1
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Baier H, Scott EK. The Visual Systems of Zebrafish. Annu Rev Neurosci 2024; 47:255-276. [PMID: 38663429 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-111020-104854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
The zebrafish visual system has become a paradigmatic preparation for behavioral and systems neuroscience. Around 40 types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) serve as matched filters for stimulus features, including light, optic flow, prey, and objects on a collision course. RGCs distribute their signals via axon collaterals to 12 retinorecipient areas in forebrain and midbrain. The major visuomotor hub, the optic tectum, harbors nine RGC input layers that combine information on multiple features. The retinotopic map in the tectum is locally adapted to visual scene statistics and visual subfield-specific behavioral demands. Tectal projections to premotor centers are topographically organized according to behavioral commands. The known connectivity in more than 20 processing streams allows us to dissect the cellular basis of elementary perceptual and cognitive functions. Visually evoked responses, such as prey capture or loom avoidance, are controlled by dedicated multistation pathways that-at least in the larva-resemble labeled lines. This architecture serves the neuronal code's purpose of driving adaptive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herwig Baier
- Department of Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany;
| | - Ethan K Scott
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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2
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Hou X, Li Q. Medulla oblongata and NCCs are central defenders against Streptococcus agalactiae infection of the tilapia brain. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1442906. [PMID: 39011038 PMCID: PMC11246860 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1442906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Various types of professional immune cells first emerge in fish and likely represent the primordial form and functions. Recent advancements revealed the direct connection between the central nervous system and the immune system in the mammalian brain. However, the specifics of brain-immune networks in the fish and the underlying mechanisms of teleost's brain against pathogen infection have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the distribution of markers representing cerebral cells associated with protection and professional lymphocytes in the seven major components of the Nile tilapia brain through RNA-Seq assay and observed the most dominant abundance in the medulla oblongata. The subsequent challenge test revealed the non-specific cytotoxic cells (NCCs) exhibited the strongest response against streptococcal infection of the brain. The presence of NCCs in the brain was then confirmed using immunofluorescence and the cytotoxic effects usually induced by NCCs under infection were determined as well. Collectively, these findings contribute significantly to comprehending the mechanism of fish neuroimmune interaction and enhancing our understanding of its evolutionary development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xitan Hou
- Institute of Forensic Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Qi Li
- College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
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3
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Wan T, Fu C, Peng J, Lu J, Li P, Zhuo J. Repairing the in situ hybridization missing data in the hippocampus region by using a 3D residual U-Net model. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 15:3541-3554. [PMID: 38867784 PMCID: PMC11166418 DOI: 10.1364/boe.522078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The hippocampus is a critical brain region. Transcriptome data provides valuable insights into the structure and function of the hippocampus at the gene level. However, transcriptome data is often incomplete. To address this issue, we use the convolutional neural network model to repair the missing voxels in the hippocampus region, based on Allen institute coronal slices in situ hybridization (ISH) dataset. Moreover, we analyze the gene expression correlation between coronal and sagittal dataset in the hippocampus region. The results demonstrated that the trend of gene expression correlation between the coronal and sagittal datasets remained consistent following the repair of missing data in the coronal ISH dataset. In the last, we use repaired ISH dataset to identify novel genes specific to hippocampal subregions. Our findings demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of using deep learning method to repair ISH missing data. After being repaired, ISH has the potential to improve our comprehension of the hippocampus's structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Changping Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Jiinbo Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Jinling Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and Imaging, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215100, China
| | - Pengcheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and Imaging, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215100, China
| | - JunJie Zhuo
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
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4
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Chen AB, Duque M, Wang VM, Dhanasekar M, Mi X, Rymbek A, Tocquer L, Narayan S, Prober D, Yu G, Wyart C, Engert F, Ahrens MB. Norepinephrine changes behavioral state via astroglial purinergic signaling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.23.595576. [PMID: 38826423 PMCID: PMC11142163 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.23.595576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Both neurons and glia communicate via diffusible neuromodulatory substances, but the substrates of computation in such neuromodulatory networks are unclear. During behavioral transitions in the larval zebrafish, the neuromodulator norepinephrine drives fast excitation and delayed inhibition of behavior and circuit activity. We find that the inhibitory arm of this feedforward motif is implemented by astroglial purinergic signaling. Neuromodulator imaging, behavioral pharmacology, and perturbations of neurons and astroglia reveal that norepinephrine triggers astroglial release of adenosine triphosphate, extracellular conversion into adenosine, and behavioral suppression through activation of hindbrain neuronal adenosine receptors. This work, along with a companion piece by Lefton and colleagues demonstrating an analogous pathway mediating the effect of norepinephrine on synaptic connectivity in mice, identifies a computational and behavioral role for an evolutionarily conserved astroglial purinergic signaling axis in norepinephrine-mediated behavioral and brain state transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex B. Chen
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University; Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Marc Duque
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University; Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Vickie M. Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University; Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mahalakshmi Dhanasekar
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Xuelong Mi
- Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Arlington, VA 22203, USA
| | - Altyn Rymbek
- Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Loeva Tocquer
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Sujatha Narayan
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
- Present address: Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics; Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - David Prober
- Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Guoqiang Yu
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University; Beijing 100084, P.R. China
| | - Claire Wyart
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Florian Engert
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University; Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Misha B. Ahrens
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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5
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Kairišs K, Sokolova N, Zilova L, Schlagheck C, Reinhardt R, Baumbach T, Faragó T, van de Kamp T, Wittbrodt J, Weinhardt V. Visualisation of gene expression within the context of tissues using an X-ray computed tomography-based multimodal approach. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8543. [PMID: 38609416 PMCID: PMC11015006 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58766-5] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of an organism is orchestrated by the spatial and temporal expression of genes. Accurate visualisation of gene expression patterns in the context of the surrounding tissues offers a glimpse into the mechanisms that drive morphogenesis. We developed correlative light-sheet fluorescence microscopy and X-ray computed tomography approach to map gene expression patterns to the whole organism`s 3D anatomy. We show that this multimodal approach is applicable to gene expression visualized by protein-specific antibodies and fluorescence RNA in situ hybridisation offering a detailed understanding of individual phenotypic variations in model organisms. Furthermore, the approach offers a unique possibility to identify tissues together with their 3D cellular and molecular composition in anatomically less-defined in vitro models, such as organoids. We anticipate that the visual and quantitative insights into the 3D distribution of gene expression within tissue architecture, by multimodal approach developed here, will be equally valuable for reference atlases of model organisms development, as well as for comprehensive screens, and morphogenesis studies of in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristaps Kairišs
- Centre for Organismal Studies, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- HeiKa Graduate School On "Functional Materials", Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Natalia Sokolova
- Centre for Organismal Studies, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg International Biosciences Graduate School HBIGS, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lucie Zilova
- Centre for Organismal Studies, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christina Schlagheck
- Centre for Organismal Studies, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- HeiKa Graduate School On "Functional Materials", Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg International Biosciences Graduate School HBIGS, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robert Reinhardt
- Centre for Organismal Studies, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tilo Baumbach
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation (LAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Tomáš Faragó
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Thomas van de Kamp
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation (LAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
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6
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Braun D, Rosenberg AM, Rabaniam E, Haruvi R, Malamud D, Barbara R, Aiznkot T, Levavi-Sivan B, Kawashima T. High-resolution tracking of unconfined zebrafish behavior reveals stimulatory and anxiolytic effects of psilocybin. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:1046-1062. [PMID: 38233467 PMCID: PMC11176078 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02391-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics are emerging therapeutics for psychiatric disorders, yet their underlying mechanisms of action in the brain remain largely elusive. Here, we developed a wide-field behavioral tracking system for larval zebrafish and investigated the effects of psilocybin, a psychedelic serotonin receptor agonist. Machine learning analyses of precise body kinematics identified latent behavioral states reflecting spontaneous exploration, visually-driven rapid swimming, and irregular swim patterns following stress exposure. Using this method, we found that acute psilocybin treatment has two behavioral effects: [i] facilitation of spontaneous exploration ("stimulatory") and [ii] prevention of irregular swim patterns following stress exposure ("anxiolytic"). These effects differed from the effect of acute SSRI treatment and were rather similar to the effect of ketamine treatment. Neural activity imaging in the dorsal raphe nucleus suggested that psilocybin inhibits serotonergic neurons by activating local GABAergic neurons, consistent with psychedelic-induced suppression of serotonergic neurons in mammals. These findings pave the way for using larval zebrafish to elucidate neural mechanisms underlying the behavioral effects of serotonergic psychedelics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dotan Braun
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl Street, Rehovot, Israel
- The Jerusalem Mental Health Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ayelet M Rosenberg
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl Street, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Elad Rabaniam
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl Street, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ravid Haruvi
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl Street, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Dorel Malamud
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl Street, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Rani Barbara
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl Street, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tomer Aiznkot
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 229 Herzl Street, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Berta Levavi-Sivan
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 229 Herzl Street, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Takashi Kawashima
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl Street, Rehovot, Israel.
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7
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Wullimann MF, Mokayes N, Shainer I, Kuehn E, Baier H. Genoarchitectonics of the larval zebrafish diencephalon. J Comp Neurol 2024; 532:e25549. [PMID: 37983970 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25549] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The brain is spatially organized into subdivisions, nuclei and areas, which often correspond to functional and developmental units. A segmentation of brain regions in the form of a consensus atlas facilitates mechanistic studies and is a prerequisite for sharing information among neuroanatomists. Gene expression patterns objectively delineate boundaries between brain regions and provide information about their developmental and evolutionary histories. To generate a detailed molecular map of the larval zebrafish diencephalon, we took advantage of the Max Planck Zebrafish Brain (mapzebrain) atlas, which aligns hundreds of transcript and transgene expression patterns in a shared coordinate system. Inspection and co-visualization of close to 50 marker genes have allowed us to resolve the tripartite prosomeric scaffold of the diencephalon at unprecedented resolution. This approach clarified the genoarchitectonic partitioning of the alar diencephalon into pretectum (alar part of prosomere P1), thalamus (alar part of prosomere P2, with habenula and pineal complex), and prethalamus (alar part of prosomere P3). We further identified the region of the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus, as well as the posterior and anterior parts of the posterior tuberculum, as molecularly distinct basal parts of prosomeres 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Some of the markers examined allowed us to locate glutamatergic, GABAergic, dopaminergic, serotoninergic, and various neuropeptidergic domains in the larval zebrafish diencephalon. Our molecular neuroanatomical approach has thus (1) yielded an objective and internally consistent interpretation of the prosomere boundaries within the zebrafish forebrain; has (2) produced a list of markers, which in sparse combinations label the subdivisions of the diencephalon; and is (3) setting the stage for further functional and developmental studies in this vertebrate brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario F Wullimann
- Genes - Circuits - Behavior Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
- Department Biology II, Division of Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU Munich), Martinsried, Germany
| | - Nouwar Mokayes
- Genes - Circuits - Behavior Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Inbal Shainer
- Genes - Circuits - Behavior Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Enrico Kuehn
- Genes - Circuits - Behavior Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Herwig Baier
- Genes - Circuits - Behavior Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
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8
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Cao D, Qin X, Wang W, Zhang Y, Peng S, Gong H, Luo Q, Yang J. Designing a Hybrid Chain Reaction Probe for Multiplex Transcripts Assay with High-Level Imaging. ACS NANO 2024; 18:618-629. [PMID: 38154106 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The hybrid chain reaction (HCR), an isothermal and enzyme-free amplification strategy, has found extensive use in fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assays. However, the existing HCRs are limited, being time-consuming processes and low-efficiency imaging due to weak signal, significantly restricting their application in transcriptomic assays. To address the limitations, we developed nine orthogonal HCR hairpin-pair (hp) probes in this study to enable efficient signal amplification for multiplex assays. To enhance the efficiency and imaging quality of multiplex assays using these HCR probes, we employed two strategies. First, we coupled fluorescent molecules to HCR hairpins via disulfide bonds, facilitating easy removal through chemical cleavage. As a result, the workflow was greatly simplified. Second, we combined HCR with in situ rolling circle amplification (ISRCA), creating ISRCA-HCR, which achieved a 17-fold signal amplification. ISRCA-HCR demonstrated a high-level imaging capability for spatial cell type assays. This study shows the application for cell typing based on the developed HCR probes, enabling accurate and high-level signal amplification for multiplex FISH imaging. This provides an effective research tool for transcriptome and spatial cell type analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjian Cao
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Xinxin Qin
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Class 202001, School of Engineering Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Sunxiang Peng
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Hui Gong
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Qingming Luo
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
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9
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Sarasamma S, Karim A, Orengo JP. Zebrafish Models of Rare Neurological Diseases like Spinocerebellar Ataxias (SCAs): Advantages and Limitations. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1322. [PMID: 37887032 PMCID: PMC10604122 DOI: 10.3390/biology12101322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a heterogeneous group of rare familial neurodegenerative disorders that share the key feature of cerebellar ataxia. Clinical heterogeneity, diverse gene mutations and complex neuropathology pose significant challenges for developing effective disease-modifying therapies in SCAs. Without a deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved for each SCA, we cannot succeed in developing targeted therapies. Animal models are our best tool to address these issues and several have been generated to study the pathological conditions of SCAs. Among them, zebrafish (Danio rerio) models are emerging as a powerful tool for in vivo study of SCAs, as well as rapid drug screens. In this review, we will summarize recent progress in using zebrafish to study the pathology of SCAs. We will discuss recent advancements on how zebrafish models can further clarify underlying genetic, neuroanatomical, and behavioral pathogenic mechanisms of disease. We highlight their usefulness in rapid drug discovery and large screens. Finally, we will discuss the advantages and limitations of this in vivo model to develop tailored therapeutic strategies for SCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreeja Sarasamma
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Anwarul Karim
- School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - James P. Orengo
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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10
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Légaré A, Lemieux M, Desrosiers P, De Koninck P. Zebrafish brain atlases: a collective effort for a tiny vertebrate brain. NEUROPHOTONICS 2023; 10:044409. [PMID: 37786400 PMCID: PMC10541682 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.10.4.044409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
In the past two decades, digital brain atlases have emerged as essential tools for sharing and integrating complex neuroscience datasets. Concurrently, the larval zebrafish has become a prominent vertebrate model offering a strategic compromise for brain size, complexity, transparency, optogenetic access, and behavior. We provide a brief overview of digital atlases recently developed for the larval zebrafish brain, intersecting neuroanatomical information, gene expression patterns, and connectivity. These atlases are becoming pivotal by centralizing large datasets while supporting the generation of circuit hypotheses as functional measurements can be registered into an atlas' standard coordinate system to interrogate its structural database. As challenges persist in mapping neural circuits and incorporating functional measurements into zebrafish atlases, we emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts and standardized protocols to expand these resources to crack the complex codes of neuronal activity guiding behavior in this tiny vertebrate brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mado Lemieux
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Patrick Desrosiers
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Université Laval, Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Optics, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Paul De Koninck
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Université Laval, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bio-informatics, Québec, Québec, Canada
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11
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Sherman S, Arnold-Ammer I, Schneider MW, Kawakami K, Baier H. Retina-derived signals control pace of neurogenesis in visual brain areas but not circuit assembly. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6020. [PMID: 37758715 PMCID: PMC10533834 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40749-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain development is orchestrated by both innate and experience-dependent mechanisms, but their relative contributions are difficult to disentangle. Here we asked if and how central visual areas are altered in a vertebrate brain depleted of any and all signals from retinal ganglion cells throughout development. We transcriptionally profiled neurons in pretectum, thalamus and other retinorecipient areas of larval zebrafish and searched for changes in lakritz mutants that lack all retinal connections. Although individual genes are dysregulated, the complete set of 77 neuronal types develops in apparently normal proportions, at normal locations, and along normal differentiation trajectories. Strikingly, the cell-cycle exits of proliferating progenitors in these areas are delayed, and a greater fraction of early postmitotic precursors remain uncommitted or are diverted to a pre-glial fate. Optogenetic stimulation targeting groups of neurons normally involved in processing visual information evokes behaviors indistinguishable from wildtype. In conclusion, we show that signals emitted by retinal axons influence the pace of neurogenesis in visual brain areas, but do not detectably affect the specification or wiring of downstream neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shachar Sherman
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Department Genes - Circuits - Behavior, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Irene Arnold-Ammer
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Department Genes - Circuits - Behavior, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Martin W Schneider
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Department Genes - Circuits - Behavior, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Koichi Kawakami
- Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, and Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan
| | - Herwig Baier
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Department Genes - Circuits - Behavior, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
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12
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Xu J, Casanave R, Chitre AS, Wang Q, Nguyen KM, Blake C, Wagle M, Cheng R, Polesskaya O, Palmer AA, Guo S. Causal Genetic Loci for a Motivated Behavior Spectrum Harbor Psychiatric Risk Genes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.06.556529. [PMID: 37732200 PMCID: PMC10508786 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.06.556529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral diversity is critical for population fitness. Individual differences in risk-taking are observed across species, but underlying genetic mechanisms and conservation are largely unknown. We examined dark avoidance in larval zebrafish, a motivated behavior reflecting an approach-avoidance conflict. Brain-wide calcium imaging revealed significant neural activity differences between approach-inclined versus avoidance-inclined individuals. We used a population of ∼6,000 to perform the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) in zebrafish, which identified 34 genomic regions harboring many genes that are involved in synaptic transmission and human psychiatric diseases. We used CRISPR to study several causal genes: serotonin receptor-1b ( htr1b ), nitric oxide synthase-1 ( nos1 ), and stress-induced phosphoprotein-1 ( stip1 ). We further identified 52 conserved elements containing 66 GWAS significant variants. One encoded an exonic regulatory element that influenced tissue-specific nos1 expression. Together, these findings reveal new genetic loci and establish a powerful, scalable animal system to probe mechanisms underlying motivation, a critical dimension of psychiatric diseases.
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13
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Campbell PD, Lee I, Thyme S, Granato M. Mitochondrial proteins encoded by the 22q11.2 neurodevelopmental locus regulate neural stem and progenitor cell proliferation. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3769-3781. [PMID: 37794116 PMCID: PMC10730408 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02272-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Microdeletion of a 3Mb region encompassing 45 protein-coding genes at chromosome 22q11.2 (22q11.2DS) predisposes individuals to multiple neurodevelopmental disorders and is one of the greatest genetic risk factors for schizophrenia. Defective mitochondrial function has been hypothesized to contribute to 22q11.2DS pathogenesis; however, which of the six mitochondrial genes contribute to neurodevelopmental phenotypes and their underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. To systematically test 22q11.2DS genes for functional roles in neurodevelopment and behavior, we generated genetic mutants for each of the 37 conserved zebrafish orthologs and performed high throughput behavioral phenotyping using seven behavioral assays. Through this unbiased approach, we identified five single-gene mutants with partially overlapping behavioral phenotypes. Two of these genes, mrpl40 and prodha, encode for mitochondrial proteins and, similar to what we observed in mrpl40 and prodha mutants, pharmacologic inhibition of mitochondrial function during development results in microcephaly. Single mutant analysis shows that both mrpl40 and prodha mutants display aberrant neural stem and progenitor cell proliferation, with each gene regulating distinct cell populations. Finally, double mutants for both mrpl40 and prodha display aggravated behavioral phenotypes and neural stem and progenitor cell analysis reveals a previously unrecognized partially redundant role for mrpl40 and prodha in regulating radial glia-like cell proliferation. Combined, our results demonstrate a critical role for mitochondrial function in neural stem and progenitor cell populations in the developing vertebrate brain and provide compelling evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction during neurodevelopment is linked to brain volume and behavioral phenotypes observed in models of 22q11.2DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip D Campbell
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Isaiah Lee
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Summer Thyme
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Michael Granato
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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14
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Pose-Méndez S, Schramm P, Valishetti K, Köster RW. Development, circuitry, and function of the zebrafish cerebellum. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:227. [PMID: 37490159 PMCID: PMC10368569 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04879-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
The cerebellum represents a brain compartment that first appeared in gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates). Besides the addition of cell numbers, its development, cytoarchitecture, circuitry, physiology, and function have been highly conserved throughout avian and mammalian species. While cerebellar research in avian and mammals is extensive, systematic investigations on this brain compartment in zebrafish as a teleostian model organism started only about two decades ago, but has provided considerable insight into cerebellar development, physiology, and function since then. Zebrafish are genetically tractable with nearly transparent small-sized embryos, in which cerebellar development occurs within a few days. Therefore, genetic investigations accompanied with non-invasive high-resolution in vivo time-lapse imaging represents a powerful combination for interrogating the behavior and function of cerebellar cells in their complex native environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sol Pose-Méndez
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Paul Schramm
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Komali Valishetti
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Reinhard W Köster
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany.
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15
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Schulze L, Zada D, Lovett-Barron M. A medley of gene expression adds new depth to zebrafish brain maps. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg8660. [PMID: 36812324 PMCID: PMC9946337 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg8660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The integration of large-scale gene expression mapping into a multifaceted larval zebrafish brain atlas accelerates the characterization of neurons in behaviorally relevant circuits.
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16
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Blevins AS, Bassett DS, Scott EK, Vanwalleghem GC. From calcium imaging to graph topology. Netw Neurosci 2022; 6:1125-1147. [PMID: 38800465 PMCID: PMC11117109 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Systems neuroscience is facing an ever-growing mountain of data. Recent advances in protein engineering and microscopy have together led to a paradigm shift in neuroscience; using fluorescence, we can now image the activity of every neuron through the whole brain of behaving animals. Even in larger organisms, the number of neurons that we can record simultaneously is increasing exponentially with time. This increase in the dimensionality of the data is being met with an explosion of computational and mathematical methods, each using disparate terminology, distinct approaches, and diverse mathematical concepts. Here we collect, organize, and explain multiple data analysis techniques that have been, or could be, applied to whole-brain imaging, using larval zebrafish as an example model. We begin with methods such as linear regression that are designed to detect relations between two variables. Next, we progress through network science and applied topological methods, which focus on the patterns of relations among many variables. Finally, we highlight the potential of generative models that could provide testable hypotheses on wiring rules and network progression through time, or disease progression. While we use examples of imaging from larval zebrafish, these approaches are suitable for any population-scale neural network modeling, and indeed, to applications beyond systems neuroscience. Computational approaches from network science and applied topology are not limited to larval zebrafish, or even to systems neuroscience, and we therefore conclude with a discussion of how such methods can be applied to diverse problems across the biological sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann S. Blevins
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dani S. Bassett
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA
| | - Ethan K. Scott
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Gilles C. Vanwalleghem
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE), Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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