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Baier H, Scott EK. The Visual Systems of Zebrafish. Annu Rev Neurosci 2024; 47:255-276. [PMID: 38663429 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-111020-104854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
The zebrafish visual system has become a paradigmatic preparation for behavioral and systems neuroscience. Around 40 types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) serve as matched filters for stimulus features, including light, optic flow, prey, and objects on a collision course. RGCs distribute their signals via axon collaterals to 12 retinorecipient areas in forebrain and midbrain. The major visuomotor hub, the optic tectum, harbors nine RGC input layers that combine information on multiple features. The retinotopic map in the tectum is locally adapted to visual scene statistics and visual subfield-specific behavioral demands. Tectal projections to premotor centers are topographically organized according to behavioral commands. The known connectivity in more than 20 processing streams allows us to dissect the cellular basis of elementary perceptual and cognitive functions. Visually evoked responses, such as prey capture or loom avoidance, are controlled by dedicated multistation pathways that-at least in the larva-resemble labeled lines. This architecture serves the neuronal code's purpose of driving adaptive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herwig Baier
- Department of Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany;
| | - Ethan K Scott
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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2
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Northmore DPM. Visual shape discrimination in goldfish, modelled with the neural circuitry of optic tectum and torus longitudinalis. Vision Res 2024; 217:108374. [PMID: 38452566 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2024.108374] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
There is no satisfactory neurally-based theory as to how vertebrates that lack a neocortex discriminate even simple geometric shapes. In fishes, an intact optic tectum is necessary for such discriminations, but physiological studies of it have found nothing like the hierarchically arranged feature detecting neurons of mammalian visual cortex. Here, a neural model attempts a solution by basing shape discrimination upon the responses of only those elementary detectors (e.g. of size) that are within a focus of attention, formed by a winner-take-all arrangement of retinotopically mapped units representing tectal pyramidal cells. While this relatively primitive mechanism could recognize an object irrespective of position in space, it fails to distinguish patterns that differ only in their features' spatial relationships. The model's solution - imitating goldfish that naturally attend to the top of shapes - is to shift attention to the edges of a shape by spatially offsetting inputs to the pyramidal neurons, effected by the torus longitudinalis and its prolific synapses on pyramidal dendrites. The model's shape discrimination was compared to an extensive behavioral study using shapes with points and projections. In one test series fish were sensitive to the relative number of points on the tops of shapes. In another, fish were trained to discriminate points on the sides. By using different offset connections and only one elementary feature detector for small dark spots, the model successfully emulated the two sets of goldfish data, as judged by significant correlations between model response and fish discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- D P M Northmore
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, United States of America.
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3
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Hu J, Yang F, Liu C, Wang N, Xiao Y, Zhai Y, Wang X, Zhang R, Gao L, Xu M, Wang J, Liu Z, Huang S, Liu W, Hu Y, Liu F, Guo Y, Wang L, Yuan J, Zhang Z, Chu J. UFObow: A single-wavelength excitable Brainbow for simultaneous multicolor ex-vivo and in-vivo imaging of mammalian cells. Commun Biol 2024; 7:394. [PMID: 38561421 PMCID: PMC10984974 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06062-3] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Brainbow is a genetic cell-labeling technique that allows random colorization of multiple cells and real-time visualization of cell fate within a tissue, providing valuable insights into understanding complex biological processes. However, fluorescent proteins (FPs) in Brainbow have distinct excitation spectra with peak difference greater than 35 nm, which requires sequential imaging under multiple excitations and thus leads to long acquisition times. In addition, they are not easily used together with other fluorophores due to severe spectral bleed-through. Here, we report the development of a single-wavelength excitable Brainbow, UFObow, incorporating three newly developed blue-excitable FPs. We have demonstrated that UFObow enables not only tracking the growth dynamics of tumor cells in vivo but also mapping spatial distribution of immune cells within a sub-cubic centimeter tissue, revealing cell heterogeneity. This provides a powerful means to explore complex biology in a simultaneous imaging manner at a single-cell resolution in organs or in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahong Hu
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Fangfang Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology & CAS Key Laboratory of Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Chong Liu
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Nengzhi Wang
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Yinghan Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology & CAS Key Laboratory of Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yujie Zhai
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Xinru Wang
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Ren Zhang
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Lulu Gao
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Mengli Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China
| | - Jialu Wang
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China
| | - Songlin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China
| | - Wenfeng Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology & CAS Key Laboratory of Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yajing Hu
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology & CAS Key Laboratory of Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yuqi Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology & CAS Key Laboratory of Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology & CAS Key Laboratory of Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China.
| | - Zhihong Zhang
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China.
| | - Jun Chu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology & CAS Key Laboratory of Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Biomedical Imaging Science and System Key Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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Schmidt AR, Placer HJ, Muhammad IM, Shephard R, Patrick RL, Saurborn T, Horstick EJ, Bergeron SA. Transcriptional control of visual neural circuit development by GS homeobox 1. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011139. [PMID: 38669217 PMCID: PMC11051655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011139] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
As essential components of gene expression networks, transcription factors regulate neural circuit assembly. The homeobox transcription factor encoding gene, gs homeobox 1 (gsx1), is expressed in the developing visual system; however, no studies have examined its role in visual system formation. In zebrafish, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons that transmit visual information to the brain terminate in ten arborization fields (AFs) in the optic tectum (TeO), pretectum (Pr), and thalamus. Pretectal AFs (AF1-AF9) mediate distinct visual behaviors, yet we understand less about their development compared to AF10 in the TeO. Using gsx1 zebrafish mutants, immunohistochemistry, and transgenic lines, we observed that gsx1 is required for vesicular glutamate transporter, Tg(slc17a6b:DsRed), expression in the Pr, but not overall neuron number. gsx1 mutants have normal eye morphology, yet they exhibit impaired visual ability during prey capture. RGC axon volume in the gsx1 mutant Pr and TeO is reduced, and AF7 that is active during feeding is missing which is consistent with reduced hunting performance. Timed laser ablation of Tg(slc17a6b:DsRed)-positive cells reveals that they are necessary for AF7 formation. This work is the first to implicate gsx1 in establishing cell identity and functional neural circuits in the visual system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra R. Schmidt
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virgina, United States of America
| | - Haiden J. Placer
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virgina, United States of America
| | - Ishmael M. Muhammad
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virgina, United States of America
| | - Rebekah Shephard
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virgina, United States of America
| | - Regina L. Patrick
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virgina, United States of America
| | - Taylor Saurborn
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virgina, United States of America
| | - Eric J. Horstick
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virgina, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virgina, United States of America
| | - Sadie A. Bergeron
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virgina, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virgina, United States of America
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Zhu SI, Goodhill GJ. From perception to behavior: The neural circuits underlying prey hunting in larval zebrafish. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1087993. [PMID: 36817645 PMCID: PMC9928868 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1087993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A key challenge for neural systems is to extract relevant information from the environment and make appropriate behavioral responses. The larval zebrafish offers an exciting opportunity for studying these sensing processes and sensory-motor transformations. Prey hunting is an instinctual behavior of zebrafish that requires the brain to extract and combine different attributes of the sensory input and form appropriate motor outputs. Due to its small size and transparency the larval zebrafish brain allows optical recording of whole-brain activity to reveal the neural mechanisms involved in prey hunting and capture. In this review we discuss how the larval zebrafish brain processes visual information to identify and locate prey, the neural circuits governing the generation of motor commands in response to prey, how hunting behavior can be modulated by internal states and experience, and some outstanding questions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyu I. Zhu
- Departments of Developmental Biology and Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
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6
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Brown-Panton CA, Sabour S, Zoidl GSO, Zoidl C, Tabatabaei N, Zoidl GR. Gap junction Delta-2b ( gjd2b/Cx35.1) depletion causes hyperopia and visual-motor deficiencies in the zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1150273. [PMID: 36936688 PMCID: PMC10017553 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1150273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish is a powerful model to investigate the developmental roles of electrical synapses because many signaling pathways that regulate the development of the nervous system are highly conserved from fish to humans. Here, we provide evidence linking the mammalian connexin-36 (Cx36) ortholog gjd2b/Cx35.1, a major component of electrical synapses in the zebrafish, with a refractive error in the context of morphological, molecular, and behavioral changes of zebrafish larvae. Two abnormalities were identified. The optical coherence tomography analysis of the adult retina confirmed changes to the refractive properties caused by eye axial length reduction, leading to hyperopic shifts. The gjd2b/Cx35.1 depletion was also correlated with morphological changes to the head and body ratios in larvae. The differential expression of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling genes, connexins, and dopamine receptors suggested a contribution to the observed phenotypic differences. The alteration of visual-motor behavioral responses to abrupt light transitions was aggravated in larvae, providing evidence that cone photoreceptor cell activity was enhanced when gjd2b/Cx35.1 was depleted. The visual disturbances were reversed under low light conditions in gjd2b -/- /Cx35.1-/- larvae. Since qRT-PCR data demonstrated that two rhodopsin genes were downregulated, we speculated that rod photoreceptor cells in gjd2b/Cx35.1-/- larvae were less sensitive to bright light transitions, thus providing additional evidence that a cone-mediated process caused the VMR light-ON hyperactivity after losing Cx35.1 expression. Together, this study provides evidence for the role of gjd2b/Cx35.1 in the development of the visual system and visually guided behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherie A. Brown-Panton
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Cherie A. Brown-Panton, ; Georg R. Zoidl,
| | - Shiva Sabour
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Georg S. O. Zoidl
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christiane Zoidl
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nima Tabatabaei
- Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Georg R. Zoidl
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Cherie A. Brown-Panton, ; Georg R. Zoidl,
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7
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Procyk CA, Rodgers J, Zindy E, Lucas RJ, Milosavljevic N. Quantitative characterisation of ipRGCs in retinal degeneration using a computation platform for extracting and reconstructing single neurons in 3D from a multi-colour labeled population. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1009321. [PMID: 36385954 PMCID: PMC9664085 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1009321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Light has a profound impact on mammalian physiology and behavior. Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) express the photopigment melanopsin, rendering them sensitive to light, and are involved in both image-forming vision and non-image forming responses to light such as circadian photo-entrainment and the pupillary light reflex. Following outer photoreceptor degeneration, the death of rod and cone photoreceptors results in global re-modeling of the remnant neural retina. Although ipRGCs can continue signaling light information to the brain even in advanced stages of degeneration, it is unknown if all six morphologically distinct subtypes survive, or how their dendritic architecture may be affected. To answer these questions, we generated a computational platform-BRIAN (Brainbow Analysis of individual Neurons) to analyze Brainbow labeled tissues by allowing objective identification of voxels clusters in Principal Component Space, and their subsequent extraction to produce 3D images of single neurons suitable for analysis with existing tracing technology. We show that BRIAN can efficiently recreate single neurons or individual axonal projections from densely labeled tissue with sufficient anatomical resolution for subtype quantitative classification. We apply this tool to generate quantitative morphological information about ipRGCs in the degenerate retina including soma size, dendritic field size, dendritic complexity, and stratification. Using this information, we were able to identify cells whose characteristics match those reported for all six defined subtypes of ipRGC in the wildtype mouse retina (M1-M6), including the rare and complex M3 and M6 subtypes. This indicates that ipRGCs survive outer retinal degeneration with broadly normal morphology. We additionally describe one cell in the degenerate retina which matches the description of the Gigantic M1 cell in Humans which has not been previously identified in rodent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A. Procyk
- Ocular Cell and Gene Therapy Group, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Rodgers
- Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Centre for Biological Timing and Division of Neuroscience, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Egor Zindy
- Centre for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robert J. Lucas
- Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Centre for Biological Timing and Division of Neuroscience, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nina Milosavljevic
- Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Centre for Biological Timing and Division of Neuroscience, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Lloyd E, McDole B, Privat M, Jaggard JB, Duboué ER, Sumbre G, Keene AC. Blind cavefish retain functional connectivity in the tectum despite loss of retinal input. Curr Biol 2022; 32:3720-3730.e3. [PMID: 35926509 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Sensory systems display remarkable plasticity and are under strong evolutionary selection. The Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus, consists of eyed river-dwelling surface populations and multiple independent cave populations that have converged on eye loss, providing the opportunity to examine the evolution of sensory circuits in response to environmental perturbation. Functional analysis across multiple transgenic populations expressing GCaMP6s showed that functional connectivity of the optic tectum largely did not differ between populations, except for the selective loss of negatively correlated activity within the cavefish tectum, suggesting positively correlated neural activity is resistant to an evolved loss of input from the retina. Furthermore, analysis of surface-cave hybrid fish reveals that changes in the tectum are genetically distinct from those encoding eye loss. Together, these findings uncover the independent evolution of multiple components of the visual system and establish the use of functional imaging in A. mexicanus to study neural circuit evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Lloyd
- Department of Biological Science, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA; Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Harriet Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Brittnee McDole
- Department of Biological Science, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Martin Privat
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Département de Biologie, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005 Paris, France
| | - James B Jaggard
- Department of Biological Science, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Erik R Duboué
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - German Sumbre
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Département de Biologie, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Alex C Keene
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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DeMarco EC, Stoner GR, Robles E. A genetic labeling system to study dendritic spine development in zebrafish models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:276065. [PMID: 35875841 PMCID: PMC9403749 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic spines are the principal site of excitatory synapse formation in the human brain. Several neurodevelopmental disorders cause spines to develop abnormally, resulting in altered spine number and morphology. Although spine development has been thoroughly characterized in the mammalian brain, spines are not unique to mammals. We have developed a genetic system in zebrafish to enable high-resolution in vivo imaging of spine dynamics during larval development. Although spiny neurons are rare in the larval zebrafish, pyramidal neurons (PyrNs) of the zebrafish tectum form an apical dendrite containing a dense array of dendritic spines. To characterize dendritic spine development, we performed mosaic genetic labeling of individual PyrNs labeled by an id2b:gal4 transgene. Our findings identify a developmental period during which PyrN dendrite growth is concurrent with spine formation. Throughout this period, motile, transient filopodia gradually transform into stable spines containing postsynaptic specializations. The utility of this system to study neurodevelopmental disorders was validated by examining spine development in fmr1 mutant zebrafish, a model of fragile X syndrome. PyrNs in fmr1 mutants exhibited pronounced defects in dendrite growth and spine stabilization. Taken together, these findings establish a genetic labeling system to study dendritic spine development in larval zebrafish. In the future, this system could be combined with high-throughput screening approaches to identify genes and drug targets that regulate spine formation. Summary: We have developed a genetic labeling system in zebrafish to enable high-resolution in vivo imaging of dendritic spine dynamics during larval development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth C DeMarco
- Department of Biological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - George R Stoner
- Department of Biological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Estuardo Robles
- Department of Biological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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10
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Multicolor strategies for investigating clonal expansion and tissue plasticity. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:141. [PMID: 35187598 PMCID: PMC8858928 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04077-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the generation of complexity in living organisms requires the use of lineage tracing tools at a multicellular scale. In this review, we describe the different multicolor strategies focusing on mouse models expressing several fluorescent reporter proteins, generated by classical (MADM, Brainbow and its multiple derivatives) or acute (StarTrack, CLoNe, MAGIC Markers, iOn, viral vectors) transgenesis. After detailing the multi-reporter genetic strategies that serve as a basis for the establishment of these multicolor mouse models, we briefly mention other animal and cellular models (zebrafish, chicken, drosophila, iPSC) that also rely on these constructs. Then, we highlight practical applications of multicolor mouse models to better understand organogenesis at single progenitor scale (clonal analyses) in the brain and briefly in several other tissues (intestine, skin, vascular, hematopoietic and immune systems). In addition, we detail the critical contribution of multicolor fate mapping strategies in apprehending the fine cellular choreography underlying tissue morphogenesis in several models with a particular focus on brain cytoarchitecture in health and diseases. Finally, we present the latest technological advances in multichannel and in-depth imaging, and automated analyses that enable to better exploit the large amount of data generated from multicolored tissues.
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11
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Martin A, Babbitt A, Pickens AG, Pickett BE, Hill JT, Suli A. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Characterizes the Molecular Heterogeneity of the Larval Zebrafish Optic Tectum. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:818007. [PMID: 35221915 PMCID: PMC8869500 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.818007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The optic tectum (OT) is a multilaminated midbrain structure that acts as the primary retinorecipient in the zebrafish brain. Homologous to the mammalian superior colliculus, the OT is responsible for the reception and integration of stimuli, followed by elicitation of salient behavioral responses. While the OT has been the focus of functional experiments for decades, less is known concerning specific cell types, microcircuitry, and their individual functions within the OT. Recent efforts have contributed substantially to the knowledge of tectal cell types; however, a comprehensive cell catalog is incomplete. Here we contribute to this growing effort by applying single-cell RNA Sequencing (scRNA-seq) to characterize the transcriptomic profiles of tectal cells labeled by the transgenic enhancer trap line y304Et(cfos:Gal4;UAS:Kaede). We sequenced 13,320 cells, a 4X cellular coverage, and identified 25 putative OT cell populations. Within those cells, we identified several mature and developing neuronal populations, as well as non-neuronal cell types including oligodendrocytes and microglia. Although most mature neurons demonstrate GABAergic activity, several glutamatergic populations are present, as well as one glycinergic population. We also conducted Gene Ontology analysis to identify enriched biological processes, and computed RNA velocity to infer current and future transcriptional cell states. Finally, we conducted in situ hybridization to validate our bioinformatic analyses and spatially map select clusters. In conclusion, the larval zebrafish OT is a complex structure containing at least 25 transcriptionally distinct cell populations. To our knowledge, this is the first time scRNA-seq has been applied to explore the OT alone and in depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalie Martin
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
- *Correspondence: Annalie Martin,
| | - Anne Babbitt
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Allison G. Pickens
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Brett E. Pickett
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Jonathon T. Hill
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Arminda Suli
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
- Arminda Suli,
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12
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Sengupta T, Koonce NL, Vázquez-Martínez N, Moyle MW, Duncan LH, Emerson SE, Han X, Shao L, Wu Y, Santella A, Fan L, Bao Z, Mohler W, Shroff H, Colón-Ramos DA. Differential adhesion regulates neurite placement via a retrograde zippering mechanism. eLife 2021; 10:71171. [PMID: 34783657 PMCID: PMC8843091 DOI: 10.7554/elife.71171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, neurites and synapses segregate into specific neighborhoods or layers within nerve bundles. The developmental programs guiding placement of neurites in specific layers, and hence their incorporation into specific circuits, are not well understood. We implement novel imaging methods and quantitative models to document the embryonic development of the C. elegans brain neuropil, and discover that differential adhesion mechanisms control precise placement of single neurites onto specific layers. Differential adhesion is orchestrated via developmentally-regulated expression of the IgCAM SYG-1, and its partner ligand SYG-2. Changes in SYG-1 expression across neuropil layers result in changes in adhesive forces, which sort SYG-2-expressing neurons. Sorting to layers occurs, not via outgrowth from the neurite tip, but via an alternate mechanism of retrograde zippering, involving interactions between neurite shafts. Our study indicates that biophysical principles from differential adhesion govern neurite placement and synaptic specificity in vivo in developing neuropil bundles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Titas Sengupta
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
| | - Noelle L Koonce
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
| | | | - Mark W Moyle
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
| | | | - Sarah E Emerson
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
| | - Xiaofei Han
- National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Lin Shao
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
| | - Yicong Wu
- National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Anthony Santella
- Developmental Biology Program, Molecular Cytology Core, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, United States
| | - Li Fan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, United States
| | - Zhirong Bao
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, United States
| | - William Mohler
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, United States
| | - Hari Shroff
- National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
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13
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Li Y, Walker LA, Zhao Y, Edwards EM, Michki NS, Cheng HPJ, Ghazzi M, Chen TY, Chen M, Roossien DH, Cai D. Bitbow Enables Highly Efficient Neuronal Lineage Tracing and Morphology Reconstruction in Single Drosophila Brains. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:732183. [PMID: 34744636 PMCID: PMC8564373 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.732183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying the cellular origins and mapping the dendritic and axonal arbors of neurons have been century old quests to understand the heterogeneity among these brain cells. Current Brainbow based transgenic animals take the advantage of multispectral labeling to differentiate neighboring cells or lineages, however, their applications are limited by the color capacity. To improve the analysis throughput, we designed Bitbow, a digital format of Brainbow which exponentially expands the color palette to provide tens of thousands of spectrally resolved unique labels. We generated transgenic Bitbow Drosophila lines, established statistical tools, and streamlined sample preparation, image processing, and data analysis pipelines to conveniently mapping neural lineages, studying neuronal morphology and revealing neural network patterns with unprecedented speed, scale, and resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Li
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Logan A Walker
- Biophysics LS&A, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Yimeng Zhao
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Erica M Edwards
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Nigel S Michki
- Biophysics LS&A, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Hon Pong Jimmy Cheng
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Marya Ghazzi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Tiffany Y Chen
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Maggie Chen
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Douglas H Roossien
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Dawen Cai
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Biophysics LS&A, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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14
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Weaver CJ, Poulain FE. From whole organism to ultrastructure: progress in axonal imaging for decoding circuit development. Development 2021; 148:271122. [PMID: 34328171 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199717] [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: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Since the pioneering work of Ramón y Cajal, scientists have sought to unravel the complexities of axon development underlying neural circuit formation. Micrometer-scale axonal growth cones navigate to targets that are often centimeters away. To reach their targets, growth cones react to dynamic environmental cues that change in the order of seconds to days. Proper axon growth and guidance are essential to circuit formation, and progress in imaging has been integral to studying these processes. In particular, advances in high- and super-resolution microscopy provide the spatial and temporal resolution required for studying developing axons. In this Review, we describe how improved microscopy has revolutionized our understanding of axonal development. We discuss how novel technologies, specifically light-sheet and super-resolution microscopy, led to new discoveries at the cellular scale by imaging axon outgrowth and circuit wiring with extreme precision. We next examine how advanced microscopy broadened our understanding of the subcellular dynamics driving axon growth and guidance. We finally assess the current challenges that the field of axonal biology still faces for imaging axons, and examine how future technology could meet these needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory J Weaver
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Fabienne E Poulain
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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15
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Baier H, Wullimann MF. Anatomy and function of retinorecipient arborization fields in zebrafish. J Comp Neurol 2021; 529:3454-3476. [PMID: 34180059 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In 1994, Burrill and Easter described the retinal projections in embryonic and larval zebrafish, introducing the term "arborization fields" (AFs) for the retinorecipient areas. AFs were numbered from 1 to 10 according to their positions along the optic tract. With the exception of AF10 (neuropil of the optic tectum), annotations of AFs remained tentative. Here we offer an update on the likely identities and functions of zebrafish AFs after successfully matching classical neuroanatomy to the digital Max Planck Zebrafish Brain Atlas. In our system, individual AFs are neuropil areas associated with the following nuclei: AF1 with the suprachiasmatic nucleus; AF2 with the posterior parvocellular preoptic nucleus; AF3 and AF4 with the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus; AF4 with the anterior and intermediate thalamic nuclei; AF5 with the dorsal accessory optic nucleus; AF7 with the parvocellular superficial pretectal nucleus; AF8 with the central pretectal nucleus; and AF9d and AF9v with the dorsal and ventral periventricular pretectal nuclei. AF6 is probably part of the accessory optic system. Imaging, ablation, and activation experiments showed contributions of AF5 and potentially AF6 to optokinetic and optomotor reflexes, AF4 to phototaxis, and AF7 to prey detection. AF6, AF8 and AF9v respond to dimming, and AF4 and AF9d to brightening. While few annotations remain tentative, it is apparent that the larval zebrafish visual system is anatomically and functionally continuous with its adult successor and fits the general cyprinid pattern. This study illustrates the synergy created by merging classical neuroanatomy with a cellular-resolution digital brain atlas resource and functional imaging in larval zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herwig Baier
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Mario F Wullimann
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Martinsried, Germany.,Department Biology II, Division of Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU Munich), Martinsried, Germany
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16
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Jiang K, Pichol-Thievend C, Neufeld Z, Francois M. Assessment of heterogeneity in collective endothelial cell behavior with multicolor clonal cell tracking to predict arteriovenous remodeling. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109395. [PMID: 34289351 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109395] [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: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Arteries and veins form in a stepwise process that combines vasculogenesis and sprouting angiogenesis. Despite extensive data on the mechanisms governing blood vessel assembly at the single-cell level, little is known about how collective cell migration contributes to the organization of the balanced distribution between arteries and veins. Here, we use an endothelial-specific zebrafish reporter, arteriobow, to label small cohorts of arterial cells and trace their progeny from early vasculogenesis throughout arteriovenous remodeling. We reveal that the genesis of arteries and veins relies on the coordination of 10 types of collective cell dynamics. Within these behavioral categories, we identify a heterogeneity of collective cell motion specific to either arterial or venous remodeling. Using pharmacological blockade, we further show that cell-intrinsic Notch signaling and cell-extrinsic blood flow act as regulators in maintaining the heterogeneity of collective endothelial cell behavior, which, in turn, instructs the future territory of arteriovenous remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyi Jiang
- The David Richmond Laboratory for Cardiovascular Development, Gene Regulation and Editing, the Centenary Institute, Camperdown, 2006 NSW, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072 QLD, Australia
| | - Cathy Pichol-Thievend
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072 QLD, Australia; Tumor Microenvironment Laboratory, Institute Curie Research Center, Paris Saclay University, PSL Research University, Inserm U1021, CNRS, UMR3347 Orsay, France
| | - Zoltan Neufeld
- School of Mathematics and Physics, the University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072 QLD, Australia
| | - Mathias Francois
- The David Richmond Laboratory for Cardiovascular Development, Gene Regulation and Editing, the Centenary Institute, Camperdown, 2006 NSW, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, 2006 NSW, Australia.
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17
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Basso MA, Bickford ME, Cang J. Unraveling circuits of visual perception and cognition through the superior colliculus. Neuron 2021; 109:918-937. [PMID: 33548173 PMCID: PMC7979487 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The superior colliculus is a conserved sensorimotor structure that integrates visual and other sensory information to drive reflexive behaviors. Although the evidence for this is strong and compelling, a number of experiments reveal a role for the superior colliculus in behaviors usually associated with the cerebral cortex, such as attention and decision-making. Indeed, in addition to collicular outputs targeting brainstem regions controlling movements, the superior colliculus also has ascending projections linking it to forebrain structures including the basal ganglia and amygdala, highlighting the fact that the superior colliculus, with its vast inputs and outputs, can influence processing throughout the neuraxis. Today, modern molecular and genetic methods combined with sophisticated behavioral assessments have the potential to make significant breakthroughs in our understanding of the evolution and conservation of neuronal cell types and circuits in the superior colliculus that give rise to simple and complex behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele A Basso
- Fuster Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | | | - Jianhua Cang
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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18
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Li S, Yeo KS, Levee TM, Howe CJ, Her ZP, Zhu S. Zebrafish as a Neuroblastoma Model: Progress Made, Promise for the Future. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030580. [PMID: 33800887 PMCID: PMC8001113 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
For nearly a decade, researchers in the field of pediatric oncology have been using zebrafish as a model for understanding the contributions of genetic alternations to the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma (NB), and exploring the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie neuroblastoma initiation and metastasis. In this review, we will enumerate and illustrate the key advantages of using the zebrafish model in NB research, which allows researchers to: monitor tumor development in real-time; robustly manipulate gene expression (either transiently or stably); rapidly evaluate the cooperative interactions of multiple genetic alterations to disease pathogenesis; and provide a highly efficient and low-cost methodology to screen for effective pharmaceutical interventions (both alone and in combination with one another). This review will then list some of the common challenges of using the zebrafish model and provide strategies for overcoming these difficulties. We have also included visual diagram and figures to illustrate the workflow of cancer model development in zebrafish and provide a summary comparison of commonly used animal models in cancer research, as well as key findings of cooperative contributions between MYCN and diverse singling pathways in NB pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55902, USA; (S.L.); (K.S.Y.); (T.M.L.); (C.J.H.); (Z.P.H.)
| | - Kok Siong Yeo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55902, USA; (S.L.); (K.S.Y.); (T.M.L.); (C.J.H.); (Z.P.H.)
| | - Taylor M. Levee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55902, USA; (S.L.); (K.S.Y.); (T.M.L.); (C.J.H.); (Z.P.H.)
| | - Cassie J. Howe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55902, USA; (S.L.); (K.S.Y.); (T.M.L.); (C.J.H.); (Z.P.H.)
| | - Zuag Paj Her
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55902, USA; (S.L.); (K.S.Y.); (T.M.L.); (C.J.H.); (Z.P.H.)
| | - Shizhen Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55902, USA; (S.L.); (K.S.Y.); (T.M.L.); (C.J.H.); (Z.P.H.)
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
- Correspondence:
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19
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Kölsch Y, Hahn J, Sappington A, Stemmer M, Fernandes AM, Helmbrecht TO, Lele S, Butrus S, Laurell E, Arnold-Ammer I, Shekhar K, Sanes JR, Baier H. Molecular classification of zebrafish retinal ganglion cells links genes to cell types to behavior. Neuron 2021; 109:645-662.e9. [PMID: 33357413 PMCID: PMC7897282 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) form an array of feature detectors, which convey visual information to central brain regions. Characterizing RGC diversity is required to understand the logic of the underlying functional segregation. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we systematically classified RGCs in adult and larval zebrafish, thereby identifying marker genes for >30 mature types and several developmental intermediates. We used this dataset to engineer transgenic driver lines, enabling specific experimental access to a subset of RGC types. Expression of one or few transcription factors often predicts dendrite morphologies and axonal projections to specific tectal layers and extratectal targets. In vivo calcium imaging revealed that molecularly defined RGCs exhibit specific functional tuning. Finally, chemogenetic ablation of eomesa+ RGCs, which comprise melanopsin-expressing types with projections to a small subset of central targets, selectively impaired phototaxis. Together, our study establishes a framework for systematically studying the functional architecture of the visual system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Kölsch
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes - Circuits - Behavior, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilian University, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Joshua Hahn
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Anna Sappington
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Manuel Stemmer
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes - Circuits - Behavior, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - António M Fernandes
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes - Circuits - Behavior, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Thomas O Helmbrecht
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes - Circuits - Behavior, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Shriya Lele
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes - Circuits - Behavior, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Salwan Butrus
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Eva Laurell
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes - Circuits - Behavior, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Irene Arnold-Ammer
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes - Circuits - Behavior, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Karthik Shekhar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, QB3, Center for Computational Biology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Joshua R Sanes
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Herwig Baier
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes - Circuits - Behavior, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
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20
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DeMarco E, Tesmer AL, Hech B, Kawakami K, Robles E. Pyramidal Neurons of the Zebrafish Tectum Receive Highly Convergent Input From Torus Longitudinalis. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:636683. [PMID: 33613200 PMCID: PMC7886788 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.636683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The torus longitudinalis (TL) is a midbrain structure unique to ray finned fish. Although previously implicated in orienting behaviors elicited by changes in ambient lighting, the role of TL in visual processing is not well-understood. TL is reciprocally connected to tectum and is the only known source of synaptic input to the stratum marginalis (SM) layer of tectal neuropil. Conversely, tectal pyramidal neurons (PyrNs) are the only identified tectal neuron population that forms a dendrite in SM. In this study we describe a zebrafish gal4 transgenic that labels TL neurons that project to SM. We demonstrate that the axonal TL projection to SM in zebrafish is glutamatergic. Consistent with these axons synapsing directly onto PyrNs, SM-targeted dendrites of PyrNs contain punctate enrichments of the glutamatergic post-synaptic marker protein PSD95. Sparse genetic labeling of individual TL axons and PyrN dendrites enabled quantitative morphometric analysis that revealed (1) large, sparsely branched TL axons in SM and (2) small, densely innervated PyrN dendrites in SM. Together this unique combination of morphologies support a wiring diagram in which TL inputs to PyrNs exhibit a high degree of convergence. We propose that this convergence functions to generate large, compound visual receptive fields in PyrNs. This quantitative anatomical data will instruct future functional studies aimed at identifying the precise contribution of TL-PyrN circuitry to visual behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth DeMarco
- Department of Biological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Alexander L Tesmer
- Department of Biological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Bruna Hech
- Department of Biological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Koichi Kawakami
- Department of Gene Function, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
| | - Estuardo Robles
- Department of Biological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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21
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Fernandes AM, Mearns DS, Donovan JC, Larsch J, Helmbrecht TO, Kölsch Y, Laurell E, Kawakami K, Dal Maschio M, Baier H. Neural circuitry for stimulus selection in the zebrafish visual system. Neuron 2020; 109:805-822.e6. [PMID: 33357384 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
When navigating the environment, animals need to prioritize responses to the most relevant stimuli. Although a theoretical framework for selective visual attention exists, its circuit implementation has remained obscure. Here we investigated how larval zebrafish select between simultaneously presented visual stimuli. We found that a mix of winner-take-all (WTA) and averaging strategies best simulates behavioral responses. We identified two circuits whose activity patterns predict the relative saliencies of competing visual objects. Stimuli presented to only one eye are selected by WTA computation in the inner retina. Binocularly presented stimuli, on the other hand, are processed by reciprocal, bilateral connections between the nucleus isthmi (NI) and the tectum. This interhemispheric computation leads to WTA or averaging responses. Optogenetic stimulation and laser ablation of NI neurons disrupt stimulus selection and behavioral action selection. Thus, depending on the relative locations of competing stimuli, a combination of retinotectal and isthmotectal circuits enables selective visual attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- António M Fernandes
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Duncan S Mearns
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; Gradute School of Systemic Neurosciences, LMU BioCenter, Grosshaderner Strasse 2, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Joseph C Donovan
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Johannes Larsch
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Thomas O Helmbrecht
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; Gradute School of Systemic Neurosciences, LMU BioCenter, Grosshaderner Strasse 2, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Yvonne Kölsch
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; Gradute School of Systemic Neurosciences, LMU BioCenter, Grosshaderner Strasse 2, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Eva Laurell
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Koichi Kawakami
- Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Marco Dal Maschio
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Herwig Baier
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
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22
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Barker AJ, Helmbrecht TO, Grob AA, Baier H. Functional, molecular and morphological heterogeneity of superficial interneurons in the larval zebrafish tectum. J Comp Neurol 2020; 529:2159-2175. [PMID: 33278028 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The superficial interneurons, SINs, of the zebrafish tectum, have been implicated in a range of visual functions, including size discrimination, directional selectivity, and looming-evoked escape. This raises the question if SIN subpopulations, despite their morphological similarities and shared anatomical position in the retinotectal processing stream, carry out diverse, task-specific functions in visual processing, or if they have simple tuning properties in common. Here we have further characterized the SINs through functional imaging, electrophysiological recordings, and neurotransmitter typing in two transgenic lines, the widely used Gal4s1156t and the recently reported LCRRH2-RH2-2:GFP. We found that about a third of the SINs strongly responded to changes in whole-field light levels, with a strong preference for OFF over ON stimuli. Interestingly, individual SINs were selectively tuned to a diverse range of narrow luminance decrements. Overall responses to whole-field luminance steps did not vary with the position of the SIN cell body along the depth of the tectal neuropil or with the orientation of its neurites. We ruled out the possibility that intrinsic photosensitivity of Gal4s1156t+ SINs contribute to the measured visual responses. We found that, while most SINs express GABAergic markers, a substantial minority express an excitatory neuronal marker, the vesicular glutamate transporter, expanding the possible roles of SIN function in the tectal circuitry. In conclusion, SINs represent a molecularly, morphologically, and functionally heterogeneous class of interneurons, with subpopulations that detect a range of specific visual features, to which we have now added narrow luminance decrements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison J Barker
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas O Helmbrecht
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Aurélien A Grob
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Herwig Baier
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Munich, Germany
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23
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Terzi A, Roeder H, Weaver CJ, Suter DM. Neuronal NADPH oxidase 2 regulates growth cone guidance downstream of slit2/robo2. Dev Neurobiol 2020; 81:3-21. [PMID: 33191581 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
NADPH oxidases (Nox) are membrane-bound multi-subunit protein complexes producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) that regulate many cellular processes. Emerging evidence suggests that Nox-derived ROS also control neuronal development and axonal outgrowth. However, whether Nox act downstream of receptors for axonal growth and guidance cues is presently unknown. To answer this question, we cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) derived from zebrafish embryos and exposed these neurons to netrin-1, slit2, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). To test the role of Nox in cue-mediated growth and guidance, we either pharmacologically inhibited Nox or investigated neurons from mutant fish that are deficient in Nox2. We found that slit2-mediated growth cone collapse, and axonal retraction were eliminated by Nox inhibition. Though we did not see an effect of either BDNF or netrin-1 on growth rates, growth in the presence of netrin-1 was reduced by Nox inhibition. Furthermore, attractive and repulsive growth cone turning in response to gradients of BDNF, netrin-1, and slit2, respectively, were eliminated when Nox was inhibited in vitro. ROS biosensor imaging showed that slit2 treatment increased growth cone hydrogen peroxide levels via mechanisms involving Nox2 activation. We also investigated the possible relationship between Nox2 and slit2/Robo2 signaling in vivo. astray/nox2 double heterozygote larvae exhibited decreased area of tectal innervation as compared to individual heterozygotes, suggesting both Nox2 and Robo2 are required for establishment of retinotectal connections. Our results provide evidence that Nox2 acts downstream of slit2/Robo2 by mediating growth and guidance of developing zebrafish RGC neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslihan Terzi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Haley Roeder
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Cory J Weaver
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Daniel M Suter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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24
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Johnson KO, Triplett JW. Wiring subcortical image-forming centers: Topography, laminar targeting, and map alignment. Curr Top Dev Biol 2020; 142:283-317. [PMID: 33706920 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Efficient sensory processing is a complex and important function for species survival. As such, sensory circuits are highly organized to facilitate rapid detection of salient stimuli and initiate motor responses. For decades, the retina's projections to image-forming centers have served as useful models to elucidate the mechanisms by which such exquisite circuitry is wired. In this chapter, we review the roles of molecular cues, neuronal activity, and axon-axon competition in the development of topographically ordered retinal ganglion cell (RGC) projections to the superior colliculus (SC) and dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN). Further, we discuss our current state of understanding regarding the laminar-specific targeting of subclasses of RGCs in the SC and its homolog, the optic tectum (OT). Finally, we cover recent studies examining the alignment of projections from primary visual cortex with RGCs that monitor the same region of space in the SC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy O Johnson
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's National Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States; Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Jason W Triplett
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's National Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States.
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25
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Förster D, Helmbrecht TO, Mearns DS, Jordan L, Mokayes N, Baier H. Retinotectal circuitry of larval zebrafish is adapted to detection and pursuit of prey. eLife 2020; 9:e58596. [PMID: 33044168 PMCID: PMC7550190 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal axon projections form a map of the visual environment in the tectum. A zebrafish larva typically detects a prey object in its peripheral visual field. As it turns and swims towards the prey, the stimulus enters the central, binocular area, and seemingly expands in size. By volumetric calcium imaging, we show that posterior tectal neurons, which serve to detect prey at a distance, tend to respond to small objects and intrinsically compute their direction of movement. Neurons in anterior tectum, where the prey image is represented shortly before the capture strike, are tuned to larger object sizes and are frequently not direction-selective, indicating that mainly interocular comparisons serve to compute an object's movement at close range. The tectal feature map originates from a linear combination of diverse, functionally specialized, lamina-specific, and topographically ordered retinal ganglion cell synaptic inputs. We conclude that local cell-type composition and connectivity across the tectum are adapted to the processing of location-dependent, behaviorally relevant object features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Förster
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes – Circuits – BehaviorMartinsriedGermany
| | - Thomas O Helmbrecht
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes – Circuits – BehaviorMartinsriedGermany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, LMU BioCenterMartinsriedGermany
| | - Duncan S Mearns
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes – Circuits – BehaviorMartinsriedGermany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, LMU BioCenterMartinsriedGermany
| | - Linda Jordan
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes – Circuits – BehaviorMartinsriedGermany
| | - Nouwar Mokayes
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes – Circuits – BehaviorMartinsriedGermany
| | - Herwig Baier
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Department Genes – Circuits – BehaviorMartinsriedGermany
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26
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Robles E, Fields NP, Baier H. The zebrafish visual system transmits dimming information via multiple segregated pathways. J Comp Neurol 2020; 529:539-552. [PMID: 32484919 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Vertebrate retinas contain circuits specialized to encode light level decrements. This information is transmitted to the brain by dimming-sensitive OFF retinal ganglion cells (OFF-RGCs) that respond to light decrements with increased firing. It is known that OFF-RGCs with distinct photosensitivity profiles form parallel visual channels to the vertebrate brain, yet how these channels are processed by first- and higher order brain areas has not been well characterized in any species. To address this question in the larval zebrafish visual system, we examined the visual response properties of a genetically identified population of tectal neurons with a defined axonal projection to a second-order visual area: id2b:gal4-positive torus longitudinalis projection neurons (TLPNs). TLPNs responded consistently to whole-field dimming stimuli and exhibited the strongest responses when dimming was preceded by low light levels. Functional characterization of OFF-RGC terminals in tectum revealed responses that varied in their photosensitivities: (a) low-sensitivity OFF-RGCs that selectively respond to large light decrements, (b) high-sensitivity OFF-RGCs that selectively encode small decrements, and (c) broad sensitivity OFF-RGCs that respond to a wide range of light decrements. Diverse photosensitivity profiles were also observed using pan-neuronal calcium imaging to identify dimming-responsive neurons in both tectum and torus longitudinalis. Together, these data support a model in which parallel OFF channels generated in the retina remain segregated across three stages of visual processing. Segregated OFF channels with different sensitivities may allow specific aspects of dimming-evoked behaviors to be modulated by ambient light levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estuardo Robles
- Department of Biological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Nicholas P Fields
- Department of Biological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Herwig Baier
- Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
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27
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Folgueira M, Riva-Mendoza S, Ferreño-Galmán N, Castro A, Bianco IH, Anadón R, Yáñez J. Anatomy and Connectivity of the Torus Longitudinalis of the Adult Zebrafish. Front Neural Circuits 2020; 14:8. [PMID: 32231522 PMCID: PMC7082427 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2020.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study describes the cytoarchitecture of the torus longitudinalis (TL) in adult zebrafish by using light and electron microscopy, as well as its main connections as revealed by DiI tract tracing. In addition, by using high resolution confocal imaging followed by digital tracing, we describe the morphology of tectal pyramidal cells (type I cells) that are GFP positive in the transgenic line Tg(1.4dlx5a-dlx6a:GFP)ot1. The TL consists of numerous small and medium-sized neurons located in a longitudinal eminence attached to the medial optic tectum. A small proportion of these neurons are GABAergic. The neuropil shows three types of synaptic terminals and numerous dendrites. Tracing experiments revealed that the main efference of the TL is formed of parallel-like fibers that course within the marginal layer of the optic tectum. A toral projection to the thalamic nucleus rostrolateralis is also observed. Afferents to the TL come from visual and cerebellum-related nuclei in the pretectum, namely the central, intercalated and the paracommissural pretectal nuclei, as well as from the subvalvular nucleus in the isthmus. Additional afferents to the TL may come from the cerebellum but their origins could not be confirmed. The tectal afferent projection to the TL originates from cells similar to the type X cells described in other cyprinids. Tectal pyramidal neurons show round or piriform cell bodies, with spiny apical dendritic trees in the marginal layer. This anatomical study provides a basis for future functional and developmental studies focused on this cerebellum-like circuit in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Folgueira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of A Coruña, Coruña, Spain.,Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), University of A Coruña, Coruña, Spain
| | - Selva Riva-Mendoza
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of A Coruña, Coruña, Spain
| | | | - Antonio Castro
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of A Coruña, Coruña, Spain.,Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), University of A Coruña, Coruña, Spain
| | - Isaac H Bianco
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ramón Anadón
- Department of Functional Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Julián Yáñez
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of A Coruña, Coruña, Spain.,Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), University of A Coruña, Coruña, Spain
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28
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DeMarco E, Xu N, Baier H, Robles E. Neuron types in the zebrafish optic tectum labeled by an id2b transgene. J Comp Neurol 2019; 528:1173-1188. [PMID: 31725916 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The larval zebrafish optic tectum has emerged as a prominent model for understanding how neural circuits control visually guided behaviors. Further advances in this area will require tools to monitor and manipulate tectal neurons with cell type specificity. Here, we characterize the morphology and neurotransmitter phenotype of tectal neurons labeled by an id2b:gal4 transgene. Whole-brain imaging of stable transgenic id2b:gal4 larvae revealed labeling in a subset of neurons in optic tectum, cerebellum, and hindbrain. Genetic mosaic labeling of single neurons within the id2b:gal4 expression pattern enabled us to characterize three tectal neuron types with distinct morphologies and connectivities. The first is a neuron type previously identified in the optic tectum of other teleost fish: the tectal pyramidal neuron (PyrN). PyrNs are local interneurons that form two stratified dendritic arbors and one stratified axonal arbor in the tectal neuropil. The second tectal neuron type labeled by the id2b:gal4 transgene is a projection neuron that forms a stratified dendritic arbor in the tectal neuropil and an axon that exits tectum to form a topographic projection to torus longitudinalis (TL). A third neuron type labeled is a projection neuron with a nonstratified dendritic arbor and a descending axonal projection to tegmentum. These findings establish the id2b:gal4 transgenic as a useful tool for future studies aimed at elucidating the functional role of tectum, TL, and tegmentum in visually guided behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth DeMarco
- Department of Biological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Nina Xu
- Department of Biological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Herwig Baier
- Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Estuardo Robles
- Department of Biological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
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29
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Maximova EM, Aliper AT, Damjanović I, Zaichikova AA, Maximov PV. On the organization of receptive fields of retinal spot detectors projecting to the fish tectum: Analogies with the local edge detectors in frogs and mammals. J Comp Neurol 2019; 528:1423-1435. [PMID: 31749169 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Responses of ON- and OFF-ganglion cells (GCs) were recorded extracellularly from their axon terminals in the medial sublamina of tectal retino-recipient layer of immobilized cyprinid fish (goldfish and carp). These units were recorded deeper than direction selective (DS) ones and at the same depth where responses of orientation selective (OS) GCs were recorded. Prominent responses of these units are evoked by small contrast spots flickering within or moving across their visual field. They are not selective either to the direction of motion or to the orientation of stimuli and are not characterized by any spontaneous spike activity. We refer to these fish GCs as spot detectors (SDs) by analogy with the frog SD. Receptive fields (RFs) of SDs are organized concentrically: the excitatory center (about 4.5°) is surrounded by opponent periphery. Study of interactions in the RF has shown that inhibitory influences are generated already inside the central RF area. This fact suggests that RFs of SDs cannot be defined as homogeneous sensory zone driven by a linear mechanism of response generation. Physiological properties of fish SDs are compared with the properties of frog SDs and analogous mammalian retinal GCs-local edge detectors (LEDs). The potential role of the SDs in visually guided fish behavior is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena M Maximova
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alexey T Aliper
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Ilija Damjanović
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alisa A Zaichikova
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation.,Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Paul V Maximov
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
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30
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Kunst M, Laurell E, Mokayes N, Kramer A, Kubo F, Fernandes AM, Förster D, Dal Maschio M, Baier H. A Cellular-Resolution Atlas of the Larval Zebrafish Brain. Neuron 2019; 103:21-38.e5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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31
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Harvey BM, Baxter M, Granato M. Optic nerve regeneration in larval zebrafish exhibits spontaneous capacity for retinotopic but not tectum specific axon targeting. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218667. [PMID: 31220164 PMCID: PMC6586344 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In contrast to mammals, retinal ganglion cells (RGC) axons of the optic nerve even in mature zebrafish exhibit a remarkable capacity for spontaneous regeneration. One constraint of using adult zebrafish is the limited ability to visualize the regeneration process in live animals. To dynamically visualize and trace the degree of target specific optic nerve regeneration, we took advantage of the optical transparency still preserved in post developmental larval zebrafish. We developed a rapid and robust assay to physically transect the larval optic nerve and find that by 96 hours post injury RGC axons have robustly regrown onto the optic tectum. We observe functional regeneration by 8 days post injury, and demonstrate that similar to adult zebrafish, optic nerve transection in larval zebrafish does not prominently induce cell death or proliferation of RGC neurons. Furthermore, we find that partial optic nerve transection results in axonal growth predominantly to the original, contralateral tectum, while complete transection results in innervation of both the correct contralateral and ‘incorrect’ ipsilateral tectum. Axonal tracing reveals that although regenerating axons innervate the ‘incorrect’ ipsilateral tectum, they successfully target their topographically appropriate synaptic areas. Combined, our results validate post developmental larval zebrafish as a powerful model for optic nerve regeneration, and reveal intricate mechanistic differences between axonal growth, midline guidance and synaptic targeting during zebrafish optic nerve regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth M. Harvey
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Melissa Baxter
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Michael Granato
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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32
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Aliper AT, Zaichikova AA, Damjanović I, Maximov PV, Kasparson AA, Gačić Z, Maximova EM. Updated functional segregation of retinal ganglion cell projections in the tectum of a cyprinid fish-further elaboration based on microelectrode recordings. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2019; 45:773-792. [PMID: 30612338 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-018-0603-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Single-unit responses of retinal ganglion cells (GCs) were recorded extracellularly from their axonal terminals in the tectum opticum (TO) of the intact fish (goldfish, carp). The depths of retinal units consecutively recorded along the track of the microelectrode were measured. At the depth of around 50 μm, the responses of six types of direction-selective (DS) GCs were regularly recorded. Responses of two types of orientation-selective (OS) GCs and detectors of white and black spots occurred approximately 50 μm deeper. Responses of GCs with dark- and light-sustained activity were recorded deeper than all others, at about 200 μm. The receptive fields of consecutively recorded units overlap, so they analyze the same fragment of the visual scene, focused by eye optic on the photoreceptor raster. The responses of pairs of DS GCs (ON and OFF units that preferred same direction of stimulus movement) and OS GCs (detectors of vertical and horizontal lines) were often simultaneously recorded at one position of the microelectrode. (The paired recordings of certain units amounted about fourth part of all recordings.) This suggests that their axonal arborizations are located close to each other in the tectal retinorecipient layer. Electrophysiological method, thus, allows to indirectly clarify and make precise the morphology of the retino-tectal connections and to establish a morpho-physiological correspondence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey T Aliper
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Kharkevich Institute), Moscow, Russia, 127051
| | - Alisa A Zaichikova
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Kharkevich Institute), Moscow, Russia, 127051
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119991
| | - Ilija Damjanović
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Kharkevich Institute), Moscow, Russia, 127051
| | - Paul V Maximov
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Kharkevich Institute), Moscow, Russia, 127051
| | - Anna A Kasparson
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Kharkevich Institute), Moscow, Russia, 127051
| | - Zoran Gačić
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research,, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 33, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia.
- , Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Elena M Maximova
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Kharkevich Institute), Moscow, Russia, 127051
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33
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Damjanović I, Maximov PV, Aliper AT, Zaichikova AA, Gačić Z, Maximova EM. Putative targets of direction-selective retinal ganglion cells in the tectum opticum of cyprinid fish. Brain Res 2019; 1708:20-26. [PMID: 30527677 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Responses of direction selective (DS) units of retinal and tectal origin were recorded extracellularly from the tectum opticum (TO) of immobilized fish. The data were collected from three cyprinid species - goldfish, carp and roach. Responses of the retinal DS ganglion cells (GCs) were recorded from their axon terminals in the superficial layers of TO. According to their preferred directions DS GCs, characterized by small receptive fields (3-8°), can be divided in three distinct groups, each group containing ON and OFF subtypes approximately in equal quantity. Conversely, direction-selective tectal neurons (DS TNs), recorded at two different tectal levels deeper than the zone of retinal DS afferents, are characterized by large receptive fields (up to 60°) and are indifferent to any sign of contrast i.e. can be considered as ON-OFF type units. Fish DS TNs unlike the retinal DS GCs, select four preferred directions. Three types of tectal DS units prefer practically the same directions as those already selected on the retinal level - caudo-rostral, dorso-ventral and ventro-dorsal. The fact that three preferred directions of DS GCs and DS TNs coincide allows us to assume that three types of DS GCs are input neurons for corresponding types of DS TNs. The fourth group of DS TNs has the emergent rostro-caudal preference not explicitly present in any of the DS GC inputs. These units are recorded in deep TO layers exclusively. Receptive fields of these DS neurons could be entirely formed on the tectal level. Possible interrelations between retinal and tectal DS units are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilija Damjanović
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Pavel V Maximov
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alexey T Aliper
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alisa A Zaichikova
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Zoran Gačić
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Elena M Maximova
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
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34
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Cook ZT, Brockway NL, Tobias ZJC, Pajarla J, Boardman IS, Ippolito H, Nkombo Nkoula S, Weissman TA. Combining near-infrared fluorescence with Brainbow to visualize expression of specific genes within a multicolor context. Mol Biol Cell 2019; 30:491-505. [PMID: 30586321 PMCID: PMC6594444 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e18-06-0340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent proteins are a powerful experimental tool, allowing the visualization of gene expression and cellular behaviors in a variety of systems. Multicolor combinations of fluorescent proteins, such as Brainbow, have expanded the range of possible research questions and are useful for distinguishing and tracking cells. The addition of a separately driven color, however, would allow researchers to report expression of a manipulated gene within the multicolor context to investigate mechanistic effects. A far-red or near-infrared protein could be particularly suitable in this context, as these can be distinguished spectrally from Brainbow. We investigated five far-red/near-infrared proteins in zebrafish: TagRFP657, mCardinal, miRFP670, iRFP670, and mIFP. Our results show that both mCardinal and iRFP670 are useful fluorescent proteins for zebrafish expression. We also introduce a new transgenic zebrafish line that expresses Brainbow under the control of the neuroD promoter. We demonstrate that mCardinal can be used to track the expression of a manipulated bone morphogenetic protein receptor within the Brainbow context. The overlay of near-infrared fluorescence onto a Brainbow background defines a clear strategy for future research questions that aim to manipulate or track the effects of specific genes within a population of cells that are delineated using multicolor approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe T. Cook
- Biology Department, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR 97219
| | | | | | - Joy Pajarla
- Biology Department, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR 97219
| | | | - Helen Ippolito
- Biology Department, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR 97219
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35
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Varadarajan SG, Huberman AD. Assembly and repair of eye-to-brain connections. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 53:198-209. [PMID: 30339988 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Vision is the sense humans rely on most to navigate the world and survive. A tremendous amount of research has focused on understanding the neural circuits for vision and the developmental mechanisms that establish them. The eye-to-brain, or 'retinofugal' pathway remains a particularly important model in these contexts because it is essential for sight, its overt anatomical features relate to distinct functional attributes and those features develop in a tractable sequence. Much progress has been made in understanding the growth of retinal axons out of the eye, their selection of targets in the brain, the development of laminar and cell type-specific connectivity within those targets, and also dendritic connectivity within the retina itself. Moreover, because the retinofugal pathway is prone to degeneration in many common blinding diseases, understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that establish connectivity early in life stands to provide valuable insights into approaches that re-wire this pathway after damage or loss. Here we review recent progress in understanding the development of retinofugal pathways and how this information is important for improving visual circuit regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supraja G Varadarajan
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States; Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States; BioX, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States; Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States.
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36
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Apitz H, Salecker I. Spatio-temporal relays control layer identity of direction-selective neuron subtypes in Drosophila. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2295. [PMID: 29895891 PMCID: PMC5997761 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04592-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual motion detection in sighted animals is essential to guide behavioral actions ensuring their survival. In Drosophila, motion direction is first detected by T4/T5 neurons. Their axons innervate one of the four lobula plate layers. How T4/T5 neurons with layer-specific representation of motion-direction preferences are specified during development is unknown. We show that diffusible Wingless (Wg) between adjacent neuroepithelia induces its own expression to form secondary signaling centers. These activate Decapentaplegic (Dpp) signaling in adjacent lateral tertiary neuroepithelial domains dedicated to producing layer 3/4-specific T4/T5 neurons. T4/T5 neurons derived from the core domain devoid of Dpp signaling adopt the default layer 1/2 fate. Dpp signaling induces the expression of the T-box transcription factor Optomotor-blind (Omb), serving as a relay to postmitotic neurons. Omb-mediated repression of Dachshund transforms layer 1/2- into layer 3/4-specific neurons. Hence, spatio-temporal relay mechanisms, bridging the distances between neuroepithelial domains and their postmitotic progeny, implement T4/T5 neuron-subtype identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Apitz
- The Francis Crick Institute, Visual Circuit Assembly Laboratory, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Iris Salecker
- The Francis Crick Institute, Visual Circuit Assembly Laboratory, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
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37
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Di Donato V, De Santis F, Albadri S, Auer TO, Duroure K, Charpentier M, Concordet JP, Gebhardt C, Del Bene F. An Attractive Reelin Gradient Establishes Synaptic Lamination in the Vertebrate Visual System. Neuron 2018; 97:1049-1062.e6. [PMID: 29429939 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
A conserved organizational and functional principle of neural networks is the segregation of axon-dendritic synaptic connections into laminae. Here we report that targeting of synaptic laminae by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) arbors in the vertebrate visual system is regulated by a signaling system relying on target-derived Reelin and VLDLR/Dab1a on the projecting neurons. Furthermore, we find that Reelin is distributed as a gradient on the target tissue and stabilized by heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Through genetic manipulations, we show that this Reelin gradient is important for laminar targeting and that it is attractive for RGC axons. Finally, we suggest a comprehensive model of synaptic lamina formation in which attractive Reelin counter-balances repulsive Slit1, thereby guiding RGC axons toward single synaptic laminae. We establish a mechanism that may represent a general principle for neural network assembly in vertebrate species and across different brain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Di Donato
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U934, CNRS UMR3215, UPMC Paris-Sorbonne, Paris 75005, France
| | - Flavia De Santis
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U934, CNRS UMR3215, UPMC Paris-Sorbonne, Paris 75005, France
| | - Shahad Albadri
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U934, CNRS UMR3215, UPMC Paris-Sorbonne, Paris 75005, France
| | - Thomas Oliver Auer
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U934, CNRS UMR3215, UPMC Paris-Sorbonne, Paris 75005, France
| | - Karine Duroure
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U934, CNRS UMR3215, UPMC Paris-Sorbonne, Paris 75005, France
| | - Marine Charpentier
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, INSERM U1154, CNRS UMR7196, Paris 75231, France
| | - Jean-Paul Concordet
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, INSERM U1154, CNRS UMR7196, Paris 75231, France
| | - Christoph Gebhardt
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U934, CNRS UMR3215, UPMC Paris-Sorbonne, Paris 75005, France.
| | - Filippo Del Bene
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U934, CNRS UMR3215, UPMC Paris-Sorbonne, Paris 75005, France.
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38
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Carney TJ, Mosimann C. Switch and Trace: Recombinase Genetics in Zebrafish. Trends Genet 2018; 34:362-378. [PMID: 29429760 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2018.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Revised: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic approaches are instrumental for labeling and manipulating cells and cellular machineries in vivo. Transgenes have traditionally been static entities that remained unaltered following genome integration, limiting their versatility. The development of DNA recombinase-based methods to modify, excise, or rearrange transgene cassettes has introduced versatile control of transgene activity and function. In particular, recombinase-controlled transgenes enable regulation of exogenous gene expression, conditional mutagenesis, and genetic lineage tracing. In zebrafish, transgenesis-based recombinase genetics using Cre/lox, Flp/FRT, and ΦC31 are increasingly applied to study development and homeostasis, and to generate disease models. Intersected with the versatile imaging capacity of the zebrafish model and recent breakthroughs in genome editing, we review and discuss past, current, and potential future approaches and resources for recombinase-based techniques in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom J Carney
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
| | - Christian Mosimann
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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39
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Heap LA, Vanwalleghem GC, Thompson AW, Favre-Bulle I, Rubinsztein-Dunlop H, Scott EK. Hypothalamic Projections to the Optic Tectum in Larval Zebrafish. Front Neuroanat 2018; 11:135. [PMID: 29403362 PMCID: PMC5777135 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2017.00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The optic tectum of larval zebrafish is an important model for understanding visual processing in vertebrates. The tectum has been traditionally viewed as dominantly visual, with a majority of studies focusing on the processes by which tectal circuits receive and process retinally-derived visual information. Recently, a handful of studies have shown a much more complex role for the optic tectum in larval zebrafish, and anatomical and functional data from these studies suggest that this role extends beyond the visual system, and beyond the processing of exclusively retinal inputs. Consistent with this evolving view of the tectum, we have used a Gal4 enhancer trap line to identify direct projections from rostral hypothalamus (RH) to the tectal neuropil of larval zebrafish. These projections ramify within the deepest laminae of the tectal neuropil, the stratum album centrale (SAC)/stratum griseum periventriculare (SPV), and also innervate strata distinct from those innervated by retinal projections. Using optogenetic stimulation of the hypothalamic projection neurons paired with calcium imaging in the tectum, we find rebound firing in tectal neurons consistent with hypothalamic inhibitory input. Our results suggest that tectal processing in larval zebrafish is modulated by hypothalamic inhibitory inputs to the deep tectal neuropil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy A. Heap
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Andrew W. Thompson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Itia Favre-Bulle
- School of Maths and Physics, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Ethan K. Scott
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
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40
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A Conserved Developmental Mechanism Builds Complex Visual Systems in Insects and Vertebrates. Curr Biol 2017; 26:R1001-R1009. [PMID: 27780043 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The visual systems of vertebrates and many other bilaterian clades consist of complex neural structures guiding a wide spectrum of behaviors. Homologies at the level of cell types and even discrete neural circuits have been proposed, but many questions of how the architecture of visual neuropils evolved among different phyla remain open. In this review we argue that the profound conservation of genetic and developmental steps generating the eye and its target neuropils in fish and fruit flies supports a homology between some core elements of bilaterian visual circuitries. Fish retina and tectum, and fly optic lobe, develop from a partitioned, unidirectionally proliferating neurectodermal domain that combines slowly dividing neuroepithelial stem cells and rapidly amplifying progenitors with shared genetic signatures to generate large numbers and different types of neurons in a temporally ordered way. This peculiar 'conveyor belt neurogenesis' could play an essential role in generating the topographically ordered circuitry of the visual system.
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41
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Pestel J, Ramadass R, Gauvrit S, Helker C, Herzog W, Stainier DYR. Real-time 3D visualization of cellular rearrangements during cardiac valve formation. Development 2017; 143:2217-27. [PMID: 27302398 DOI: 10.1242/dev.133272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
During cardiac valve development, the single-layered endocardial sheet at the atrioventricular canal (AVC) is remodeled into multilayered immature valve leaflets. Most of our knowledge about this process comes from examining fixed samples that do not allow a real-time appreciation of the intricacies of valve formation. Here, we exploit non-invasive in vivo imaging techniques to identify the dynamic cell behaviors that lead to the formation of the immature valve leaflets. We find that in zebrafish, the valve leaflets consist of two sets of endocardial cells at the luminal and abluminal side, which we refer to as luminal cells (LCs) and abluminal cells (ALCs), respectively. By analyzing cellular rearrangements during valve formation, we observed that the LCs and ALCs originate from the atrium and ventricle, respectively. Furthermore, we utilized Wnt/β-catenin and Notch signaling reporter lines to distinguish between the LCs and ALCs, and also found that cardiac contractility and/or blood flow is necessary for the endocardial expression of these signaling reporters. Thus, our 3D analyses of cardiac valve formation in zebrafish provide fundamental insights into the cellular rearrangements underlying this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Pestel
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Department of Developmental Genetics, Bad Nauheim 61231, Germany
| | - Radhan Ramadass
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Department of Developmental Genetics, Bad Nauheim 61231, Germany
| | - Sebastien Gauvrit
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Department of Developmental Genetics, Bad Nauheim 61231, Germany
| | - Christian Helker
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Department of Developmental Genetics, Bad Nauheim 61231, Germany University of Muenster, Muenster 48149, Germany
| | - Wiebke Herzog
- University of Muenster, Muenster 48149, Germany Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster 48149, Germany
| | - Didier Y R Stainier
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Department of Developmental Genetics, Bad Nauheim 61231, Germany
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42
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Robles E. The power of projectomes: genetic mosaic labeling in the larval zebrafish brain reveals organizing principles of sensory circuits. J Neurogenet 2017; 31:61-69. [PMID: 28797199 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2017.1359834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In no vertebrate species do we possess an accurate, comprehensive tally of neuron types in the brain. This is in no small part due to the vast diversity of neuronal types that comprise complex vertebrate nervous systems. A fundamental goal of neuroscience is to construct comprehensive catalogs of cell types defined by structure, connectivity, and physiological response properties. This type of information will be invaluable for generating models of how assemblies of neurons encode and distribute sensory information and correspondingly alter behavior. This review summarizes recent efforts in the larval zebrafish to construct sensory projectomes, comprehensive analyses of axonal morphologies in sensory axon tracts. Focusing on the olfactory and optic tract, these studies revealed principles of sensory information processing in the olfactory and visual systems that could not have been directly quantified by other methods. In essence, these studies reconstructed the optic and olfactory tract in a virtual manner, providing insights into patterns of neuronal growth that underlie the formation of sensory axon tracts. Quantitative analysis of neuronal diversity revealed organizing principles that determine information flow through sensory systems in the zebrafish that are likely to be conserved across vertebrate species. The generation of comprehensive cell type classifications based on structural, physiological, and molecular features will lead to testable hypotheses on the functional role of individual sensory neuron subtypes in controlling specific sensory-evoked behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estuardo Robles
- a Department of Biological Sciences and Institute for Integrative Neuroscience , Purdue University , West Lafayette , IN , USA
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43
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Chow RWY, Vermot J. The rise of photoresponsive protein technologies applications in vivo: a spotlight on zebrafish developmental and cell biology. F1000Res 2017; 6. [PMID: 28413613 PMCID: PMC5389412 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.10617.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish ( Danio rerio) is a powerful vertebrate model to study cellular and developmental processes in vivo. The optical clarity and their amenability to genetic manipulation make zebrafish a model of choice when it comes to applying optical techniques involving genetically encoded photoresponsive protein technologies. In recent years, a number of fluorescent protein and optogenetic technologies have emerged that allow new ways to visualize, quantify, and perturb developmental dynamics. Here, we explain the principles of these new tools and describe some of their representative applications in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renee Wei-Yan Chow
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Julien Vermot
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
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44
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Shi X, Barchini J, Ledesma HA, Koren D, Jin Y, Liu X, Wei W, Cang J. Retinal origin of direction selectivity in the superior colliculus. Nat Neurosci 2017; 20:550-558. [PMID: 28192394 PMCID: PMC5374021 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Detecting visual features in the environment such as motion direction is crucial for survival. The circuit mechanisms that give rise to direction selectivity in a major visual center, the superior colliculus (SC), are entirely unknown. Here, we optogenetically isolate the retinal inputs that individual direction-selective SC neurons receive and find that they are already selective as a result of precisely converging inputs from similarly-tuned retinal ganglion cells. The direction selective retinal input is linearly amplified by the intracollicular circuits without changing its preferred direction or level of selectivity. Finally, using 2-photon calcium imaging, we show that SC direction selectivity is dramatically reduced in transgenic mice that have decreased retinal selectivity. Together, our studies demonstrate a retinal origin of direction selectivity in the SC, and reveal a central visual deficit as a consequence of altered feature selectivity in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Shi
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.,Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jad Barchini
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | | | - David Koren
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Yanjiao Jin
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.,General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaorong Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jianhua Cang
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
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45
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Kolodkin AL, Hiesinger PR. Wiring visual systems: common and divergent mechanisms and principles. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2017; 42:128-135. [PMID: 28064004 PMCID: PMC5316370 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The study of visual systems has a rich history, leading to the discovery and understanding of basic principles underlying the elaboration of neuronal connectivity. Recent work in model organisms such as fly, fish and mouse has yielded a wealth of new insights into visual system wiring. Here, we consider how axonal and dendritic patterning in columns and laminae influence synaptic partner selection in these model organisms. We highlight similarities and differences among disparate visual systems with the goal of identifying common and divergent principles for visual system wiring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex L Kolodkin
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - P Robin Hiesinger
- Division of Neurobiology of the Institute for Biology, Free University Berlin, Germany.
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46
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CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knockin and Knockout in Zebrafish. RESEARCH AND PERSPECTIVES IN NEUROSCIENCES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-60192-2_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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47
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Abstract
The fluorescent protein revolution has made the light microscope the most widely used tool for studying biological structure from the single-molecule to whole organism scales. However, traditional approaches are limited in their ability to resolve components in highly complex structures, such as the brain. In recent years, this limitation has been circumvented by the development of multicolor labeling methods, termed Brainbow. Brainbow tools rely on site-specific recombinases to make stochastic "choices" between different combinations of fluorescent proteins so that structures in close proximity to one another can be resolved based on their color profile. These new approaches, however, call for more refined methods of sample preparation and imaging optimized for multispectral imaging, which are presented here. The most robust approach for generating useful Brainbow data combines immunohistology with multispectral laser scanning confocal microscopy. This chapter, therefore, focuses on this particular technique, though the imaging principle discussed here is applicable to other Brainbow approaches as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas H Roossien
- Cell and Developmental Biology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Dawen Cai
- Cell and Developmental Biology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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48
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Herget U, Gutierrez-Triana JA, Salazar Thula O, Knerr B, Ryu S. Single-Cell Reconstruction of Oxytocinergic Neurons Reveals Separate Hypophysiotropic and Encephalotropic Subtypes in Larval Zebrafish. eNeuro 2017; 4:ENEURO.0278-16.2016. [PMID: 28317020 PMCID: PMC5356222 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0278-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Revised: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin regulates a diverse set of processes including stress, analgesia, metabolism, and social behavior. How such diverse functions are mediated by a single hormonal system is not well understood. Different functions of oxytocin could be mediated by distinct cell groups, yet it is currently unknown whether different oxytocinergic cell types exist that specifically mediate peripheral neuroendocrine or various central neuromodulatory processes via dedicated pathways. Using the Brainbow technique to map the morphology and projections of individual oxytocinergic cells in the larval zebrafish brain, we report here the existence of two main types of oxytocinergic cells: those that innervate the pituitary and those that innervate diverse brain regions. Similar to the situation in the adult rat and the adult midshipman, but in contrast to the situation in the adult trout, these two cell types are mutually exclusive and can be distinguished based on morphological and anatomical criteria. Further, our results reveal that complex oxytocinergic innervation patterns are already established in the larval zebrafish brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Herget
- Developmental Genetics of the Nervous System, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jose Arturo Gutierrez-Triana
- Developmental Genetics of the Nervous System, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oriana Salazar Thula
- Developmental Genetics of the Nervous System, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Boris Knerr
- Developmental Genetics of the Nervous System, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Soojin Ryu
- Developmental Genetics of the Nervous System, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
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49
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Tingaud-Sequeira A, Raldúa D, Lavie J, Mathieu G, Bordier M, Knoll-Gellida A, Rambeau P, Coupry I, André M, Malm E, Möller C, Andreasson S, Rendtorff ND, Tranebjærg L, Koenig M, Lacombe D, Goizet C, Babin PJ. Functional validation of ABHD12 mutations in the neurodegenerative disease PHARC. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 98:36-51. [PMID: 27890673 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Revised: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ABHD12 mutations have been linked to neurodegenerative PHARC (polyneuropathy, hearing loss, ataxia, retinitis pigmentosa, and early-onset cataract), a rare, progressive, autosomal, recessive disease. Although ABHD12 is suspected to play a role in the lysophosphatidylserine and/or endocannabinoid pathways, its precise functional role(s) leading to PHARC disease had not previously been characterized. Cell and zebrafish models were designed to demonstrate the causal link between an identified new missense mutation p.T253R, characterized in ABHD12 from a young patient, the previously characterized p.T202I and p.R352* mutations, and the associated PHARC. Measuring ABHD12 monoacylglycerol lipase activity in transfected HEK293 cells demonstrated inhibition with mutated isoforms. Both the expression pattern of zebrafish abhd12 and the phenotype of specific antisense morpholino oligonucleotide gene knockdown morphants were consistent with human PHARC hallmarks. High abhd12 transcript levels were found in the optic tectum and tract, colocalized with myelin basic protein, and in the spinal cord. Morphants have myelination defects and concomitant functional deficits, characterized by progressive ataxia and motor skill impairment. A disruption of retina architecture and retinotectal projections was observed, together with an inhibition of lens clarification and a low number of mechanosensory hair cells in the inner ear and lateral line system. The severe phenotypes in abhd12 knockdown morphants were rescued by introducing wild-type human ABHD12 mRNA, but not by mutation-harboring mRNAs. Zebrafish may provide a suitable vertebrate model for ABHD12 insufficiency and the study of functional impairment and potential therapeutic rescue of this rare, neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angèle Tingaud-Sequeira
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM U1211, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Julie Lavie
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM U1211, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Guilaine Mathieu
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM U1211, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Magali Bordier
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM U1211, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), F-33076 Bordeaux, France; CHU Bordeaux, Hôpital Pellegrin, Service de Génétique Médicale, Bordeaux, France
| | - Anja Knoll-Gellida
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM U1211, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Pierre Rambeau
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM U1211, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Isabelle Coupry
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM U1211, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Michèle André
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM U1211, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Eva Malm
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Claes Möller
- School of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden
| | - Sten Andreasson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Nanna D Rendtorff
- Department Audiology, Bispebjerg Hospital/Rigshospitalet, Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet/The Kennedy Center, University of Copenhagen, Institute for Clinical Medicine Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lisbeth Tranebjærg
- Department Audiology, Bispebjerg Hospital/Rigshospitalet, Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet/The Kennedy Center, University of Copenhagen, Institute for Clinical Medicine Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michel Koenig
- Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire et unité INSERM UMR_S827, IURC, Montpellier, France
| | - Didier Lacombe
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM U1211, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), F-33076 Bordeaux, France; CHU Bordeaux, Hôpital Pellegrin, Service de Génétique Médicale, Bordeaux, France
| | - Cyril Goizet
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM U1211, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), F-33076 Bordeaux, France; CHU Bordeaux, Hôpital Pellegrin, Service de Génétique Médicale, Bordeaux, France
| | - Patrick J Babin
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM U1211, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), F-33076 Bordeaux, France.
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50
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry W. Swanson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089;
| | - Jeff W. Lichtman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138;
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