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Kersbergen CJ, Bergles DE. Priming central sound processing circuits through induction of spontaneous activity in the cochlea before hearing onset. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:522-537. [PMID: 38782701 PMCID: PMC11236524 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.04.007] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Sensory systems experience a period of intrinsically generated neural activity before maturation is complete and sensory transduction occurs. Here we review evidence describing the mechanisms and functions of this 'spontaneous' activity in the auditory system. Both ex vivo and in vivo studies indicate that this correlated activity is initiated by non-sensory supporting cells within the developing cochlea, which induce depolarization and burst firing of groups of nearby hair cells in the sensory epithelium, activity that is conveyed to auditory neurons that will later process similar sound features. This stereotyped neural burst firing promotes cellular maturation, synaptic refinement, acoustic sensitivity, and establishment of sound-responsive domains in the brain. While sensitive to perturbation, the developing auditory system exhibits remarkable homeostatic mechanisms to preserve periodic burst firing in deaf mice. Preservation of this early spontaneous activity in the context of deafness may enhance the efficacy of later interventions to restore hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin J Kersbergen
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dwight E Bergles
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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2
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Chini M, Hnida M, Kostka JK, Chen YN, Hanganu-Opatz IL. Preconfigured architecture of the developing mouse brain. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114267. [PMID: 38795344 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114267] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024] Open
Abstract
In the adult brain, structural and functional parameters, such as synaptic sizes and neuronal firing rates, follow right-skewed and heavy-tailed distributions. While this organization is thought to have significant implications, its development is still largely unknown. Here, we address this knowledge gap by investigating a large-scale dataset recorded from the prefrontal cortex and the olfactory bulb of mice aged 4-60 postnatal days. We show that firing rates and spike train interactions have a largely stable distribution shape throughout the first 60 postnatal days and that the prefrontal cortex displays a functional small-world architecture. Moreover, early brain activity exhibits an oligarchical organization, where high-firing neurons have hub-like properties. In a neural network model, we show that analogously right-skewed and heavy-tailed synaptic parameters are instrumental to consistently recapitulate the experimental data. Thus, functional and structural parameters in the developing brain are already extremely distributed, suggesting that this organization is preconfigured and not experience dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Chini
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Marilena Hnida
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Johanna K Kostka
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yu-Nan Chen
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ileana L Hanganu-Opatz
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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3
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Mahapatra S, Takahashi T. Physiological roles of endocytosis and presynaptic scaffold in vesicle replenishment at fast and slow central synapses. eLife 2024; 12:RP90497. [PMID: 38829367 PMCID: PMC11147502 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90497] [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] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
After exocytosis, release sites are cleared of vesicular residues to replenish with transmitter-filled vesicles. Endocytic and scaffold proteins are thought to underlie this site-clearance mechanism. However, the physiological significance of this mechanism at diverse mammalian central synapses remains unknown. Here, we tested this in a physiologically optimized condition using action potential evoked EPSCs at fast calyx synapse and relatively slow hippocampal CA1 synapse, in post-hearing mice brain slices at 37°C and in 1.3 mM [Ca2+]. Pharmacological block of endocytosis enhanced synaptic depression at the calyx synapse, whereas it attenuated synaptic facilitation at the hippocampal synapse. Block of scaffold protein activity likewise enhanced synaptic depression at the calyx but had no effect at the hippocampal synapse. At the fast calyx synapse, block of endocytosis or scaffold protein activity significantly enhanced synaptic depression as early as 10 ms after the stimulation onset. Unlike previous reports, neither endocytic blockers nor scaffold protein inhibitors prolonged the recovery from short-term depression. We conclude that the release-site clearance by endocytosis can be a universal phenomenon supporting vesicle replenishment at both fast and slow synapses, whereas the presynaptic scaffold mechanism likely plays a specialized role in vesicle replenishment predominantly at fast synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satyajit Mahapatra
- Cellular and Molecular Synaptic Function Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology - Graduate UniversityOkinawaJapan
| | - Tomoyuki Takahashi
- Cellular and Molecular Synaptic Function Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology - Graduate UniversityOkinawaJapan
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4
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Cai L, Argunşah AÖ, Damilou A, Karayannis T. A nasal chemosensation-dependent critical window for somatosensory development. Science 2024; 384:652-660. [PMID: 38723089 DOI: 10.1126/science.adn5611] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Nasal chemosensation is considered the evolutionarily oldest mammalian sense and, together with somatosensation, is crucial for neonatal well-being before auditory and visual pathways start engaging the brain. Using anatomical and functional approaches in mice, we reveal that odor-driven activity propagates to a large part of the cortex during the first postnatal week and enhances whisker-evoked activation of primary whisker somatosensory cortex (wS1). This effect disappears in adult animals, in line with the loss of excitatory connectivity from olfactory cortex to wS1. By performing neonatal odor deprivation, followed by electrophysiological and behavioral work in adult animals, we identify a key transient regulation of nasal chemosensory information necessary for the development of wS1 sensory-driven dynamics and somatosensation. Our work uncovers a cross-modal critical window for nasal chemosensation-dependent somatosensory functional maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linbi Cai
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Assembly, Brain Research Institute (HiFo), University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ali Özgür Argunşah
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Assembly, Brain Research Institute (HiFo), University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Angeliki Damilou
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Assembly, Brain Research Institute (HiFo), University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Theofanis Karayannis
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Assembly, Brain Research Institute (HiFo), University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- University Research Priority Program (URPP), Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning (AdaBD), University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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5
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Nabel AL, Teich L, Wohlfrom H, Alexandrova O, Heß M, Pecka M, Grothe B. Development of myelination and axon diameter for fast and precise action potential conductance. Glia 2024; 72:794-808. [PMID: 38174817 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24504] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Axons of globular bushy cells in the cochlear nucleus convey hyper-accurate signals to the superior olivary complex, the initial site of binaural processing via comparably thick axons and the calyx of the Held synapse. Bushy cell fibers involved in hyper-accurate binaural processing of low-frequency sounds are known to have an unusual internode length-to-axon caliber ratio (L/d) correlating with higher conduction velocity and superior temporal precision of action potentials. How the L/d-ratio develops and what determines this unusual myelination pattern is unclear. Here we describe a gradual developmental transition from very simple to complex, mature nodes of Ranvier on globular bushy cell axons during a 2-week period starting at postnatal day P6/7. The molecular composition of nodes matured successively along the axons from somata to synaptic terminals with morphologically and molecularly mature nodes appearing almost exclusively after hearing onset. Internodal distances are initially coherent with the canonical L/d-ratio of ~100. Several days after hearing onset, however, an over-proportional increase in axon caliber occurs in cells signaling low-frequency sounds which alters their L/d ratio to ~60. Hence, oligodendrocytes initially myelinating axons according to their transient axon caliber but a subsequent differential axon thickening after hearing onset results in the unusual myelination pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisha L Nabel
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Martinsried, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Laurin Teich
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Martinsried, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Martinsried, Germany
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Martinsried, Germany
| | - Hilde Wohlfrom
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Olga Alexandrova
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Martin Heß
- Division of Systematic Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Michael Pecka
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Benedikt Grothe
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Martinsried, Germany
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Martinsried, Germany
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Stancu M, Wohlfrom H, Heß M, Grothe B, Leibold C, Kopp-Scheinpflug C. Ambient sound stimulation tunes axonal conduction velocity by regulating radial growth of myelin on an individual, axon-by-axon basis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2316439121. [PMID: 38442165 PMCID: PMC10945791 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316439121] [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: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Adaptive myelination is the emerging concept of tuning axonal conduction velocity to the activity within specific neural circuits over time. Sound processing circuits exhibit structural and functional specifications to process signals with microsecond precision: a time scale that is amenable to adjustment in length and thickness of myelin. Increasing activity of auditory axons by introducing sound-evoked responses during postnatal development enhances myelin thickness, while sensory deprivation prevents such radial growth during development. When deprivation occurs during adulthood, myelin thickness was reduced. However, it is unclear whether sensory stimulation adjusts myelination in a global fashion (whole fiber bundles) or whether such adaptation occurs at the level of individual fibers. Using temporary monaural deprivation in mice provided an internal control for a) differentially tracing structural changes in active and deprived fibers and b) for monitoring neural activity in response to acoustic stimulation of the control and the deprived ear within the same animal. The data show that sound-evoked activity increased the number of myelin layers around individual active axons, even when located in mixed bundles of active and deprived fibers. Thicker myelination correlated with faster axonal conduction velocity and caused shorter auditory brainstem response wave VI-I delays, providing a physiologically relevant readout. The lack of global compensation emphasizes the importance of balanced sensory experience in both ears throughout the lifespan of an individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihai Stancu
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried82152, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Munich81377, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Planegg-Martinsried82152, Germany
| | - Hilde Wohlfrom
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried82152, Germany
| | - Martin Heß
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried82152, Germany
| | - Benedikt Grothe
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried82152, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Munich81377, Germany
| | - Christian Leibold
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried82152, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Bernstein Center Freiburg, BrainLinks-BrainTools, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau79110, Germany
| | - Conny Kopp-Scheinpflug
- Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried82152, Germany
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7
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Hintze A, Lange F, Steyer AM, Anstatt J, Möbius W, Jakobs S, Wichmann C. Developmental changes of the mitochondria in the murine anteroventral cochlear nucleus. iScience 2024; 27:108700. [PMID: 38213623 PMCID: PMC10783593 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108700] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are key organelles to provide ATP for synaptic transmission. This study aims to unravel the structural adaptation of mitochondria to an increase in presynaptic energy demand and upon the functional impairment of the auditory system. We use the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) of wild-type and congenital deaf mice before and after hearing onset as a model system for presynaptic states of lower and higher energy demands. We combine focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy and electron tomography to investigate mitochondrial morphology. We found a larger volume of synaptic boutons and mitochondria after hearing onset with a higher crista membrane density. In deaf animals lacking otoferlin, we observed a shallow increase of mitochondrial volumes toward adulthood in endbulbs, while in wild-type animals mitochondria further enlarged. We propose that in the AVCN, presynaptic mitochondria undergo major structural changes likely to serve higher energy demands upon the onset of hearing and further maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Hintze
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, InnerEarLab and Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Felix Lange
- Department of NanoBiophotonics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Clinic of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anna M. Steyer
- Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Electron Microscopy-City Campus, Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jannis Anstatt
- Department of NanoBiophotonics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Clinic of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wiebke Möbius
- Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Electron Microscopy-City Campus, Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Jakobs
- Department of NanoBiophotonics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Clinic of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Translational Neuroinflammation and Automated Microscopy, Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carolin Wichmann
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, InnerEarLab and Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
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8
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Carr CE, Wang T, Kraemer I, Capshaw G, Ashida G, Köppl C, Kempter R, Kuokkanen PT. Experience-Dependent Plasticity in Nucleus Laminaris of the Barn Owl. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0940232023. [PMID: 37989591 PMCID: PMC10851688 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0940-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Interaural time differences (ITDs) are a major cue for sound localization and change with increasing head size. Since the barn owl's head width more than doubles in the month after hatching, we hypothesized that the development of their ITD detection circuit might be modified by experience. To test this, we raised owls with unilateral ear inserts that delayed and attenuated the acoustic signal, and then measured the ITD representation in the brainstem nucleus laminaris (NL) when they were adults. The ITD circuit is composed of delay line inputs to coincidence detectors, and we predicted that plastic changes would lead to shorter delays in the axons from the manipulated ear, and complementary shifts in ITD representation on the two sides. In owls that received ear inserts starting around P14, the maps of ITD shifted in the predicted direction, but only on the ipsilateral side, and only in those tonotopic regions that had not experienced auditory stimulation prior to insertion. The contralateral map did not change. Thus, experience-dependent plasticity of the ITD circuit occurs in NL, and our data suggest that ipsilateral and contralateral delays are independently regulated. As a result, altered auditory input during development leads to long-lasting changes in the representation of ITD.Significance Statement The early life of barn owls is marked by increasing sensitivity to sound, and by increasing ITDs. Their prolonged post-hatch development allowed us to examine the role of altered auditory experience in the development of ITD detection circuits. We raised owls with a unilateral ear insert and found that their maps of ITD were altered by experience, but only in those tonotopic regions ipsilateral to the occluded ear that had not experienced auditory stimulation prior to insertion. This experience-induced plasticity allows the sound localization circuits to be customized to individual characteristics, such as the size of the head, and potentially to compensate for imbalanced hearing sensitivities between the left and right ears.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Carr
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Tiffany Wang
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Ira Kraemer
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Grace Capshaw
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218
| | - Go Ashida
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences and Cluster of Excellence "Hearing4all" Carl von Ossietzky University, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Christine Köppl
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences and Cluster of Excellence "Hearing4all" Carl von Ossietzky University, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Richard Kempter
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Paula T Kuokkanen
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742
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Wang H, Lu Y. High calcium concentrations reduce cellular excitability of mouse MNTB neurons. Brain Res 2023; 1820:148568. [PMID: 37689332 PMCID: PMC10591835 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Calcium, a universal intracellular signaling molecule, plays essential roles in neural functions. Historically, in most in vitro brain slice electrophysiology studies, the extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]e) in artificial cerebrospinal fluid is of a wide range and typically higher than the physiological value. At high [Ca2+]e, synaptic transmission is generally enhanced. However, the effects and the underlying mechanisms of calcium on intrinsic neuronal properties are diverse. Using whole-cell patch clamp in acute brainstem slices obtained from mice of either sex, we investigated the effects and the underlying mechanisms of high [Ca2+]e on intrinsic neuronal properties of neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), an auditory brainstem component in the sound localization circuitry. Compared to the physiological [Ca2+]e (1.2 mM), high [Ca2+]e at 1.8 and 2.4 mM significantly reduced the cellular excitability of MNTB neurons, resulting in decreased spike firing rate, depolarized spike threshold, and decreased the ability to follow high frequency inputs. High extracellular magnesium concentrations at 1.8 and 2.4 mM produced similar but less robust effects, due to surface charge screening. Upon high calcium application, voltage-gated sodium channel currents remained largely unchanged. Calcium-sensing receptors were detected in MNTB neurons, but blocking these receptors did not eliminate the effects of high calcium on spontaneous spiking. We attribute the lack of significant effects in these last two experiments to the moderate changes in calcium we tested. Our results call for the use of physiological [Ca2+]e in brain slice experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimei Wang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Hearing Research Group, College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA
| | - Yong Lu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Hearing Research Group, College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA.
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Lee J, Clause A, Kandler K. Structural and Functional Development of Inhibitory Connections from the Medial Nucleus of the Trapezoid Body to the Superior Paraolivary Nucleus. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7766-7779. [PMID: 37734946 PMCID: PMC10648534 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0920-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) in the auditory brainstem is the principal source of synaptic inhibition to several functionally distinct auditory nuclei. Prominent projections of individual MNTB neurons comprise the major binaural nuclei that are involved in the early processing stages of sound localization as well as the superior paraolivary nucleus (SPON), which contains monaural neurons that extract rapid changes in sound intensity to detect sound gaps and rhythmic oscillations that commonly occur in animal calls and human speech. While the processes that guide the development and refinement of MNTB axon collaterals to the binaural nuclei have become increasingly understood, little is known about the development of MNTB collaterals to the monaural SPON. In this study, we investigated the development of MNTB-SPON connections in mice of both sexes from shortly after birth to three weeks of age, which encompasses the time before and after hearing onset. Individual axon reconstructions and electrophysiological analysis of MNTB-SPON connectivity demonstrate a dramatic increase in the number of MNTB axonal boutons in the SPON before hearing onset. However, this proliferation was not accompanied by changes in the strength of MNTB-SPON connections or by changes in the structural or functional topographic precision. However, following hearing onset, the spread of single-axon boutons along the tonotopic axis increased, indicating an unexpected decrease in the tonotopic precision of the MNTB-SPON pathway. These results provide new insight into the development and organization of inhibition to SPON neurons and the regulation of developmental plasticity in diverging inhibitory pathways.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The superior paraolivary nucleus (SPON) is a prominent auditory brainstem nucleus involved in the early detection of sound gaps and rhythmic oscillations. The ability of SPON neurons to fire at the offset of sound depends on strong and precise synaptic inhibition provided by glycinergic neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB). Here, we investigated the anatomic and physiological maturation of MNTB-LSO connectivity in mice before and after the onset of hearing. We observed a period of bouton proliferation without accompanying changes in topographic precision before hearing onset. This was followed by bouton elimination and an unexpected decrease in the tonotopic precision after hearing onset. These results provide new insight into the development of inhibition to the SPON.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongwon Lee
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
| | - Amanda Clause
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
| | - Karl Kandler
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
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11
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Kersbergen CJ, Babola TA, Kanold PO, Bergles DE. Preservation of developmental spontaneous activity enables early auditory system maturation in deaf mice. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002160. [PMID: 37368868 PMCID: PMC10298803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002160] [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: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically generated neural activity propagates through the developing auditory system to promote maturation and refinement of sound processing circuits prior to hearing onset. This early patterned activity is induced by non-sensory supporting cells in the organ of Corti, which are highly interconnected through gap junctions containing connexin 26 (Gjb2). Although loss of function mutations in Gjb2 impair cochlear development and are the most common cause of congenital deafness, it is not known if these variants disrupt spontaneous activity and the developmental trajectory of sound processing circuits in the brain. Here, we show in a new mouse model of Gjb2-mediated congenital deafness that cochlear supporting cells adjacent to inner hair cells (IHCs) unexpectedly retain intercellular coupling and the capacity to generate spontaneous activity, exhibiting only modest deficits prior to hearing onset. Supporting cells lacking Gjb2 elicited coordinated activation of IHCs, leading to coincident bursts of activity in central auditory neurons that will later process similar frequencies of sound. Despite alterations in the structure of the sensory epithelium, hair cells within the cochlea of Gjb2-deficient mice were intact and central auditory neurons could be activated within appropriate tonotopic domains by loud sounds at hearing onset, indicating that early maturation and refinement of auditory circuits was preserved. Only after cessation of spontaneous activity following hearing onset did progressive hair cell degeneration and enhanced auditory neuron excitability manifest. This preservation of cochlear spontaneous neural activity in the absence of connexin 26 may increase the effectiveness of early therapeutic interventions to restore hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin J. Kersbergen
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Travis A. Babola
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Patrick O. Kanold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Dwight E. Bergles
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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12
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Carr CE, Wang T, Kraemer I, Capshaw G, Ashida G, Koeppl C, Kempter R, Kuokkanen PT. Experience-Dependent Plasticity in Nucleus Laminaris of the Barn Owl. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.02.526884. [PMID: 36778252 PMCID: PMC9915572 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.02.526884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Barn owls experience increasing interaural time differences (ITDs) during development, because their head width more than doubles in the month after hatching. We therefore hypothesized that their ITD detection circuit might be modified by experience. To test this, we raised owls with unilateral ear inserts that delayed and attenuated the acoustic signal, then measured the ITD representation in the brainstem nucleus laminaris (NL) when they were adult. The ITD circuit is composed of delay line inputs to coincidence detectors, and we predicted that plastic changes would lead to shorter delays in the axons from the manipulated ear, and complementary shifts in ITD representation on the two sides. In owls that received ear inserts starting around P14, the maps of ITD shifted in the predicted direction, but only on the ipsilateral side, and only in those tonotopic regions that had not experienced auditory stimulation prior to insertion. The contralateral map did not change. Experience-dependent plasticity of the ITD circuit occurs in NL, and our data suggest that ipsilateral and contralateral delays are independently regulated. Thus, altered auditory input during development leads to long-lasting changes in the representation of ITD.
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13
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Carlton AJ, Jeng J, Grandi FC, De Faveri F, Ceriani F, De Tomasi L, Underhill A, Johnson SL, Legan KP, Kros CJ, Richardson GP, Mustapha M, Marcotti W. A critical period of prehearing spontaneous Ca 2+ spiking is required for hair-bundle maintenance in inner hair cells. EMBO J 2023; 42:e112118. [PMID: 36594367 PMCID: PMC9929643 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory-independent Ca2+ spiking regulates the development of mammalian sensory systems. In the immature cochlea, inner hair cells (IHCs) fire spontaneous Ca2+ action potentials (APs) that are generated either intrinsically or by intercellular Ca2+ waves in the nonsensory cells. The extent to which either or both of these Ca2+ signalling mechansims are required for IHC maturation is unknown. We find that intrinsic Ca2+ APs in IHCs, but not those elicited by Ca2+ waves, regulate the maturation and maintenance of the stereociliary hair bundles. Using a mouse model in which the potassium channel Kir2.1 is reversibly overexpressed in IHCs (Kir2.1-OE), we find that IHC membrane hyperpolarization prevents IHCs from generating intrinsic Ca2+ APs but not APs induced by Ca2+ waves. Absence of intrinsic Ca2+ APs leads to the loss of mechanoelectrical transduction in IHCs prior to hearing onset due to progressive loss or fusion of stereocilia. RNA-sequencing data show that pathways involved in morphogenesis, actin filament-based processes, and Rho-GTPase signaling are upregulated in Kir2.1-OE mice. By manipulating in vivo expression of Kir2.1 channels, we identify a "critical time period" during which intrinsic Ca2+ APs in IHCs regulate hair-bundle function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jing‐Yi Jeng
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Stuart L Johnson
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
- Neuroscience InstituteUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Kevin P Legan
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of Sussex, FalmerBrightonUK
| | - Corné J Kros
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of Sussex, FalmerBrightonUK
| | | | - Mirna Mustapha
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
- Neuroscience InstituteUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Walter Marcotti
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
- Neuroscience InstituteUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
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14
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Chequer Charan D, Hua Y, Wang H, Huang W, Wang F, Elgoyhen AB, Boergens KM, Di Guilmi MN. Volume electron microscopy reveals age-related circuit remodeling in the auditory brainstem. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1070438. [PMID: 36589288 PMCID: PMC9799098 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1070438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) is an integral component of the auditory brainstem circuitry involved in sound localization. The giant presynaptic nerve terminal with multiple active zones, the calyx of Held (CH), is a hallmark of this nucleus, which mediates fast and synchronized glutamatergic synaptic transmission. To delineate how these synaptic structures adapt to reduced auditory afferents due to aging, we acquired and reconstructed circuitry-level volumes of mouse MNTB at different ages (3 weeks, 6, 18, and 24 months) using serial block-face electron microscopy. We used C57BL/6J, the most widely inbred mouse strain used for transgenic lines, which displays a type of age-related hearing loss. We found that MNTB neurons reduce in density with age. Surprisingly we observed an average of approximately 10% of poly-innervated MNTB neurons along the mouse lifespan, with prevalence in the low frequency region. Moreover, a tonotopy-dependent heterogeneity in CH morphology was observed in young but not in older mice. In conclusion, our data support the notion that age-related hearing impairments can be in part a direct consequence of several structural alterations and circuit remodeling in the brainstem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Chequer Charan
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor N. Torres, INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yunfeng Hua
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenqing Huang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangfang Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ana Belén Elgoyhen
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor N. Torres, INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kevin M. Boergens
- Department of Physics, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States,*Correspondence: Kevin M. Boergens Mariano N. Di Guilmi
| | - Mariano N. Di Guilmi
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor N. Torres, INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina,*Correspondence: Kevin M. Boergens Mariano N. Di Guilmi
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15
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Kersbergen CJ, Babola TA, Rock J, Bergles DE. Developmental spontaneous activity promotes formation of sensory domains, frequency tuning and proper gain in central auditory circuits. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111649. [PMID: 36384119 PMCID: PMC9730452 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111649] [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: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons that process sensory information exhibit bursts of electrical activity during development, providing early training to circuits that will later encode similar features of the external world. In the mammalian auditory system, this intrinsically generated activity emerges from the cochlea prior to hearing onset, but its role in maturation of auditory circuitry remains poorly understood. We show that selective suppression of cochlear supporting cell spontaneous activity disrupts patterned burst firing of central auditory neurons without affecting cell survival or acoustic thresholds. However, neurons in the inferior colliculus of these mice exhibit enhanced acoustic sensitivity and broader frequency tuning, resulting in wider isofrequency laminae. Despite this enhanced neural responsiveness, total tone-responsive regions in the auditory cortex are substantially smaller. Thus, disruption of pre-hearing cochlear activity causes profound changes in neural encoding of sound, with important implications for restoration of hearing in individuals who experience reduced activity during this critical developmental period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin J Kersbergen
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Travis A Babola
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Dwight E Bergles
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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16
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Konecny L, Quadir R, Ninan A, Rodríguez-Contreras A. Neurovascular responses to neuronal activity during sensory development. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1025429. [DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1025429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the development of intercellular communication in sensory regions is relevant to elucidate mechanisms of physiological and pathological responses to oxygen shortage in the newborn brain. Decades of studies in laboratory rodents show that neuronal activity impacts sensory maturation during two periods of postnatal development distinguished by the maturation of accessory structures at the sensory periphery. During the first of these developmental periods, angiogenesis is modulated by neuronal activity, and physiological levels of neuronal activity cause local tissue hypoxic events. This correlation suggests that neuronal activity is upstream of the production of angiogenic factors, a process that is mediated by intermittent hypoxia caused by neuronal oxygen consumption. In this perspective article we address three theoretical implications based on this hypothesis: first, that spontaneous activity of sensory neurons has properties that favor the generation of intermittent tissue hypoxia in neonate rodents; second, that intermittent hypoxia promotes the expression of hypoxia inducible transcription factors (HIFs) in sensory neurons and astrocytes; and third, that activity-dependent production of angiogenic factors is involved in pathological oxygen contexts.
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17
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Li XJ, Morgan C, Goff LA, Doetzlhofer A. Follistatin promotes LIN28B-mediated supporting cell reprogramming and hair cell regeneration in the murine cochlea. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj7651. [PMID: 35148175 PMCID: PMC8836811 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj7651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Hair cell (HC) loss within the inner ear cochlea is a leading cause for deafness in humans. Before the onset of hearing, immature supporting cells (SCs) in neonatal mice have some limited capacity for HC regeneration. Here, we show that in organoid culture, transient activation of the progenitor-specific RNA binding protein LIN28B and Activin antagonist follistatin (FST) enhances regenerative competence of maturing/mature cochlear SCs by reprogramming them into progenitor-like cells. Transcriptome profiling and mechanistic studies reveal that LIN28B drives SC reprogramming, while FST is required to counterbalance hyperactivation of transforming growth factor-β-type signaling by LIN28B. Last, we show that LIN28B and FST coactivation enhances spontaneous cochlear HC regeneration in neonatal mice and that LIN28B may be part of an endogenous repair mechanism that primes SCs for HC regeneration. These findings indicate that SC dedifferentiation is critical for HC regeneration and identify LIN28B and FST as main regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jun Li
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Charles Morgan
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Loyal A. Goff
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- McKusick-Nathans Institute for Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Angelika Doetzlhofer
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology and Center for Hearing and Balance, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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18
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Chokr SM, Milinkeviciute G, Cramer KS. Synapse Maturation and Developmental Impairment in the Medial Nucleus of the Trapezoid Body. Front Integr Neurosci 2022; 16:804221. [PMID: 35221938 PMCID: PMC8863736 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2022.804221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sound localization requires rapid interpretation of signal speed, intensity, and frequency. Precise neurotransmission of auditory signals relies on specialized auditory brainstem synapses including the calyx of Held, the large encapsulating input to principal neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB). During development, synapses in the MNTB are established, eliminated, and strengthened, thereby forming an excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) synapse profile. However, in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), E/I neurotransmission is altered, and auditory phenotypes emerge anatomically, molecularly, and functionally. Here we review factors required for normal synapse development in this auditory brainstem pathway and discuss how it is affected by mutations in ASD-linked genes.
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19
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Maul A, Huebner AK, Strenzke N, Moser T, Rübsamen R, Jovanovic S, Hübner CA. The Cl--channel TMEM16A is involved in the generation of cochlear Ca2+ waves and promotes the refinement of auditory brainstem networks in mice. eLife 2022; 11:72251. [PMID: 35129434 PMCID: PMC8871368 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Before hearing onset (postnatal day 12 in mice), inner hair cells (IHCs) spontaneously fire action potentials, thereby driving pre-sensory activity in the ascending auditory pathway. The rate of IHC action potential bursts is modulated by inner supporting cells (ISCs) of Kölliker’s organ through the activity of the Ca2+-activated Cl--channel TMEM16A (ANO1). Here, we show that conditional deletion of Ano1 (Tmem16a) in mice disrupts Ca2+ waves within Kölliker’s organ, reduces the burst-firing activity and the frequency selectivity of auditory brainstem neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), and also impairs the functional refinement of MNTB projections to the lateral superior olive. These results reveal the importance of the activity of Kölliker’s organ for the refinement of central auditory connectivity. In addition, our study suggests the involvement of TMEM16A in the propagation of Ca2+ waves, which may also apply to other tissues expressing TMEM16A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Maul
- Neuroscience Department, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine
| | | | - Nicola Strenzke
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Göttingen
| | - Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Göttingen
| | - Rudolf Rübsamen
- Faculty of Bioscience, Pharmacy and Psychology, University of Leipzig
| | - Saša Jovanovic
- Faculty of Bioscience, Pharmacy and Psychology, University of Leipzig
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20
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Ogata K, Kadono F, Hirai Y, Inoue KI, Takada M, Karube F, Fujiyama F. Conservation of the Direct and Indirect Pathway Dichotomy in Mouse Caudal Striatum With Uneven Distribution of Dopamine Receptor D1- and D2-Expressing Neurons. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:809446. [PMID: 35185482 PMCID: PMC8854186 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.809446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The striatum is one of the key nuclei for adequate control of voluntary behaviors and reinforcement learning. Two striatal projection neuron types, expressing either dopamine receptor D1 (D1R) or dopamine receptor D2 (D2R) constitute two independent output routes: the direct or indirect pathways, respectively. These pathways co-work in balance to achieve coordinated behavior. Two projection neuron types are equivalently intermingled in most striatal space. However, recent studies revealed two atypical zones in the caudal striatum: the zone in which D1R-neurons are the minor population (D1R-poor zone) and that in which D2R-neurons are the minority (D2R-poor zone). It remains obscure as to whether these imbalanced zones have similar properties on axonal projections and electrophysiology compared to other striatal regions. Based on morphological experiments in mice using immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and neural tracing, here, we revealed that the poor zones densely projected to the globus pallidus and substantia nigra pars lateralis, with a few collaterals in substantia nigra pars reticulata and compacta. Similar to that in other striatal regions, D1R-neurons were the direct pathway neurons. We also showed that the membrane properties of projection neurons in the poor zones were largely similar to those in the conventional striatum using in vitro electrophysiological recording. In addition, the poor zones existed irrespective of the age or sex of mice. We also identified the poor zones in the common marmoset as well as other rodents. These results suggest that the poor zones in the caudal striatum follow the conventional projection patterns irrespective of the imbalanced distribution of projection neurons. The poor zones could be an innate structure and common in mammals. The unique striatal zones possessing highly restricted projections could relate to functions different from those of motor-related striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumiko Ogata
- Laboratory of Neural Circuitry, Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Japan
| | - Fuko Kadono
- Laboratory of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yasuharu Hirai
- Laboratory of Neural Circuitry, Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Japan
- Laboratory of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Ken-ichi Inoue
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Masahiko Takada
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Fuyuki Karube
- Laboratory of Neural Circuitry, Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Japan
- Laboratory of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Fuyuki Karube,
| | - Fumino Fujiyama
- Laboratory of Neural Circuitry, Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Japan
- Laboratory of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Fumino Fujiyama,
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21
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Wollet M, Kim JH. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Is Involved in Activity-Dependent Tonotopic Refinement of MNTB Neurons. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:784396. [PMID: 35185479 PMCID: PMC8850952 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.784396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In the mammalian brain, auditory brainstem nuclei are arranged topographically according to acoustic frequency responsiveness. During postnatal development, the axon initial segment (AIS) of principal neurons undergoes structural refinement depending on location along the tonotopic axis within the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the structural refinement of the AIS along the tonotopic axis in the auditory brainstem have not been explored. We tested the hypothesis that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a molecular mediator of the structural development of the MNTB in an activity-dependent manner. Using BDNF heterozygous mutant (BDNF+/- ) mice, we examined the impact of global BDNF reduction on structural and functional development of MNTB neurons by assessing AIS structure and associated intrinsic neuronal properties. BDNF reduction inhibits the structural and functional differentiation of principal neurons along the tonotopic axis in the MNTB. Augmented sound input during the critical period of development has been shown to enhance the structural refinement of the AIS of MNTB neurons. However, in BDNF +/- mice, MNTB neurons did not show this activity-dependent structural modification of the AIS following repeated sound stimulation. In addition, BDNF+/- mice lacked a defined isofrequency band of neuronal activity following exposure to 16 kHz sound, suggesting degradation of tonotopy. Taken together, structural development and functional refinement of auditory brainstem neurons require physiological levels of BDNF to establish proper tonotopic gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jun Hee Kim
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
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22
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Panganiban CH, Barth JL, Tan J, Noble KV, McClaskey CM, Howard BA, Jafri SH, Dias JW, Harris KC, Lang H. Two distinct types of nodes of Ranvier support auditory nerve function in the mouse cochlea. Glia 2021; 70:768-791. [DOI: 10.1002/glia.24138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Clarisse H. Panganiban
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA
- Wolfson Centre for Age‐Related Diseases King's College London London UK
| | - Jeremy L. Barth
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA
| | - Junying Tan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA
| | - Kenyaria V. Noble
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA
| | - Carolyn M. McClaskey
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA
| | - Blake A. Howard
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA
| | - Shabih H. Jafri
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA
| | - James W. Dias
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA
| | - Kelly C. Harris
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA
| | - Hainan Lang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA
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23
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Lujan BJ, Singh M, Singh A, Renden RB. Developmental shift to mitochondrial respiration for energetic support of sustained transmission during maturation at the calyx of Held. J Neurophysiol 2021; 126:976-996. [PMID: 34432991 PMCID: PMC8560424 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00333.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A considerable amount of energy is expended following presynaptic activity to regenerate electrical polarization and maintain efficient release and recycling of neurotransmitter. Mitochondria are the major suppliers of neuronal energy, generating ATP via oxidative phosphorylation. However, the specific utilization of energy from cytosolic glycolysis rather than mitochondrial respiration at the presynaptic terminal during synaptic activity remains unclear and controversial. We use a synapse specialized for high-frequency transmission in mice, the calyx of Held, to test the sources of energy used to maintain energy during short activity bursts (<1 s) and sustained neurotransmission (30-150 s). We dissect the role of presynaptic glycolysis versus mitochondrial respiration by acutely and selectively blocking these ATP-generating pathways in a synaptic preparation where mitochondria and synaptic vesicles are prolific, under near-physiological conditions. Surprisingly, if either glycolysis or mitochondrial ATP production is intact, transmission during repetitive short bursts of activity is not affected. In slices from young animals before the onset of hearing, where the synapse is not yet fully specialized, both glycolytic and mitochondrial ATP production are required to support sustained, high-frequency neurotransmission. In mature synapses, sustained transmission relies exclusively on mitochondrial ATP production supported by bath lactate, but not glycolysis. At both ages, we observe that action potential propagation begins to fail before defects in synaptic vesicle recycling. Our data describe a specific metabolic profile to support high-frequency information transmission at the mature calyx of Held, shifting during postnatal synaptic maturation from glycolysis to rely on monocarboxylates as a fuel source.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We dissect the role of presynaptic glycolysis versus mitochondrial respiration in supporting high-frequency neurotransmission, by acutely blocking these ATP-generating pathways at a synapse tuned for high-frequency transmission. We find that massive energy expenditure is required to generate failure when only one pathway is inhibited. Action potential propagation is lost before impaired synaptic vesicle recycling. Synaptic transmission is exclusively dependent on oxidative phosphorylation in mature synapses, indicating presynaptic glycolysis may be dispensable for ATP maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan J Lujan
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada
| | - Mahendra Singh
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada
| | - Abhyudai Singh
- Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
| | - Robert B Renden
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada
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24
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Milinkeviciute G, Chokr SM, Castro EM, Cramer KS. CX3CR1 mutation alters synaptic and astrocytic protein expression, topographic gradients, and response latencies in the auditory brainstem. J Comp Neurol 2021; 529:3076-3097. [PMID: 33797066 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The precise and specialized circuitry in the auditory brainstem develops through adaptations of cellular and molecular signaling. We previously showed that elimination of microglia during development impairs synaptic pruning that leads to maturation of the calyx of Held, a large encapsulating synapse that terminates on neurons of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB). Microglia depletion also led to a decrease in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker for mature astrocytes. Here, we investigated the role of signaling through the fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1), which is expressed by microglia and mediates communication with neurons. CX3CR1-/- and wild-type mice were studied before and after hearing onset and at 9 weeks of age. Levels of GFAP were significantly increased in the MNTB in mutants at 9 weeks. Pruning was unaffected at the calyx of Held, but we found an increase in expression of glycinergic synaptic marker in mutant mice at P14, suggesting an effect on maturation of inhibitory inputs. We observed disrupted tonotopic gradients of neuron and calyx size in MNTB in mutant mice. Auditory brainstem recording (ABR) revealed that CX3CR1-/- mice had normal thresholds and amplitudes but decreased latencies and interpeak latencies, particularly for the highest frequencies. These results demonstrate that disruption of fractalkine signaling has a significant effect on auditory brainstem development. Our findings highlight the importance of neuron-microglia-astrocyte communication in pruning of inhibitory synapses and establishment of tonotopic gradients early in postnatal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giedre Milinkeviciute
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Sima M Chokr
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Emily M Castro
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Karina S Cramer
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
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25
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Martini FJ, Guillamón-Vivancos T, Moreno-Juan V, Valdeolmillos M, López-Bendito G. Spontaneous activity in developing thalamic and cortical sensory networks. Neuron 2021; 109:2519-2534. [PMID: 34293296 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Developing sensory circuits exhibit different patterns of spontaneous activity, patterns that are related to the construction and refinement of functional networks. During the development of different sensory modalities, spontaneous activity originates in the immature peripheral sensory structures and in the higher-order central structures, such as the thalamus and cortex. Certainly, the perinatal thalamus exhibits spontaneous calcium waves, a pattern of activity that is fundamental for the formation of sensory maps and for circuit plasticity. Here, we review our current understanding of the maturation of early (including embryonic) patterns of spontaneous activity and their influence on the assembly of thalamic and cortical sensory networks. Overall, the data currently available suggest similarities between the developmental trajectory of brain activity in experimental models and humans, which in the future may help to improve the early diagnosis of developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Martini
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
| | - Teresa Guillamón-Vivancos
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Verónica Moreno-Juan
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Miguel Valdeolmillos
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Guillermina López-Bendito
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
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26
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Yang CH, Ho WK, Lee SH. Postnatal maturation of glutamate clearance and release kinetics at the rat and mouse calyx of Held synapses. Synapse 2021; 75:e22215. [PMID: 34057239 DOI: 10.1002/syn.22215] [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: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Although calyx of Held synapses undergo dramatic changes around the hearing onset, previous in vivo studies suggest that the calyx synapses undergo further post-hearing maturation process. While developmental changes over the hearing onset have been extensively studied, this post-hearing maturation process remained relatively little investigated. Because of post-hearing maturation, previous results from studies around hearing onset and studies of post-hearing calyx synapses are somewhat inconsistent. Here, we characterized the post-hearing maturation of calyx synapses with regard to in vitro electrophysiological properties in rats and mice. We found that parameters for residual glutamate in the cleft during a train, EPSC kinetics, and vesicle pool size became close to a full mature level by P14, but they further matured until P16 in the rats. Consistently, the phasic and slow EPSCs evoked by action potential trains at P16 calyx synapses were not different from those at P18 or P25 under physiological extracellular [Ca2+ ]o (1.2 mM). In contrast, the parameters for residual current and EPSC kinetics displayed drastic changes until P16 in mice, and slow EPSCs during the train further decreased between P16 and P18, suggesting that maturation of calyx synapses progresses at least up to P16 in rats and P18 in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Ho Yang
- Cell Physiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Kyung Ho
- Cell Physiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Ho Lee
- Cell Physiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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27
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Hardy K, Amariutei AE, De Faveri F, Hendry A, Marcotti W, Ceriani F. Functional development and regeneration of hair cells in the zebrafish lateral line. J Physiol 2021; 599:3913-3936. [PMID: 34143497 PMCID: PMC7612129 DOI: 10.1113/jp281522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Hair cells are mechanosensory receptors responsible for transducing auditory and vestibular information into electrical signals, which are then transmitted with remarkable precision to afferent neurons. Different from mammals, the hair cells of lower vertebrates, including those present in the neuromasts of the zebrafish lateral line, regenerate following environmental or chemical insults. Here we investigate the time-course of regeneration of hair cells in vivo using electrophysiology, 2-photon imaging and immunostaining applied to wild-type and genetically-encoded fluorescent indicator zebrafish lines. Functional hair cells drive spontaneous action potentials in the posterior lateral line afferent fibres, the frequency of which progressively increases over the first 10-days post-fertilization (dpf). Higher firing-rate fibres are only observed from ~6 dpf. Following copper treatment, newly formed hair cells become functional and are able to drive APs in the afferent fibres within 48 hours in both early-larval (≤8 dpf) and late-larval (12-17 dpf) zebrafish. However, the complete functional regeneration of the entire neuromast is delayed in late-larval compared to early-larval zebrafish. We propose that while individual regenerating hair cells can rapidly become active, the acquisition of fully functional neuromasts progresses faster at early-larval stages, a time when hair cells are still under development. At both ages, the afferent terminals in the regenerating neuromast appear to make initial contact with supporting cells. The ablation of the lateral line afferent neurons prevents the timely regeneration of supporting cells and hair cells. These findings indicate that the afferent system is likely to facilitate or promote the neuromast regeneration process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Hardy
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Ana E Amariutei
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Aenea Hendry
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Walter Marcotti
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Sheffield Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Federico Ceriani
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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28
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Nakazawa S, Iwasato T. Spatial organization and transitions of spontaneous neuronal activities in the developing sensory cortex. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:323-339. [PMID: 34166527 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The sensory cortex underlies our ability to perceive and interact with the external world. Sensory perceptions are controlled by specialized neuronal circuits established through fine-tuning, which relies largely on neuronal activity during the development. Spontaneous neuronal activity is an essential driving force of neuronal circuit refinement. At early developmental stages, sensory cortices display spontaneous activities originating from the periphery and characterized by correlated firing arranged spatially according to the modality. The firing patterns are reorganized over time and become sparse, which is typical for the mature brain. This review focuses mainly on rodent sensory cortices. First, the features of the spontaneous activities during early postnatal stages are described. Then, the developmental changes in the spatial organization of the spontaneous activities and the transition mechanisms involved are discussed. The identification of the principles controlling the spatial organization of spontaneous activities in the developing sensory cortex is essential to understand the self-organization process of neuronal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Nakazawa
- Laboratory of Mammalian Neural Circuits, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan.,Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Takuji Iwasato
- Laboratory of Mammalian Neural Circuits, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan.,Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Japan
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29
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Di Guilmi MN, Rodríguez-Contreras A. Characterization of Developmental Changes in Spontaneous Electrical Activity of Medial Superior Olivary Neurons Before Hearing Onset With a Combination of Injectable and Volatile Anesthesia. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:654479. [PMID: 33935637 PMCID: PMC8081840 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.654479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work the impact of two widely used anesthetics on the electrical activity of auditory brainstem neurons was studied during postnatal development. Spontaneous electrical activity in neonate rats of either sex was analyzed through a ventral craniotomy in mechanically ventilated pups to carry out patch clamp and multi-electrode electrophysiology recordings in the medial region of the superior olivary complex (SOC) between birth (postnatal day 0, P0) and P12. Recordings were obtained in pups anesthetized with the injectable mix of ketamine/xylazine (K/X mix), with the volatile anesthetic isoflurane (ISO), or in pups anesthetized with K/X mix that were also exposed to ISO. The results of patch clamp recordings demonstrate for the first time that olivary and periolivary neurons in the medial region of the SOC fire bursts of action potentials. The results of multielectrode recordings suggest that the firing pattern of single units recorded in K/X mix is similar to that recorded in ISO anesthetized rat pups. Taken together, the results of this study provide a framework to use injectable and volatile anesthetics for future studies to obtain functional information on the activity of medial superior olivary neurons in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano Nicolás Di Guilmi
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor N. Torres, INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adrián Rodríguez-Contreras
- Department of Biology, Center for Discovery and Innovation, City College, Institute for Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Lasers, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
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30
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Wang G, Li C, He S, Liu Z. Mosaic CRISPR-stop enables rapid phenotyping of nonsense mutations in essential genes. Development 2021; 148:dev196899. [PMID: 33558388 DOI: 10.1242/dev.196899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-stop converts protein-coding sequences into stop codons, which, in the appropriate location, results in a null allele. CRISPR-stop induction in one-cell-stage zygotes generates Founder 0 (F0) mice that are homozygous mutants; this avoids mouse breeding and serves as a rapid screening approach for nonlethal genes. However, loss of function of 25% of mammalian genes causes early lethality. Here, we induced CRISPR-stop in one of the two blastomeres of the zygote, a method we name mosaic CRISPR-stop, to produce mosaic Atoh1 and Sox10 F0 mice; these mice not only survived longer than regular Atoh1/Sox10 knockout mice but also displayed their recognized cochlear phenotypes. Moreover, by using mosaic CRISPR-stop, we uncovered a previously unknown role of another lethal gene, Rbm24, in the survival of cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs), and we further validated the importance of Rbm24 in OHCs by using our Rbm24 conditional knockout model. Together, our results demonstrated that mosaic CRISPR-stop is reliable and rapid, and we believe this method will facilitate rapid genetic screening of developmentally lethal genes in the mouse inner ear and also in other organs.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/deficiency
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/genetics
- Blastomeres/cytology
- Blastomeres/metabolism
- CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics
- Codon, Nonsense
- Codon, Terminator
- Genes, Essential/genetics
- Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer/cytology
- Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/metabolism
- RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- SOXE Transcription Factors/deficiency
- SOXE Transcription Factors/genetics
- Zygote/cytology
- Zygote/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangqin Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Chao Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Shunji He
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 201210, China
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31
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Hintze A, Gültas M, Semmelhack EA, Wichmann C. Ultrastructural maturation of the endbulb of Held active zones comparing wild-type and otoferlin-deficient mice. iScience 2021; 24:102282. [PMID: 33851098 PMCID: PMC8022229 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endbulbs of Held are located in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus and present the first central synapses of the auditory pathway. During development, endbulbs mature functionally to enable rapid and powerful synaptic transmission with high temporal precision. This process is accompanied by morphological changes of endbulb terminals. Loss of the hair cell-specific protein otoferlin (Otof) abolishes neurotransmission in the cochlea and results in the smaller endbulb of Held terminals. Thus, peripheral hearing impairment likely also leads to alterations in the morphological synaptic vesicle (SV) pool size at individual endbulb of Held active zones (AZs). Here, we investigated endbulb AZs in pre-hearing, young, and adult wild-type and Otof−/− mice. During maturation, SV numbers at endbulb AZs increased in wild-type mice but were found to be reduced in Otof−/− mice. The SV population at a distance of 0–15 nm was most strongly affected. Finally, overall SV diameters decreased in Otof−/− animals during maturation. Maturation of wt endbulb of Held active zones leads to more synaptic vesicles At endbulbs of otoferlin knockout mice, synaptic vesicles decline with age Mainly two distinct synaptic vesicle populations are affected Synaptic vesicles sizes are reduced in six-month-old otoferlin knockout animals
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Hintze
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, InnerEarLab and Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.,Collaborative Research Center 1286, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences, Biophysics and Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mehmet Gültas
- Breeding Informatics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Esther A Semmelhack
- Developmental, Neural, and Behavioral Biology MSc/PhD Program, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carolin Wichmann
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, InnerEarLab and Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.,Collaborative Research Center 1286, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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32
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Brill SE, Maraslioglu A, Kurz C, Kramer F, Fuhr MF, Singh A, Friauf E. Glycinergic Transmission in the Presence and Absence of Functional GlyT2: Lessons From the Auditory Brainstem. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 12:560008. [PMID: 33633558 PMCID: PMC7900164 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2020.560008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic transmission is controlled by re-uptake systems that reduce transmitter concentrations in the synaptic cleft and recycle the transmitter into presynaptic terminals. The re-uptake systems are thought to ensure cytosolic concentrations in the terminals that are sufficient for reloading empty synaptic vesicles (SVs). Genetic deletion of glycine transporter 2 (GlyT2) results in severely disrupted inhibitory neurotransmission and ultimately to death. Here we investigated the role of GlyT2 at inhibitory glycinergic synapses in the mammalian auditory brainstem. These synapses are tuned for resilience, reliability, and precision, even during sustained high-frequency stimulation when endocytosis and refilling of SVs probably contribute substantially to efficient replenishment of the readily releasable pool (RRP). Such robust synapses are formed between MNTB and LSO neurons (medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, lateral superior olive). By means of patch-clamp recordings, we assessed the synaptic performance in controls, in GlyT2 knockout mice (KOs), and upon acute pharmacological GlyT2 blockade. Via computational modeling, we calculated the reoccupation rate of empty release sites and RRP replenishment kinetics during 60-s challenge and 60-s recovery periods. Control MNTB-LSO inputs maintained high fidelity neurotransmission at 50 Hz for 60 s and recovered very efficiently from synaptic depression. During 'marathon-experiments' (30,600 stimuli in 20 min), RRP replenishment accumulated to 1,260-fold. In contrast, KO inputs featured severe impairments. For example, the input number was reduced to ~1 (vs. ~4 in controls), implying massive functional degeneration of the MNTB-LSO microcircuit and a role of GlyT2 during synapse maturation. Surprisingly, neurotransmission did not collapse completely in KOs as inputs still replenished their small RRP 80-fold upon 50 Hz | 60 s challenge. However, they totally failed to do so for extended periods. Upon acute pharmacological GlyT2 inactivation, synaptic performance remained robust, in stark contrast to KOs. RRP replenishment was 865-fold in marathon-experiments, only ~1/3 lower than in controls. Collectively, our empirical and modeling results demonstrate that GlyT2 re-uptake activity is not the dominant factor in the SV recycling pathway that imparts indefatigability to MNTB-LSO synapses. We postulate that additional glycine sources, possibly the antiporter Asc-1, contribute to RRP replenishment at these high-fidelity brainstem synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina E Brill
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Ayse Maraslioglu
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Catharina Kurz
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Florian Kramer
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Martin F Fuhr
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Abhyudai Singh
- Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Eckhard Friauf
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
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33
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Kopp-Scheinpflug C, Forsythe ID. Nitric Oxide Signaling in the Auditory Pathway. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:759342. [PMID: 34712124 PMCID: PMC8546346 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.759342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is of fundamental importance in regulating immune, cardiovascular, reproductive, neuromuscular, and nervous system function. It is rapidly synthesized and cannot be confined, it is highly reactive, so its lifetime is measured in seconds. These distinctive properties (contrasting with classical neurotransmitters and neuromodulators) give rise to the concept of NO as a "volume transmitter," where it is generated from an active source, diffuses to interact with proteins and receptors within a sphere of influence or volume, but limited in distance and time by its short half-life. In the auditory system, the neuronal NO-synthetizing enzyme, nNOS, is highly expressed and tightly coupled to postsynaptic calcium influx at excitatory synapses. This provides a powerful activity-dependent control of postsynaptic intrinsic excitability via cGMP generation, protein kinase G activation and modulation of voltage-gated conductances. NO may also regulate vesicle mobility via retrograde signaling. This Mini Review focuses on the auditory system, but highlights general mechanisms by which NO mediates neuronal intrinsic plasticity and synaptic transmission. The dependence of NO generation on synaptic and sound-evoked activity has important local modulatory actions and NO serves as a "volume transmitter" in the auditory brainstem. It also has potentially destructive consequences during intense activity or on spill-over from other NO sources during pathological conditions, when aberrant signaling may interfere with the precisely timed and tonotopically organized auditory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conny Kopp-Scheinpflug
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ian D Forsythe
- Auditory Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
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34
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Purinergic Signaling Controls Spontaneous Activity in the Auditory System throughout Early Development. J Neurosci 2020; 41:594-612. [PMID: 33303678 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2178-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous bursts of electrical activity in the developing auditory system arise within the cochlea before hearing onset and propagate through future sound-processing circuits of the brain to promote maturation of auditory neurons. Studies in isolated cochleae revealed that this intrinsically generated activity is initiated by ATP release from inner supporting cells (ISCs), resulting in activation of purinergic autoreceptors, K+ efflux, and subsequent depolarization of inner hair cells. However, it is unknown when this activity emerges or whether different mechanisms induce activity during distinct stages of development. Here we show that spontaneous electrical activity in mouse cochlea from both sexes emerges within ISCs during the late embryonic period, preceding the onset of spontaneous correlated activity in inner hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons, which begins at birth and follows a base to apex developmental gradient. At all developmental ages, pharmacological inhibition of P2Y1 purinergic receptors dramatically reduced spontaneous activity in these three cell types. Moreover, in vivo imaging within the inferior colliculus revealed that auditory neurons within future isofrequency zones exhibit coordinated neural activity at birth. The frequency of these discrete bursts increased progressively during the postnatal prehearing period yet remained dependent on P2RY1. Analysis of mice with disrupted cholinergic signaling in the cochlea indicate that this efferent input modulates, rather than initiates, spontaneous activity before hearing onset. Thus, the auditory system uses a consistent mechanism involving ATP release from ISCs and activation of P2RY1 autoreceptors to elicit coordinated excitation of neurons that will process similar frequencies of sound.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In developing sensory systems, groups of neurons that will process information from similar sensory space exhibit highly correlated electrical activity that is critical for proper maturation and circuit refinement. Defining the period when this activity is present, the mechanisms responsible and the features of this activity are crucial for understanding how spontaneous activity influences circuit development. We show that, from birth to hearing onset, the auditory system relies on a consistent mechanism to elicit correlate firing of neurons that will process similar frequencies of sound. Targeted disruption of this activity will increase our understanding of how these early circuits mature and may provide insight into processes responsible for developmental disorders of the auditory system.
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35
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Jackson D, Holcomb P, Ellisman M, Spirou G. Two types of somatic spines provide sites for intercellular signaling during calyx of Held growth and maturation. Synapse 2020; 75:e22189. [PMID: 33025635 DOI: 10.1002/syn.22189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic spines have been described in developing and mature systems, but similar extensions from cell bodies are less studied. We utilized electron microscopy image volumes, uniquely collected across a range of early postnatal and month-old mice, to characterize and describe two types of somatic processes that extended into and under the developing calyx of Held (CH), which we named type 1 and type 2 spines. Type 1 spines occurred singly, were mostly vermiform in shape, and formed regularly spaced indentations into the CH. Type 1 spines appeared in concert with the earliest expansion of the CH by P3, peaked at P6 and returned to low density at P30. Type 2 spines were intertwined into a secondary structure called a spine mat, which has not previously been described in the CNS, and were more complex geometrically. Type 2 spines formed after the CH crossed a size threshold, reached maximum density at P9, and were absent from most CHs at P30. Both spine types, but a higher density of type 1 spines, were sites for synapse formation. Spine mats brought pre- and postsynaptic neurons and glial cells into contact, and were captured in stages of partial detachment and engulfment by the presynaptic terminal, suggesting trans-endocytosis as a mode of removal ahead of maturity. In conglomerate, these observations reveal somatic spines to be sites for chemical neurotransmission and chemical sampling among synaptic partners and glia as tissue structure transforms into mature neural circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota Jackson
- Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Paul Holcomb
- Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Mark Ellisman
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - George Spirou
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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36
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Jovanovic S, Milenkovic I. Purinergic Modulation of Activity in the Developing Auditory Pathway. Neurosci Bull 2020; 36:1285-1298. [PMID: 33040238 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-020-00586-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Purinergic P2 receptors, activated by endogenous ATP, are prominently expressed on neuronal and non-neuronal cells during development of the auditory periphery and central auditory neurons. In the mature cochlea, extracellular ATP contributes to ion homeostasis, and has a protective function against noise exposure. Here, we focus on the modulation of activity by extracellular ATP during early postnatal development of the lower auditory pathway. In mammals, spontaneous patterned activity is conveyed along afferent auditory pathways before the onset of acoustically evoked signal processing. During this critical developmental period, inner hair cells fire bursts of action potentials that are believed to provide a developmental code for synaptic maturation and refinement of auditory circuits, thereby establishing a precise tonotopic organization. Endogenous ATP-release triggers such patterned activity by raising the extracellular K+ concentration and contributes to firing by increasing the excitability of auditory nerve fibers, spiral ganglion neurons, and specific neuron types within the auditory brainstem, through the activation of diverse P2 receptors. We review recent studies that provide new models on the contribution of purinergic signaling to early development of the afferent auditory pathway. Further, we discuss potential future directions of purinergic research in the auditory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasa Jovanovic
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ivan Milenkovic
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany.
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37
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Sierksma MC, Slotman JA, Houtsmuller AB, Borst JGG. Structure-function relation of the developing calyx of Held synapse in vivo. J Physiol 2020; 598:4603-4619. [PMID: 33439501 PMCID: PMC7689866 DOI: 10.1113/jp279976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS During development the giant, auditory calyx of Held forms a one-to-one connection with a principal neuron of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body. While anatomical studies described that most of the target cells are temporarily contacted by multiple calyces, multi-calyceal innervation was only sporadically observed in in vivo recordings, suggesting a structure-function discrepancy. We correlated synaptic strength of inputs, identified in in vivo recordings, with post hoc labelling of the recorded neuron and synaptic terminals containing vesicular glutamate transporters (VGluT). During development only one input increased to the level of the calyx of Held synapse, and its strength correlated with the large VGluT cluster contacting the postsynaptic soma. As neither competing strong inputs nor multiple large VGluT clusters on a single cell were observed, our findings did not indicate a structure-function discrepancy. ABSTRACT In adult rodents, a principal neuron in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid (MNTB) is generally contacted by a single, giant axosomatic terminal called the calyx of Held. How this one-on-one relation is established is still unknown, but anatomical evidence suggests that during development principal neurons are innervated by multiple calyces, which may indicate calyceal competition. However, in vivo electrophysiological recordings from principal neurons indicated that only a single strong synaptic connection forms per cell. To test whether a mismatch exists between synaptic strength and terminal size, we compared the strength of synaptic inputs with the morphology of the synaptic terminals. In vivo whole-cell recordings of the MNTB neurons from newborn Wistar rats of either sex were made while stimulating their afferent axons, allowing us to identify multiple inputs. The strength of the strongest input increased to calyceal levels in a few days across cells, while the strength of the second strongest input was stable. The recorded cells were subsequently immunolabelled for vesicular glutamate transporters (VGluT) to reveal axosomatic terminals with structured-illumination microscopy. Synaptic strength of the strongest input was correlated with the contact area of the largest VGluT cluster at the soma (r = 0.8), and no indication of a mismatch between structure and strength was observed. Together, our data agree with a developmental scheme in which one input strengthens and becomes the calyx of Held, but not with multi-calyceal competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn C Sierksma
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands.,Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 Rue Moreau, Paris, F-75012, France
| | - Johan A Slotman
- Department of Pathology-Optical Imaging Centre, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - Adriaan B Houtsmuller
- Department of Pathology-Optical Imaging Centre, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - J Gerard G Borst
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
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Rajaram E, Pagella S, Grothe B, Kopp-Scheinpflug C. Physiological and anatomical development of glycinergic inhibition in the mouse superior paraolivary nucleus following hearing onset. J Neurophysiol 2020; 124:471-483. [PMID: 32667247 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00053.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural circuits require balanced synaptic excitation and inhibition to ensure accurate neural computation. Our knowledge about the development and maturation of inhibitory synaptic inputs is less well developed than that concerning excitation. Here we describe the maturation of an inhibitory circuit within the mammalian auditory brainstem where counterintuitively, inhibition drives action potential firing of principal neurons. With the use of combined anatomical tracing and electrophysiological recordings from mice, neurons of the superior paraolivary nucleus (SPN) are shown to receive converging glycinergic input from at least four neurons of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB). These four axons formed 30.71 ± 2.72 (means ± SE) synaptic boutons onto each SPN neuronal soma, generating a total inhibitory conductance of 80 nS. Such strong inhibition drives the underlying postinhibitory rebound firing mechanism, which is a hallmark of SPN physiology. In contrast to inhibitory projections to the medial and lateral superior olives, the inhibitory projection to the SPN does not exhibit experience-dependent synaptic refinement following the onset of hearing. These findings emphasize that the development and function of neural circuits cannot be inferred from one synaptic target to another, even if both originate from the same neuron.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Neuronal activity regulates development and maturation of neural circuits. This activity can include spontaneous burst firing or firing elicited by sensory input during early development. For example, auditory brainstem circuits involved in sound localization require acoustically evoked activity to form properly. Here we show, that an inhibitory circuit, involved in processing sound offsets, gaps, and rhythmically modulated vocal communication signals, matures before the onset of acoustically evoked activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezhilarasan Rajaram
- Department of Biology II, Division Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Sara Pagella
- Department of Biology II, Division Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Benedikt Grothe
- Department of Biology II, Division Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Conny Kopp-Scheinpflug
- Department of Biology II, Division Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
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Schmidt S, Arendt T, Morawski M, Sonntag M. Neurocan Contributes to Perineuronal Net Development. Neuroscience 2020; 442:69-86. [PMID: 32634529 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Perineuronal nets (PNs) are matrix molecule assemblies surrounding neuronal somata, dendrites and axon initial segments in a lattice-like appearance. PN molecules are involved in many structural and physiological processes during development and in adulthood, suggesting a crucial role in normal brain function. Neurocan, as one of the main PN proteoglycans, is suggested to control important developmental processes of neuronal tissue. This statement relies on thorough and excellent experimental work mainly conducted in reduced systems, such as cell cultures. However, previous data collected in neurocan-deficient mice do not seem to support neurocan's role in development since brain development in general and the formation of PNs especially in the hippocampus were reported to be undisturbed in neurocan-deficient mice. Here, we aim to re-address the role of neurocan in developmental processes by investigating the influence of neurocan on PN formation in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, a PN-enriched nucleus in the auditory brainstem, using neurocan-deficient mice. Immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses demonstrate that neurocan controls the regulation of PN development by influencing mRNA and protein quantity of various PN molecules. Resulting alterations in PN fine structure are critical for PN function as estimated by reduced amount of GAD65/67 and prolongation of synaptic transmission delay of calyx of Held synapses. Thus, neurocan contributes to proper PN formation and synapse physiology in the MNTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Schmidt
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 19, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Arendt
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 19, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Markus Morawski
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 19, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mandy Sonntag
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 19, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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Wirth MJ, Ackels T, Kriebel A, Kriebel K, Mey J, Kuenzel T, Wagner H. Expression patterns of chloride transporters in the auditory brainstem of developing chicken. Hear Res 2020; 393:108013. [PMID: 32554128 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2020.108013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
GABAergic transmission changes from depolarization to hyperpolarization in most vertebrate brain regions during development. By contrast, in the auditory brainstem of chicken a depolarizing effect of GABA persists after hatching. Since auditory brainstem neurons that receive GABAergic input have a Cl- reversal potential above resting membrane potential, a specifically tuned activity of Cl- transporters is likely. We here present a developmental study of the expression patterns of several members of the SLC12 family (NKCC1, NKCC2, KCC1, KCC2, KCC4, CCC6, CCC9) and of AE3 at developmental ages E7, E10, E12, E15, E17, and P1 with quantitative RT-PCR. NKCC2 and CCC9 were not detected in auditory brainstem (positive control: kidney). KCC1, CCC6 and AE3 were expressed, but not regulated, while NKCC1, KCC2 and KCC4 were regulated. The expression of the latter transporters increased, with KCC2 exhibiting the strongest expression at all time points. Biochemical analysis of the protein expression of NKCC1, KCC2 and KCC4 corroborated the findings on the mRNA level. All three transporters showed a localization at the outer rim of the cells, with NKCC1 and KCC2 expressed in neurons, and KCC4 predominantly in glia. The comparison of the published chloride reversal potential and expression of transporter proteins suggest strong differences in the efficiency of the three transporters. Further, the strong KCC2 expression could reflect a role in the structural development of auditory brainstem synapses that might lead to changes in the physiological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus J Wirth
- Department for Chemosensation, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Tobias Ackels
- Neurophysiology of Behaviour Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom; Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Kriebel
- Department for Zoology and Animal Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Katharina Kriebel
- Department for Zoology and Animal Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jörg Mey
- Department for Chemosensation, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Toledo, Spain
| | - Thomas Kuenzel
- Department for Chemosensation, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Hermann Wagner
- Department for Zoology and Animal Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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41
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Hörpel SG, Firzlaff U. Post-natal development of the envelope following response to amplitude modulated sounds in the bat Phyllostomus discolor. Hear Res 2020; 388:107904. [PMID: 32028065 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2020.107904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Bats use a large repertoire of calls for social communication, which are often characterized by temporal amplitude and frequency modulations. As bats are considered to be among the few mammalian species capable of vocal learning, the perception of temporal sound modulations should be crucial for juvenile bats to develop social communication abilities. However, the post-natal development of auditory processing of temporal modulations has not been investigated in bats, so far. Here we use the minimally invasive technique of recording auditory brainstem responses to measure the envelope following response (EFR) to sinusoidally amplitude modulated noise (range of modulation frequencies: 11-130 Hz) in three juveniles (p8-p72) of the bat, Phyllostomus discolor. In two out of three animals, we show that although amplitude modulation processing is basically developed at p8, EFRs maturated further over a period of about two weeks until p33. Maturation of the EFR generally took longer for higher modulation frequencies (87-130 Hz) than for lower modulation frequencies (11-58 Hz).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Gareth Hörpel
- Department of Animal Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 4, 85354, Freising, Germany.
| | - Uwe Firzlaff
- Department of Animal Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 4, 85354, Freising, Germany
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42
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Lesperance LS, Yang YM, Wang LY. Delayed expression of activity-dependent gating switch in synaptic AMPARs at a central synapse. Mol Brain 2020; 13:6. [PMID: 31941524 PMCID: PMC6961283 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-019-0536-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing central synapses exhibit robust plasticity and undergo experience-dependent remodeling. Evidently, synapses in sensory systems such as auditory brainstem circuits mature rapidly to achieve high-fidelity neurotransmission for sound localization. This depends on a developmental switch in AMPAR composition from slow-gating GluA1-dominant to fast-gating GluA4-dominant, but the mechanisms underlying this switch remain unknown. We hypothesize that patterned stimuli mimicking spontaneous/sound evoked activity in the early postnatal stage drives this gating switch. We examined activity-dependent changes in evoked and miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs and mEPSCs) at the calyx of Held synapse by breaking through the postsynaptic membrane at different time points following 2 min of theta burst stimulation (TBS) to afferents in mouse brainstem slices. We found the decay time course of eEPSCs accelerated, but this change was not apparent until > 30 min after TBS. Histogram analyses of the decay time constants of mEPSCs for naive and tetanized synapses revealed two populations centered around τfast ≈ 0.4 and 0.8 ms, but the relative weight of the τ0.4 population over the τ0.8 population increased significantly only in tetanized synapses. Such changes are blocked by NMDAR or mGluR1/5 antagonists or inhibitors of CaMKII, PKC and protein synthesis, and more importantly precluded in GluA4−/− synapses, suggesting GluA4 is the substrate underlying the acceleration. Our results demonstrate a novel form of plasticity working through NMDAR and mGluR activation to trigger a gating switch of AMPARs with a temporally delayed onset of expression, ultimately enhancing the development of high-fidelity synaptic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Stephen Lesperance
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, 555 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Yi-Mei Yang
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, 555 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN 55812, USA
| | - Lu-Yang Wang
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, 555 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada.
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43
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Babola TA, Kersbergen CJ, Wang HC, Bergles DE. Purinergic signaling in cochlear supporting cells reduces hair cell excitability by increasing the extracellular space. eLife 2020; 9:e52160. [PMID: 31913121 PMCID: PMC7015667 DOI: 10.7554/elife.52160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons in developing sensory pathways exhibit spontaneous bursts of electrical activity that are critical for survival, maturation and circuit refinement. In the auditory system, intrinsically generated activity arises within the cochlea, but the molecular mechanisms that initiate this activity remain poorly understood. We show that burst firing of mouse inner hair cells prior to hearing onset requires P2RY1 autoreceptors expressed by inner supporting cells. P2RY1 activation triggers K+ efflux and depolarization of hair cells, as well as osmotic shrinkage of supporting cells that dramatically increased the extracellular space and speed of K+ redistribution. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic disruption of P2RY1 suppressed neuronal burst firing by reducing K+ release, but unexpectedly enhanced their tonic firing, as water resorption by supporting cells reduced the extracellular space, leading to K+ accumulation. These studies indicate that purinergic signaling in supporting cells regulates hair cell excitability by controlling the volume of the extracellular space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis A Babola
- The Solomon Snyder Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Calvin J Kersbergen
- The Solomon Snyder Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Han Chin Wang
- The Solomon Snyder Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Dwight E Bergles
- The Solomon Snyder Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck SurgeryJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery InstituteJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
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Arakawa H. Sensorimotor developmental factors influencing the performance of laboratory rodents on learning and memory. Behav Brain Res 2019; 375:112140. [PMID: 31401145 PMCID: PMC6741784 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral studies in animal models have advanced our knowledge of brain function and the neural mechanisms of human diseases. Commonly used laboratory rodents, such as mice and rats, provide a useful tool for studying the behaviors and mechanisms associated with learning and memory processes which are cooperatively regulated by multiple underlying factors, including sensory and motor performance and emotional/defense innate components. Each of these factors shows unique ontogeny and governs the sustainment of behavioral performance in learning tasks, and thus, understanding the integrative processes of behavioral development are crucial in the accurate interpretation of the functional meaning of learning and memory behaviors expressed in commonly employed behavioral test paradigms. In this review, we will summarize the major findings in the developmental processes of rodent behavior on the basis of the emergence of fundamental components for sustaining learning and memory behaviors. Briefly, most sensory modalities (except for vision) and motor abilities are functional at the juvenile stage, in which several defensive components, including active and passive defensive strategies and risk assessment behavior, emerge. Sex differences are detectable from the juvenile stage through adulthood and are considerable factors that influence behavioral tests. The test paradigms addressed in this review include associative learning (with an emphasis on fear conditioning), spatial learning, and recognition. This basic background information will aid in accurately performing behavioral studies in laboratory rodents and will therefore contribute to reducing inappropriate interpretations of behavioral data and further advance research on learning and memory in rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Arakawa
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn St. HSF2/S251, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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Müller NIC, Sonntag M, Maraslioglu A, Hirtz JJ, Friauf E. Topographic map refinement and synaptic strengthening of a sound localization circuit require spontaneous peripheral activity. J Physiol 2019; 597:5469-5493. [PMID: 31529505 DOI: 10.1113/jp277757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Loss of the calcium sensor otoferlin disrupts neurotransmission from inner hair cells. Central auditory nuclei are functionally denervated in otoferlin knockout mice (Otof KOs) via gene ablation confined to the periphery. We employed juvenile and young adult Otof KO mice (postnatal days (P)10-12 and P27-49) as a model for lacking spontaneous activity and deafness, respectively. We studied the impact of peripheral activity on synaptic refinement in the sound localization circuit from the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) to the lateral superior olive (LSO). MNTB in vivo recordings demonstrated drastically reduced spontaneous spiking and deafness in Otof KOs. Juvenile KOs showed impaired synapse elimination and strengthening, manifested by broader MNTB-LSO inputs, imprecise MNTB-LSO topography and weaker MNTB-LSO fibres. The impairments persisted into young adulthood. Further functional refinement after hearing onset was undetected in young adult wild-types. Collectively, activity deprivation confined to peripheral protein loss impairs functional MNTB-LSO refinement during a critical prehearing period. ABSTRACT Circuit refinement is critical for the developing sound localization pathways in the auditory brainstem. In prehearing mice (hearing onset around postnatal day (P)12), spontaneous activity propagates from the periphery to central auditory nuclei. At the glycinergic projection from the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) to the lateral superior olive (LSO) of neonatal mice, super-numerous MNTB fibres innervate a given LSO neuron. Between P4 and P9, MNTB fibres are functionally eliminated, whereas the remaining fibres are strengthened. Little is known about MNTB-LSO circuit refinement after P20. Moreover, MNTB-LSO refinement upon activity deprivation confined to the periphery is largely unexplored. This leaves a considerable knowledge gap, as deprivation often occurs in patients with congenital deafness, e.g. upon mutations in the otoferlin gene (OTOF). Here, we analysed juvenile (P10-12) and young adult (P27-49) otoferlin knockout (Otof KO) mice with respect to MNTB-LSO refinement. MNTB in vivo recordings revealed drastically reduced spontaneous activity and deafness in knockouts (KOs), confirming deprivation. As RNA sequencing revealed Otof absence in the MNTB and LSO of wild-types, Otof loss in KOs is specific to the periphery. Functional denervation impaired MNTB-LSO synapse elimination and strengthening, which was assessed by glutamate uncaging and electrical stimulation. Impaired elimination led to imprecise MNTB-LSO topography. Impaired strengthening was associated with lower quantal content per MNTB fibre. In young adult KOs, the MNTB-LSO circuit remained unrefined. Further functional refinement after P12 appeared absent in wild-types. Collectively, we provide novel insights into functional MNTB-LSO circuit maturation governed by a cochlea-specific protein. The central malfunctions in Otof KOs may have implications for patients with sensorineuronal hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas I C Müller
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, D-67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Mandy Sonntag
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ayse Maraslioglu
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, D-67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Jan J Hirtz
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, D-67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany.,Physiology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, D-67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Eckhard Friauf
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, D-67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
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Strengthening of the Efferent Olivocochlear System Leads to Synaptic Dysfunction and Tonotopy Disruption of a Central Auditory Nucleus. J Neurosci 2019; 39:7037-7048. [PMID: 31217330 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2536-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The auditory system in many mammals is immature at birth but precisely organized in adults. Spontaneous activity in the inner ear plays a critical role in guiding this maturation process. This is shaped by an efferent pathway that descends from the brainstem and makes transient direct synaptic contacts with inner hair cells. In this work, we used an α9 cholinergic nicotinic receptor knock-in mouse model (of either sex) with enhanced medial efferent activity (Chrna9L9'T, L9'T) to further understand the role of the olivocochlear system in the correct establishment of auditory circuits. Wave III of auditory brainstem responses (which represents synchronized activity of synapses within the superior olivary complex) was smaller in L9'T mice, suggesting a central dysfunction. The mechanism underlying this functional alteration was analyzed in brain slices containing the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), where neurons are topographically organized along a mediolateral (ML) axis. The topographic organization of MNTB physiological properties observed in wildtype (WT) was abolished in L9'T mice. Additionally, electrophysiological recordings in slices indicated MNTB synaptic alterations. In vivo multielectrode recordings showed that the overall level of MNTB activity was reduced in the L9'T The present results indicate that the transient cochlear efferent innervation to inner hair cells during the critical period before the onset of hearing is involved in the refinement of topographic maps as well as in setting the properties of synaptic transmission at a central auditory nucleus.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Cochlear inner hair cells of altricial mammals display spontaneous electrical activity before hearing onset. The pattern and firing rate of these cells are crucial for the correct maturation of the central auditory pathway. A descending efferent innervation from the CNS contacts the hair cells during this developmental window. The present work shows that genetic enhancement of efferent function disrupts the orderly topographic distribution of biophysical and synaptic properties in the auditory brainstem and causes severe synaptic dysfunction. This work adds to the notion that the transient efferent innervation to the cochlea is necessary for the correct establishment of the central auditory circuitry.
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Müller MK, Jovanovic S, Keine C, Radulovic T, Rübsamen R, Milenkovic I. Functional Development of Principal Neurons in the Anteroventral Cochlear Nucleus Extends Beyond Hearing Onset. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:119. [PMID: 30983974 PMCID: PMC6447607 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Sound information is transduced into graded receptor potential by cochlear hair cells and encoded as discrete action potentials of auditory nerve fibers. In the cochlear nucleus, auditory nerve fibers convey this information through morphologically distinct synaptic terminals onto bushy cells (BCs) and stellate cells (SCs) for processing of different sound features. With expanding use of transgenic mouse models, it is increasingly important to understand the in vivo functional development of these neurons in mice. We characterized the maturation of spontaneous and acoustically evoked activity in BCs and SCs by acquiring single-unit juxtacellular recordings between hearing onset (P12) and young adulthood (P30) of anesthetized CBA/J mice. In both cell types, hearing sensitivity and characteristic frequency (CF) range are mostly adult-like by P14, consistent with rapid maturation of the auditory periphery. In BCs, however, some physiological features like maximal firing rate, dynamic range, temporal response properties, recovery from post-stimulus depression, first spike latency (FSL) and encoding of sinusoid amplitude modulation undergo further maturation up to P18. In SCs, the development of excitatory responses is even more prolonged, indicated by a gradual increase in spontaneous and maximum firing rates up to P30. In the same cell type, broadly tuned acoustically evoked inhibition is immediately effective at hearing onset, covering the low- and high-frequency flanks of the excitatory response area. Together, these data suggest that maturation of auditory processing in the parallel ascending BC and SC streams engages distinct mechanisms at the first central synapses that may differently depend on the early auditory experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Katharina Müller
- Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sasa Jovanovic
- Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Keine
- Carver College of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States.,Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tamara Radulovic
- Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Carver College of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Rudolf Rübsamen
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ivan Milenkovic
- Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
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48
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Wong VSC, Meadows M, Goldberg D, Willis DE. Semaphorin 3A induces acute changes in membrane excitability in spiral ganglion neurons in vitro. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 50:1741-1758. [PMID: 30706560 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14360] [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: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The development and survival of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are dependent on multiple trophic factors as well as membrane electrical activity. Semaphorins (Sema) constitute a family of membrane-associated and secreted proteins that have garnered significant attention as a potential SGN "navigator" during cochlea development. Previous studies using mutant mice demonstrated that Sema3A plays a role in the SGN pathfinding. The mechanisms, however, by which Sema3A shapes SGNs firing behavior are not known. In these studies, we found that Sema3A plays a novel role in regulating SGN resting membrane potential and excitability. Using dissociated SGN from pre-hearing (P3-P5) and post-hearing mice (P12-P15), we recorded membrane potentials using whole-cell patch clamp recording techniques in apical and basal SGN populations. Recombinant Sema3A was applied to examine the effects on intrinsic membrane properties and action potentials evoked by current injections. Apical and basal SGNs from newborn mice treated with recombinant Sema3A (100 ng/ml) displayed a higher resting membrane potential, higher threshold, decreased amplitude, and prolonged latency and duration of spikes. Although a similar phenomenon was observed in SGNs from post-hearing mice, the resting membrane potential was essentially indistinguishable before and after Sema3A exposure. Sema3A-mediated changes in membrane excitability were associated with a significant decrease in K+ and Ca2+ currents. Sema3A acts through linopirdine-sensitive K+ channels in apical, but not in the basal SGNs. Therefore, Sema3A induces differential effects in SGN membrane excitability that are dependent on age and location, and constitutes an additional early and novel effect of Sema3A SGNs in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc Meadows
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - David Goldberg
- The Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, New York
| | - Dianna E Willis
- The Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, New York.,Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
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Lübbert M, Goral RO, Keine C, Thomas C, Guerrero-Given D, Putzke T, Satterfield R, Kamasawa N, Young SM. Ca V2.1 α 1 Subunit Expression Regulates Presynaptic Ca V2.1 Abundance and Synaptic Strength at a Central Synapse. Neuron 2018; 101:260-273.e6. [PMID: 30545599 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The abundance of presynaptic CaV2 voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (CaV2) at mammalian active zones (AZs) regulates the efficacy of synaptic transmission. It is proposed that presynaptic CaV2 levels are saturated in AZs due to a finite number of slots that set CaV2 subtype abundance and that CaV2.1 cannot compete for CaV2.2 slots. However, at most AZs, CaV2.1 levels are highest and CaV2.2 levels are developmentally reduced. To investigate CaV2.1 saturation states and preference in AZs, we overexpressed the CaV2.1 and CaV2.2 α1 subunits at the calyx of Held at immature and mature developmental stages. We found that AZs prefer CaV2.1 to CaV2.2. Remarkably, CaV2.1 α1 subunit overexpression drove increased CaV2.1 currents and channel numbers and increased synaptic strength at both developmental stages examined. Therefore, we propose that CaV2.1 levels in the AZ are not saturated and that synaptic strength can be modulated by increasing CaV2.1 levels to regulate neuronal circuit output. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Lübbert
- Research Group Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Function, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - R Oliver Goral
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Christian Keine
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Connon Thomas
- Max Planck Florida Electron Microscopy Core, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Debbie Guerrero-Given
- Max Planck Florida Electron Microscopy Core, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Travis Putzke
- Research Group Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Function, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Rachel Satterfield
- Research Group Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Function, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Naomi Kamasawa
- Max Planck Florida Electron Microscopy Core, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Samuel M Young
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Aging Mind Brain Initiative, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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50
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Mechanotransduction is required for establishing and maintaining mature inner hair cells and regulating efferent innervation. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4015. [PMID: 30275467 PMCID: PMC6167318 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06307-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the adult auditory organ, mechanoelectrical transducer (MET) channels are essential for transducing acoustic stimuli into electrical signals. In the absence of incoming sound, a fraction of the MET channels on top of the sensory hair cells are open, resulting in a sustained depolarizing current. By genetically manipulating the in vivo expression of molecular components of the MET apparatus, we show that during pre-hearing stages the MET current is essential for establishing the electrophysiological properties of mature inner hair cells (IHCs). If the MET current is abolished in adult IHCs, they revert into cells showing electrical and morphological features characteristic of pre-hearing IHCs, including the re-establishment of cholinergic efferent innervation. The MET current is thus critical for the maintenance of the functional properties of adult IHCs, implying a degree of plasticity in the mature auditory system in response to the absence of normal transduction of acoustic signals. Mechanoelectrical transducer (MET) channels on the tips of inner hair cells are essential for transducing auditory sensory information. Here, the authors show that disrupting MET channel function also prevents the preservation of normal inner hair cell identity in adult mice.
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