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kirsty Y Wan
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Holstein TW. Evolution: Neuronal control of an archaic mouth. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R1304-R1306. [PMID: 38113845 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.019] [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: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Cnidarians (corals, hydras, jellyfish, sea anemones) are prey-devouring creatures with a simple nervous system, the function of which is largely unknown. A new study on the freshwater polyp Hydra has now uncovered the neuronal circuits that control its feeding behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Holstein
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Department of Molecular Evolution and Genomics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hanson A, Reme R, Telerman N, Yamamoto W, Olivo-Marin JC, Lagache T, Yuste R. Automatic monitoring of whole-body neural activity in behaving Hydra. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.22.559063. [PMID: 37790332 PMCID: PMC10542483 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.22.559063] [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
The ability to record every spike from every neuron in a behaving animal is one of the holy grails of neuroscience. Here, we report coming one step closer towards this goal with the development of an end-to-end pipeline that automatically tracks and extracts calcium signals from individual neurons in the cnidarian Hydra vulgaris. We imaged dually labeled (nuclear tdTomato and cytoplasmic GCaMP7s) transgenic Hydra and developed an open-source Python platform (TraSE-IN) for the Tracking and Spike Estimation of Individual Neurons in the animal during behavior. The TraSE-IN platform comprises a series of modules that segments and tracks each nucleus over time and extracts the corresponding calcium activity in the GCaMP channel. Another series of signal processing modules allows robust prediction of individual spikes from each neuron's calcium signal. This complete pipeline will facilitate the automatic generation and analysis of large-scale datasets of single-cell resolution neural activity in Hydra, and potentially other model organisms, paving the way towards deciphering the neural code of an entire animal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alison Hanson
- Neurotechnology Center, Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Raphael Reme
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3691, BioImage Analysis Unit, Paris, France
| | - Noah Telerman
- Neurotechnology Center, Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wataru Yamamoto
- Neurotechnology Center, Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Thibault Lagache
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3691, BioImage Analysis Unit, Paris, France
| | - Rafael Yuste
- Neurotechnology Center, Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Yamamoto W, Yuste R. Two-photon manipulation of neuronal activity and behavior in Hydra vulgaris. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102453. [PMID: 37515760 PMCID: PMC10400962 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102453] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The introduction of calcium imaging has rendered cnidarians, such as Hydra vulgaris, valuable model organisms for investigating neuronal activity and behavior. Here, we present a comprehensive protocol to image and manipulate neuronal activity and behavior of Hydra. We describe steps for wide-field imaging and two-photon simulation and ablation of neurons. We then detail imaging behavior and post-ablation analysis. We address challenges that may arise during the preparation and execution of the experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Yamamoto
- Neurotechnology Center, Department Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Rafael Yuste
- Neurotechnology Center, Department Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gahan JM, Cartwright P, Nicotra ML, Schnitzler CE, Steinmetz PRH, Juliano CE. Cnidofest 2022: hot topics in cnidarian research. EvoDevo 2023; 14:13. [PMID: 37620964 PMCID: PMC10463417 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-023-00217-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The second annual Cnidarian Model Systems Meeting, aka "Cnidofest", took place in Davis, California from 7 to 10th of September, 2022. The meeting brought together scientists using cnidarians to study molecular and cellular biology, development and regeneration, evo-devo, neurobiology, symbiosis, physiology, and comparative genomics. The diversity of topics and species represented in presentations highlighted the importance and versatility of cnidarians in addressing a wide variety of biological questions. In keeping with the spirit of the first meeting (and its predecessor, Hydroidfest), almost 75% of oral presentations were given by early career researchers (i.e., graduate students and postdocs). In this review, we present research highlights from the meeting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James M Gahan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgt. 55, 5008, Bergen, Norway
| | - Paulyn Cartwright
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - Matthew L Nicotra
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
- Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Christine E Schnitzler
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Department of Biology, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | | | - Celina E Juliano
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Brown JW, Berg OH, Boutko A, Stoerck C, Boersma MA, Frost WN. Neural division of labor: the gastropod Berghia defends against attack using its PNS to retaliate and its CNS to erect a defensive screen. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.29.551068. [PMID: 37577477 PMCID: PMC10418079 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.29.551068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Relatively little is known about how the peripheral nervous system (PNS) contributes to the patterning of behavior, in which its role transcends the simple execution of central motor commands or mediation of reflexes. We sought to draw inferences to this end in the aeolid nudibranch Berghia stephanieae, which generates a rapid, dramatic defense behavior, "bristling." This behavior involves the coordinated movement of cerata, dozens of venomous appendages emerging from the animal's mantle. Our investigations revealed that bristling constitutes a stereotyped but non-reflexive two-stage behavior: an initial adduction of proximate cerata to sting the offending stimulus (Stage 1), followed by a coordinated radial extension of remaining cerata to create a pincushion-like defensive screen around the animal (Stage 2). In decerebrated specimens, Stage 1 bristling was preserved, while Stage 2 bristling was replaced by slower, uncoordinated, and ultimately maladaptive ceratal movements. We conclude from these observations that 1) the PNS and central nervous system (CNS) mediate Stages 1 and 2 of bristling, respectively; 2) the behavior propagates through the body utilizing both peripheral- and central-origin nerve networks that support different signaling kinetics; and 3) the former network inhibits the latter in the body region being stimulated. These findings extend our understanding of the PNS's computational capacity and provide insight into a neuroethological scheme that may generalize across cephalized animals, in which the CNS and PNS both independently and interactively pattern different aspects of non-reflexive behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey W. Brown
- Stanson Toshok Center for Brain Function and Repair, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064
- School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064
| | - Ondine H. Berg
- Neuroscience Program, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL 60045
| | - Anastasiya Boutko
- The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064
| | - Cody Stoerck
- Department of Psychology, California State University at Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831
| | | | - William N. Frost
- Stanson Toshok Center for Brain Function and Repair, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064
- School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064
- The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Frost WN. Neuroethology: Generating complex behavioral sequences with distributed nerve nets. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R398-R400. [PMID: 37220729 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
How are animals equipped with only diffusely distributed nerve nets able to generate complex behaviors? A new study in Hydra vulgaris proposes that a peptide-based 'wireless connectome' works in concert with two familiar network-coordinating mechanisms to generate the animal's remarkable somersault behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William N Frost
- Cell Biology and Anatomy, The Chicago Medical School, Stanson Toshok Center for Brain Function and Repair, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road North, Chicago, IL 60064, USA.
| |
Collapse
|