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Shang W, Xie S, Feng W, Li Z, Jia J, Cao X, Shen Y, Li J, Shi H, Gu Y, Weng SJ, Lin L, Pan YH, Yuan XB. A non-image-forming visual circuit mediates the innate fear of heights in male mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3746. [PMID: 38702319 PMCID: PMC11068790 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48147-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The neural basis of fear of heights remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the fear response to heights in male mice and observed characteristic aversive behaviors resembling human height vertigo. We identified visual input as a critical factor in mouse reactions to heights, while peripheral vestibular input was found to be nonessential for fear of heights. Unexpectedly, we found that fear of heights in naïve mice does not rely on image-forming visual processing by the primary visual cortex. Instead, a subset of neurons in the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN), which connects to the lateral/ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (l/vlPAG), drives the expression of fear associated with heights. Additionally, we observed that a subcortical visual pathway linking the superior colliculus to the lateral posterior thalamic nucleus inhibits the defensive response to height threats. These findings highlight a rapid fear response to height threats through a subcortical visual and defensive pathway from the vLGN to the l/vlPAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shang
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Shuangyi Xie
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Wenbo Feng
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Li
- Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Jingyan Jia
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Cao
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yanting Shen
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Haibo Shi
- Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Yiran Gu
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Shi-Jun Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Longnian Lin
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yi-Hsuan Pan
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
| | - Xiao-Bing Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
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2
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Wang L, Zhang S, Han Y, Tang S, Li J, Bu L, Zhao D, Deng H. An effective pharmacological hydrogel induces optic nerve repair and improves visual function. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:529-542. [PMID: 38041780 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2394-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Irreversible eye lesions, such as glaucoma and traumatic optic neuropathy, can cause blindness; however, no effective treatments exist. The optic nerve, in particular, lacks the capacity to spontaneously regenerate, requiring the development of an effective approach for optic nerve repair, which has proven challenging. Here, we demonstrate that a combination of the small molecules 3BDO and trichostatin A (TSA)-which regulate mTOR and HDAC, respectively-packaged in thermosensitive hydrogel for 4-week-sustained release after intravitreal injection, effectively induced optic nerve regeneration in a mouse model of optic nerve crush injury. Moreover, this combination of 3BDO and TSA also protected axon projections and improved visual responses in an old mouse model (11 months old) of glaucoma. Taken together, our data provide a new, local small molecule-based treatment for the effective induction of optic nerve repair, which may represent a foundation for the development of pharmacological methods to treat irreversible eye diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lipeng Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Stem Cell Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Shan Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Stem Cell Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yawen Han
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Shuo Tang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Stem Cell Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jiarui Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University People's Hospital Eye Diseases and Optometry Institute, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Lina Bu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Dongyu Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Hongkui Deng
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Stem Cell Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, College of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing, 102206, China.
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3
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Hetzer SM, O'Connell C, Lallo V, Robson M, Evanson NK. Model matters: Differential outcomes in traumatic optic neuropathy pathophysiology between blunt and blast-wave mediated head injuries. Exp Neurol 2024; 372:114613. [PMID: 37995952 PMCID: PMC10870099 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114613] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Over 3 million people in the United States live with long-term disability because of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The purpose of this study was to characterize and compare two different animal models of TBI (blunt head trauma and blast TBI) to determine common and divergent characteristics of these models. With recent literature reviews noting the prevalence of visual system injury in animal models of TBI, coupled with clinical estimates of 50-75% of all TBI cases, we decided to assess commonalities, if they existed, through visual system injury. A unilateral (left directed) blast and repeat blast model injury with coup-contra-coup injury patterns were compared to a midline blunt injury. Injuries were induced in adult male mice to observe and quantify visual deficits. Retinal ganglion cell loss and axonal degeneration in the optic tract, superior colliculus, and lateral geniculate nuclei were examined to trace injury outcomes throughout major vision-associated areas. Optokinetic response, immunohistochemistry, and western blots were analyzed. Where a single blunt injury produces significant visual deficits a single blast injury appears to have less severe visual consequences. Visual deficits after repeat blasts are similar to a single blast. Single blast injury induces contralateral damage to the right optic chiasm and tract whereas bilateral injury follows a single blunt TBI. Repeat blast injuries are required to see degeneration patterns in downstream regions similar to the damage seen in a single blunt injury. This finding is further supported by amyloid precursor protein (APP) staining in injured cohorts. Blunt injured groups present with staining 1.2 mm ahead of the optic nerve, indicating axonal breakage closer to the optic chiasm. In blast groups, APP was identifiable in a bilateral pattern only in the geniculate nucleus. Evidence for unilateral neuronal degeneration in brain tissue with bilateral axonal ruptures are pivotal discoveries in this model differentiation. Analysis of the two injury models suggests that there is a significant difference in the histological outcomes dependent on injury type, though visual system injury is likely present in more cases than are currently diagnosed clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Hetzer
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, United States of America.
| | - C O'Connell
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, United States of America
| | - V Lallo
- College of Arts and Sciences, University of Cincinnati, United States of America
| | - M Robson
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, United States of America
| | - N K Evanson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, United States of America; Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, United States of America
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4
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Li Z, Peng B, Huang JJ, Zhang Y, Seo MB, Fang Q, Zhang GW, Zhang X, Zhang LI, Tao HW. Enhancement and contextual modulation of visuospatial processing by thalamocollicular projections from ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7278. [PMID: 37949869 PMCID: PMC10638288 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43147-9] [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: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In the mammalian visual system, the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) of the thalamus receives salient visual input from the retina and sends prominent GABAergic axons to the superior colliculus (SC). However, whether and how vLGN contributes to fundamental visual information processing remains largely unclear. Here, we report in mice that vLGN facilitates visually-guided approaching behavior mediated by the lateral SC and enhances the sensitivity of visual object detection. This can be attributed to the extremely broad spatial integration of vLGN neurons, as reflected in their much lower preferred spatial frequencies and broader spatial receptive fields than SC neurons. Through GABAergic thalamocollicular projections, vLGN specifically exerts prominent surround suppression of visuospatial processing in SC, leading to a fine tuning of SC preferences to higher spatial frequencies and smaller objects in a context-dependent manner. Thus, as an essential component of the central visual processing pathway, vLGN serves to refine and contextually modulate visuospatial processing in SC-mediated visuomotor behaviors via visually-driven long-range feedforward inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Li
- Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Bo Peng
- Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Junxiang J Huang
- Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Graduate Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Michelle B Seo
- Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Qi Fang
- Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Guang-Wei Zhang
- Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Li I Zhang
- Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
| | - Huizhong Whit Tao
- Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
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5
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Gorin AS, Miao Y, Ahn S, Suresh V, Su Y, Ciftcioglu UM, Sommer FT, Hirsch JA. Local interneurons in the murine visual thalamus have diverse receptive fields and can provide feature selective inhibition to relay cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.10.549394. [PMID: 37609295 PMCID: PMC10441385 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.10.549394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
By influencing the type and quality of information that relay cells transmit, local interneurons in thalamus have a powerful impact on cortex. To define the sensory features that these inhibitory neurons encode, we mapped receptive fields of optogenetically identified cells in the murine dorsolateral geniculate nucleus. Although few in number, local interneurons had diverse types of receptive fields, like their counterpart relay cells. This result differs markedly from visual cortex, where inhibitory cells are typically less selective than excitatory cells. To explore how thalamic interneurons might converge on relay cells, we took a computational approach. Using an evolutionary algorithm to search through a library of interneuron models generated from our results, we show that aggregated output from different groups of local interneurons can simulate the inhibitory component of the relay cell's receptive field. Thus, our work provides proof-of-concept that groups of diverse interneurons can supply feature-specific inhibition to relay cells.
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6
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Wu XQ, Tan B, Du Y, Yang L, Hu TT, Ding YL, Qiu XY, Moutal A, Khanna R, Yu J, Chen Z. Glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the vLGN mediate the nociceptive effects of green and red light on neuropathic pain. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 183:106164. [PMID: 37217103 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Phototherapy is an emerging non-pharmacological treatment for depression, circadian rhythm disruptions, and neurodegeneration, as well as pain conditions including migraine and fibromyalgia. However, the mechanism of phototherapy-induced antinociception is not well understood. Here, using fiber photometry recordings of population-level neural activity combined with chemogenetics, we found that phototherapy elicits antinociception via regulation of the ventral lateral geniculate body (vLGN) located in the visual system. Specifically, both green and red lights caused an increase of c-fos in vLGN, with red light increased more. In vLGN, green light causes a large increase in glutamatergic neurons, whereas red light causes a large increase in GABAergic neurons. Green light preconditioning increases the sensitivity of glutamatergic neurons to noxious stimuli in vLGN of PSL mice. Green light produces antinociception by activating glutamatergic neurons in vLGN, and red light promotes nociception by activating GABAergic neurons in vLGN. Together, these results demonstrate that different colors of light exert different pain modulation effects by regulating glutamatergic and GABAergic subpopulations in the vLGN. This may provide potential new therapeutic strategies and new therapeutic targets for the precise clinical treatment of neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Qing Wu
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Science, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Bei Tan
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Science, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yu Du
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Science, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Science, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ting-Ting Hu
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Science, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yi-La Ding
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Science, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiao-Yun Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Science, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Aubin Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, and NYU Pain Research Center, New York University, New York, NY 10010, USA.
| | - Jie Yu
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Science, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Zhong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Science, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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7
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Govindaiah G, Fox MA, Guido W. Pattern of Driver-Like Input onto Neurons of the Mouse Ventral Lateral Geniculate Nucleus. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0386-22.2022. [PMID: 36609305 PMCID: PMC9850909 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0386-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) is a retinorecipient region of thalamus that contributes to a number of complex visual behaviors. Retinal axons that target vLGN terminate exclusively in the external subdivision (vLGNe), which is also transcriptionally and cytoarchitectonically distinct from the internal subdivision (vLGNi). While recent studies shed light on the cell types and efferent projections of vLGNe and vLGNi, we have a crude understanding of the source and nature of the excitatory inputs driving postsynaptic activity in these regions. Here, we address this by conducting in vitro whole-cell recordings in acutely prepared thalamic slices and using electrical and optical stimulation techniques to examine the postsynaptic excitatory activity evoked by the activation of retinal or cortical layer V input onto neurons in vLGNe and vLGNi. Activation of retinal afferents by electrical stimulation of optic tract or optical stimulation of retinal terminals resulted in robust driver-like excitatory activity in vLGNe. Optical activation of corticothalamic terminals from layer V resulted in similar driver-like activity in both vLGNe and vLGNi. Using a dual-color optogenetic approach, we found that many vLGNe neurons received convergent input from these two sources. Both individual pathways displayed similar driver-like properties, with corticothalamic stimulation leading to a stronger form of synaptic depression than retinogeniculate stimulation. We found no evidence of convergence in vLGNi, with neurons only responding to corticothalamic stimulation. These data provide insight into the influence of excitatory inputs to vLGN and reveal that only neurons in vLGNe receive convergent input from both sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gubbi Govindaiah
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky 40202
| | - Michael A. Fox
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia 24016
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
| | - William Guido
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky 40202
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8
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Tang YL, Liu AL, Lv SS, Zhou ZR, Cao H, Weng SJ, Zhang YQ. Green light analgesia in mice is mediated by visual activation of enkephalinergic neurons in the ventrolateral geniculate nucleus. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabq6474. [PMID: 36475906 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq6474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Green light exposure has been shown to reduce pain in animal models. Here, we report a vision-associated enkephalinergic neural circuit responsible for green light-mediated analgesia. Full-field green light exposure at an intensity of 10 lux produced analgesic effects in healthy mice and in a model of arthrosis. Ablation of cone photoreceptors completely inhibited the analgesic effect, whereas rod ablation only partially reduced pain relief. The analgesic effect was not modulated by the ablation of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which are atypical photoreceptors that control various nonvisual effects of light. Inhibition of the retino-ventrolateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) pathway completely abolished the analgesic effects. Activation of this pathway reduced nociceptive behavioral responses; such activation was blocked by the inhibition of proenkephalin (Penk)-positive neurons in the vLGN (vLGNPenk). Moreover, green light analgesia was prevented by knockdown of Penk in the vLGN or by ablation of vLGNPenk neurons. In addition, activation of the projections from vLGNPenk neurons to the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) was sufficient to suppress nociceptive behaviors, whereas its inhibition abolished the green light analgesia. Our findings indicate that cone-dominated retinal inputs mediated green light analgesia through the vLGNPenk-DRN pathway and suggest that this signaling pathway could be exploited for reducing pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Long Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ai-Lin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Su-Su Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zi-Rui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shi-Jun Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yu-Qiu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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9
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Somaiya RD, Stebbins K, Gingrich EC, Xie H, Campbell JN, Garcia ADR, Fox MA. Sonic hedgehog-dependent recruitment of GABAergic interneurons into the developing visual thalamus. eLife 2022; 11:e79833. [PMID: 36342840 PMCID: PMC9640189 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Axons of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) play critical roles in the development of inhibitory circuits in visual thalamus. We previously reported that RGC axons signal astrocytes to induce the expression of fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15), a motogen required for GABAergic interneuron migration into visual thalamus. However, how retinal axons induce thalamic astrocytes to generate Fgf15 and influence interneuron migration remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that impairing RGC activity had little impact on interneuron recruitment into mouse visual thalamus. Instead, our data show that retinal-derived sonic hedgehog (SHH) is essential for interneuron recruitment. Specifically, we show that thalamus-projecting RGCs express SHH and thalamic astrocytes generate downstream components of SHH signaling. Deletion of RGC-derived SHH leads to a significant decrease in Fgf15 expression, as well as in the percentage of interneurons recruited into visual thalamus. Overall, our findings identify a morphogen-dependent neuron-astrocyte signaling mechanism essential for the migration of thalamic interneurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachana Deven Somaiya
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech CarilionRoanokeUnited States
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
| | - Katelyn Stebbins
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech CarilionRoanokeUnited States
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of MedicineRoanokeUnited States
| | - Ellen C Gingrich
- Department of Biology, Drexel UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Hehuang Xie
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
- School of Neuroscience, College of Science, Virginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
- Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, Virginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary MedicineBlacksburgUnited States
| | - John N Campbell
- Department of Biology, University of VirginiaCharlottesvilleUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of VirginiaCharlottesvilleUnited States
| | - A Denise R Garcia
- Department of Biology, Drexel UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Michael A Fox
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech CarilionRoanokeUnited States
- School of Neuroscience, College of Science, Virginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Virginia TechBlacksburgUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Tech Carilion School of MedicineRoanokeUnited States
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10
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The caudal prethalamus: Inhibitory switchboard for behavioral control? Neuron 2022; 110:2728-2742. [PMID: 36076337 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Prethalamic nuclei in the mammalian brain include the zona incerta, the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, and the intergeniculate leaflet, which provide long-range inhibition to many targets in the midbrain, hindbrain, and thalamus. These nuclei in the caudal prethalamus can integrate sensory and non-sensory information, and together they exert powerful inhibitory control over a wide range of brain functions and behaviors that encompass most aspects of the behavioral repertoire of mammals, including sleep, circadian rhythms, feeding, drinking, predator avoidance, and exploration. In this perspective, we highlight the evidence for this wide-ranging control and lay out the hypothesis that one role of caudal prethalamic nuclei may be that of a behavioral switchboard that-depending on the sensory input, the behavioral context, and the state of the animal-can promote a behavioral strategy and suppress alternative, competing behaviors by modulating inhibitory drive onto diverse target areas.
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Should I stay or should I go? A thalamic circuit for modulating behavioral responses to visual threat. Neuron 2021; 109:3717-3719. [PMID: 34856131 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.11.005] [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] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In this issue of Neuron and in Cell Reports, Fratzl et al. (2021) and Salay and Huberman (2021) identify the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) of the thalamus as a key regulator for adjusting defensive behaviors according to the level of perceived visual threat.
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Fratzl A, Koltchev AM, Vissers N, Tan YL, Marques-Smith A, Stempel AV, Branco T, Hofer SB. Flexible inhibitory control of visually evoked defensive behavior by the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. Neuron 2021; 109:3810-3822.e9. [PMID: 34614420 PMCID: PMC8648186 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Animals can choose to act upon, or to ignore, sensory stimuli, depending on circumstance and prior knowledge. This flexibility is thought to depend on neural inhibition, through suppression of inappropriate and disinhibition of appropriate actions. Here, we identified the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN), an inhibitory prethalamic area, as a critical node for control of visually evoked defensive responses in mice. The activity of vLGN projections to the medial superior colliculus (mSC) is modulated by previous experience of threatening stimuli, tracks the perceived threat level in the environment, and is low prior to escape from a visual threat. Optogenetic stimulation of the vLGN abolishes escape responses, and suppressing its activity lowers the threshold for escape and increases risk-avoidance behavior. The vLGN most strongly affects visual threat responses, potentially via modality-specific inhibition of mSC circuits. Thus, inhibitory vLGN circuits control defensive behavior, depending on an animal’s prior experience and its anticipation of danger in the environment. Activity of vLGN axons in the mSC reflects the previous experience of threat The vLGN bidirectionally controls escape from visual threat Activating the vLGN specifically reduces the activity of visual units in mSC Activating vLGN axons in the mSC specifically suppresses escape from visual threat
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Fratzl
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alice M Koltchev
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nicole Vissers
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, UK
| | - Yu Lin Tan
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andre Marques-Smith
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, UK
| | - A Vanessa Stempel
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tiago Branco
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sonja B Hofer
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, UK.
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Chen CH, Hu JM, Zhang SY, Xiang XJ, Chen SQ, Ding SL. Rodent Area Prostriata Converges Multimodal Hierarchical Inputs and Projects to the Structures Important for Visuomotor Behaviors. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:772016. [PMID: 34795559 PMCID: PMC8594778 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.772016] [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: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Area prostriata is a limbic structure critical to fast processing of moving stimuli in far peripheral visual field. Neural substrates underlying this function remain to be discovered. Using both retrograde and anterograde tracing methods, the present study reveals that the prostriata in rat and mouse receives inputs from multimodal hierarchical cortical areas such as primary, secondary, and association visual and auditory cortices and subcortical regions such as the anterior and midline thalamic nuclei and claustrum. Surprisingly, the prostriata also receives strong afferents directly from the rostral part of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. This shortcut pathway probably serves as one of the shortest circuits for fast processing of the peripheral vision and unconscious blindsight since it bypasses the primary visual cortex. The outputs of the prostriata mainly target the presubiculum (including postsubiculum), pulvinar, ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, lateral dorsal thalamic nucleus, and zona incerta as well as the pontine and pretectal nuclei, most of which are heavily involved in subcortical visuomotor functions. Taken together, these results suggest that the prostriata is poised to quickly receive and analyze peripheral visual and other related information and timely initiates and modulates adaptive visuomotor behaviors, particularly in response to unexpected quickly looming threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Hui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin-Meng Hu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shun-Yu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sheng-Qiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Song-Lin Ding
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, United States
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Salay LD, Huberman AD. Divergent outputs of the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus mediate visually evoked defensive behaviors. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109792. [PMID: 34610302 PMCID: PMC10954303 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid alternations between exploration and defensive reactions require ongoing risk assessment. How visual cues and internal states flexibly modulate the selection of behaviors remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN)-a major retinorecipient structure-is a critical node in the network controlling defensive behaviors to visual threats. We find that vLGNGABA neuron activity scales with the intensity of environmental illumination and is modulated by behavioral state. Chemogenetic activation of vLGNGABA neurons reduces freezing, whereas inactivation dramatically extends the duration of freezing to visual threats. Perturbations of vLGN activity disrupt exploration in brightly illuminated environments. We describe both a vLGN→nucleus reuniens (Re) circuit and a vLGN→superior colliculus (SC) circuit, which exert opposite influences on defensive responses. These findings reveal roles for genetic- and projection-defined vLGN subpopulations in modulating the expression of behavioral threat responses according to internal state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey D Salay
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; BioX, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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