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Calligaro H, Shoghi A, Chen X, Kim KY, Yu HL, Khov B, Finander B, Le H, Ellisman MH, Panda S. Ultrastructure of Synaptic Connectivity within Subregions of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Revealed by a Genetically Encoded Tag and Serial Blockface Electron Microscopy. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0227-23.2023. [PMID: 37500494 PMCID: PMC10449486 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0227-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the central circadian pacemaker in vertebrates. The SCN receives photic information exclusively through melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells (mRGCs) to synchronize circadian rhythms with the environmental light cycles. The SCN is composed of two major peptidergic neuron types in the core and shell regions of the SCN. Determining how mRGCs interact with the network of synaptic connections onto and between SCN neurons is key to understand how light regulates the circadian clock and to elucidate the relevant local circuits within the SCN. To map these connections, we used a newly developed Cre-dependent electron microscopy (EM) reporter, APEX2, to label the mitochondria of mRGC axons. Serial blockface scanning electron microscopy was then used to resolve the fine 3D structure of mRGC axons and synaptic boutons in the SCN of a male mouse. The resulting maps reveal patterns of connectomic organization in the core and shell of the SCN. We show that these regions are composed of different neuronal subtypes and differ with regard to the pattern of mRGC input, as the shell receives denser mRGC synaptic input compared with the core. This finding challenges the present view that photic information coming directly from the retina is received primarily by the core region of the SCN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Calligaro
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Azarin Shoghi
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Xinyue Chen
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Keun-Young Kim
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92161
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92161
| | - Hsin Liu Yu
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Brian Khov
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | | | - Hiep Le
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Mark H. Ellisman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92161
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92161
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Ramachandra R, Mackey MR, Hu J, Peltier ST, Xuong NH, Ellisman MH, Adams SR. Elemental mapping of labelled biological specimens at intermediate energy loss in an energy-filtered TEM acquired using a direct detection device. J Microsc 2021; 283:127-144. [PMID: 33844293 PMCID: PMC8316382 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.13014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The technique of colour EM that was recently developed enabled localisation of specific macromolecules/proteins of interest by the targeted deposition of diaminobenzidine (DAB) conjugated to lanthanide chelates. By acquiring lanthanide elemental maps by energy‐filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) and overlaying them in pseudo‐colour over the conventional greyscale TEM image, a colour EM image is generated. This provides a powerful tool for visualising subcellular component/s, by the ability to clearly distinguish them from the general staining of the endogenous cellular material. Previously, the lanthanide elemental maps were acquired at the high‐loss M4,5 edge (excitation of 3d electrons), where the characteristic signal is extremely low and required considerably long exposures. In this paper, we explore the possibility of acquiring the elemental maps of lanthanides at their N4,5 edge (excitation of 4d electrons), which occurring at a much lower energy‐loss regime, thereby contains significantly greater total characteristic signal owing to the higher inelastic scattering cross‐sections at the N4,5 edge. Acquiring EFTEM lanthanide elemental maps at the N4,5 edge instead of the M4,5 edge, provides ∼4× increase in signal‐to‐noise and ∼2× increase in resolution. However, the interpretation of the lanthanide maps acquired at the N4,5 edge by the traditional 3‐window method, is complicated due to the broad shape of the edge profile and the lower signal‐above‐background ratio. Most of these problems can be circumvented by the acquisition of elemental maps with the more sophisticated technique of EFTEM Spectrum Imaging (EFTEM SI). Here, we also report the chemical synthesis of novel second‐generation DAB lanthanide metal chelate conjugates that contain 2 lanthanide ions per DAB molecule in comparison with 0.5 lanthanide ion per DAB in the first generation. Thereby, fourfold more Ln3+ per oxidised DAB would be deposited providing significant amplification of signal. This paper applies the colour EM technique at the intermediate‐loss energy‐loss regime to three different cellular targets, namely using mitochondrial matrix‐directed APEX2, histone H2B‐Nucleosome and EdU‐DNA. All the examples shown in the paper are single colour EM images only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjan Ramachandra
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Center for Research in Biological Systems, National Center for Microscopy and, Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Mason R Mackey
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Center for Research in Biological Systems, National Center for Microscopy and, Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Junru Hu
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Center for Research in Biological Systems, National Center for Microscopy and, Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Steven T Peltier
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Center for Research in Biological Systems, National Center for Microscopy and, Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Nguyen-Huu Xuong
- Center for Research in Biological Systems, National Center for Microscopy and, Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Mark H Ellisman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Center for Research in Biological Systems, National Center for Microscopy and, Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Stephen R Adams
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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