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Berkhout JB, Poormoghadam D, Yi C, Kalsbeek A, Meijer OC, Mahfouz A. An integrated single-cell RNA-seq atlas of the mouse hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus links transcriptomic and functional types. J Neuroendocrinol 2024; 36:e13367. [PMID: 38281730 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is a highly complex brain region that is crucial for homeostatic regulation through neuroendocrine signaling, outflow of the autonomic nervous system, and projections to other brain areas. In the past years, single-cell datasets of the hypothalamus have contributed immensely to the current understanding of the diverse hypothalamic cellular composition. While the PVN has been adequately classified functionally, its molecular classification is currently still insufficient. To address this, we created a detailed atlas of PVN transcriptomic cell types by integrating various PVN single-cell datasets into a recently published hypothalamus single-cell transcriptome atlas. Furthermore, we functionally profiled transcriptomic cell types, based on relevant literature, existing retrograde tracing data, and existing single-cell data of a PVN-projection target region. Finally, we validated our findings with immunofluorescent stainings. In our PVN atlas dataset, we identify the well-known different neuropeptide types, each composed of multiple novel subtypes. We identify Avp-Tac1, Avp-Th, Oxt-Foxp1, Crh-Nr3c1, and Trh-Nfib as the most important neuroendocrine subtypes based on markers described in literature. To characterize the preautonomic functional population, we integrated a single-cell retrograde tracing study of spinally projecting preautonomic neurons into our PVN atlas. We identify these (presympathetic) neurons to cocluster with the Adarb2+ clusters in our dataset. Further, we identify the expression of receptors for Crh, Oxt, Penk, Sst, and Trh in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, a key region that the pre-parasympathetic PVN neurons project to. Finally, we identify Trh-Ucn3 and Brs3-Adarb2 as some centrally projecting populations. In conclusion, our study presents a detailed overview of the transcriptomic cell types of the murine PVN and provides a first attempt to resolve functionality for the identified populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- J B Berkhout
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - D Poormoghadam
- Laboratory of Endocrinology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C Yi
- Laboratory of Endocrinology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Kalsbeek
- Laboratory of Endocrinology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - O C Meijer
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - A Mahfouz
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Division of Pattern Recognition and Bioinformatics, Department of Intelligent Systems, Technical University Delft, Delft, The Netherlands
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Horii-Hayashi N, Masuda K, Kato T, Kobayashi K, Inutsuka A, Nambu MF, Tanaka KZ, Inoue K, Nishi M. Entrance-sealing behavior in the home cage: a defensive response to potential threats linked to the serotonergic system and manifestation of repetitive/stereotypic behavior in mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 17:1289520. [PMID: 38249128 PMCID: PMC10799337 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1289520] [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: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The security of animal habitats, such as burrows and nests, is vital for their survival and essential activities, including eating, mating, and raising offspring. Animals instinctively exhibit defensive behaviors to protect themselves from imminent and potential threats. In 1963, researchers reported wild rats sealing the entrances to their burrows from the inside using materials such as mud, sand, and vegetation. This behavior, known as "entrance sealing (ES)," involves repetitive movements of their nose/mouth and forepaws and is likely a proactive measure against potential intruders, which enhances burrow security. These observations provide important insights into the animals' ability to anticipate potential threats that have not yet occurred and take proactive actions. However, this behavior lacks comprehensive investigation, and the neural mechanisms underpinning it remain unclear. Hypothalamic perifornical neurons expressing urocortin-3 respond to novel objects/potential threats and modulate defensive responses to the objects in mice, including risk assessment and burying. In this study, we further revealed that chemogenetic activation of these neurons elicited ES-like behavior in the home-cage. Furthermore, behavioral changes caused by activating these neurons, including manifestations of ES-like behavior, marble-burying, and risk assessment/burying of a novel object, were effectively suppressed by selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors. The c-Fos analysis indicated that ES-like behavior was potentially mediated through GABAergic neurons in the lateral septum. These findings underscore the involvement of hypothalamic neurons in the anticipation of potential threats and proactive defense against them. The links of this security system with the manifestation of repetitive/stereotypic behaviors and the serotonergic system provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Horii-Hayashi
- Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Kazuya Masuda
- Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Taika Kato
- Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Kenta Kobayashi
- Section of Viral Vector Development, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Ayumu Inutsuka
- Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimono, Japan
| | - Miyu F. Nambu
- Memory Research Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), Kunigami-gun, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Z. Tanaka
- Memory Research Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), Kunigami-gun, Japan
| | - Koichi Inoue
- Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Mayumi Nishi
- Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
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García MT, Tran DN, Peterson RE, Stegmann SK, Hanson SM, Reid CM, Xie Y, Vu S, Harwell CC. A developmentally defined population of neurons in the lateral septum controls responses to aversive stimuli. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.24.559205. [PMID: 37873286 PMCID: PMC10592641 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.24.559205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
When interacting with their environment, animals must balance exploratory and defensive behavior to evaluate and respond to potential threats. The lateral septum (LS) is a structure in the ventral forebrain that calibrates the magnitude of behavioral responses to stress-related external stimuli, including the regulation of threat avoidance. The complex connectivity between the LS and other parts of the brain, together with its largely unexplored neuronal diversity, makes it difficult to understand how defined LS circuits control specific behaviors. Here, we describe a mouse model in which a population of neurons with a common developmental origin (Nkx2.1-lineage neurons) are absent from the LS. Using a combination of circuit tracing and behavioral analyses, we found that these neurons receive inputs from the perifornical area of the anterior hypothalamus (PeFAH) and are specifically activated in stressful contexts. Mice lacking Nkx2.1-lineage LS neurons display increased exploratory behavior even under stressful conditions. Our study extends the current knowledge about how defined neuronal populations within the LS can evaluate contextual information to select appropriate behavioral responses. This is a necessary step towards understanding the crucial role that the LS plays in neuropsychiatric conditions where defensive behavior is dysregulated, such as anxiety and aggression disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Turrero García
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research; San Francisco, CA
| | - Diana N. Tran
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
| | | | | | - Sarah M. Hanson
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research; San Francisco, CA
| | - Christopher M. Reid
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research; San Francisco, CA
- Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, Harvard University; Boston, MA
| | - Yajun Xie
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research; San Francisco, CA
| | - Steve Vu
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
| | - Corey C. Harwell
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research; San Francisco, CA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub San Francisco; San Francisco, CA
- Lead contact
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Autry AE, Wu Z, Kapoor V, Kohl J, Bambah-Mukku D, Rubinstein ND, Marin-Rodriguez B, Carta I, Sedwick V, Tang M, Dulac C. Urocortin-3 neurons in the mouse perifornical area promote infant-directed neglect and aggression. eLife 2021; 10:e64680. [PMID: 34423776 PMCID: PMC8452308 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While recent studies have uncovered dedicated neural pathways mediating the positive control of parenting, the regulation of infant-directed aggression and how it relates to adult-adult aggression is poorly understood. Here we show that urocortin-3 (Ucn3)-expressing neurons in the hypothalamic perifornical area (PeFAUcn3) are activated during infant-directed attacks in males and females, but not other behaviors. Functional manipulations of PeFAUcn3 neurons demonstrate the role of this population in the negative control of parenting in both sexes. PeFAUcn3 neurons receive input from areas associated with vomeronasal sensing, stress, and parenting, and send projections to hypothalamic and limbic areas. Optogenetic activation of PeFAUcn3 axon terminals in these regions triggers various aspects of infant-directed agonistic responses, such as neglect, repulsion, and aggression. Thus, PeFAUcn3 neurons emerge as a dedicated circuit component controlling infant-directed neglect and aggression, providing a new framework to understand the positive and negative regulation of parenting in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita E Autry
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
| | - Zheng Wu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Vikrant Kapoor
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Johannes Kohl
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Dhananjay Bambah-Mukku
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Nimrod D Rubinstein
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Brenda Marin-Rodriguez
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Ilaria Carta
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
| | - Victoria Sedwick
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
| | - Ming Tang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- FAS Informatics Group, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Catherine Dulac
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
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Abstract
Behavioral analyses using mice chemogenetically manipulated by designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are powerful tools to elucidate neural functions. Here, we describe the detailed protocols for stereotaxic surgery, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated introduction to Gq-DREADDs in mice, and for behavioral testing and analyses related to anxiety, risk assessment, and burying behaviors. A series of these tests are useful in evaluating animal anxiety and their defensive response patterns to potential threats. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Horii-Hayashi et al. (2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Horii-Hayashi
- Anatomy and Cell Biology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Mayumi Nishi
- Anatomy and Cell Biology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan
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