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Li X, Hao S, Zou S, Tu X, Kong W, Jiang T, Chen JG. Cortex-restricted deletion of Foxp1 impairs barrel formation and induces aberrant tactile responses in a mouse model of autism. Mol Autism 2023; 14:34. [PMID: 37691105 PMCID: PMC10494400 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-023-00567-0] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many children and young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display touch defensiveness or avoidance (hypersensitivity), or engage in sensory seeking by touching people or objects (hyposensitivity). Abnormal sensory responses have also been noticed in mice lacking ASD-associated genes. Tactile sensory information is normally processed by the somatosensory system that travels along the thalamus to the primary somatosensory cortex. The neurobiology behind tactile sensory abnormalities, however, is not fully understood. METHODS We employed cortex-specific Foxp1 knockout (Foxp1-cKO) mice as a model of autism in this study. Tactile sensory deficits were measured by the adhesive removal test. The mice's behavior and neural activity were further evaluated by the whisker nuisance test and c-Fos immunofluorescence, respectively. We also studied the dendritic spines and barrel formation in the primary somatosensory cortex by Golgi staining and immunofluorescence. RESULTS Foxp1-cKO mice had a deferred response to the tactile environment. However, the mice exhibited avoidance behavior and hyper-reaction following repeated whisker stimulation, similar to a fight-or-flight response. In contrast to the wild-type, c-Fos was activated in the basolateral amygdala but not in layer IV of the primary somatosensory cortex of the cKO mice. Moreover, Foxp1 deficiency in cortical neurons altered the dendrite development, reduced the number of dendritic spines, and disrupted barrel formation in the somatosensory cortex, suggesting impaired somatosensory processing may underlie the aberrant tactile responses. LIMITATIONS It is still unclear how the defective thalamocortical connection gives rise to the hyper-reactive response. Future experiments with electrophysiological recording are needed to analyze the role of thalamo-cortical-amygdala circuits in the disinhibiting amygdala and enhanced fearful responses in the mouse model of autism. CONCLUSIONS Foxp1-cKO mice have tactile sensory deficits while exhibit hyper-reactivity, which may represent fearful and emotional responses controlled by the amygdala. This study presents anatomical evidence for reduced thalamocortical connectivity in a genetic mouse model of ASD and demonstrates that the cerebral cortex can be the origin of atypical sensory behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China
| | - Shishuai Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China
| | - Shimin Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaomeng Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China
| | - Weixi Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian Jiang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Wenling Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenling, 317500, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie-Guang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Rao MS, Mizuno H, Iwasato T, Mizuno H. Ras GTPase-activating proteins control neuronal circuit development in barrel cortex layer 4. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:901774. [PMID: 36188467 PMCID: PMC9523512 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.901774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebral cortex comprises a complex and exquisite network of neuronal circuits that is formed during development. To explore the molecular mechanisms involved in cortical circuit formation, the tactile somatosensory pathway that connects the whiskers and cortex of rodents is a useful model. Here, we analyzed the roles of Ras GTPase-activating proteins (RasGAPs) in the circuit formation in the somatosensory cortex layer 4 (L4). We suppressed the function of RasGAPs in L4 neurons using Supernova RNAi, a plasmid vector-based sparse cell gene knockdown (KD) system. The results showed disrupted dendritic pattern formation of L4 spiny stellate neurons on the barrel edge by RasGAP KD. Furthermore, the number of presynaptic boutons on L4 neurons was reduced by RasGAP KD. These results demonstrate the essential roles of RasGAPs in circuit formation in the cerebral cortex and imply that developmental changes in dendrites and synapses in RasGAP KD neurons may be related to cognitive disabilities in RasGAP-deficient individuals, such as patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhura S. Rao
- Laboratory of Multi-Dimensional Imaging, International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hiromi Mizuno
- Laboratory of Multi-Dimensional Imaging, International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takuji Iwasato
- Laboratory of Mammalian Neural Circuits, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
- Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Mishima, Japan
| | - Hidenobu Mizuno
- Laboratory of Multi-Dimensional Imaging, International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- *Correspondence: Hidenobu Mizuno,
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3
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Nakazawa S, Iwasato T. Spatial organization and transitions of spontaneous neuronal activities in the developing sensory cortex. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:323-339. [PMID: 34166527 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The sensory cortex underlies our ability to perceive and interact with the external world. Sensory perceptions are controlled by specialized neuronal circuits established through fine-tuning, which relies largely on neuronal activity during the development. Spontaneous neuronal activity is an essential driving force of neuronal circuit refinement. At early developmental stages, sensory cortices display spontaneous activities originating from the periphery and characterized by correlated firing arranged spatially according to the modality. The firing patterns are reorganized over time and become sparse, which is typical for the mature brain. This review focuses mainly on rodent sensory cortices. First, the features of the spontaneous activities during early postnatal stages are described. Then, the developmental changes in the spatial organization of the spontaneous activities and the transition mechanisms involved are discussed. The identification of the principles controlling the spatial organization of spontaneous activities in the developing sensory cortex is essential to understand the self-organization process of neuronal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Nakazawa
- Laboratory of Mammalian Neural Circuits, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan.,Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Takuji Iwasato
- Laboratory of Mammalian Neural Circuits, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan.,Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Japan
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4
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NMDA Receptor Enhances Correlation of Spontaneous Activity in Neonatal Barrel Cortex. J Neurosci 2021; 41:1207-1217. [PMID: 33372060 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0527-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Correlated spontaneous activity plays critical role in the organization of neocortical circuits during development. However, cortical mechanisms regulating activity correlation are still elusive. In this study, using two-photon calcium imaging of the barrel cortex layer 4 (L4) in living neonatal mice, we found that NMDA receptors (NMDARs) in L4 neurons are important for enhancement of spontaneous activity correlation. Disruption of GluN1 (Grin1), an obligatory NMDAR subunit, in a sparse population of L4 neurons reduced activity correlation between GluN1 knock-out (GluN1KO) neuron pairs within a barrel. This reduction in activity correlation was even detected in L4 neuron pairs in neighboring barrels and most evident when either or both of neurons are located on the barrel edge. Our results provide evidence for the involvement of L4 neuron NMDARs in spatial organization of the spontaneous firing activity of L4 neurons in the neonatal barrel cortex.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Precise wiring of the thalamocortical circuits is necessary for proper sensory information processing, and thalamus-derived correlated spontaneous activity is important for thalamocortical circuit formation. The molecular mechanisms involved in the correlated activity transfer from the thalamus to the neocortex are largely unknown. In vivo two-photon calcium imaging of the neonatal barrel cortex revealed that correlated spontaneous activity between layer four neurons is reduced by mosaic knock-out (KO) of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) obligatory subunit GluN1. Our results suggest that the function of NMDARs in layer four neurons is necessary for the communication between presynaptic and postsynaptic partners during thalamocortical circuit formation.
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5
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Rao MS, Mizuno H. Elucidating mechanisms of neuronal circuit formation in layer 4 of the somatosensory cortex via intravital imaging. Neurosci Res 2020; 167:47-53. [PMID: 33309867 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2020.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The cerebral cortex has complex yet perfectly wired neuronal circuits that are important for high-level brain functions such as perception and cognition. The rodent's somatosensory system is widely used for understanding the mechanisms of circuit formation during early developmental periods. In this review, we summarize the developmental processes of circuit formation in layer 4 of the somatosensory cortex, and we describe the molecules involved in layer 4 circuit formation and neuronal activity-dependent mechanisms of circuit formation. We also introduce the dynamic mechanisms of circuit formation in layer 4 revealed by intravital two-photon imaging technologies, which include time-lapse imaging of neuronal morphology and calcium imaging of neuronal activity in newborn mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhura S Rao
- Laboratory of Multi-dimensional Imaging, International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan; Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Hidenobu Mizuno
- Laboratory of Multi-dimensional Imaging, International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan; Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan.
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6
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Huang JY, Krebs BB, Miskus ML, Russell ML, Duffy EP, Graf JM, Lu HC. Enhanced FGFR3 activity in postmitotic principal neurons during brain development results in cortical dysplasia and axonal tract abnormality. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18508. [PMID: 33116259 PMCID: PMC7595096 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75537-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal levels of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and FGF receptors (FGFRs) have been detected in various neurological disorders. The potent impact of FGF-FGFR in multiple embryonic developmental processes makes it challenging to elucidate their roles in postmitotic neurons. Taking an alternative approach to examine the impact of aberrant FGFR function on glutamatergic neurons, we generated a FGFR gain-of-function (GOF) transgenic mouse, which expresses constitutively activated FGFR3 (FGFR3K650E) in postmitotic glutamatergic neurons. We found that GOF disrupts mitosis of radial-glia neural progenitors (RGCs), inside-out radial migration of post-mitotic glutamatergic neurons, and axonal tract projections. In particular, late-born CUX1-positive neurons are widely dispersed throughout the GOF cortex. Such a cortical migration deficit is likely caused, at least in part, by a significant reduction of the radial processes projecting from RGCs. RNA-sequencing analysis of the GOF embryonic cortex reveals significant alterations in several pathways involved in cell cycle regulation and axonal pathfinding. Collectively, our data suggest that FGFR3 GOF in postmitotic neurons not only alters axonal growth of postmitotic neurons but also impairs RGC neurogenesis and radial glia processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Yen Huang
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, the Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
| | - Bruna Baumgarten Krebs
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, the Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Marisha Lynn Miskus
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - May Lin Russell
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Eamonn Patrick Duffy
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Jason Michael Graf
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Hui-Chen Lu
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, the Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
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7
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Clark EA, Rutlin M, Capano LS, Aviles S, Saadon JR, Taneja P, Zhang Q, Bullis JB, Lauer T, Myers E, Schulmann A, Forrest D, Nelson SB. Cortical RORβ is required for layer 4 transcriptional identity and barrel integrity. eLife 2020; 9:e52370. [PMID: 32851975 PMCID: PMC7492084 DOI: 10.7554/elife.52370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid-related orphan receptor beta (RORβ) is a transcription factor (TF) and marker of layer 4 (L4) neurons, which are distinctive both in transcriptional identity and the ability to form aggregates such as barrels in rodent somatosensory cortex. However, the relationship between transcriptional identity and L4 cytoarchitecture is largely unknown. We find RORβ is required in the cortex for L4 aggregation into barrels and thalamocortical afferent (TCA) segregation. Interestingly, barrel organization also degrades with age in wildtype mice. Loss of RORβ delays excitatory input and disrupts gene expression and chromatin accessibility, with down-regulation of L4 and up-regulation of L5 genes, suggesting a disruption in cellular specification. Expression and binding site accessibility change for many other TFs, including closure of neurodevelopmental TF binding sites and increased expression and binding capacity of activity-regulated TFs. Lastly, a putative target of RORβ, Thsd7a, is down-regulated without RORβ, and Thsd7a knock-out alone disrupts TCA organization in adult barrels.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, Surface/chemistry
- Antigens, Surface/genetics
- Antigens, Surface/metabolism
- Female
- Male
- Membrane Proteins/chemistry
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Membrane Proteins/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- Neurons/chemistry
- Neurons/cytology
- Neurons/metabolism
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 2/chemistry
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 2/genetics
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 2/metabolism
- Somatosensory Cortex/chemistry
- Somatosensory Cortex/cytology
- Somatosensory Cortex/metabolism
- Somatosensory Cortex/physiology
- Thalamus/chemistry
- Thalamus/metabolism
- Transcription Factors/chemistry
- Transcription Factors/genetics
- Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Transcriptome/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin A Clark
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Michael Rutlin
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Lucia S Capano
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Samuel Aviles
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Jordan R Saadon
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Praveen Taneja
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Qiyu Zhang
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - James B Bullis
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Timothy Lauer
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Emma Myers
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | | | - Douglas Forrest
- Laboratory of Endocrinology and Receptor Biology, National Institutes of Health, NIDDKBethesdaUnited States
| | - Sacha B Nelson
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
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8
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Krishna G, Bromberg C, Connell EC, Mian E, Hu C, Lifshitz J, Adelson PD, Thomas TC. Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Sex-Dependent Changes in Late-Onset Sensory Hypersensitivity and Glutamate Neurotransmission. Front Neurol 2020; 11:749. [PMID: 32849211 PMCID: PMC7419702 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Women approximate one-third of the annual 2.8 million people in the United States who sustain traumatic brain injury (TBI). Several clinical reports support or refute that menstrual cycle-dependent fluctuations in sex hormones are associated with severity of persisting post-TBI symptoms. Previously, we reported late-onset sensory hypersensitivity to whisker stimulation that corresponded with changes in glutamate neurotransmission at 1-month following diffuse TBI in male rats. Here, we incorporated intact age-matched naturally cycling females into the experimental design while monitoring daily estrous cycle. We hypothesized that sex would not influence late-onset sensory hypersensitivity and associated in vivo amperometric extracellular recordings of glutamate neurotransmission within the behaviorally relevant thalamocortical circuit. At 28 days following midline fluid percussion injury (FPI) or sham surgery, young adult Sprague-Dawley rats were tested for hypersensitivity to whisker stimulation using the whisker nuisance task (WNT). As predicted, both male and female rats showed significantly increased sensory hypersensitivity to whisker stimulation after FPI, with females having an overall decrease in whisker nuisance scores (sex effect), but no injury and sex interaction. In males, FPI increased potassium chloride (KCl)-evoked glutamate overflow in primary somatosensory barrel cortex (S1BF) and ventral posteromedial nucleus of the thalamus (VPM), while in females the FPI effect was discernible only within the VPM. Similar to our previous report, we found the glutamate clearance parameters were not influenced by FPI, while a sex-specific effect was evident with female rats showing a lower uptake rate constant both in S1BF and VPM and longer clearance time (in S1BF) in comparison to male rats. Fluctuations in estrous cycle were evident among brain-injured females with longer diestrus (low circulating hormone) phase of the cycle over 28 days post-TBI. Together, these findings add to growing evidence indicating both similarities and differences between sexes in a chronic response to TBI. A better understanding of the influence of gonadal hormones on behavior, neurotransmission, secondary injury and repair processes after TBI is needed both clinically and translationally, with potential impact on acute treatment, rehabilitation, and symptom management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gokul Krishna
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Caitlin Bromberg
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Emily Charlotte Connell
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Erum Mian
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Chengcheng Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Jonathan Lifshitz
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - P. David Adelson
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Theresa Currier Thomas
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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9
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Vitalis T, Dauphinot L, Gressens P, Potier MC, Mariani J, Gaspar P. RORα Coordinates Thalamic and Cortical Maturation to Instruct Barrel Cortex Development. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:3994-4007. [PMID: 29040410 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The retinoic acid-related orphan receptor alpha (RORα) is well-known for its role in cerebellar development and maturation as revealed in staggerer mice. However, its potential involvement in the development of other brain regions has hardly been assessed. Here, we describe a new role of RORα in the development of primary somatosensory maps. Staggerer mice showed a complete disruption of barrels in the somatosensory cortex and of barreloids in the thalamus. This phenotype results from a severe reduction of thalamocortical axon (TCA) branching and a defective maturation of layer IV cortical neurons during postnatal development. Conditional deletion of RORα was conducted in the thalamus or the cortex to determine the specific contribution of RORα in each of these structures to these phenotypes. This showed that RORα is cell-autonomously required in the thalamus for the organization of TCAs into periphery-related clusters and in the somatosensory cortex for the dendritic maturation of layer IV neurons. Microarray analyses revealed that Sema7a, Neph, and Adcy8 are RORα regulated genes that could be implicated in TCA and cortical maturation. Overall, our study outlines a new role of RORα for the coordinated maturation of the somatosensory thalamus and cortex during the assembly of columnar barrel structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Vitalis
- PROTECT, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Luce Dauphinot
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 7225, INSERM U1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Gressens
- PROTECT, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Claude Potier
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 7225, INSERM U1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, Paris, France
| | - Jean Mariani
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR 8256, Institut de Biologie de Paris Seine (IBPS), Biological adaptation and ageing (B2A), Team Brain Development, Repair and Ageing, Paris, France
- APHP, DHU FAST, Institut de la Longévité, Ivry-Sur-Seine, France
| | - Patricia Gaspar
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- INSERM, UMR-S839, Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
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10
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Huang JY, Lu HC. mGluR5 Tunes NGF/TrkA Signaling to Orient Spiny Stellate Neuron Dendrites Toward Thalamocortical Axons During Whisker-Barrel Map Formation. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:1991-2006. [PMID: 28453662 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons receive and integrate synaptic inputs at their dendrites, thus dendritic patterning shapes neural connectivity and behavior. Aberrant dendritogenesis is present in neurodevelopmental disorders such as Down's syndrome and autism. Abnormal glutamatergic signaling has been observed in these diseases, as has dysfunction of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5). Deleting mGluR5 in cortical glutamatergic neurons disrupted their coordinated dendritic outgrowth toward thalamocortical axons and perturbed somatosensory circuits. Here we show that mGluR5 loss-of-function disrupts dendritogenesis of cortical neurons by increasing mRNA levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10), in part through calcium-permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPARs), as the whisker-barrel map is forming. Postnatal NGF and FGF10 expression in cortical layer IV spiny stellate neurons differentially impacted dendritic patterns. Remarkably, NGF-expressing neurons exhibited dendritic patterns resembling mGluR5 knockout neurons: increased total dendritic length/complexity and reduced polarity. Furthermore, suppressing the kinase activity of TrkA, a major NGF receptor, prevents aberrant dendritic patterning in barrel cortex of mGluR5 knockout neurons. These results reveal novel roles for NGF-TrkA signaling and CP-AMPARs for proper dendritic development of cortical neurons. This is the first in vivo demonstration that cortical neuronal NGF expression modulates dendritic patterning during postnatal brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Yen Huang
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, the Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.,The Cain Foundation Laboratories, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hui-Chen Lu
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, the Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.,The Cain Foundation Laboratories, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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11
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Hedrich J, Angamo EA, Conrad A, Lutz B, Luhmann HJ. Cell type specific impact of cannabinoid receptor signaling in somatosensory barrel map formation in mice. J Comp Neurol 2019; 528:3-13. [PMID: 31226222 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Endocannabinoids and their receptors are highly abundant in the developing cerebral cortex and play major roles in early developmental processes, for example, neuronal proliferation, migration, and axonal guidance as well as postnatal plasticity. To investigate the role of the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1) in the formation of sensory maps in the cerebral cortex, the topographic representation of the whiskers in the primary somatosensory cortex (barrel field) of adult mice with different cell type specific genetic deletion of CB1 was studied. A constitutive absence of CB1 (CB1-KO) significantly decreased the total area of the somatosensory cortical map, affecting barrel, and septal areas. Cell specific CB1 deletion in dorsal telencephalic glutamatergic neurons only (Glu-CB1-KO) or in both glutamatergic and forebrain GABAergic neurons (Glu/GABA-CB1-KO) resulted in an increased septa area in the barrel field map. No significant modifications in area parameters could be observed in GABA-CB1-KO mice. These data demonstrate that CB1 signaling especially in cortical glutamatergic neurons is essential for the development of topographic maps in the cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Hedrich
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Eskedar A Angamo
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Andrea Conrad
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Beat Lutz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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12
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Kinoshita N, Huang AJY, McHugh TJ, Suzuki SC, Masai I, Kim IH, Soderling SH, Miyawaki A, Shimogori T. Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Indicator GRAPHIC Delineates Intercellular Connections. iScience 2019; 15:28-38. [PMID: 31026667 PMCID: PMC6482341 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Intercellular contacts are essential for precise organ morphogenesis, function, and maintenance; however, spatiotemporal information of cell-cell contacts or adhesions remains elusive in many systems. We developed a genetically encoded fluorescent indicator for intercellular contacts with optimized intercellular GFP reconstitution using glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, GRAPHIC (GPI anchored reconstitution-activated proteins highlight intercellular connections), which can be used for an expanded number of cell types. We observed a robust GFP signal specifically at the interface between cultured cells, without disrupting natural cell contact. Application of GRAPHIC to the fish retina specifically delineated cone-bipolar connection sites. Moreover, we showed that GRAPHIC can be used in the mouse central nervous system to delineate synaptic sites in the thalamocortical circuit. Finally, we generated GRAPHIC color variants, enabling detection of multiple convergent contacts simultaneously in cell culture system. We demonstrated that GRAPHIC has high sensitivity and versatility, which will facilitate the analysis of the complex multicellular connections without previous limitations. Development of GRAPHIC to visualize intercellular contact site GPI anchor and different split site provides stronger fluorescent signal GRAPHIC can be used to delineate synaptic site in mouse CNS and zebrafish retina GRAPHIC color variants for multi–contact site visualization
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagatoki Kinoshita
- Molecular Mechanisms of Brain Development, Center for Brain Science (CBS), RIKEN, Saitama, Japan; Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Thomas J McHugh
- Circuit and Behavioral Physiology, CBS, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Sachihiro C Suzuki
- Developmental Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), Okinawa, Japan
| | - Ichiro Masai
- Developmental Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), Okinawa, Japan
| | - Il Hwan Kim
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Scott H Soderling
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Atsushi Miyawaki
- Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Tokyo, Japan; Cell Function Dynamics, CBS, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Tomomi Shimogori
- Molecular Mechanisms of Brain Development, Center for Brain Science (CBS), RIKEN, Saitama, Japan.
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13
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Mizuno H, Ikezoe K, Nakazawa S, Sato T, Kitamura K, Iwasato T. Patchwork-Type Spontaneous Activity in Neonatal Barrel Cortex Layer 4 Transmitted via Thalamocortical Projections. Cell Rep 2019; 22:123-135. [PMID: 29298415 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Revised: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Establishment of precise neuronal connectivity in the neocortex relies on activity-dependent circuit reorganization during postnatal development; however, the nature of cortical activity during this period remains largely unknown. Using two-photon calcium imaging of the barrel cortex in vivo during the first postnatal week, we reveal that layer 4 (L4) neurons within the same barrel fire synchronously in the absence of peripheral stimulation, creating a "patchwork" pattern of spontaneous activity corresponding to the barrel map. By generating transgenic mice expressing GCaMP6s in thalamocortical axons, we show that thalamocortical axons also demonstrate the spontaneous patchwork activity pattern. Patchwork activity is diminished by peripheral anesthesia but is mostly independent of self-generated whisker movements. The patchwork activity pattern largely disappeared during postnatal week 2, as even L4 neurons within the same barrel tended to fire asynchronously. This spontaneous L4 activity pattern has features suitable for thalamocortical (TC) circuit refinement in the neonatal barrel cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenobu Mizuno
- Division of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan; Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima 411-8540, Japan.
| | - Koji Ikezoe
- Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
| | - Shingo Nakazawa
- Division of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan; Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima 411-8540, Japan
| | - Takuya Sato
- Division of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kitamura
- Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
| | - Takuji Iwasato
- Division of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan; Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima 411-8540, Japan.
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14
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Kitazawa T, Rijli FM. Barrelette map formation in the prenatal mouse brainstem. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 53:210-219. [PMID: 30342228 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The rodent whiskers are topographically mapped in brainstem sensory nuclei as neuronal modules known as barrelettes. Little is known about how the facial whisker pattern is copied into a brainstem barrelette topographic pattern, which serves as a template for the establishment of thalamic barreloid and, in turn, cortical barrel maps, and how precisely is the whisker pattern mapped in the brainstem during prenatal development. Here, we review recent insights advancing our understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic patterning mechanisms contributing to establish topographical equivalence between the facial whisker pattern and the mouse brainstem during prenatal development and their relative importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taro Kitazawa
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Filippo M Rijli
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland.
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15
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Sun L, Chen R, Bai Y, Li J, Wu Q, Shen Q, Wang X. Morphological and Physiological Characteristics of Ebf2-EGFP-Expressing Cajal-Retzius Cells in Developing Mouse Neocortex. Cereb Cortex 2018; 29:3864-3878. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells are one of the earliest populations of neurons in the cerebral cortex of rodents and primates, and they play a critical role in corticogenesis and cortical lamination during neocortical development. However, a comprehensive morphological and physiological profile of CR cells in the mouse neocortex has not yet been established. Here, we systematically investigated the dynamic development of CR cells in Tg(Ebf2-EGFP)58Gsat/Mmcd mice. The morphological complexity, membrane activities and presynaptic inputs of CR cells coordinately increase and reach a plateau at P5–P9 before regressing. Using 3D reconstruction, we delineated a parallel-stratification pattern of the axonal extension of CR cells. Furthermore, we found that the morphological structure and presynaptic inputs of CR cells were disturbed in Reelin-deficient mice. These findings confirm that CR cells undergo a transient maturation process in layer 1 before disappearing. Importantly, Reelin deficiency impairs the formation of synaptic connections onto CR cells. In conclusion, our results provide insights into the rapid maturation and axonal stratification of CR cells in layer 1. These findings suggest that both the electrophysiological activities and the morphology of CR cells provide vital guidance for the modulation of early circuits, in a Reelin-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Sun
- Institute of Biophysics, State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ruiguo Chen
- Institute of Biophysics, State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- The College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ye Bai
- Institute of Biophysics, State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- The College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Li
- PTN graduate program, School of Life Science, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Wu
- Institute of Biophysics, State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qin Shen
- Tongji Hospital, Brain and Spinal Cord Innovative Research Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- Institute of Biophysics, State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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16
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Almeida-Corrêa S, Czisch M, Wotjak CT. In Vivo Visualization of Active Polysynaptic Circuits With Longitudinal Manganese-Enhanced MRI (MEMRI). Front Neural Circuits 2018; 12:42. [PMID: 29887796 PMCID: PMC5981681 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) is a powerful tool for in vivo non-invasive whole-brain mapping of neuronal activity. Mn2+ enters active neurons via voltage-gated calcium channels and increases local contrast in T1-weighted images. Given the property of Mn2+ of axonal transport, this technique can also be used for tract tracing after local administration of the contrast agent. However, MEMRI is still not widely employed in basic research due to the lack of a complete description of the Mn2+ dynamics in the brain. Here, we sought to investigate how the activity state of neurons modulates interneuronal Mn2+ transport. To this end, we injected mice with low dose MnCl2 2. (i.p., 20 mg/kg; repeatedly for 8 days) followed by two MEMRI scans at an interval of 1 week without further MnCl2 injections. We assessed changes in T1 contrast intensity before (scan 1) and after (scan 2) partial sensory deprivation (unilateral whisker trimming), while keeping the animals in a sensory enriched environment. After correcting for the general decay in Mn2+ content, whole brain analysis revealed a single cluster with higher signal in scan 1 compared to scan 2: the left barrel cortex corresponding to the right untrimmed whiskers. In the inverse contrast (scan 2 > scan 1), a number of brain structures, including many efferents of the left barrel cortex were observed. These results suggest that continuous neuronal activity elicited by ongoing sensory stimulation accelerates Mn2+ transport from the uptake site to its projection terminals, while the blockage of sensory-input and the resulting decrease in neuronal activity attenuates Mn2+ transport. The description of this critical property of Mn2+ dynamics in the brain allows a better understanding of MEMRI functional mechanisms, which will lead to more carefully designed experiments and clearer interpretation of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suellen Almeida-Corrêa
- Department of Stress Neurobiology & Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Czisch
- Core Unit Neuroimaging, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Carsten T Wotjak
- Department of Stress Neurobiology & Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
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17
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Gaspar P, Renier N. Constraints on somatosensory map development: mutants lead the way. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 53:43-49. [PMID: 29753205 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In the rodent somatosensory system, the disproportionally large whisker representation and their specialization into barrel-shaped units in the different sensory relays has offered experimentalists with an ideal tool to identify mechanisms involved in brain map formation. These combine three intertwined constraints: Firstly, fasciculation of the incoming axons; secondly, early neural activity; finally, molecular patterning. Sophisticated genetic manipulations in mice have now allowed dissecting these mechanisms with greater accuracy. Here we discuss some recent papers that provided novel insights into how these different mapping rules and constraints interact to shape the barrel map.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Gaspar
- Inserm, U839, Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France; Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France.
| | - Nicolas Renier
- Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France; Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière (ICM) - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Inserm, CNRS, Paris, France
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18
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Fetal extracellular matrix nerve wraps locally improve peripheral nerve remodeling after complete transection and direct repair in rat. Sci Rep 2018. [PMID: 29540763 PMCID: PMC5852088 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22628-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In peripheral nerve (PN) injuries requiring surgical repair, as in PN transection, cellular and ECM remodeling at PN epineurial repair sites is hypothesized to reduce PN functional outcomes by slowing, misdirecting, or preventing axons from regrowing appropriately across the repair site. Herein this study reports on deriving and analyzing fetal porcine urinary bladder extracellular matrix (fUB-ECM) by vacuum assisted decellularization, fabricating fUBM-ECM nerve wraps, and testing fUB-ECM nerve wrap biocompatibility and bioactivity in a trigeminal, infraorbital nerve (ION) branch transection and direct end-to-end repair model in rat. FUB-ECM nerve wraps significantly improved epi- and endoneurial organization and increased both neovascularization and growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) expression at PN repair sites, 28-days post surgery. However, the number of neurofilament positive axons, remyelination, and whisker-evoked response properties of ION axons were unaltered, indicating improved tissue remodeling per se does not predict axon regrowth, remyelination, and the return of mechanoreceptor cortical signaling. This study shows fUB-ECM nerve wraps are biocompatible, bioactive, and good experimental and potentially clinical devices for treating epineurial repairs. Moreover, this study highlights the value provided by precise, analytic models, like the ION repair model, in understanding how PN tissue remodeling relates to axonal regrowth, remyelination, and axonal response properties.
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19
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Wang CF, Hsing HW, Zhuang ZH, Wen MH, Chang WJ, Briz CG, Nieto M, Shyu BC, Chou SJ. Lhx2 Expression in Postmitotic Cortical Neurons Initiates Assembly of the Thalamocortical Somatosensory Circuit. Cell Rep 2017; 18:849-856. [PMID: 28122236 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 12/03/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical neurons must be specified and make the correct connections during development. Here, we examine a mechanism initiating neuronal circuit formation in the barrel cortex, a circuit comprising thalamocortical axons (TCAs) and layer 4 (L4) neurons. When Lhx2 is selectively deleted in postmitotic cortical neurons using conditional knockout (cKO) mice, L4 neurons in the barrel cortex are initially specified but fail to form cellular barrels or develop polarized dendrites. In Lhx2 cKO mice, TCAs from the thalamic ventral posterior nucleus reach the barrel cortex but fail to further arborize to form barrels. Several activity-regulated genes and genes involved in regulating barrel formation are downregulated in the Lhx2 cKO somatosensory cortex. Among them, Btbd3, an activity-regulated gene controlling dendritic development, is a direct downstream target of Lhx2. We find that Lhx2 confers neuronal competency for activity-dependent dendritic development in L4 neurons by inducing the expression of Btbd3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Fang Wang
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Wei Hsing
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Zi-Hui Zhuang
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Hsuan Wen
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Jen Chang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Carlos G Briz
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CNB-CSIC, Darwin 3, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Marta Nieto
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CNB-CSIC, Darwin 3, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Bai Chuang Shyu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Shen-Ju Chou
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
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20
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Pyronneau A, He Q, Hwang JY, Porch M, Contractor A, Zukin RS. Aberrant Rac1-cofilin signaling mediates defects in dendritic spines, synaptic function, and sensory perception in fragile X syndrome. Sci Signal 2017; 10:10/504/eaan0852. [PMID: 29114038 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aan0852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disabilities and a leading cause of autism. FXS is caused by a trinucleotide expansion in the gene FMR1 on the X chromosome. The neuroanatomical hallmark of FXS is an overabundance of immature dendritic spines, a factor thought to underlie synaptic dysfunction and impaired cognition. We showed that aberrantly increased activity of the Rho GTPase Rac1 inhibited the actin-depolymerizing factor cofilin, a major determinant of dendritic spine structure, and caused disease-associated spine abnormalities in the somatosensory cortex of FXS model mice. Increased cofilin phosphorylation and actin polymerization coincided with abnormal dendritic spines and impaired synaptic maturation. Viral delivery of a constitutively active cofilin mutant (cofilinS3A) into the somatosensory cortex of Fmr1-deficient mice rescued the immature dendritic spine phenotype and increased spine density. Inhibition of the Rac1 effector PAK1 with a small-molecule inhibitor rescued cofilin signaling in FXS mice, indicating a causal relationship between PAK1 and cofilin signaling. PAK1 inhibition rescued synaptic signaling (specifically the synaptic ratio of NMDA/AMPA in layer V pyramidal neurons) and improved sensory processing in FXS mice. These findings suggest a causal relationship between increased Rac1-cofilin signaling, synaptic defects, and impaired sensory processing in FXS and uncover a previously unappreciated role for impaired Rac1-cofilin signaling in the aberrant spine morphology and spine density associated with FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Pyronneau
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Qionger He
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jee-Yeon Hwang
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Morgan Porch
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Anis Contractor
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.,Department of Neurobiology, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - R Suzanne Zukin
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA.
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FGF-FGFR Mediates the Activity-Dependent Dendritogenesis of Layer IV Neurons during Barrel Formation. J Neurosci 2017; 37:12094-12105. [PMID: 29097598 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1174-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and FGF receptors (FGFRs) are known for their potent effects on cell proliferation/differentiation and cortical patterning in the developing brain. However, little is known regarding the roles of FGFs/FGFRs in cortical circuit formation. Here we show that Fgfr1/2/3 and Fgf7/9/10/22 mRNAs are expressed in the developing primary somatosensory (S1) barrel cortex. Barrel cortex layer IV spiny stellate cells (bSCs) are the primary recipients of ascending sensory information via thalamocortical axons (TCAs). Detail quantification revealed distinctive phases for bSC dendritogenesis: orienting dendrites toward TCAs, adding de novo dendritic segments, and elongating dendritic length, while maintaining dendritic patterns. Deleting Fgfr1/2/3 in bSCs had minimal impact on dendritic polarity but transiently increased the number of dendritic segments. However, 6 d later, FGFR1/2/3 loss of function reduced dendritic branch numbers. These data suggest that FGFs/FGFRs have a role in stabilizing dendritic patterning. Depolarization of cultured mouse cortical neurons upregulated the levels of several Fgf/Fgfr mRNAs within 2 h. In vivo, within 6 h of systemic kainic acid administration at postnatal day 6, mRNA levels of Fgf9, Fgf10, Fgfr2c, and Fgfr3b in S1 cortices were enhanced, and this was accompanied by exuberant dendritogenesis of bSCs by 24 h. Deleting Fgfr1/2/3 abolished kainic acid-induced bSC dendritic overgrowth. Finally, FGF9/10 gain of function also resulted in extensive dendritogenesis. Together, our data suggest that FGFs/FGFRs can be regulated by glutamate transmission to modulate/stabilize bSC dendritic complexity. Both male and female mice were used for our study.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Glutamatergic transmission plays critical roles in cortical circuit formation. Its dysregulation has been proposed as a core factor in the etiology of many neurological diseases. We found that excessive glutamate transmission upregulated mRNA expression of Fgfrs and their ligands Fgfs Deleting Fgfr1/2/3 not only impaired bSC dendritogenesis but also abolished glutamate transmission-induced dendritic overgrowth. Overexpressing FGF9 or FGF10 in cortical glutamatergic neurons results in excessive dendritic outgrowth within 24 h, resembling the changes induced by excessive glutamate transmission. Our findings provide strong evidence for the physiological role of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and FGF receptors (FGFRs) in establishing and maintaining cortical circuits. Perturbing the expression levels of FGFs/FGFRs by excessive glutamatergic neurotransmission could lead to abnormal neuronal circuits, which may contribute to neurological and psychiatric disease.
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22
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Jamann N, Jordan M, Engelhardt M. Activity-dependent axonal plasticity in sensory systems. Neuroscience 2017; 368:268-282. [PMID: 28739523 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The rodent whisker-to-barrel cortex pathway is a classic model to study the effects of sensory experience and deprivation on neuronal circuit formation, not only during development but also in the adult. Decades of research have produced a vast body of evidence highlighting the fundamental role of neuronal activity (spontaneous and/or sensory-evoked) for circuit formation and function. In this context, it has become clear that neuronal adaptation and plasticity is not just a function of the neonatal brain, but persists into adulthood, especially after experience-driven modulation of network status. Mechanisms for structural remodeling of the somatodendritic or axonal domain include microscale alterations of neurites or synapses. At the same time, functional alterations at the nanoscale such as expression or activation changes of channels and receptors contribute to the modulation of intrinsic excitability or input-output relationships. However, it remains elusive how these forms of structural and functional plasticity come together to shape neuronal network formation and function. While specifically somatodendritic plasticity has been studied in great detail, the role of axonal plasticity, (e.g. at presynaptic boutons, branches or axonal microdomains), is rather poorly understood. Therefore, this review will only briefly highlight somatodendritic plasticity and instead focus on axonal plasticity. We discuss (i) the role of spontaneous and sensory-evoked plasticity during critical periods, (ii) the assembly of axonal presynaptic sites, (iii) axonal plasticity in the mature brain under baseline and sensory manipulation conditions, and finally (iv) plasticity of electrogenic axonal microdomains, namely the axon initial segment, during development and in the mature CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Jamann
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, CBTM, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Merryn Jordan
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, CBTM, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Maren Engelhardt
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, CBTM, Heidelberg University, Germany.
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23
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mGluR5 Exerts Cell-Autonomous Influences on the Functional and Anatomical Development of Layer IV Cortical Neurons in the Mouse Primary Somatosensory Cortex. J Neurosci 2017; 36:8802-14. [PMID: 27559164 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1224-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Glutamate neurotransmission refines synaptic connections to establish the precise neural circuits underlying sensory processing. Deleting metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in mice perturbs cortical somatosensory map formation in the primary somatosensory (S1) cortex at both functional and anatomical levels. To examine the cell-autonomous influences of mGluR5 signaling in the morphological and functional development of layer IV spiny stellate glutamatergic neurons receiving sensory input, mGluR5 genetic mosaic mice were generated through in utero electroporation. In the S1 cortex of these mosaic brains, we found that most wild-type neurons were located in barrel rings encircling thalamocortical axon (TCA) clusters while mGluR5 knock-out (KO) neurons were placed in the septal area, the cell-sparse region separating barrels. These KO neurons often displayed a symmetrical dendritic morphology with increased dendritic complexity, in contrast to the polarized pattern of wild-type neurons. The dendritic spine density of mGluR5 KO spiny stellate neurons was significantly higher than in wild-type neurons. Whole-cell electrophysiological recordings detected a significant increase in the frequencies of spontaneous and miniature excitatory postsynaptic events in mGluR5 KO neurons compared with neighboring wild-type neurons. Our mosaic analysis provides strong evidence supporting the cell-autonomous influence of mGluR5 signaling on the functional and anatomical development of cortical glutamatergic neurons. Specifically, mGluR5 is required in cortical glutamatergic neurons for the following processes: (1) the placement of cortical glutamatergic neurons close to TCA clusters; (2) the regulation of dendritic complexity and outgrowth toward TCA clusters; (3) spinogenesis; and (4) tuning of excitatory inputs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Glutamatergic transmission plays a critical role in cortical circuit formation. Its dysfunction has been proposed as a core factor in the etiology of many neurological diseases. Here we conducted mosaic analysis to reveal the cell-autonomous role of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5). We found that mGluR5 is required for several key steps in wiring up the thalamocortical connections to form the cortical somatosensory map. mGluR5-dependent processes during early postnatal brain development affect the following: (1) placement of activity-directed cortical neurons; (2) regulation of polarized dendritic outgrowth toward thalamocortical axons relaying sensory information, (3) synaptogenesis; and (4) development of functional connectivity in spiny stellate neurons. Perturbing mGluR5 expression could lead to abnormal neuronal circuits, which may contribute to neurological and psychiatric disease.
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Greig LC, Woodworth MB, Greppi C, Macklis JD. Ctip1 Controls Acquisition of Sensory Area Identity and Establishment of Sensory Input Fields in the Developing Neocortex. Neuron 2017; 90:261-77. [PMID: 27100196 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2013] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
While transcriptional controls over the size and relative position of cortical areas have been identified, less is known about regulators that direct acquisition of area-specific characteristics. Here, we report that the transcription factor Ctip1 functions in primary sensory areas to repress motor and activate sensory programs of gene expression, enabling establishment of sharp molecular boundaries defining functional areas. In Ctip1 mutants, abnormal gene expression leads to aberrantly motorized corticocortical and corticofugal output connectivity. Ctip1 critically regulates differentiation of layer IV neurons, and selective loss of Ctip1 in cortex deprives thalamocortical axons of their receptive "sensory field" in layer IV, which normally provides a tangentially and radially defined compartment of dedicated synaptic territory. Therefore, although thalamocortical axons invade appropriate cortical regions, they are unable to organize into properly configured sensory maps. Together, these data identify Ctip1 as a critical control over sensory area development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano C Greig
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Mollie B Woodworth
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Chloé Greppi
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Macklis
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Martini FJ, Moreno-Juan V, Filipchuk A, Valdeolmillos M, López-Bendito G. Impact of thalamocortical input on barrel cortex development. Neuroscience 2017; 368:246-255. [PMID: 28412498 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The development of cortical maps requires the balanced interaction between genetically determined programs and input/activity-dependent signals generated spontaneously or triggered from the environment. The somatosensory pathway of mice provides an excellent scenario to study cortical map development because of its highly organized cytoarchitecture, known as the barrel field. This precise organization makes evident even small alterations in the cortical map layout. In this review, we will specially focus on the thalamic factors that control barrel field development. We will summarize the role of thalamic input integration and identity, neurotransmission and spontaneous activity in cortical map formation and early cross-modal plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Martini
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
| | - Verónica Moreno-Juan
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Anton Filipchuk
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Miguel Valdeolmillos
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Guillermina López-Bendito
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
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Egusa SF, Inoue YU, Asami J, Terakawa YW, Hoshino M, Inoue T. Classic cadherin expressions balance postnatal neuronal positioning and dendrite dynamics to elaborate the specific cytoarchitecture of the mouse cortical area. Neurosci Res 2016; 105:49-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2015.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2015] [Revised: 09/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Xiao B, Zanoun RR, Carvell GE, Simons DJ, Washington KM. Response properties of whisker-associated primary afferent neurons following infraorbital nerve transection with microsurgical repair in adult rats. J Neurophysiol 2016; 115:1458-67. [PMID: 26792886 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00970.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The rodent whisker/trigeminal system, characterized by high spatial and temporal resolution, provides an experimental model for developing new therapies for improving sensory functions of damaged peripheral nerves. Here, we use controlled whisker stimulation and single-unit recordings of trigeminal ganglion cells to examine in detail the nature and time course of functional recovery of mechanoreceptive afferents following nerve transection with microsurgical repair of the infraorbital nerve (ION) branch of the trigeminal nerve in adult rats. Response measures include rapid vs. slow adaptation, firing rate, interspike intervals, latency, and angular (directional) tuning. Whisker-evoked responses, readily observable by 3 wk post-transection, recover progressively for at least the next 5 wk. All cells in transected animals, as in control cases, responded to deflections of single whiskers only, but topography within the ganglion was clearly disrupted. The time course and extent of recovery of quantitative response measures were receptor dependent. Cells displaying slowly adapting (SA) properties recovered more quickly than rapidly adapting (RA) populations, and for some response measures-notably evoked firing rates-closely approached or attained control levels by 8 wk post-transection. Angular tuning of RA cells was slightly better than control units, whereas SA tuning did not differ from control values. Nerve conduction times and refractory periods, examined separately using electrical stimulation of the ION, were slower than normal in all transected animals and poorly reflected recovery of whisker-evoked response latencies and interspike intervals. Results underscore the need for multiple therapeutic strategies that target different aspects of functional restitution following peripheral nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Xiao
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Rami R Zanoun
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - George E Carvell
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Daniel J Simons
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kia M Washington
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Lo FS, Erzurumlu RS. Neonatal sensory nerve injury-induced synaptic plasticity in the trigeminal principal sensory nucleus. Exp Neurol 2016; 275 Pt 2:245-52. [PMID: 25956829 PMCID: PMC4636484 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Sensory deprivation studies in neonatal mammals, such as monocular eye closure, whisker trimming, and chemical blockade of the olfactory epithelium have revealed the importance of sensory inputs in brain wiring during distinct critical periods. But very few studies have paid attention to the effects of neonatal peripheral sensory nerve damage on synaptic wiring of the central nervous system (CNS) circuits. Peripheral somatosensory nerves differ from other special sensory afferents in that they are more prone to crush or severance because of their locations in the body. Unlike the visual and auditory afferents, these nerves show regenerative capabilities after damage. Uniquely, damage to a somatosensory peripheral nerve does not only block activity incoming from the sensory receptors but also mediates injury-induced neuro- and glial chemical signals to the brain through the uninjured central axons of the primary sensory neurons. These chemical signals can have both far more and longer lasting effects than sensory blockade alone. Here we review studies which focus on the consequences of neonatal peripheral sensory nerve damage in the principal sensory nucleus of the brainstem trigeminal complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Sun Lo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Reha S Erzurumlu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Chen CC, Chu P, Brumberg JC. Experience-dependent regulation of tissue-type plasminogen activator in the mouse barrel cortex. Neurosci Lett 2015; 599:152-7. [PMID: 26021877 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.05.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
It has been suggested that tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), a serine protease, plays a key role in regulating the extracellular matrix core proteins, thereby impacting the structural plasticity in the cerebral cortex. Much is known about its role in regulating plasticity in the visual cortex. However, its permissive role has not been demonstrated to generalize to other cerebral cortical areas. By utilizing a combination of immunofluorescent histochemistry and confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that endogenous tPA is indeed present in the somatosensory cortex, and its expression is experience-dependent. Chronic sensory deprivation induced by whisker trimming from birth for one month leads to increased tPA immunoreactivity in all layers of the barrel cortex. Furthermore, tPA immunoreactivity remains high even after sensation has been restored to the mystacial pad (by allowing whiskers to grow back to full length for one month). Our results suggest that tPA levels in the cerebral cortex are regulated by sensory experience, and play a key role in regulating structural remodeling in the cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Chien Chen
- Neuropsychology Subprogram, Psychology, 365th 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Philip Chu
- Neuropsychology Subprogram, Psychology, 365th 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Joshua C Brumberg
- Neuropsychology Subprogram, Psychology, 365th 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; Biology-Neuroscience Subprogram, The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365th 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Psychology, Queens College, CUNY, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367, USA.
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Suzuki A, Lee LJ, Hayashi Y, Muglia L, Itohara S, Erzurumlu RS, Iwasato T. Thalamic adenylyl cyclase 1 is required for barrel formation in the somatosensory cortex. Neuroscience 2015; 290:518-29. [PMID: 25644422 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.01.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2014] [Revised: 12/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Cyclic AMP signaling is critical for activity-dependent refinement of neuronal circuits. Global disruption of adenylyl cyclase 1 (AC1), the major calcium/calmodulin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase in the brain, impairs formation of whisker-related discrete neural modules (the barrels) in cortical layer 4 in mice. Since AC1 is expressed both in the thalamus and the neocortex, the question of whether pre- or postsynaptic (or both) AC1 plays a role in barrel formation has emerged. Previously, we generated cortex-specific AC1 knockout (Cx-AC1KO) mice and found that these animals develop histologically normal barrels, suggesting a potentially more prominent role for thalamic AC1 in barrel formation. To determine this, we generated three new lines of mice: one in which AC1 is disrupted in nearly half of the thalamic ventrobasal nucleus cells in addition to the cortical excitatory neurons (Cx/pTh-AC1KO mouse), and another in which AC1 is disrupted in the thalamus but not in the cortex or brainstem nuclei of the somatosensory system (Th-AC1KO mouse). Cx/pTh-AC1KO mice show severe deficits in barrel formation. Th-AC1KO mice show even more severe disruption in barrel patterning. In these two lines, single thalamocortical (TC) axon labeling revealed a larger lateral extent of TC axons in layer 4 compared to controls. In the third line, all calcium-stimulated adenylyl cyclases (both AC1 and AC8) are deleted in cortical excitatory neurons. These mice have normal barrels. Taken together, these results indicate that thalamic AC1 plays a major role in patterning and refinement of the mouse TC circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Suzuki
- Division of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan; Department of Genetics, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - L-J Lee
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Y Hayashi
- Laboratory for Behavioral Genetics, RIKEN Brain Science (BSI) Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - L Muglia
- Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - S Itohara
- Laboratory for Behavioral Genetics, RIKEN Brain Science (BSI) Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - R S Erzurumlu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201-1075, USA
| | - T Iwasato
- Division of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan; Department of Genetics, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan.
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Abstract
Abnormal cortical circuits underlie some cognitive and psychiatric disorders, yet the molecular signals that generate normal cortical networks remain poorly understood. Semaphorin 7A (Sema7A) is an atypical member of the semaphorin family that is GPI-linked, expressed principally postnatally, and enriched in sensory cortex. Significantly, SEMA7A is deleted in individuals with 15q24 microdeletion syndrome, characterized by developmental delay, autism, and sensory perceptual deficits. We studied the role that Sema7A plays in establishing functional cortical circuitry in mouse somatosensory barrel cortex. We found that Sema7A is expressed in spiny stellate cells and GABAergic interneurons and that its absence disrupts barrel cytoarchitecture, reduces asymmetrical orientation of spiny stellate cell dendrites, and functionally impairs thalamocortically evoked synaptic responses, with reduced feed-forward GABAergic inhibition. These data identify Sema7A as a regulator of thalamocortical and local circuit development in layer 4 and provide a molecular handle that can be used to explore the coordinated generation of excitatory and inhibitory cortical circuits.
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Mizuno H, Luo W, Tarusawa E, Saito Y, Sato T, Yoshimura Y, Itohara S, Iwasato T. NMDAR-Regulated Dynamics of Layer 4 Neuronal Dendrites during Thalamocortical Reorganization in Neonates. Neuron 2014; 82:365-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Nicol X, Gaspar P. Routes to cAMP: shaping neuronal connectivity with distinct adenylate cyclases. Eur J Neurosci 2014; 39:1742-51. [PMID: 24628976 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2013] [Revised: 02/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
cAMP signaling affects a large number of the developmental processes needed for the construction of the CNS, including cell differentiation, axon outgrowth, response to guidance molecules or modulation of synaptic connections. This points to a key role of adenylate cyclases (ACs), the synthetic enzymes of cAMP, for neural development. ACs exist as 10 different isoforms, which are activated by distinct signaling pathways. The implication of specific AC isoforms in neural wiring was only recently demonstrated in mouse mutants, knockout (KO) for different AC isoforms, AC1, AC3, AC5, AC8 and soluble (s)AC/AC10. These studies stressed the importance of three of these isoforms, as sensors of neural activity that could modify the survival of neurons (sAC), axon outgrowth (sAC), or the response of axons to guidance molecules such as ephrins (AC1) or semaphorins (AC3). We summarize here the current knowledge on the role of these ACs for the development of sensory maps, in the somatosensory, visual and olfactory systems, which have been the most extensively studied. In these systems, AC1/AC3 KO revealed targeting mistakes due to the defective pruning and lack of discrimination of incoming axons to signals present in target structures. In contrast, no changes in cell differentiation, survival or axon outgrowth were noted in these mutants, suggesting a specificity of cAMP production routes for individual cellular processes within a given neuron. Further studies indicate that the subcellular localization of ACs could be key to their specific role in axon targeting and may explain their selective roles in neuronal wiring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Nicol
- Inserm UMR-S 968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France; CNRS UMR 7210, 75012, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
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Abstract
LIM homeodomain transcription factors are critical regulators of early development in multiple systems but have yet to be examined for a role in circuit formation. The LIM homeobox gene Lhx2 is expressed in cortical progenitors during development and also in the superficial layers of the neocortex in maturity. However, analysis of Lhx2 function at later stages of cortical development has been hampered by severe phenotypes associated with early loss of function. We identified a particular Cre-recombinase line that acts in the cortical primordium after its specification is complete, permitting an analysis of Lhx2 function in neocortical lamination, regionalization, and circuit formation by selective elimination of Lhx2 in the dorsal telencephalon. We report a profound disruption of cortical neuroanatomical and molecular features upon loss of Lhx2 in the cortex from embryonic day 11.5. A unique feature of cortical circuitry, the somatosensory barrels, is undetectable, and molecular patterning of cortical regions appears disrupted. Surprisingly, thalamocortical afferents innervate the mutant cortex with apparently normal regional specificity. Electrophysiological recordings reveal a loss of responses evoked by stimulation of individual whiskers, but responses to simultaneous stimulation of multiple whiskers were present, suggesting that thalamic afferents are unable to organize the neurocircuitry for barrel formation because of a cortex-specific requirement of Lhx2. We report that Lhx2 is required for the expression of transcription factor paired box gene 6, axon guidance molecule Ephrin A5, and the receptor NMDA receptor 1. These genes may mediate Lhx2 function in the formation of specialized neurocircuitry necessary for neocortical function.
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Chipaux M, Colonnese MT, Mauguen A, Fellous L, Mokhtari M, Lezcano O, Milh M, Dulac O, Chiron C, Khazipov R, Kaminska A. Auditory stimuli mimicking ambient sounds drive temporal "delta-brushes" in premature infants. PLoS One 2013; 8:e79028. [PMID: 24244408 PMCID: PMC3823968 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Accepted: 09/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In the premature infant, somatosensory and visual stimuli trigger an immature electroencephalographic (EEG) pattern, "delta-brushes," in the corresponding sensory cortical areas. Whether auditory stimuli evoke delta-brushes in the premature auditory cortex has not been reported. Here, responses to auditory stimuli were studied in 46 premature infants without neurologic risk aged 31 to 38 postmenstrual weeks (PMW) during routine EEG recording. Stimuli consisted of either low-volume technogenic "clicks" near the background noise level of the neonatal care unit, or a human voice at conversational sound level. Stimuli were administrated pseudo-randomly during quiet and active sleep. In another protocol, the cortical response to a composite stimulus ("click" and voice) was manually triggered during EEG hypoactive periods of quiet sleep. Cortical responses were analyzed by event detection, power frequency analysis and stimulus locked averaging. Before 34 PMW, both voice and "click" stimuli evoked cortical responses with similar frequency-power topographic characteristics, namely a temporal negative slow-wave and rapid oscillations similar to spontaneous delta-brushes. Responses to composite stimuli also showed a maximal frequency-power increase in temporal areas before 35 PMW. From 34 PMW the topography of responses in quiet sleep was different for "click" and voice stimuli: responses to "clicks" became diffuse but responses to voice remained limited to temporal areas. After the age of 35 PMW auditory evoked delta-brushes progressively disappeared and were replaced by a low amplitude response in the same location. Our data show that auditory stimuli mimicking ambient sounds efficiently evoke delta-brushes in temporal areas in the premature infant before 35 PMW. Along with findings in other sensory modalities (visual and somatosensory), these findings suggest that sensory driven delta-brushes represent a ubiquitous feature of the human sensory cortex during fetal stages and provide a potential test of functional cortical maturation during fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Chipaux
- Inserm, U663, Paris, France; University Paris-Descartes, Paris, France
- CEA, Neurospin, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Fondation Ophtalmologique A. de Rothschild, Paris, France
| | - Matthew T. Colonnese
- Inserm, U901/Inmed, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology and Institute for Neuroscience, The George Washington University, Washington, D. C., United States of America
| | - Audrey Mauguen
- Inserm, U663, Paris, France; University Paris-Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Laure Fellous
- AP-HP, Department of Neonatal Care Unit, Cochin-Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Mostafa Mokhtari
- AP-HP, Department of Neonatal Care Unit, Cochin-Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Kremlin-Bicêtre Hospital, Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Oscar Lezcano
- AP-HP, Department of Neonatal Care Unit, Cochin-Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Mathieu Milh
- Inserm, U901/Inmed, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Olivier Dulac
- Inserm, U663, Paris, France; University Paris-Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Chiron
- Inserm, U663, Paris, France; University Paris-Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Rustem Khazipov
- Inserm, U901/Inmed, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Anna Kaminska
- Inserm, U663, Paris, France; University Paris-Descartes, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Cochin-Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France
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Moroto M, Nishimura A, Morimoto M, Isoda K, Morita T, Yoshida M, Morioka S, Tozawa T, Hasegawa T, Chiyonobu T, Yoshimoto K, Hosoi H. Altered somatosensory barrel cortex refinement in the developing brain of Mecp2-null mice. Brain Res 2013; 1537:319-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Revised: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 09/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Lo FS, Akkentli F, Tsytsarev V, Erzurumlu RS. Functional significance of cortical NMDA receptors in somatosensory information processing. J Neurophysiol 2013; 110:2627-36. [PMID: 24047907 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00052.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated activity is required for whisker-related neural patterning in the rodent brain. Deletion of the essential NMDAR subunit NR1 gene in excitatory cortical neurons prevents whisker-specific barrel formation and impairs thalamocortical afferent patterning. We used electrophysiological and voltage-sensitive dye imaging methods to assess synaptic and sensory evoked cortical activity and immunohistochemistry to examine immediate early gene expression following whisker stimulation in cortex-specific NR1 knockout (CxNR1KO) mice. In mutant mice, layer IV neurons lacked NMDAR-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents, and temporal summation of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) was impaired. Barrel neurons showed both phasic and tonic responses to whisker deflection. The averaged tonic response in CxNR1KO mice was significantly less than that in control mice due to impaired EPSP temporal summation. Electrophysiological estimation of the number of thalamic neurons innervating single barrel neurons indicated a significant increase in CxNR1KO mice. Similarly, voltage-sensitive dye optical signals in response to whisker stimulation were widespread. Immediate early gene expression following whisker stimulation also showed a diffuse expression pattern in the CxNR1KO cortex compared with whisker-specific expression patterns in controls. Thus, when NMDAR function is impaired, spatial discrimination of whisker inputs is severely compromised, and sensory stimulation evokes diffuse, topographically misaligned activity in the barrel cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Sun Lo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Arnoux I, Hoshiko M, Mandavy L, Avignone E, Yamamoto N, Audinat E. Adaptive phenotype of microglial cells during the normal postnatal development of the somatosensory "Barrel" cortex. Glia 2013; 61:1582-94. [PMID: 23893820 DOI: 10.1002/glia.22503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Accumulative evidence indicates that microglial cells influence the normal development of central nervous system (CNS) synapses. Yet, the functional properties of microglia in relation with synapse development remain unclear. We recently showed that in layer 4 of the whisker-related barrel field of the mouse somatosensory cortex, microglial cells are recruited only after postnatal day (P)5 in the center of the barrels where thalamo-cortical synapses are concentrated and begin their maturation. In the present study, we analyzed the phenotype of microglia during this developmental process. We show that between P5 and P7 microglial cells acquire a more ramified morphology with a smaller soma, they express classical markers of microglia (Iba1, CD11b, and CD68) but never markers of activation (Mac-2 and MHCII) and rarely the proliferation marker Ki67. Electrophysiological recordings in acute cortical slices showed that at P5 a proportion of layer 4 microglia transiently express voltage-dependant potassium currents of the delayed rectifier family, mostly mediated by Kv1.3 subunits, which are usually expressed by activated microglia under pathological conditions. This proportion of cells with rectifying properties doubles between P5 and P6, in concomitance with the beginning of microglia invasion of the barrel centers. Finally, analysis of the responses mediated by purinergic receptors indicated that a higher percentage of rectifying microglia expressed functional P2Y6 and P2Y12 receptors, as compared with nonrectifying cells, whereas all cells expressed functional P2X7 receptors. Our results indicate that during normal cortical development distinct microglia properties mature differentially, some of them being exquisitely influenced by the local environment of the maturating neuronal network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Arnoux
- Inserm, U603, Paris, France; CNRS UMR, 8154, Paris, France; Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
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Lokmane L, Proville R, Narboux-Nême N, Györy I, Keita M, Mailhes C, Léna C, Gaspar P, Grosschedl R, Garel S. Sensory map transfer to the neocortex relies on pretarget ordering of thalamic axons. Curr Biol 2013; 23:810-6. [PMID: 23623550 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.03.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2012] [Revised: 02/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Sensory maps, such as the representation of mouse facial whiskers, are conveyed throughout the nervous system by topographic axonal projections that preserve neighboring relationships between adjacent neurons. In particular, the map transfer to the neocortex is ensured by thalamocortical axons (TCAs), whose terminals are topographically organized in response to intrinsic cortical signals. However, TCAs already show a topographic order early in development, as they navigate toward their target. Here, we show that this preordering of TCAs is required for the transfer of the whisker map to the neocortex. Using Ebf1 conditional inactivation that specifically perturbs the development of an intermediate target, the basal ganglia, we scrambled TCA topography en route to the neocortex without affecting the thalamus or neocortex. Notably, embryonic somatosensory TCAs were shifted toward the visual cortex and showed a substantial intermixing along their trajectory. Somatosensory TCAs rewired postnatally to reach the somatosensory cortex but failed to form a topographic anatomical or functional map. Our study reveals that sensory map transfer relies not only on positional information in the projecting and target structures but also on preordering of axons along their trajectory, thereby opening novel perspectives on brain wiring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludmilla Lokmane
- Ecole Normale Supérieure, Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), 46 Rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
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Mirza R, Kivrak BG, Erzurumlu RS. Cooperative slit and netrin signaling in contralateralization of the mouse trigeminothalamic pathway. J Comp Neurol 2013; 521:312-25. [PMID: 22806432 PMCID: PMC3491114 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2012] [Revised: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ascending somatosensory pathways are crossed pathways representing each side of the body in the contralateral neocortex. The principal sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve (PrV) relays the facial sensations to the contralateral somatosensory cortex via the ventrobasal thalamus. In the companion article (Kivrak and Erzurumlu [2012] J. Comp. Neurol. 12-0013) we described the normal development of the trigeminal lemniscal pathway in the mouse. In this study we investigated the role of midline axon navigation signals, the netrin and slit proteins. In situ hybridization assays revealed that both netrin and slit mRNAs are expressed along the midline facing the PrV axons and their receptors are expressed in developing PrV neurons. In wild-type mouse embryos, PrV axons cross the midline and take a sharp rostral turn heading toward the contralateral thalamus. Examination of trigeminal lemniscal axons in dcc knockout mice revealed absence of midline crossing between E11 and E15. However, a few axons crossed the midline at E17 and reached the contralateral thalamus, resulting in a bilateral PrV lemniscal pathway at P0. We also found that slit1, -2 or -3 single or double knockout mice have impaired development of the trigeminal-lemniscal pathway. These include axon stalling along the midline, running within the midline, and recrossing of axons back to the site of origin. Collectively, our studies indicate a cooperative role for netrin and slit proteins in midline attraction and crossing behavior of the ascending facial somatosensory projections during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rusella Mirza
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA
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Tiriac A, Uitermarkt BD, Fanning AS, Sokoloff G, Blumberg MS. Rapid whisker movements in sleeping newborn rats. Curr Biol 2012; 22:2075-80. [PMID: 23084988 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2012] [Revised: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 09/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous activity in the sensory periphery drives infant brain activity and is thought to contribute to the formation of retinotopic and somatotopic maps. In infant rats during active (or REM) sleep, brainstem-generated spontaneous activity triggers hundreds of thousands of skeletal muscle twitches each day; sensory feedback from the resulting limb movements is a primary activator of forebrain activity. The rodent whisker system, with its precise isomorphic mapping of individual whiskers to discrete brain areas, has been a key contributor to our understanding of somatotopic maps and developmental plasticity. But although whisker movements are controlled by dedicated skeletal muscles, spontaneous whisker activity has not been entertained as a contributing factor to the development of this system. Here we report in 3- to 6-day-old rats that whiskers twitch rapidly and asynchronously during active sleep; furthermore, neurons in whisker thalamus exhibit bursts of activity that are tightly associated with twitches but occur infrequently during waking. Finally, we observed barrel-specific cortical activity during periods of twitching. This is the first report of self-generated, sleep-related twitches in the developing whisker system, a sensorimotor system that is unique for the precision with which it can be experimentally manipulated. The discovery of whisker twitching will allow us to attain a better understanding of the contributions of peripheral sensory activity to somatosensory integration and plasticity in the developing nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Tiriac
- Department of Psychology, Program in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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van Kleef ESB, Gaspar P, Bonnin A. Insights into the complex influence of 5-HT signaling on thalamocortical axonal system development. Eur J Neurosci 2012; 35:1563-72. [PMID: 22607002 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2012.8096.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The topographic organization of the thalamocortical axons (TCAs) in the barrel field (BF) in the rodent primary somatosensory cortex results from a succession of temporally and spatially precise developmental events. Prenatally, growth and guidance mechanisms enable TCAs to navigate through the forebrain and reach the cortex. Postnatally, TCAs grow into the cortex, and the refinement of their terminal arborization pattern in layer IV creates barrel-like structures. The combined results of studies performed over the past 20 years clearly show that serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) signaling modulates these pre- and early postnatal developmental processes. In this context, 5-HT signaling can purposely be described as 'modulating' rather than 'controlling' because developmental alterations of 5-HT synthesis, uptake or degradation either have a dramatic, moderate or no effect at all on TCA pathway and BF formation. In this review we summarize and compare the outcomes of diverse pharmacological and genetic manipulations of 5-HT signaling on TCA pathway and BF formation, in an attempt to understand these discrepancies.
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Abstract
In primary sensory neocortical areas of mammals, the distribution of sensory receptors is mapped with topographic precision and amplification in proportion to the peripheral receptor density. The visual, somatosensory and auditory cortical maps are established during a critical period in development. Throughout this window in time, the developing cortical maps are vulnerable to deleterious effects of sense organ damage or sensory deprivation. The rodent barrel cortex offers an invaluable model system with which to investigate the mechanisms underlying the formation of topographic maps and their plasticity during development. Five rows of mystacial vibrissa (whisker) follicles on the snout and an array of sinus hairs are represented by layer IV neural modules ('barrels') and thalamocortical axon terminals in the primary somatosensory cortex. Perinatal damage to the whiskers or the sensory nerve innervating them irreversibly alters the structural organization of the barrels. Earlier studies emphasized the role of the sensory periphery in dictating whisker-specific brain maps and patterns. Recent advances in molecular genetics and analyses of genetically altered mice allow new insights into neural pattern formation in the neocortex and the mechanisms underlying critical period plasticity. Here, we review the development and patterning of the barrel cortex and the critical period plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reha S Erzurumlu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201-1075, USA.
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Enriched and deprived sensory experience induces structural changes and rewires connectivity during the postnatal development of the brain. Neural Plast 2012; 2012:305693. [PMID: 22848849 PMCID: PMC3400395 DOI: 10.1155/2012/305693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Revised: 03/20/2012] [Accepted: 06/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
During postnatal development, sensory experience modulates cortical development, inducing numerous changes in all of the components of the cortex. Most of the cortical changes thus induced occur during the critical period, when the functional and structural properties of cortical neurons are particularly susceptible to alterations. Although the time course for experience-mediated sensory development is specific for each system, postnatal development acts as a whole, and if one cortical area is deprived of its normal sensory inputs during early stages, it will be reorganized by the nondeprived senses in a process of cross-modal plasticity that not only increases performance in the remaining senses when one is deprived, but also rewires the brain allowing the deprived cortex to process inputs from other senses and cortices, maintaining the modular configuration. This paper summarizes our current understanding of sensory systems development, focused specially in the visual system. It delineates sensory enhancement and sensory deprivation effects at both physiological and anatomical levels and describes the use of enriched environment as a tool to rewire loss of brain areas to enhance other active senses. Finally, strategies to apply restorative features in human-deprived senses are studied, discussing the beneficial and detrimental effects of cross-modal plasticity in prostheses and sensory substitution devices implantation.
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Neurotransmitter release at the thalamocortical synapse instructs barrel formation but not axon patterning in the somatosensory cortex. J Neurosci 2012; 32:6183-96. [PMID: 22553025 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0343-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
To assess the impact of synaptic neurotransmitter release on neural circuit development, we analyzed barrel cortex formation after thalamic or cortical ablation of RIM1 and RIM2 proteins, which control synaptic vesicle fusion. Thalamus-specific deletion of RIMs reduced neurotransmission efficacy by 67%. A barrelless phenotype was found with a dissociation of effects on the presynaptic and postsynaptic cellular elements of the barrel. Presynaptically, thalamocortical axons formed a normal whisker map, whereas postsynaptically the cytoarchitecture of layer IV neurons was altered as spiny stellate neurons were evenly distributed and their dendritic trees were symmetric. Strikingly, cortex-specific deletion of the RIM genes did not modify barrel development. Adult mice with thalamic-specific RIM deletion showed a lack of activity-triggered immediate early gene expression and altered sensory-related behaviors. Thus, efficient synaptic release is required at thalamocortical but not at corticocortical synapses for building the whisker to barrel map and for efficient sensory function.
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Enriquez-Barreto L, Palazzetti C, Brennaman LH, Maness PF, Fairén A. Neural cell adhesion molecule, NCAM, regulates thalamocortical axon pathfinding and the organization of the cortical somatosensory representation in mouse. Front Mol Neurosci 2012; 5:76. [PMID: 22723769 PMCID: PMC3378950 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2012.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2012] [Accepted: 06/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To study the potential role of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in the development of thalamocortical (TC) axon topography, wild type, and NCAM null mutant mice were analyzed for NCAM expression, projection, and targeting of TC afferents within the somatosensory area of the neocortex. Here we report that NCAM and its α-2,8-linked polysialic acid (PSA) are expressed in developing TC axons during projection to the neocortex. Pathfinding of TC axons in wild type and null mutant mice was mapped using anterograde DiI labeling. At embryonic day E16.5, null mutant mice displayed misguided TC axons in the dorsal telencephalon, but not in the ventral telencephalon, an intermediate target that initially sorts TC axons toward correct neocortical areas. During the early postnatal period, rostrolateral TC axons within the internal capsule along the ventral telencephalon adopted distorted trajectories in the ventral telencephalon and failed to reach the neocortex in NCAM null mutant animals. NCAM null mutants showed abnormal segregation of layer IV barrels in a restricted portion of the somatosensory cortex. As shown by Nissl and cytochrome oxidase staining, barrels of the anterolateral barrel subfield (ALBSF) and the most distal barrels of the posteromedial barrel subfield (PMBSF) did not segregate properly in null mutant mice. These results indicate a novel role for NCAM in axonal pathfinding and topographic sorting of TC axons, which may be important for the function of specific territories of sensory representation in the somatosensory cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Enriquez-Barreto
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Miguel Hernández San Juan de Alicante, Spain
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Harkany T. Molecular mechanisms of neuronal specification. Eur J Neurosci 2011; 34:1513-5. [PMID: 22103409 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07912.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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