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Wouterlood FG. Techniques to Render Dendritic Spines Visible in the Microscope. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 34:69-102. [PMID: 37962794 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-36159-3_2] [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: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
A tiny detail visible on certain neurons at the limit of resolution in light microscopy went in 130 years of neuroscience research through a dazzling career from suspicious staining artifact to what we recognize today as a complex postsynaptic molecular machine: the dendritic spine.This chapter deals with techniques to make spines visible. The original technique, Golgi silver staining, is still being used today. Electron microscopy and automated field ion beam scanning electron microscopy are ultrahigh resolution techniques, albeit specialized. Other methods are intracellular injection, uptake of dyes, and recently the exploitation of genetically modified animals in which certain neurons express fluorescent protein in all their processes, including the nooks and crannies of their dendritic spines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floris G Wouterlood
- Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Yamamori T. Functional visualization and manipulation in the marmoset brain using viral vectors. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2021; 60:11-16. [PMID: 34280704 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The common marmoset, a New World monkey, has a primate-specific cortex with approximately 40 Brodmann areas. Genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI) techniques have been applied to study the functional organization of the marmoset cortex. The success of GCaMP (a green fluorescent of GECI) imaging and other advances, including optogenetic approaches, provide an interesting and exciting opportunity to study the primate brain at the molecular and cellular levels, leading to an understanding of primate neural circuits. These approaches will help advance our knowledge on cognition in primates, including humans, and therapy for human neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Yamamori
- Center for Brain Science, Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, 351-0198, Japan.
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3
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Oka Y, Doi M, Taniguchi M, Tiong SYX, Akiyama H, Yamamoto T, Iguchi T, Sato M. Interstitial Axon Collaterals of Callosal Neurons Form Association Projections from the Primary Somatosensory to Motor Cortex in Mice. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:5225-5238. [PMID: 34228058 PMCID: PMC8491696 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Association projections from cortical pyramidal neurons connect disparate intrahemispheric cortical areas, which are implicated in higher cortical functions. The underlying developmental processes of these association projections, especially the initial phase before reaching the target areas, remain unknown. To visualize developing axons of individual neurons with association projections in the mouse neocortex, we devised a sparse labeling method that combined in utero electroporation and confocal imaging of flattened and optically cleared cortices. Using the promoter of an established callosal neuron marker gene that was expressed in over 80% of L2/3 neurons in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) that project to the primary motor cortex (M1), we found that an association projection of a single neuron was the longest among the interstitial collaterals that branched out in L5 from the earlier-extended callosal projection. Collaterals to M1 elongated primarily within the cortical gray matter with little branching before reaching the target. Our results suggest that dual-projection neurons in S1 make a significant fraction of the association projections to M1, supporting the directed guidance mechanism in long-range corticocortical circuit formation over random projections followed by specific pruning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichiro Oka
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Molecular Brain Science, Division of Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui (UGSCD), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Division of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Department of Morphological and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui 910-1193, Japan.,Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui 910-1193, Japan
| | - Miyuki Doi
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Manabu Taniguchi
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Sheena Y X Tiong
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Molecular Brain Science, Division of Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui (UGSCD), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Hisanori Akiyama
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takuto Yamamoto
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tokuichi Iguchi
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Division of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Department of Morphological and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui 910-1193, Japan.,Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Fukui Health Science University, Fukui, Fukui 910-3190, Japan
| | - Makoto Sato
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Molecular Brain Science, Division of Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui (UGSCD), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Division of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Department of Morphological and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui 910-1193, Japan.,Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui 910-1193, Japan
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4
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Haery L, Deverman BE, Matho KS, Cetin A, Woodard K, Cepko C, Guerin KI, Rego MA, Ersing I, Bachle SM, Kamens J, Fan M. Adeno-Associated Virus Technologies and Methods for Targeted Neuronal Manipulation. Front Neuroanat 2019; 13:93. [PMID: 31849618 PMCID: PMC6902037 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2019.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-type-specific expression of molecular tools and sensors is critical to construct circuit diagrams and to investigate the activity and function of neurons within the nervous system. Strategies for targeted manipulation include combinations of classical genetic tools such as Cre/loxP and Flp/FRT, use of cis-regulatory elements, targeted knock-in transgenic mice, and gene delivery by AAV and other viral vectors. The combination of these complex technologies with the goal of precise neuronal targeting is a challenge in the lab. This report will discuss the theoretical and practical aspects of combining current technologies and establish best practices for achieving targeted manipulation of specific cell types. Novel applications and tools, as well as areas for development, will be envisioned and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin E. Deverman
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - Ali Cetin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kenton Woodard
- Penn Vector Core, Gene Therapy Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Connie Cepko
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, United States
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5
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Development of lentiviral vectors for efficient glutamatergic-selective gene expression in cultured hippocampal neurons. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15156. [PMID: 30310105 PMCID: PMC6181963 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33509-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting gene expression to a particular subset of neurons helps study the cellular function of the nervous system. Although neuron-specific promoters, such as the synapsin I promoter and the α-CaMKII promoter, are known to exhibit selectivity for excitatory glutamatergic neurons in vivo, the cell type-specificity of these promoters has not been thoroughly tested in culture preparations. Here, by using hippocampal culture preparation from the VGAT-Venus transgenic mice, we examined the ability of five putative promoter sequences of glutamatergic-selective markers including synapsin I, α-CaMKII, the vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1), Dock10 and Prox1. Among these, a genomic fragment containing a 2.1 kb segment upstream of the translation start site (TSS) of the VGLUT1 implemented in a lentiviral vector with the Tet-Off inducible system achieved the highest preferential gene expression in glutamatergic neurons. Analysis of various lengths of the VGLUT1 promoter regions identified a segment between −2.1 kb and −1.4 kb from the TSS as a responsible element for the glutamatergic selectivity. Consistently, expression of channelrhodopsin under this promoter sequence allowed for selective light-evoked activation of excitatory neurons. Thus, the lentiviral system carrying the VGLUT1 promoter fragment can be used to effectively target exogenous gene expression to excitatory glutamatergic neurons in cultures.
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6
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Chang M, Suzuki N, Kawai HD. Laminar specific gene expression reveals differences in postnatal laminar maturation in mouse auditory, visual, and somatosensory cortex. J Comp Neurol 2018; 526:2257-2284. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Minzi Chang
- Department of Bioinformatics; Graduate School of Engineering; Hachioji Tokyo 192-8577 Japan
| | - Nobuko Suzuki
- Department of Bioinformatics; Graduate School of Engineering; Hachioji Tokyo 192-8577 Japan
| | - Hideki Derek Kawai
- Department of Bioinformatics; Graduate School of Engineering; Hachioji Tokyo 192-8577 Japan
- Department of Science and Engineering for Sustainable Innovation; Faculty of Science and Engineering; Hachioji Tokyo 192-8577 Japan
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7
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Sheikh IS, Keefe KM, Sterling NA, Junker IP, Eneanya CI, Liu Y, Tang XQ, Smith GM. Retrogradely Transportable Lentivirus Tracers for Mapping Spinal Cord Locomotor Circuits. Front Neural Circuits 2018; 12:60. [PMID: 30090059 PMCID: PMC6068242 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Retrograde tracing is a key facet of neuroanatomical studies involving long distance projection neurons. Previous groups have utilized a variety of tools ranging from classical chemical tracers to newer methods employing viruses for gene delivery. Here, we highlight the usage of a lentivirus that permits highly efficient retrograde transport (HiRet) from synaptic terminals within the cervical and lumbar enlargements of the spinal cord. By injecting HiRet, we can clearly identify supraspinal and propriospinal circuits innervating motor neuron pools relating to forelimb and hindlimb function. We observed robust labeling of propriospinal neurons, including high fidelity details of dendritic arbors and axon terminals seldom seen with chemical tracers. In addition, we examine changes in interneuronal circuits occurring after a thoracic contusion, highlighting populations that potentially contribute to spontaneous behavioral recovery in this lesion model. Our study demonstrates that the HiRet lentivirus is a unique tool for examining neuronal circuitry within the brain and spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran S Sheikh
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Rehabilitation and Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kathleen M Keefe
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Rehabilitation and Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Noelle A Sterling
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Rehabilitation and Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ian P Junker
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Rehabilitation and Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Chidubem I Eneanya
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Rehabilitation and Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Yingpeng Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Rehabilitation and Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Xiao-Qing Tang
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Rehabilitation and Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - George M Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Rehabilitation and Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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8
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A Single Vector Platform for High-Level Gene Transduction of Central Neurons: Adeno-Associated Virus Vector Equipped with the Tet-Off System. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169611. [PMID: 28060929 PMCID: PMC5217859 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Visualization of neurons is indispensable for the investigation of neuronal circuits in the central nervous system. Virus vectors have been widely used for labeling particular subsets of neurons, and the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector has gained popularity as a tool for gene transfer. Here, we developed a single AAV vector Tet-Off platform, AAV-SynTetOff, to improve the gene-transduction efficiency, specifically in neurons. The platform is composed of regulator and response elements in a single AAV genome. After infection of Neuro-2a cells with the AAV-SynTetOff vector, the transduction efficiency of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was increased by approximately 2- and 15-fold relative to the conventional AAV vector with the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) or human synapsin I (SYN) promoter, respectively. We then injected the AAV vectors into the mouse neostriatum. GFP expression in the neostriatal neurons infected with the AAV-SynTetOff vector was approximately 40-times higher than that with the CMV or SYN promoter. By adding a membrane-targeting signal to GFP, the axon fibers of neostriatal neurons were clearly visualized. In contrast, by attaching somatodendritic membrane-targeting signals to GFP, axon fiber labeling was mostly suppressed. Furthermore, we prepared the AAV-SynTetOff vector, which simultaneously expressed somatodendritic membrane-targeted GFP and membrane-targeted red fluorescent protein (RFP). After injection of the vector into the neostriatum, the cell bodies and dendrites of neostriatal neurons were labeled with both GFP and RFP, whereas the axons in the projection sites were labeled only with RFP. Finally, we applied this vector to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive (VIP+) neocortical neurons, one of the subclasses of inhibitory neurons in the neocortex, in layer 2/3 of the mouse primary somatosensory cortex. The results revealed the differential distribution of the somatodendritic and axonal structures at the population level. The AAV-SynTetOff vector developed in the present study exhibits strong fluorescence labeling and has promising applications in neuronal imaging.
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9
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Watakabe A, Sadakane O, Hata K, Ohtsuka M, Takaji M, Yamamori T. Application of viral vectors to the study of neural connectivities and neural circuits in the marmoset brain. Dev Neurobiol 2016; 77:354-372. [PMID: 27706918 PMCID: PMC5324647 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
It is important to study the neural connectivities and functions in primates. For this purpose, it is critical to be able to transfer genes to certain neurons in the primate brain so that we can image the neuronal signals and analyze the function of the transferred gene. Toward this end, our team has been developing gene transfer systems using viral vectors. In this review, we summarize our current achievements as follows. 1) We compared the features of gene transfer using five different AAV serotypes in combination with three different promoters, namely, CMV, mouse CaMKII (CaMKII), and human synapsin 1 (hSyn1), in the marmoset cortex with those in the mouse and macaque cortices. 2) We used target‐specific double‐infection techniques in combination with TET‐ON and TET‐OFF using lentiviral retrograde vectors for enhanced visualization of neural connections. 3) We used an AAV‐mediated gene transfer method to study the transcriptional control for amplifying fluorescent signals using the TET/TRE system in the primate neocortex. We also established systems for shRNA mediated gene targeting in a neocortical region where a gene is significantly expressed and for expressing the gene using the CMV promoter for an unexpressed neocortical area in the primate cortex using AAV vectors to understand the regulation of downstream genes. Our findings have demonstrated the feasibility of using viral vector mediated gene transfer systems for the study of primate cortical circuits using the marmoset as an animal model. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 77: 354–372, 2017
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiya Watakabe
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Osamu Sadakane
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Katsusuke Hata
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Masanari Ohtsuka
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Masafumi Takaji
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Yamamori
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
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10
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Sadakane O, Masamizu Y, Watakabe A, Terada SI, Ohtsuka M, Takaji M, Mizukami H, Ozawa K, Kawasaki H, Matsuzaki M, Yamamori T. Long-Term Two-Photon Calcium Imaging of Neuronal Populations with Subcellular Resolution in Adult Non-human Primates. Cell Rep 2015; 13:1989-99. [PMID: 26655910 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Revised: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Two-photon imaging with genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) enables long-term observation of neuronal activity in vivo. However, there are very few studies of GECIs in primates. Here, we report a method for long-term imaging of a GECI, GCaMP6f, expressed from adeno-associated virus vectors in cortical neurons of the adult common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a small New World primate. We used a tetracycline-inducible expression system to robustly amplify neuronal GCaMP6f expression and up- and downregulate it for more than 100 days. We succeeded in monitoring spontaneous activity not only from hundreds of neurons three-dimensionally distributed in layers 2 and 3 but also from single dendrites and axons in layer 1. Furthermore, we detected selective activities from somata, dendrites, and axons in the somatosensory cortex responding to specific tactile stimuli. Our results provide a way to investigate the organization and plasticity of cortical microcircuits at subcellular resolution in non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osamu Sadakane
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Department of Basic Biology, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai), Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yoshito Masamizu
- Department of Basic Biology, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai), Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Division of Brain Circuits, National Institute for Basic Biology, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Akiya Watakabe
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Department of Basic Biology, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai), Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichiro Terada
- Division of Brain Circuits, National Institute for Basic Biology, Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Laboratory of Cell Recognition and Pattern Formation, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Masanari Ohtsuka
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Masafumi Takaji
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Mizukami
- Division of Genetic Therapeutics, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Keiya Ozawa
- Division of Genetic Therapeutics, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kawasaki
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Masanori Matsuzaki
- Department of Basic Biology, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai), Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Division of Brain Circuits, National Institute for Basic Biology, Aichi 444-8585, Japan.
| | - Tetsuo Yamamori
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Department of Basic Biology, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai), Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
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11
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Osakada F, Takahashi M. Challenges in retinal circuit regeneration: linking neuronal connectivity to circuit function. Biol Pharm Bull 2015; 38:341-57. [PMID: 25757915 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b14-00771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Tremendous progress has been made in retinal regeneration, as exemplified by successful transplantation of retinal pigment epithelia and photoreceptor cells in the adult retina, as well as by generation of retinal tissue from embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent cells. However, it remains unknown how new photoreceptors integrate within retinal circuits and contribute to vision restoration. There is a large gap in our understanding, at both the cellular and behavioral levels, of the functional roles of new neurons in the adult retina. This gap largely arises from the lack of appropriate methods for analyzing the organization and function of new neurons at the circuit level. To bridge this gap and understand the functional roles of new neurons in living animals, it will be necessary to identify newly formed connections, correlate them with function, manipulate their activity, and assess the behavioral outcome of these manipulations. Recombinant viral vectors are powerful tools not only for controlling gene expression and reprogramming cells, but also for tracing cell fates and neuronal connectivity, monitoring biological functions, and manipulating the physiological state of a specific cell population. These virus-based approaches, combined with electrophysiology and optical imaging, will provide circuit-level insight into neural regeneration and facilitate new strategies for achieving vision restoration in the adult retina. Herein, we discuss challenges and future directions in retinal regeneration research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumitaka Osakada
- Laboratory of Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University; Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, California 92037, USA; PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
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12
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Hioki H. Compartmental organization of synaptic inputs to parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic neurons in mouse primary somatosensory cortex. Anat Sci Int 2014; 90:7-21. [PMID: 25467527 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-014-0264-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Parvalbumin (PV)-positive fast-spiking cells in the neocortex are known to generate gamma oscillations by mutual chemical and electrical connections. Recent findings suggest that this rhythm might be responsible for higher-order brain functions, and related to psychiatric disorders. To elucidate the precise structural rules of the connections of PV neurons, we first produced genetic tools. Using a lentiviral expression system, we developed neuron-specific promoters and a new reporter protein that labels the somatodendritic membrane of neurons. We applied the reporter protein to the generation of transgenic mice, and succeeded in visualizing the dendrites and cell bodies of PV neurons efficiently. Then we analyzed excitatory and inhibitory inputs to PV neurons in the primary somatosensory cortex using the mice. Corticocortical glutamatergic inputs were more frequently found on the distal dendrites than on the soma, whereas thalamocortical inputs did not differ between the proximal and distal portions. Corticocortical inhibitory inputs were more densely distributed on the soma than on the dendrites. We further investigated which types of neocortical GABAergic neurons preferred the PV soma over their dendrites. We revealed that the somatic and dendritic compartments principally received GABAergic inputs from vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-positive and PV neurons, respectively. This compartmental organization suggests that PV neurons communicate with each other mainly via the dendrites, and that their activity is effectively controlled by the somatic inputs of VIP neurons. These findings provide new insights into the neuronal circuits involving PV neurons, and contribute to a better understanding of brain functions and mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Hioki
- Department of Morphological Brain Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan,
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13
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Comparative analyses of adeno-associated viral vector serotypes 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9 in marmoset, mouse and macaque cerebral cortex. Neurosci Res 2014; 93:144-57. [PMID: 25240284 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2014.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Revised: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Here we investigated the transduction characteristics of adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) serotypes 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9 in the marmoset cerebral cortex. Using three constructs that each has hrGFP under ubiquitous (CMV), or neuron-specific (CaMKII and Synapsin I (SynI)) promoters, we investigated (1) the extent of viral spread, (2) cell type tropism, and (3) neuronal transduction efficiency of each serotype. AAV2 was clearly distinct from other serotypes in small spreading and neuronal tropism. We did not observe significant differences in viral spread among other serotypes. Regarding the cell tropism, AAV1, 5, 8 and 9 exhibited mostly glial expression for CMV construct. However, when the CaMKII construct was tested, cortical neurons were efficiently transduced (>∼70% in layer 3) by all serotypes, suggesting that glial expression obscured neuronal expression for CMV construct. For both SynI and CaMKII constructs, we observed generally high-level expression in large pyramidal cells especially in layer 5, as well as in parvalbumin-positive interneurons. The expression from the CaMKII construct was more uniformly observed in excitatory cells compared with SynI construct. Injection of the same viral preparations in mouse and macaque cortex resulted in essentially the same result with some species-specific differences.
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Watakabe A, Takaji M, Kato S, Kobayashi K, Mizukami H, Ozawa K, Ohsawa S, Matsui R, Watanabe D, Yamamori T. Simultaneous visualization of extrinsic and intrinsic axon collaterals in Golgi-like detail for mouse corticothalamic and corticocortical cells: a double viral infection method. Front Neural Circuits 2014; 8:110. [PMID: 25278843 PMCID: PMC4166322 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2014.00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we present a novel tracing technique to stain projection neurons in Golgi-like detail by double viral infection. We used retrograde lentiviral vectors and adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) to drive “TET-ON/TET-OFF system” in neurons connecting two regions. Using this method, we successfully labeled the corticothalamic (CT) cells of the mouse somatosensory barrel field (S1BF) and motor cortex (M1) in their entirety. We also labeled contra- and ipsilaterally-projecting corticocortical (CC) cells of M1 by targeting contralateral M1 or ipsilateral S1 for retrograde infection. The strength of this method is that we can observe the morphology of specific projection neuron subtypes en masse. We found that the group of CT cells extends their dendrites and intrinsic axons extensively below but not within the thalamorecipient layer in both S1BF and M1, suggesting that the primary target of this cell type is not layer 4. We also found that both ipsi- and contralateral targeting CC cells in M1 commonly exhibit widespread collateral extensions to contralateral M1 (layers 1–6), bilateral S1 and S2 (layers 1, 5 and 6), perirhinal cortex (layers 1, 2/3, 5, and 6), striatum and claustrum. These findings not only strengthened the previous findings of single cell tracings but also extended them by enabling cross-area comparison of CT cells or comparison of CC cells of two different labeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiya Watakabe
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology Okazaki, Japan
| | - Masafumi Takaji
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology Okazaki, Japan
| | - Shigeki Kato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kazuto Kobayashi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Mizukami
- Division of Genetic Therapeutics, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Keiya Ozawa
- Division of Genetic Therapeutics, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Sonoko Ohsawa
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology Okazaki, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Matsui
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan
| | - Dai Watanabe
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Yamamori
- Division of Brain Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology Okazaki, Japan
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Suter BA, Yamawaki N, Borges K, Li X, Kiritani T, Hooks BM, Shepherd GMG. Neurophotonics applications to motor cortex research. NEUROPHOTONICS 2014; 1:011008. [PMID: 25553337 PMCID: PMC4278379 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.1.1.011008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Revised: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 04/18/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Neurophotonics methods offer powerful ways to access neuronal signals and circuits. We highlight recent advances and current themes in this area, emphasizing tools for mapping, monitoring, and manipulating excitatory projection neurons and their synaptic circuits in mouse motor cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A. Suter
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Naoki Yamawaki
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Katharine Borges
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Xiaojian Li
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Taro Kiritani
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Bryan M. Hooks
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Farm Research Campus, Ashburn, Virginia 20147
| | - Gordon M. G. Shepherd
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Chicago, Illinois 60611
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Kato S, Kobayashi K, Kobayashi K. Improved transduction efficiency of a lentiviral vector for neuron-specific retrograde gene transfer by optimizing the junction of fusion envelope glycoprotein. J Neurosci Methods 2014; 227:151-8. [PMID: 24613797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2013] [Revised: 02/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vector for neuron-specific retrograde gene transfer (NeuRet) is a pseudotype of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-based vector with fusion glycoprotein type C (FuG-C), which consists of the N-terminal region of the extracellular domain of rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) and the membrane-proximal region of the extracellular domain and the transmembrane/cytoplasmic domains of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVG). The NeuRet vector shows a high efficiency of gene transfer through retrograde axonal transport and transduces selectively neuronal cells around the injection site. NEW METHOD We aimed to improve the efficiency of retrograde gene transfer of the NeuRet vector by optimizing the junction of RVG and VSVG segments in fusion glycoproteins in their membrane-proximal region. RESULTS We produced various types of fusion glycoproteins, in which the junction of the two glycoprotein segments diverged in the membrane-proximal region and used for pseudotyping of HIV-1-based vector to evaluate the in vivo gene transfer efficiency after intrastriatal injection. We found a novel type of fusion glycoprotein termed type E (FuG-E) that yielded enhanced efficiency of retrograde gene delivery, showing neuron-specific transduction surrounding the injection site. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS The NeuRet vector pseudotyped with FuG-E displayed the improved efficiency of retrograde gene transfer into different neural pathways compared with the original vector pseudotyped with FuG-C. CONCLUSIONS Our vector system with FuG-E provides a powerful tool for gene therapeutic trials of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases and for the study of the mechanisms of neural networks underlying various brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeki Kato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Kenta Kobayashi
- Section of Viral Vector Development, National Institute of Physiological Sciences, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Kazuto Kobayashi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan.
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Nakagami Y, Watakabe A, Yamamori T. Monocular inhibition reveals temporal and spatial changes in gene expression in the primary visual cortex of marmoset. Front Neural Circuits 2013; 7:43. [PMID: 23576954 PMCID: PMC3620563 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2013.00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 03/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the time course of the expression of several activity-dependent genes evoked by visual inputs in the primary visual cortex (V1) in adult marmosets. In order to examine the rapid time course of activity-dependent gene expression, marmosets were first monocularly inactivated by tetrodotoxin (TTX), kept in darkness for two days, and then exposed to various length of light stimulation. Activity-dependent genes including HTR1B, HTR2A, whose activity-dependency were previously reported by us, and well-known immediate early genes (IEGs), c-FOS, ZIF268, and ARC, were examined by in situ hybridization. Using this system, first, we demonstrated the ocular dominance type of gene expression pattern in V1 under this condition. IEGs were expressed in columnar patterns throughout layers II–VI of all the tested monocular marmosets. Second, we showed the regulation of HTR1B and HTR2A expressions by retinal spontaneous activity, because HTR1B and HTR2A mRNA expressions sustained a certain level regardless of visual stimulation and were inhibited by a blockade of the retinal activity with TTX. Third, IEGs dynamically changed its laminar distribution from half an hour to several hours upon a stimulus onset with the unique time course for each gene. The expression patterns of these genes were different in neurons of each layer as well. These results suggest that the regulation of each neuron in the primary visual cortex of marmosets is subjected to different regulation upon the change of activities from retina. It should be related to a highly differentiated laminar structure of marmoset visual systems, reflecting the functions of the activity-dependent gene expression in marmoset V1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Nakagami
- Division of Brain Biology, Department of Neurobiology, National Institute for Basic Biology Okazaki, Japan
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