1
|
Dwivedi D, Dumontier D, Sherer M, Lin S, Mirow AMC, Qiu Y, Xu Q, Liebman SA, Joseph D, Datta SR, Fishell G, Pouchelon G. Metabotropic signaling within somatostatin interneurons controls transient thalamocortical inputs during development. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5421. [PMID: 38926335 PMCID: PMC11208423 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49732-w] [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: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
During brain development, neural circuits undergo major activity-dependent restructuring. Circuit wiring mainly occurs through synaptic strengthening following the Hebbian "fire together, wire together" precept. However, select connections, essential for circuit development, are transient. They are effectively connected early in development, but strongly diminish during maturation. The mechanisms by which transient connectivity recedes are unknown. To investigate this process, we characterize transient thalamocortical inputs, which depress onto somatostatin inhibitory interneurons during development, by employing optogenetics, chemogenetics, transcriptomics and CRISPR-based strategies in mice. We demonstrate that in contrast to typical activity-dependent mechanisms, transient thalamocortical connectivity onto somatostatin interneurons is non-canonical and involves metabotropic signaling. Specifically, metabotropic-mediated transcription, of guidance molecules in particular, supports the elimination of this connectivity. Remarkably, we found that this process impacts the development of normal exploratory behaviors of adult mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepanjali Dwivedi
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Mia Sherer
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sherry Lin
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea M C Mirow
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Yanjie Qiu
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Qing Xu
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Samuel A Liebman
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Djeckby Joseph
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Sandeep R Datta
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gord Fishell
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Gabrielle Pouchelon
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, Harbor, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Baker CA, Iwasaki A. Beyond antiviral: role of IFN-I in brain development. Trends Immunol 2024; 45:322-324. [PMID: 38644134 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2024.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Interferons and central nervous system resident macrophages, microglia, are well-known for their respective roles in antiviral defense and phagocytosis. Using a classic experimental paradigm for examining activity-dependent neural plasticity, Escoubas, Dorman, et al. recently identified a role for microglial type I interferon signaling in the clearance of unwanted neurons during mouse brain development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Baker
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Infection and Immunity, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Akiko Iwasaki
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Infection and Immunity, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Średniawa W, Borzymowska Z, Kondrakiewicz K, Jurgielewicz P, Mindur B, Hottowy P, Wójcik DK, Kublik E. Local contribution to the somatosensory evoked potentials in rat's thalamus. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301713. [PMID: 38593141 PMCID: PMC11003638 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Local Field Potential (LFP), despite its name, often reflects remote activity. Depending on the orientation and synchrony of their sources, both oscillations and more complex waves may passively spread in brain tissue over long distances and be falsely interpreted as local activity at such distant recording sites. Here we show that the whisker-evoked potentials in the thalamic nuclei are of local origin up to around 6 ms post stimulus, but the later (7-15 ms) wave is overshadowed by a negative component reaching from cortex. This component can be analytically removed and local thalamic LFP can be recovered reliably using Current Source Density analysis. We used model-based kernel CSD (kCSD) method which allowed us to study the contribution of local and distant currents to LFP from rat thalamic nuclei and barrel cortex recorded with multiple, non-linear and non-regular multichannel probes. Importantly, we verified that concurrent recordings from the cortex are not essential for reliable thalamic CSD estimation. The proposed framework can be used to analyze LFP from other brain areas and has consequences for general LFP interpretation and analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Władysław Średniawa
- Laboratory of Neuroinformatics, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Borzymowska
- Neurobiology of Emotions Laboratory, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kacper Kondrakiewicz
- Neurobiology of Emotions Laboratory, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paweł Jurgielewicz
- AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, Krakow, Poland
| | - Bartosz Mindur
- AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, Krakow, Poland
| | - Paweł Hottowy
- AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, Krakow, Poland
| | - Daniel K. Wójcik
- Laboratory of Neuroinformatics, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Ewa Kublik
- Neurobiology of Emotions Laboratory, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dwivedi D, Dumontier D, Sherer M, Lin S, Mirow AM, Qiu Y, Xu Q, Liebman SA, Joseph D, Datta SR, Fishell G, Pouchelon G. Metabotropic signaling within somatostatin interneurons controls transient thalamocortical inputs during development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.21.558862. [PMID: 37790336 PMCID: PMC10542166 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.21.558862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
During brain development, neural circuits undergo major activity-dependent restructuring. Circuit wiring mainly occurs through synaptic strengthening following the Hebbian "fire together, wire together" precept. However, select connections, essential for circuit development, are transient. They are effectively connected early in development, but strongly diminish during maturation. The mechanisms by which transient connectivity recedes are unknown. To investigate this process, we characterize transient thalamocortical inputs, which depress onto somatostatin inhibitory interneurons during development, by employing optogenetics, chemogenetics, transcriptomics and CRISPR-based strategies. We demonstrate that in contrast to typical activity-dependent mechanisms, transient thalamocortical connectivity onto somatostatin interneurons is non-canonical and involves metabotropic signaling. Specifically, metabotropic-mediated transcription, of guidance molecules in particular, supports the elimination of this connectivity. Remarkably, we found that this developmental process impacts the development of normal exploratory behaviors of adult mice.
Collapse
|
5
|
Ciancone-Chama AG, Bonaldo V, Biasini E, Bozzi Y, Balasco L. Gene Expression Profiling in Trigeminal Ganglia from Cntnap2 -/- and Shank3b -/- Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuroscience 2023; 531:75-85. [PMID: 37699442 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.08.028] [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: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Sensory difficulties represent a crucial issue in the life of autistic individuals. The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders describes both hyper- and hypo-responsiveness to sensory stimulation as a criterion for the diagnosis autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Among the sensory domain affected in ASD, altered responses to tactile stimulation represent the most commonly reported sensory deficits. Although tactile abnormalities have been reported in monogenic cohorts of patients and genetic mouse models of ASD, the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. Traditionally, autism research has focused on the central nervous system as the target to infer the neurobiological bases of such tactile abnormalities. Nonetheless, the peripheral nervous system represents the initial site of processing of sensory information and a potential site of dysfunction in the sensory cascade. Here we investigated the gene expression deregulation in the trigeminal ganglion (which directly receives tactile information from whiskers) in two genetic models of syndromic autism (Shank3b and Cntnap2 mutant mice) at both adult and juvenile ages. We found several neuronal and non-neuronal markers involved in inhibitory, excitatory, neuroinflammatory and sensory neurotransmission to be differentially regulated within the trigeminal ganglia of both adult and juvenile Shank3b and Cntnap2 mutant mice. These results may help in disentangling the multifaced complexity of sensory abnormalities in autism and open avenues for the development of peripherally targeted treatments for tactile sensory deficits exhibited in ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra G Ciancone-Chama
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences - CIMeC, University of Trento, Piazza della Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, TN, Italy
| | - Valerio Bonaldo
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Yuri Bozzi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences - CIMeC, University of Trento, Piazza della Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, TN, Italy; CNR Neuroscience Institute, via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Luigi Balasco
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences - CIMeC, University of Trento, Piazza della Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, TN, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Young TR, Yamamoto M, Kikuchi SS, Yoshida AC, Abe T, Inoue K, Johansen JP, Benucci A, Yoshimura Y, Shimogori T. Thalamocortical control of cell-type specificity drives circuits for processing whisker-related information in mouse barrel cortex. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6077. [PMID: 37770450 PMCID: PMC10539368 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41749-x] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Excitatory spiny stellate neurons are prominently featured in the cortical circuits of sensory modalities that provide high salience and high acuity representations of the environment. These specialized neurons are considered developmentally linked to bottom-up inputs from the thalamus, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their diversification and function are unknown. Here, we investigated this in mouse somatosensory cortex, where spiny stellate neurons and pyramidal neurons have distinct roles in processing whisker-evoked signals. Utilizing spatial transcriptomics, we identified reciprocal patterns of gene expression which correlated with these cell-types and were linked to innervation by specific thalamic inputs during development. Genetic manipulation that prevents the acquisition of spiny stellate fate highlighted an important role for these neurons in processing distinct whisker signals within functional cortical columns, and as a key driver in the formation of specific whisker-related circuits in the cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R Young
- Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Brain Development, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Mariko Yamamoto
- Division of Visual Information Processing, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Satomi S Kikuchi
- Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Brain Development, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Aya C Yoshida
- Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Brain Development, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Takaya Abe
- Laboratory for Animal Resources and Genetic Engineering, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 2-2-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 6500047, Japan
| | - Kenichi Inoue
- Laboratory for Animal Resources and Genetic Engineering, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 2-2-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 6500047, Japan
| | - Joshua P Johansen
- Laboratory for Neural Circuitry of Learning and Memory, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Andrea Benucci
- Laboratory for Neural Circuits and Behavior, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Yumiko Yoshimura
- Division of Visual Information Processing, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Tomomi Shimogori
- Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Brain Development, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Santiago C, Sharma N, Africawala N, Siegrist J, Handler A, Tasnim A, Anjum R, Turecek J, Lehnert BP, Renauld S, Nolan-Tamariz M, Iskols M, Magee AR, Paradis S, Ginty DD. Activity-dependent development of the body's touch receptors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.23.559109. [PMID: 37790437 PMCID: PMC10542488 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.23.559109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
We report a role for activity in the development of the primary sensory neurons that detect touch. Genetic deletion of Piezo2, the principal mechanosensitive ion channel in somatosensory neurons, caused profound changes in the formation of mechanosensory end organ structures and altered somatosensory neuron central targeting. Single cell RNA sequencing of Piezo2 conditional mutants revealed changes in gene expression in the sensory neurons activated by light mechanical forces, whereas other neuronal classes were less affected. To further test the role of activity in mechanosensory end organ development, we genetically deleted the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.6 (Scn8a) in somatosensory neurons throughout development and found that Scn8a mutants also have disrupted somatosensory neuron morphologies and altered electrophysiological responses to mechanical stimuli. Together, these findings indicate that mechanically evoked neuronal activity acts early in life to shape the maturation of the mechanosensory end organs that underlie our sense of gentle touch.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celine Santiago
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nikhil Sharma
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Nusrat Africawala
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Julianna Siegrist
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Annie Handler
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Aniqa Tasnim
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rabia Anjum
- Department of Biology and Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Josef Turecek
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Brendan P. Lehnert
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Sophia Renauld
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael Nolan-Tamariz
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael Iskols
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alexandra R. Magee
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Suzanne Paradis
- Department of Biology and Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - David D. Ginty
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Lead Contact
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Erzurumlu RS. Serotonin, birth, and thalamocortical wiring. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2312515120. [PMID: 37651446 PMCID: PMC10500185 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312515120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Reha S. Erzurumlu
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21201
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ueta Y, Miyata M. Functional and structural synaptic remodeling mechanisms underlying somatotopic organization and reorganization in the thalamus. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105332. [PMID: 37524138 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
The somatosensory system organizes the topographic representation of body maps, termed somatotopy, at all levels of an ascending hierarchy. Postnatal maturation of somatotopy establishes optimal somatosensation, whereas deafferentation in adults reorganizes somatotopy, which underlies pathological somatosensation, such as phantom pain and complex regional pain syndrome. Here, we focus on the mouse whisker somatosensory thalamus to study how sensory experience shapes the fine topography of afferent connectivity during the critical period and what mechanisms remodel it and drive a large-scale somatotopic reorganization after peripheral nerve injury. We will review our findings that, following peripheral nerve injury in adults, lemniscal afferent synapses onto thalamic neurons are remodeled back to immature configuration, as if the critical period reopens. The remodeling process is initiated with local activation of microglia in the brainstem somatosensory nucleus downstream to injured nerves and heterosynaptically controlled by input from GABAergic and cortical neurons to thalamic neurons. These fruits of thalamic studies complement well-studied cortical mechanisms of somatotopic organization and reorganization and unveil potential intervention points in treating pathological somatosensation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshifumi Ueta
- Division of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
| | - Mariko Miyata
- Division of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sinclair-Wilson A, Lawrence A, Ferezou I, Cartonnet H, Mailhes C, Garel S, Lokmane L. Plasticity of thalamocortical axons is regulated by serotonin levels modulated by preterm birth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2301644120. [PMID: 37549297 PMCID: PMC10438379 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2301644120] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory inputs are conveyed to distinct primary areas of the neocortex through specific thalamocortical axons (TCA). While TCA have the ability to reorient postnatally to rescue embryonic mistargeting and target proper modality-specific areas, how this remarkable adaptive process is regulated remains largely unknown. Here, using a mutant mouse model with a shifted TCA trajectory during embryogenesis, we demonstrated that TCA rewiring occurs during a short postnatal time window, preceded by a prenatal apoptosis of thalamic neurons-two processes that together lead to the formation of properly innervated albeit reduced primary sensory areas. We furthermore showed that preterm birth, through serotonin modulation, impairs early postnatal TCA plasticity, as well as the subsequent delineation of cortical area boundary. Our study defines a birth and serotonin-sensitive period that enables concerted adaptations of TCA to primary cortical areas with major implications for our understanding of brain wiring in physiological and preterm conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Sinclair-Wilson
- Team Brain Development and Plasticity, Institut de Biologie de l’ENS, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005Paris, France
| | - Akindé Lawrence
- Team Brain Development and Plasticity, Institut de Biologie de l’ENS, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Ferezou
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, 91400Saclay, France
| | - Hugues Cartonnet
- Team Brain Development and Plasticity, Institut de Biologie de l’ENS, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005Paris, France
| | - Caroline Mailhes
- Acute Transgenesis Facility, Institut de Biologie de l’ENS, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005Paris, France
| | - Sonia Garel
- Team Brain Development and Plasticity, Institut de Biologie de l’ENS, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005Paris, France
- Collège de France, PSL Research University, 75005Paris, France
| | - Ludmilla Lokmane
- Team Brain Development and Plasticity, Institut de Biologie de l’ENS, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lambert K. Wild brains: The value of neuroethological approaches in preclinical behavioral neuroscience animal models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 146:105044. [PMID: 36641013 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105044] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
For three decades, IBNS has provided a forum for the dissemination of behavioral neuroscience research, broadly defined. Throughout this time, research presented at the annual meetings has reflected representative trends in the field with an emphasis on relevant preclinical animal models. From its inception, IBNS has contributed to my professional development and evolving research interests. Unsurprisingly, throughout the three decades of its existence, IBNS annual programs have reflected research trends that have been thoughtfully evaluated, challenged, and, in some cases, recalibrated. An emphasis in my lab, for example, has slowly navigated toward the inclusion of more diverse species (e.g., nonhuman primate models, wild rats, wild and captive raccoons) assessed in settings that reflect more ethological relevance than typically observed in traditional laboratory settings. Consequently, my research interests are pivoting from laboratory animal model exclusive (L.A.M.E.) endeavors to more natural, diverse, ethoexperimental approaches. As progress toward translational findings for psychiatric and neurological conditions is considered, it is recommended that researchers remain open to nontraditional methodological approaches that incorporate diverse animal models and assessments to inform laboratory-generated findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Lambert
- Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Richmond, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang CF, Yang JW, Zhuang ZH, Hsing HW, Luhmann HJ, Chou SJ. Activity-dependent feedback regulation of thalamocortical axon development by Lhx2 in cortical layer 4 neurons. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:1693-1707. [PMID: 35512682 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Establishing neuronal circuits requires interactions between pre- and postsynaptic neurons. While presynaptic neurons were shown to play instructive roles for the postsynaptic neurons, how postsynaptic neurons provide feedback to regulate the presynaptic neuronal development remains elusive. To elucidate the mechanisms for circuit formation, we study the development of barrel cortex (the primary sensory cortex, S1), whose development is instructed by presynaptic thalamocortical axons (TCAs). In the first postnatal weeks, TCA terminals arborize in layer (L) 4 to fill in the barrel center, but it is unclear how TCA development is regulated. Here, we reported that the deletion of Lhx2 specifically in the cortical neurons in the conditional knockout (cKO) leads to TCA arborization defects, which is accompanied with deficits in sensory-evoked and spontaneous cortical activities and impaired lesion-induced plasticity following early whisker follicle ablation. Reintroducing Lhx2 back in L4 neurons in cKO ameliorated TCA arborization and plasticity defects. By manipulating L4 neuronal activity, we further demonstrated that Lhx2 induces TCA arborization via an activity-dependent mechanism. Additionally, we identified the extracellular signaling protein Sema7a as an activity-dependent downstream target of Lhx2 in regulating TCA branching. Thus, we discovered a bottom-up feedback mechanism for the L4 neurons to regulate TCA development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Fang Wang
- Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica (NPAS), Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jenq-Wei Yang
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Zi-Hui Zhuang
- Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica (NPAS), Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Wei Hsing
- Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica (NPAS), Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Shen-Ju Chou
- Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica (NPAS), Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Fritzsch B, Elliott KL, Yamoah EN. Neurosensory development of the four brainstem-projecting sensory systems and their integration in the telencephalon. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:913480. [PMID: 36213204 PMCID: PMC9539932 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.913480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatosensory, taste, vestibular, and auditory information is first processed in the brainstem. From the brainstem, the respective information is relayed to specific regions within the cortex, where these inputs are further processed and integrated with other sensory systems to provide a comprehensive sensory experience. We provide the organization, genetics, and various neuronal connections of four sensory systems: trigeminal, taste, vestibular, and auditory systems. The development of trigeminal fibers is comparable to many sensory systems, for they project mostly contralaterally from the brainstem or spinal cord to the telencephalon. Taste bud information is primarily projected ipsilaterally through the thalamus to reach the insula. The vestibular fibers develop bilateral connections that eventually reach multiple areas of the cortex to provide a complex map. The auditory fibers project in a tonotopic contour to the auditory cortex. The spatial and tonotopic organization of trigeminal and auditory neuron projections are distinct from the taste and vestibular systems. The individual sensory projections within the cortex provide multi-sensory integration in the telencephalon that depends on context-dependent tertiary connections to integrate other cortical sensory systems across the four modalities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Fritzsch
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
- Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
- *Correspondence: Bernd Fritzsch,
| | - Karen L. Elliott
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Ebenezer N. Yamoah
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Tsytsarev V, Kwon SE, Plachez C, Zhao S, O'Connor DH, Erzurumlu RS. Layers 3 and 4 Neurons of the Bilateral Whisker-Barrel Cortex. Neuroscience 2022; 494:140-151. [PMID: 35598701 PMCID: PMC9884091 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.05.018] [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: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
In Robo3R3-5cKO mouse brain, rhombomere 3-derived trigeminal principal nucleus (PrV) neurons project bilaterally to the somatosensory thalamus. As a consequence, whisker-specific neural modules (barreloids and barrels) representing whiskers on both sides of the face develop in the sensory thalamus and the primary somatosensory cortex. We examined the morphological complexity of layer 4 barrel cells, their postsynaptic partners in layer 3, and functional specificity of layer 3 pyramidal cells. Layer 4 spiny stellate cells form much smaller barrels and their dendritic fields are more focalized and less complex compared to controls, while layer 3 pyramidal cells did not show notable differences. Using in vivo 2-photon imaging of a genetically encoded fluorescent [Ca2+] sensor, we visualized neural activity in the normal and Robo3R3-5cKO barrel cortex in response to ipsi- and contralateral single whisker stimulation. Layer 3 neurons in control animals responded only to their contralateral whiskers, while in the mutant cortex layer 3 pyramidal neurons showed both ipsi- and contralateral whisker responses. These results indicate that bilateral whisker map inputs stimulate different but neighboring groups of layer 3 neurons which normally relay contralateral whisker-specific information to other cortical areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vassiliy Tsytsarev
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 20 Penn St, HSF-2, 21201 MD, Baltimore, United States.
| | - Sung E Kwon
- Department of Neuroscience, John Hopkins School of Medicine, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Rangos 295, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States.
| | - Celine Plachez
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 20 Penn St, HSF-2, 21201 MD, Baltimore, United States.
| | - Shuxin Zhao
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 20 Penn St, HSF-2, 21201 MD, Baltimore, United States.
| | - Daniel H O'Connor
- Department of Neuroscience and Krieger Mind/Brain Institute Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St, 338 Krieger Hall, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States.
| | - Reha S Erzurumlu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 20 Penn St, HSF-2, 21201 MD, Baltimore, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Balasco L, Pagani M, Pangrazzi L, Chelini G, Viscido F, Chama AGC, Galbusera A, Provenzano G, Gozzi A, Bozzi Y. Somatosensory cortex hyperconnectivity and impaired whisker-dependent responses in Cntnap2 -/- mice. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 169:105742. [PMID: 35483565 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory abnormalities are a common feature in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Tactile responsiveness is altered in autistic individuals, with hypo-responsiveness being associated with the severity of ASD core symptoms. Similarly, sensory abnormalities have been described in mice lacking ASD-associated genes. Loss-of-function mutations in CNTNAP2 result in cortical dysplasia-focal epilepsy syndrome (CDFE) and autism. Likewise, Cntnap2-/- mice show epilepsy and deficits relevant with core symptoms of human ASDs, and are considered a reliable model to study ASDs. Altered synaptic transmission and synchronicity found in the cerebral cortex of Cntnap2-/- mice would suggest a network dysfunction. Here, we investigated the neural substrates of whisker-dependent responses in Cntnap2+/+ and Cntnap2-/- adult mice. When compared to controls, Cntnap2-/- mice showed focal hyper-connectivity within the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), in the absence of altered connectivity between S1 and other somatosensory areas. This data suggests the presence of impaired somatosensory processing in these mutants. Accordingly, Cntnap2-/- mice displayed impaired whisker-dependent discrimination in the textured novel object recognition test (tNORT) and increased c-fos mRNA induction within S1 following whisker stimulation. S1 functional hyperconnectivity might underlie the aberrant whisker-dependent responses observed in Cntnap2-/- mice, indicating that Cntnap2 mice are a reliable model to investigate sensory abnormalities that characterize ASDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Balasco
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences - CIMeC, University of Trento, Piazza della Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, TN, Italy
| | - Marco Pagani
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Luca Pangrazzi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences - CIMeC, University of Trento, Piazza della Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, TN, Italy
| | - Gabriele Chelini
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences - CIMeC, University of Trento, Piazza della Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, TN, Italy
| | - Francesca Viscido
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences - CIMeC, University of Trento, Piazza della Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, TN, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Galbusera
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Giovanni Provenzano
- Department of Cellular, Computational, and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gozzi
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Yuri Bozzi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences - CIMeC, University of Trento, Piazza della Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, TN, Italy; CNR Neuroscience Institute, via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Cossart R, Garel S. Step by step: cells with multiple functions in cortical circuit assembly. Nat Rev Neurosci 2022; 23:395-410. [DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00585-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
|
17
|
Chen CC, Brumberg JC. Sensory Experience as a Regulator of Structural Plasticity in the Developing Whisker-to-Barrel System. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 15:770453. [PMID: 35002626 PMCID: PMC8739903 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.770453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular structures provide the physical foundation for the functionality of the nervous system, and their developmental trajectory can be influenced by the characteristics of the external environment that an organism interacts with. Historical and recent works have determined that sensory experiences, particularly during developmental critical periods, are crucial for information processing in the brain, which in turn profoundly influence neuronal and non-neuronal cortical structures that subsequently impact the animals' behavioral and cognitive outputs. In this review, we focus on how altering sensory experience influences normal/healthy development of the central nervous system, particularly focusing on the cerebral cortex using the rodent whisker-to-barrel system as an illustrative model. A better understanding of structural plasticity, encompassing multiple aspects such as neuronal, glial, and extra-cellular domains, provides a more integrative view allowing for a deeper appreciation of how all aspects of the brain work together as a whole.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Chien Chen
- Department of Psychology, Queens College City University of New York, Flushing, NY, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Duke Kunshan University, Suzhou, China
| | - Joshua C Brumberg
- Department of Psychology, Queens College City University of New York, Flushing, NY, United States.,The Biology (Neuroscience) and Psychology (Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience) PhD Programs, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
The cellular and molecular basis of somatosensory neuron development. Neuron 2021; 109:3736-3757. [PMID: 34592169 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Primary somatosensory neurons convey salient information about our external environment and internal state to the CNS, allowing us to detect, perceive, and react to a wide range of innocuous and noxious stimuli. Pseudo-unipolar in shape, and among the largest (longest) cells of most mammals, dorsal root ganglia (DRG) somatosensory neurons have peripheral axons that extend into skin, muscle, viscera, or bone and central axons that innervate the spinal cord and brainstem, where they synaptically engage the central somatosensory circuitry. Here, we review the diversity of mammalian DRG neuron subtypes and the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms that control their development. We describe classical and contemporary advances that frame our understanding of DRG neurogenesis, transcriptional specification of DRG neurons, and the establishment of morphological, physiological, and synaptic diversification across somatosensory neuron subtypes.
Collapse
|
19
|
NMDA receptor-BK channel coupling regulates synaptic plasticity in the barrel cortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2107026118. [PMID: 34453004 PMCID: PMC8536339 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107026118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are critical triggers for neuronal plasticity. We show that large-conductance Ca2+- and voltage-gated K+ (BK) channels serve as feedback regulators of NMDA receptor–mediated calcium influx to shape NMDA receptor–mediated synaptic potentials and consequently elevate the threshold for triggering plasticity at a subset of synapses. Postsynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are crucial mediators of synaptic plasticity due to their ability to act as coincidence detectors of presynaptic and postsynaptic neuronal activity. However, NMDARs exist within the molecular context of a variety of postsynaptic signaling proteins, which can fine-tune their function. Here, we describe a form of NMDAR suppression by large-conductance Ca2+- and voltage-gated K+ (BK) channels in the basal dendrites of a subset of barrel cortex layer 5 pyramidal neurons. We show that NMDAR activation increases intracellular Ca2+ in the vicinity of BK channels, thus activating K+ efflux and strong negative feedback inhibition. We further show that neurons exhibiting such NMDAR–BK coupling serve as high-pass filters for incoming synaptic inputs, precluding the induction of spike timing–dependent plasticity. Together, these data suggest that NMDAR-localized BK channels regulate synaptic integration and provide input-specific synaptic diversity to a thalamocortical circuit.
Collapse
|
20
|
Chronic Orofacial Pain: Models, Mechanisms, and Genetic and Related Environmental Influences. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22137112. [PMID: 34281164 PMCID: PMC8268972 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic orofacial pain conditions can be particularly difficult to diagnose and treat because of their complexity and limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying their aetiology and pathogenesis. Furthermore, there is considerable variability between individuals in their susceptibility to risk factors predisposing them to the development and maintenance of chronic pain as well as in their expression of chronic pain features such as allodynia, hyperalgesia and extraterritorial sensory spread. The variability suggests that genetic as well as environmental factors may contribute to the development and maintenance of chronic orofacial pain. This article reviews these features of chronic orofacial pain, and outlines findings from studies in animal models of the behavioural characteristics and underlying mechanisms related to the development and maintenance of chronic orofacial pain and trigeminal neuropathic pain in particular. The review also considers the role of environmental and especially genetic factors in these models, focussing on findings of differences between animal strains in the features and underlying mechanisms of chronic pain. These findings are not only relevant to understanding underlying mechanisms and the variability between patients in the development, expression and maintenance of chronic orofacial pain, but also underscore the importance for considering the strain of the animal to model and explore chronic orofacial pain processes.
Collapse
|
21
|
Nakazawa S, Iwasato T. Spatial organization and transitions of spontaneous neuronal activities in the developing sensory cortex. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:323-339. [PMID: 34166527 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The sensory cortex underlies our ability to perceive and interact with the external world. Sensory perceptions are controlled by specialized neuronal circuits established through fine-tuning, which relies largely on neuronal activity during the development. Spontaneous neuronal activity is an essential driving force of neuronal circuit refinement. At early developmental stages, sensory cortices display spontaneous activities originating from the periphery and characterized by correlated firing arranged spatially according to the modality. The firing patterns are reorganized over time and become sparse, which is typical for the mature brain. This review focuses mainly on rodent sensory cortices. First, the features of the spontaneous activities during early postnatal stages are described. Then, the developmental changes in the spatial organization of the spontaneous activities and the transition mechanisms involved are discussed. The identification of the principles controlling the spatial organization of spontaneous activities in the developing sensory cortex is essential to understand the self-organization process of neuronal circuits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Nakazawa
- Laboratory of Mammalian Neural Circuits, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan.,Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Takuji Iwasato
- Laboratory of Mammalian Neural Circuits, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan.,Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Iannone AF, De Marco García NV. The Emergence of Network Activity Patterns in the Somatosensory Cortex - An Early Window to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Neuroscience 2021; 466:298-309. [PMID: 33887384 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Across mammalian species, patterned activity in neural populations is a prominent feature of developing sensory cortices. Numerous studies have long appreciated the diversity of these patterns, characterizing their differences in spatial and temporal dynamics. In the murine somatosensory cortex, neuronal co-activation is thought to guide the formation of sensory maps and prepare the cortex for sensory processing after birth. While pioneering studies deftly utilized slice electrophysiology and unit recordings to characterize correlated activity, a detailed understanding of the underlying circuits remains poorly understood. More recently, advances in in vivo calcium imaging in awake mouse pups and increasing genetic tractability of neuronal types have allowed unprecedented manipulation of circuit components at select developmental timepoints. These novel approaches have proven fundamental in uncovering the identity of neurons engaged in correlated activity during development. In particular, recent studies have highlighted interneurons as key in refining the spatial extent and temporal progression of patterned activity. Here, we discuss how emergent synchronous activity across the first postnatal weeks is shaped by underlying gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic contributors in the somatosensory cortex. Further, the importance of participation in specific activity patterns per se for neuronal maturation and perdurance will be of particular highlight in this survey of recent literature. Finally, we underscore how aberrant neuronal synchrony and disrupted inhibitory interneuron activity underlie sensory perturbations in neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), emphasizing the importance of future investigative approaches that incorporate the spatiotemporal features of patterned activity alongside the cellular components to probe disordered circuit assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Iannone
- Center for Neurogenetics, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Natalia V De Marco García
- Center for Neurogenetics, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Sensational developments in somatosensory development? Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 66:212-223. [PMID: 33454646 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
This is an overview of the most recent advances pertaining to the development of the cardinal components of the somatosensory system: the peripheral sensory neurons that perceive somatosensory stimuli, the first line central nervous system circuits that modulate them, and the higher structures such as the somatosensory cortex that eventually compute a motor response to them. Here, I also review the most recent findings concerning the role of neuronal activity in somatosensory development, formation of somatotopic maps, insights into human somatosensory development and the link between aberrant somatosensation and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
|