1
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Wu MW, Kourdougli N, Portera-Cailliau C. Network state transitions during cortical development. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:535-552. [PMID: 38783147 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-024-00824-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian cortical networks are active before synaptogenesis begins in earnest, before neuronal migration is complete, and well before an animal opens its eyes and begins to actively explore its surroundings. This early activity undergoes several transformations during development. The most important of these is a transition from episodic synchronous network events, which are necessary for patterning the neocortex into functionally related modules, to desynchronized activity that is computationally more powerful and efficient. Network desynchronization is perhaps the most dramatic and abrupt developmental event in an otherwise slow and gradual process of brain maturation. In this Review, we summarize what is known about the phenomenology of developmental synchronous activity in the rodent neocortex and speculate on the mechanisms that drive its eventual desynchronization. We argue that desynchronization of network activity is a fundamental step through which the cortex transitions from passive, bottom-up detection of sensory stimuli to active sensory processing with top-down modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle W Wu
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Graduate Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nazim Kourdougli
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carlos Portera-Cailliau
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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2
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Nwabudike I, Che A. Early-life maturation of the somatosensory cortex: sensory experience and beyond. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1430783. [PMID: 39040685 PMCID: PMC11260818 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1430783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Early life experiences shape physical and behavioral outcomes throughout lifetime. Sensory circuits are especially susceptible to environmental and physiological changes during development. However, the impact of different types of early life experience are often evaluated in isolation. In this mini review, we discuss the specific effects of postnatal sensory experience, sleep, social isolation, and substance exposure on barrel cortex development. Considering these concurrent factors will improve understanding of the etiology of atypical sensory perception in many neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ijeoma Nwabudike
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Alicia Che
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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3
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Yrjölä P, Vanhatalo S, Tokariev A. Neuronal Coupling Modes Show Differential Development in the Early Cortical Activity Networks of Human Newborns. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1012232024. [PMID: 38769006 PMCID: PMC11211727 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1012-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The third trimester is a critical period for the development of functional networks that support the lifelong neurocognitive performance, yet the emergence of neuronal coupling in these networks is poorly understood. Here, we used longitudinal high-density electroencephalographic recordings from preterm infants during the period from 33 to 45 weeks of conceptional age (CA) to characterize early spatiotemporal patterns in the development of local cortical function and the intrinsic coupling modes [ICMs; phase-phase (PPCs), amplitude-amplitude (AACs), and phase-amplitude correlations (PACs)]. Absolute local power showed a robust increase with CA across the full frequency spectrum, while local PACs showed sleep state-specific, biphasic development that peaked a few weeks before normal birth. AACs and distant PACs decreased globally at nearly all frequencies. In contrast, the PPCs showed frequency- and region-selective development, with an increase of coupling strength with CA between frontal, central, and occipital regions at low-delta and alpha frequencies together with a wider-spread decrease at other frequencies. Our findings together present the spectrally and spatially differential development of the distinct ICMs during the neonatal period and provide their developmental templates for future basic and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauliina Yrjölä
- BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, New Children's Hospital and HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki 00290, Finland
- Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, New Children's Hospital and HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki 00290, Finland
- Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Anton Tokariev
- BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, New Children's Hospital and HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki 00290, Finland
- Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
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4
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Logashkin A, Silaeva V, Mamleev A, Shumkova V, Sitdikova V, Popova Y, Suchkov D, Minlebaev M. Dexmedetomidine as a Short-Use Analgesia for the Immature Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6385. [PMID: 38928091 PMCID: PMC11204225 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126385] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Pain management in neonates continues to be a challenge. Diverse therapies are available that cause loss of pain sensitivity. However, because of side effects, the search for better options remains open. Dexmedetomidine is a promising drug; it has shown high efficacy with a good safety profile in sedation and analgesia in the immature nervous system. Though dexmedetomidine is already in use for pain control in neonates (including premature neonates) and infants as an adjunct to other anesthetics, the question remains whether it affects the neuronal activity patterning that is critical for development of the immature nervous system. In this study, using the neonatal rat as a model, the pharmacodynamic effects of dexmedetomidine on the nervous and cardiorespiratory systems were studied. Our results showed that dexmedetomidine has pronounced analgesic effects in the neonatal rat pups, and also weakly modified both the immature network patterns of cortical and hippocampal activity and the physiology of sleep cycles. Though the respiration and heart rates were slightly reduced after dexmedetomidine administration, it might be considered as the preferential independent short-term therapy for pain management in the immature and developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anatoliy Logashkin
- Laboratory of New Engineering Solutions for Modern Laboratory Research, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia; (A.L.)
| | - Valentina Silaeva
- Laboratory of New Engineering Solutions for Modern Laboratory Research, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia; (A.L.)
| | - Arsen Mamleev
- Laboratory of New Engineering Solutions for Modern Laboratory Research, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia; (A.L.)
| | - Viktoria Shumkova
- Laboratory of New Engineering Solutions for Modern Laboratory Research, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia; (A.L.)
| | - Violetta Sitdikova
- Laboratory of New Engineering Solutions for Modern Laboratory Research, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia; (A.L.)
| | - Yaroslavna Popova
- Laboratory of New Engineering Solutions for Modern Laboratory Research, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia; (A.L.)
| | - Dmitrii Suchkov
- Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED U1249), Aix-Marseille University, 13273 Marseille, France
| | - Marat Minlebaev
- Laboratory of New Engineering Solutions for Modern Laboratory Research, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia; (A.L.)
- Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED U1249), Aix-Marseille University, 13273 Marseille, France
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5
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Hamad MIK, Rabaya O, Jbara A, Daoud S, Petrova P, Ali BR, Allouh MZ, Herz J, Förster E. Reelin Regulates Developmental Desynchronization Transition of Neocortical Network Activity. Biomolecules 2024; 14:593. [PMID: 38786001 PMCID: PMC11118507 DOI: 10.3390/biom14050593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
During the first and second stages of postnatal development, neocortical neurons exhibit a wide range of spontaneous synchronous activity (SSA). Towards the end of the second postnatal week, the SSA is replaced by a more sparse and desynchronized firing pattern. The developmental desynchronization of neocortical spontaneous neuronal activity is thought to be intrinsically generated, since sensory deprivation from the periphery does not affect the time course of this transition. The extracellular protein reelin controls various aspects of neuronal development through multimodular signaling. However, so far it is unclear whether reelin contributes to the developmental desynchronization transition of neocortical neurons. The present study aims to investigate the role of reelin in postnatal cortical developmental desynchronization using a conditional reelin knockout (RelncKO) mouse model. Conditional reelin deficiency was induced during early postnatal development, and Ca2+ recordings were conducted from organotypic cultures (OTCs) of the somatosensory cortex. Our results show that both wild type (wt) and RelncKO exhibited an SSA pattern during the early postnatal week. However, at the end of the second postnatal week, wt OTCs underwent a transition to a desynchronized network activity pattern, while RelncKO activity remained synchronous. This changing activity pattern suggests that reelin is involved in regulating the developmental desynchronization of cortical neuronal network activity. Moreover, the developmental desynchronization impairment observed in RelncKO was rescued when RelncKO OTCs were co-cultured with wt OTCs. Finally, we show that the developmental transition to a desynchronized state at the end of the second postnatal week is not dependent on glutamatergic signaling. Instead, the transition is dependent on GABAAR and GABABR signaling. The results suggest that reelin controls developmental desynchronization through GABAAR and GABABR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad I K Hamad
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, United Arab Emirates
| | - Obada Rabaya
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Abdalrahim Jbara
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Solieman Daoud
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Petya Petrova
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Bassam R Ali
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Z Allouh
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, United Arab Emirates
| | - Joachim Herz
- Departments of Molecular Genetics, Neuroscience, Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, Center for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 5323, USA
| | - Eckart Förster
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
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6
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Sheroziya M, Khazipov R. Synaptic Origin of Early Sensory-evoked Oscillations in the Immature Thalamus. Neuroscience 2023; 532:50-64. [PMID: 37769898 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.09.005] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
During the critical period of postnatal development, brain maturation is extremely sensitive to external stimuli. Newborn rodents already have functional somatosensory pathways and the thalamus, but the cortex is still forming. Immature thalamic synapses may produce large postsynaptic potentials in immature neurons, while non-synaptic membrane currents remain relatively weak and slow. The thalamocortical system generates spontaneous and evoked early gamma and spindle-burst oscillations in newborn rodents. How relatively strong synapses and weak intrinsic currents interact with each other and how they contribute to early thalamic activities remains largely unknown. Here, we performed local field potential (LFP), juxtacellular, and patch-clamp recordings in the somatosensory thalamus of urethane-anesthetized rat pups at postnatal days 6-7 with one whisker stimulation. We removed the overlying cortex and hippocampus to reach the thalamus with electrodes. Deflection of only one (the principal) whisker induced spikes in a particular thalamic cell. Whisker deflection evoked a group of large-amplitude excitatory events, likely originating from lemniscal synapses and multiple inhibitory postsynaptic events in thalamocortical cells. Large-amplitude excitatory events produced a group of spike bursts and could evoke a depolarization block. Juxtacellular recordings confirmed the partial inactivation of spikes. Inhibitory events prevented inactivation of action potentials and gamma-modulated neuronal firing. We conclude that the interplay of strong excitatory and inhibitory synapses and relatively weak intrinsic currents produces sensory-evoked early gamma oscillations in thalamocortical cells. We also propose that sensory-evoked large-amplitude excitatory events contribute to evoked spindle-bursts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim Sheroziya
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia.
| | - Roustem Khazipov
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia; Aix Marseille University, INSERM, INMED, Marseille, France
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7
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Klavinskis-Whiting S, Bitzenhofer S, Hanganu-Opatz I, Ellender T. Generation and propagation of bursts of activity in the developing basal ganglia. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:10595-10613. [PMID: 37615347 PMCID: PMC10560579 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad307] [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: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The neonatal brain is characterized by intermittent bursts of oscillatory activity interspersed by relative silence. Although well-characterized for many cortical areas, to what extent these propagate and interact with subcortical brain areas is largely unknown. Here, early network activity was recorded from the developing basal ganglia, including motor/somatosensory cortex, dorsal striatum, and intralaminar thalamus, during the first postnatal weeks in mice. An unsupervised detection and classification method revealed two main classes of bursting activity, namely spindle bursts and nested gamma spindle bursts, characterized by oscillatory activity at ~ 10 and ~ 30 Hz frequencies, respectively. These were reliably identified across all three brain regions and exhibited region-specific differences in their structural, spectral, and developmental characteristics. Bursts of the same type often co-occurred in different brain regions and coherence and cross-correlation analyses reveal dynamic developmental changes in their interactions. The strongest interactions were seen for cortex and striatum, from the first postnatal week onwards, and cortex appeared to drive burst events in subcortical regions. Together, these results provide the first detailed description of early network activity within the developing basal ganglia and suggest that cortex is one of the main drivers of activity in downstream nuclei during this postnatal period.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sebastian Bitzenhofer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ileana Hanganu-Opatz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tommas Ellender
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Rd, Oxford, OX13QT, United Kingdom
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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8
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Cao JW, Liu LY, Yu YC. Gap junctions regulate the development of neural circuits in the neocortex. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 81:102735. [PMID: 37263136 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Gap junctions between cells are ubiquitously expressed in the developing brain. They are involved in major steps of neocortical development, including neurogenesis, cell migration, synaptogenesis, and neural circuit formation, and have been implicated in cortical column formation. Dysfunctional gap junctions can contribute to or even cause a variety of brain diseases. Although the role of gap junctions in neocortical development is better known, a comprehensive understanding of their functions is far from complete. Here we explore several critical open questions surrounding gap junctions and their involvement in neural circuit development. Addressing them will greatly impact our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of neocortical structure and function as well as the etiology of brain disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Wei Cao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou, Hunan 423000, China
| | - Lin-Yun Liu
- Jing'an District Central Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yong-Chun Yu
- Jing'an District Central Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai 200032, China.
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9
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Ibrahim LA, Wamsley B, Alghamdi N, Yusuf N, Sevier E, Hairston A, Sherer M, Jaglin XH, Xu Q, Guo L, Khodadadi-Jamayran A, Favuzzi E, Yuan Y, Dimidschstein J, Darnell RB, Fishell G. Nova proteins direct synaptic integration of somatostatin interneurons through activity-dependent alternative splicing. eLife 2023; 12:e86842. [PMID: 37347149 PMCID: PMC10287156 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86842] [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: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Somatostatin interneurons are the earliest born population of cortical inhibitory cells. They are crucial to support normal brain development and function; however, the mechanisms underlying their integration into nascent cortical circuitry are not well understood. In this study, we begin by demonstrating that the maturation of somatostatin interneurons in mouse somatosensory cortex is activity dependent. We then investigated the relationship between activity, alternative splicing, and synapse formation within this population. Specifically, we discovered that the Nova family of RNA-binding proteins are activity-dependent and are essential for the maturation of somatostatin interneurons, as well as their afferent and efferent connectivity. Within this population, Nova2 preferentially mediates the alternative splicing of genes required for axonal formation and synaptic function independently from its effect on gene expression. Hence, our work demonstrates that the Nova family of proteins through alternative splicing are centrally involved in coupling developmental neuronal activity to cortical circuit formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Ali Ibrahim
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Stanley Center at the BroadCambridgeUnited States
| | - Brie Wamsley
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Smilow Research Center, New York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Norah Alghamdi
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Nusrath Yusuf
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Stanley Center at the BroadCambridgeUnited States
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Smilow Research Center, New York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Elaine Sevier
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Stanley Center at the BroadCambridgeUnited States
| | - Ariel Hairston
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Mia Sherer
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Stanley Center at the BroadCambridgeUnited States
| | - Xavier Hubert Jaglin
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Smilow Research Center, New York University School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Qing Xu
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, New York UniversityAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Lihua Guo
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, New York UniversityAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Alireza Khodadadi-Jamayran
- Genome Technology Center, Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories, NYU Langone Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - Emilia Favuzzi
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Stanley Center at the BroadCambridgeUnited States
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | | | - Robert B Darnell
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Gordon Fishell
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Stanley Center at the BroadCambridgeUnited States
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10
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Schroer J, Warm D, De Rosa F, Luhmann HJ, Sinning A. Activity-dependent regulation of the BAX/BCL-2 pathway protects cortical neurons from apoptotic death during early development. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:175. [PMID: 37269320 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04824-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
During early brain development, homeostatic removal of cortical neurons is crucial and requires multiple control mechanisms. We investigated in the cerebral cortex of mice whether the BAX/BCL-2 pathway, an important regulator of apoptosis, is part of this machinery and how electrical activity might serve as a set point of regulation. Activity is known to be a pro-survival factor; however, how this effect is translated into enhanced survival chances on a neuronal level is not fully understood. In this study, we show that caspase activity is highest at the neonatal stage, while developmental cell death peaks at the end of the first postnatal week. During the first postnatal week, upregulation of BAX is accompanied by downregulation of BCL-2 protein, resulting in a high BAX/BCL-2 ratio when neuronal death rates are high. In cultured neurons, pharmacological blockade of activity leads to an acute upregulation of Bax, while elevated activity results in a lasting increase of BCL-2 expression. Spontaneously active neurons not only exhibit lower Bax levels than inactive neurons but also show almost exclusively BCL-2 expression. Disinhibition of network activity prevents the death of neurons overexpressing activated CASP3. This neuroprotective effect is not the result of reduced caspase activity but is associated with a downregulation of the BAX/BCL-2 ratio. Notably, increasing neuronal activity has a similar, non-additive effect as the blockade of BAX. Conclusively, high electrical activity modulates BAX/BCL-2 expression and leads to higher tolerance to CASP3 activity, increases survival, and presumably promotes non-apoptotic CASP3 functions in developing neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Schroer
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Davide Warm
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Federico De Rosa
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Anne Sinning
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
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11
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Gainutdinov A, Shipkov D, Sintsov M, Fabrizi L, Nasretdinov A, Khazipov R, Valeeva G. Somatosensory-Evoked Early Sharp Waves in the Neonatal Rat Hippocampus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8721. [PMID: 37240066 PMCID: PMC10217913 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108721] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The developing entorhinal-hippocampal system is embedded within a large-scale bottom-up network, where spontaneous myoclonic movements, presumably via somatosensory feedback, trigger hippocampal early sharp waves (eSPWs). The hypothesis, that somatosensory feedback links myoclonic movements with eSPWs, implies that direct somatosensory stimulation should also be capable of evoking eSPWs. In this study, we examined hippocampal responses to electrical stimulation of the somatosensory periphery in urethane-anesthetized, immobilized neonatal rat pups using silicone probe recordings. We found that somatosensory stimulation in ~33% of the trials evoked local field potential (LFP) and multiple unit activity (MUA) responses identical to spontaneous eSPWs. The somatosensory-evoked eSPWs were delayed from the stimulus, on average, by 188 ms. Both spontaneous and somatosensory-evoked eSPWs (i) had similar amplitude of ~0.5 mV and half-duration of ~40 ms, (ii) had similar current-source density (CSD) profiles, with current sinks in CA1 strata radiatum, lacunosum-moleculare and DG molecular layer and (iii) were associated with MUA increase in CA1 and DG. Our results indicate that eSPWs can be triggered by direct somatosensory stimulations and support the hypothesis that sensory feedback from movements is involved in the association of eSPWs with myoclonic movements in neonatal rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azat Gainutdinov
- Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED U1249), Aix-Marseille University, 13273 Marseille, France;
| | - Dmitrii Shipkov
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia (M.S.); (L.F.); (G.V.)
| | - Mikhail Sintsov
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia (M.S.); (L.F.); (G.V.)
| | - Lorenzo Fabrizi
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia (M.S.); (L.F.); (G.V.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Azat Nasretdinov
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia (M.S.); (L.F.); (G.V.)
| | - Roustem Khazipov
- Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED U1249), Aix-Marseille University, 13273 Marseille, France;
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia (M.S.); (L.F.); (G.V.)
| | - Guzel Valeeva
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia (M.S.); (L.F.); (G.V.)
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12
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Gamma oscillations provide insights into cortical circuit development. Pflugers Arch 2023; 475:561-568. [PMID: 36864347 PMCID: PMC10105678 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02801-3] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Rhythmic coordination in gamma oscillations provides temporal structure to neuronal activity. Gamma oscillations are commonly observed in the mammalian cerebral cortex, are altered early on in several neuropsychiatric disorders, and provide insights into the development of underlying cortical networks. However, a lack of knowledge on the developmental trajectory of gamma oscillations prevented the combination of findings from the immature and the adult brain. This review is intended to provide an overview on the development of cortical gamma oscillations, the maturation of the underlying network, and the implications for cortical function and dysfunction. The majority of information is drawn from work in rodents with particular emphasis on the prefrontal cortex, the developmental trajectory of gamma oscillations, and potential implications for neuropsychiatric disorders. Current evidence supports the idea that fast oscillations during development are indeed an immature form of adult gamma oscillations and can help us understand the pathology of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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13
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Wang CF, Yang JW, Zhuang ZH, Hsing HW, Luhmann HJ, Chou SJ. Activity-dependent feedback regulation of thalamocortical axon development by Lhx2 in cortical layer 4 neurons. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:1693-1707. [PMID: 35512682 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Establishing neuronal circuits requires interactions between pre- and postsynaptic neurons. While presynaptic neurons were shown to play instructive roles for the postsynaptic neurons, how postsynaptic neurons provide feedback to regulate the presynaptic neuronal development remains elusive. To elucidate the mechanisms for circuit formation, we study the development of barrel cortex (the primary sensory cortex, S1), whose development is instructed by presynaptic thalamocortical axons (TCAs). In the first postnatal weeks, TCA terminals arborize in layer (L) 4 to fill in the barrel center, but it is unclear how TCA development is regulated. Here, we reported that the deletion of Lhx2 specifically in the cortical neurons in the conditional knockout (cKO) leads to TCA arborization defects, which is accompanied with deficits in sensory-evoked and spontaneous cortical activities and impaired lesion-induced plasticity following early whisker follicle ablation. Reintroducing Lhx2 back in L4 neurons in cKO ameliorated TCA arborization and plasticity defects. By manipulating L4 neuronal activity, we further demonstrated that Lhx2 induces TCA arborization via an activity-dependent mechanism. Additionally, we identified the extracellular signaling protein Sema7a as an activity-dependent downstream target of Lhx2 in regulating TCA branching. Thus, we discovered a bottom-up feedback mechanism for the L4 neurons to regulate TCA development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Fang Wang
- Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica (NPAS), Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jenq-Wei Yang
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Zi-Hui Zhuang
- Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica (NPAS), Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Wei Hsing
- Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica (NPAS), Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Shen-Ju Chou
- Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica (NPAS), Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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14
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Mukherjee D, Kanold PO. Changing subplate circuits: Early activity dependent circuit plasticity. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 16:1067365. [PMID: 36713777 PMCID: PMC9874351 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1067365] [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: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Early neural activity in the developing sensory system comprises spontaneous bursts of patterned activity, which is fundamental for sculpting and refinement of immature cortical connections. The crude early connections that are initially refined by spontaneous activity, are further elaborated by sensory-driven activity from the periphery such that orderly and mature connections are established for the proper functioning of the cortices. Subplate neurons (SPNs) are one of the first-born mature neurons that are transiently present during early development, the period of heightened activity-dependent plasticity. SPNs are well integrated within the developing sensory cortices. Their structural and functional properties such as relative mature intrinsic membrane properties, heightened connectivity via chemical and electrical synapses, robust activation by neuromodulatory inputs-place them in an ideal position to serve as crucial elements in monitoring and regulating spontaneous endogenous network activity. Moreover, SPNs are the earliest substrates to receive early sensory-driven activity from the periphery and are involved in its modulation, amplification, and transmission before the maturation of the direct adult-like thalamocortical connectivity. Consequently, SPNs are vulnerable to sensory manipulations in the periphery. A broad range of early sensory deprivations alters SPN circuit organization and functions that might be associated with long term neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of SPN function in activity-dependent development during early life and integrate recent findings on the impact of early sensory deprivation on SPNs that could eventually lead to neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didhiti Mukherjee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Patrick O. Kanold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States,Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Patrick O. Kanold ✉
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15
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Simple and Efficient 3D-Printed Superfusion Chamber for Electrophysiological and Neuroimaging Recordings In Vivo. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0305-22.2022. [PMID: 36171056 PMCID: PMC9536851 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0305-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro and in vivo experimentation in the central nervous system are effective approaches to study its functioning. Manipulations in vitro are characterized by easy experimental control and stable experimental conditions. However, transferring these advantages to in vivo research remains technically and ethically challenging, preventing many research teams from acquiring critical recordings in their animal models. In order to transfer the benefits of in vitro experimentation to in vivo experimentation, we developed a suite of 3D-printed tools (a superfusion chamber with an independent brain presser and animal stand). Using the immature rat barrel cortex as a model, we show that our set of tools (further "superfusion preparation") provides stable conditions for electrophysiological and neuroimaging recordings in the neonatal rat neocortex in vivo Highly correlated intracellular and extracellular activity was recorded during spontaneous and evoked cortical activity, supporting the possibility of simultaneous long-lasting electrophysiological recordings from a single cortical column in vivo The optical intrinsic signal of evoked cortical responses was also recorded from the skull-free neocortex, suggesting the effective combination of the superfusion preparation with neuroimaging approaches. Modulation of immature activity by epicortical application of pharmacological agents via superfusion equally supports the use of the superfused cortex preparation in pharmacological screening. In addition to high efficiency (in affordability, reliability, and ease of use in vivo), the 3D-printed set of tools developed should reduce animal use, supporting the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) of ethical use of animals.
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16
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Banerjee P, Kubo F, Nakaoka H, Ajima R, Sato T, Hirata T, Iwasato T. Spontaneous activity in whisker-innervating region of neonatal mouse trigeminal ganglion. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16311. [PMID: 36175429 PMCID: PMC9522796 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20068-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous activity during the early postnatal period is thought to be crucial for the establishment of mature neural circuits. It remains unclear if the peripheral structure of the developing somatosensory system exhibits spontaneous activity, similar to that observed in the retina and cochlea of developing mammals. By establishing an ex vivo calcium imaging system, here we found that neurons in the whisker-innervating region of the trigeminal ganglion (TG) of neonatal mice generate spontaneous activity. A small percentage of neurons showed some obvious correlated activity, and these neurons were mostly located close to one another. TG spontaneous activity was majorly exhibited by medium-to-large diameter neurons, a characteristic of mechanosensory neurons, and was blocked by chelation of extracellular calcium. Moreover, this activity was diminished by the adult stage. Spontaneous activity in the TG during the first postnatal week could be a source of spontaneous activity observed in the neonatal mouse barrel cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piu Banerjee
- Laboratory of Mammalian Neural Circuits, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Mishima, Japan.,Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI, Mishima, Japan
| | - Fumi Kubo
- Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI, Mishima, Japan.,Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, NIG, Mishima, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Nakaoka
- Department of Cancer Genome Research, Sasaki Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rieko Ajima
- Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI, Mishima, Japan.,Laboratory of Mammalian Development, NIG, Mishima, Japan
| | - Takuya Sato
- Laboratory of Mammalian Neural Circuits, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Mishima, Japan
| | - Tatsumi Hirata
- Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI, Mishima, Japan.,Laboratory of Brain Function, NIG, Mishima, Japan
| | - Takuji Iwasato
- Laboratory of Mammalian Neural Circuits, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Mishima, Japan. .,Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI, Mishima, Japan.
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17
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Tezuka Y, Hagihara KM, Ohki K, Hirano T, Tagawa Y. Developmental stage-specific spontaneous activity contributes to callosal axon projections. eLife 2022; 11:72435. [PMID: 36001081 PMCID: PMC9402231 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The developing neocortex exhibits spontaneous network activity with various synchrony levels, which has been implicated in the formation of cortical circuits. We previously reported that the development of callosal axon projections, one of the major long-range axonal projections in the brain, is activity dependent. However, what sort of activity and when activity is indispensable are not known. Here, using a genetic method to manipulate network activity in a stage-specific manner, we demonstrated that network activity contributes to callosal axon projections in the mouse visual cortex during a ‘critical period’: restoring neuronal activity during that period resumed the projections, whereas restoration after the period failed. Furthermore, in vivo Ca2+ imaging revealed that the projections could be established even without fully restoring highly synchronous activity. Overall, our findings suggest that spontaneous network activity is selectively required during a critical developmental time window for the formation of long-range axonal projections in the cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Tezuka
- Department of Biophysics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Science
| | - Kenta M Hagihara
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | - Kenichi Ohki
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences
- Department of Physiology, The University of Tokyo School of Medicine
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo School of Medicine
- Institute for AI and Beyond, The University of Tokyo School of Medicine
- CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency
| | - Tomoo Hirano
- Department of Biophysics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Science
| | - Yoshiaki Tagawa
- Department of Biophysics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Science
- CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency
- Department of Physiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University
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18
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Warm D, Bassetti D, Schroer J, Luhmann HJ, Sinning A. Spontaneous Activity Predicts Survival of Developing Cortical Neurons. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:937761. [PMID: 36035995 PMCID: PMC9399774 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.937761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous activity plays a crucial role in brain development by coordinating the integration of immature neurons into emerging cortical networks. High levels and complex patterns of spontaneous activity are generally associated with low rates of apoptosis in the cortex. However, whether spontaneous activity patterns directly encode for survival of individual cortical neurons during development remains an open question. Here, we longitudinally investigated spontaneous activity and apoptosis in developing cortical cultures, combining extracellular electrophysiology with calcium imaging. These experiments demonstrated that the early occurrence of calcium transients was strongly linked to neuronal survival. Silent neurons exhibited a higher probability of cell death, whereas high frequency spiking and burst behavior were almost exclusively detected in surviving neurons. In local neuronal clusters, activity of neighboring neurons exerted a pro-survival effect, whereas on the functional level, networks with a high modular topology were associated with lower cell death rates. Using machine learning algorithms, cell fate of individual neurons was predictable through the integration of spontaneous activity features. Our results indicate that high frequency spiking activity constrains apoptosis in single neurons through sustained calcium rises and thereby consolidates networks in which a high modular topology is reached during early development.
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19
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Luhmann HJ, Kanold PO, Molnár Z, Vanhatalo S. Early brain activity: Translations between bedside and laboratory. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 213:102268. [PMID: 35364141 PMCID: PMC9923767 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Neural activity is both a driver of brain development and a readout of developmental processes. Changes in neuronal activity are therefore both the cause and consequence of neurodevelopmental compromises. Here, we review the assessment of neuronal activities in both preclinical models and clinical situations. We focus on issues that require urgent translational research, the challenges and bottlenecks preventing translation of biomedical research into new clinical diagnostics or treatments, and possibilities to overcome these barriers. The key questions are (i) what can be measured in clinical settings versus animal experiments, (ii) how do measurements relate to particular stages of development, and (iii) how can we balance practical and ethical realities with methodological compromises in measurements and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko J. Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, Mainz, Germany.,Correspondence:, , ,
| | - Patrick O. Kanold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue / Miller 379, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Correspondence:, , ,
| | - Zoltán Molnár
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- BABA Center, Departments of Physiology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
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20
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Pumo GM, Kitazawa T, Rijli FM. Epigenetic and Transcriptional Regulation of Spontaneous and Sensory Activity Dependent Programs During Neuronal Circuit Development. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:911023. [PMID: 35664458 PMCID: PMC9158562 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.911023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous activity generated before the onset of sensory transduction has a key role in wiring developing sensory circuits. From axonal targeting, to synapse formation and elimination, to the balanced integration of neurons into developing circuits, this type of activity is implicated in a variety of cellular processes. However, little is known about its molecular mechanisms of action, especially at the level of genome regulation. Conversely, sensory experience-dependent activity implements well-characterized transcriptional and epigenetic chromatin programs that underlie heterogeneous but specific genomic responses that shape both postnatal circuit development and neuroplasticity in the adult. In this review, we focus on our knowledge of the developmental processes regulated by spontaneous activity and the underlying transcriptional mechanisms. We also review novel findings on how chromatin regulates the specificity and developmental induction of the experience-dependent program, and speculate their relevance for our understanding of how spontaneous activity may act at the genomic level to instruct circuit assembly and prepare developing neurons for sensory-dependent connectivity refinement and processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele M. Pumo
- Laboratory of Neurodevelopmental Epigenetics, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- Department Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Taro Kitazawa
- Laboratory of Neurodevelopmental Epigenetics, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Filippo M. Rijli
- Laboratory of Neurodevelopmental Epigenetics, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- Department Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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21
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Kirmse K, Zhang C. Principles of GABAergic signaling in developing cortical network dynamics. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110568. [PMID: 35354036 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
GABAergic signaling provides inhibitory stabilization and spatiotemporally coordinates the firing of recurrently connected excitatory neurons in mature cortical circuits. Inhibition thus enables self-generated neuronal activity patterns that underlie various aspects of sensation and cognition. In this review, we aim to provide a conceptual framework describing how and when GABA-releasing interneurons acquire their network functions during development. Focusing on the developing visual neocortex and hippocampus in mice and rats in vivo, we hypothesize that at the onset of patterned activity, glutamatergic neurons are stable by themselves and inhibitory stabilization is not yet functional. We review important milestones in the development of GABAergic signaling and illustrate how the cell-type-specific strengthening of synaptic inhibition toward eye opening shapes cortical network dynamics and allows the developing cortex to progressively disengage from extra-cortical synaptic drive. We translate this framework to human cortical development and discuss clinical implications for the treatment of neonatal seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Knut Kirmse
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Chuanqiang Zhang
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
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22
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Warm D, Schroer J, Sinning A. Gabaergic Interneurons in Early Brain Development: Conducting and Orchestrated by Cortical Network Activity. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 14:807969. [PMID: 35046773 PMCID: PMC8763242 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.807969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout early phases of brain development, the two main neural signaling mechanisms—excitation and inhibition—are dynamically sculpted in the neocortex to establish primary functions. Despite its relatively late formation and persistent developmental changes, the GABAergic system promotes the ordered shaping of neuronal circuits at the structural and functional levels. Within this frame, interneurons participate first in spontaneous and later in sensory-evoked activity patterns that precede cortical functions of the mature brain. Upon their subcortical generation, interneurons in the embryonic brain must first orderly migrate to and settle in respective target layers before they can actively engage in cortical network activity. During this process, changes at the molecular and synaptic level of interneurons allow not only their coordinated formation but also the pruning of connections as well as excitatory and inhibitory synapses. At the postsynaptic site, the shift of GABAergic signaling from an excitatory towards an inhibitory response is required to enable synchronization within cortical networks. Concomitantly, the progressive specification of different interneuron subtypes endows the neocortex with distinct local cortical circuits and region-specific modulation of neuronal firing. Finally, the apoptotic process further refines neuronal populations by constantly maintaining a controlled ratio of inhibitory and excitatory neurons. Interestingly, many of these fundamental and complex processes are influenced—if not directly controlled—by electrical activity. Interneurons on the subcellular, cellular, and network level are affected by high frequency patterns, such as spindle burst and gamma oscillations in rodents and delta brushes in humans. Conversely, the maturation of interneuron structure and function on each of these scales feeds back and contributes to the generation of cortical activity patterns that are essential for the proper peri- and postnatal development. Overall, a more precise description of the conducting role of interneurons in terms of how they contribute to specific activity patterns—as well as how specific activity patterns impinge on their maturation as orchestra members—will lead to a better understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological development and function of the nervous system.
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23
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Luhmann HJ. Neurophysiology of the Developing Cerebral Cortex: What We Have Learned and What We Need to Know. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 15:814012. [PMID: 35046777 PMCID: PMC8761895 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.814012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This review article aims to give a brief summary on the novel technologies, the challenges, our current understanding, and the open questions in the field of the neurophysiology of the developing cerebral cortex in rodents. In the past, in vitro electrophysiological and calcium imaging studies on single neurons provided important insights into the function of cellular and subcellular mechanism during early postnatal development. In the past decade, neuronal activity in large cortical networks was recorded in pre- and neonatal rodents in vivo by the use of novel high-density multi-electrode arrays and genetically encoded calcium indicators. These studies demonstrated a surprisingly rich repertoire of spontaneous cortical and subcortical activity patterns, which are currently not completely understood in their functional roles in early development and their impact on cortical maturation. Technological progress in targeted genetic manipulations, optogenetics, and chemogenetics now allow the experimental manipulation of specific neuronal cell types to elucidate the function of early (transient) cortical circuits and their role in the generation of spontaneous and sensory evoked cortical activity patterns. Large-scale interactions between different cortical areas and subcortical regions, characterization of developmental shifts from synchronized to desynchronized activity patterns, identification of transient circuits and hub neurons, role of electrical activity in the control of glial cell differentiation and function are future key tasks to gain further insights into the neurophysiology of the developing cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko J. Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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24
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Miyasaka Y, Yamamoto N. Neuronal Activity Patterns Regulate Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression in Cortical Cells via Neuronal Circuits. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:699583. [PMID: 34955705 PMCID: PMC8702648 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.699583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, cortical circuits are remodeled by spontaneous and sensory-evoked activity via alteration of the expression of wiring molecules. An intriguing question is how physiological neuronal activity modifies the expression of these molecules in developing cortical networks. Here, we addressed this issue, focusing on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), one of the factors underlying cortical wiring. Real-time imaging of BDNF promoter activity in organotypic slice cultures revealed that patterned stimuli differentially regulated the increase and the time course of the promoter activity in upper layer neurons. Calcium imaging further demonstrated that stimulus-dependent increases in the promoter activity were roughly proportional to the increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration per unit time. Finally, optogenetic stimulation showed that the promoter activity was increased efficiently by patterned stimulation in defined cortical circuits. These results suggest that physiological stimulation patterns differentially tune activity-dependent gene expression in developing cortical neurons via cortical circuits, synaptic responses, and alteration of intracellular calcium signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumi Miyasaka
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
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25
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Glanz RM, Dooley JC, Sokoloff G, Blumberg MS. Sensory Coding of Limb Kinematics in Motor Cortex across a Key Developmental Transition. J Neurosci 2021; 41:6905-6918. [PMID: 34281990 PMCID: PMC8360693 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0921-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary motor cortex (M1) undergoes protracted development in mammals, functioning initially as a sensory structure. Throughout the first postnatal week in rats, M1 is strongly activated by self-generated forelimb movements-especially by the twitches that occur during active sleep. Here, we quantify the kinematic features of forelimb movements to reveal receptive-field properties of individual units within the forelimb region of M1. At postnatal day 8 (P8), nearly all units were strongly modulated by movement amplitude, especially during active sleep. By P12, only a minority of units continued to exhibit amplitude tuning, regardless of behavioral state. At both ages, movement direction also modulated M1 activity, though to a lesser extent. Finally, at P12, M1 population-level activity became more sparse and decorrelated, along with a substantial alteration in the statistical distribution of M1 responses to limb movements. These findings reveal a transition toward a more complex and informationally rich representation of movement long before M1 develops its motor functionality.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Primary motor cortex (M1) plays a fundamental role in the generation of voluntary movements and motor learning in adults. In early development, however, M1 functions as a prototypical sensory structure. Here, we demonstrate in infant rats that M1 codes for the kinematics of self-generated limb movements long before M1 develops its capacity to drive movements themselves. Moreover, we identify a key transition during the second postnatal week in which M1 activity becomes more informationally complex. Together, these findings further delineate the complex developmental path by which M1 develops its sensory functions in support of its later-emerging motor capacities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan M Glanz
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
| | - James C Dooley
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
| | - Greta Sokoloff
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
| | - Mark S Blumberg
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52245
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
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26
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McClelland VM, Lin JP. Sensorimotor Integration in Childhood Dystonia and Dystonic Cerebral Palsy-A Developmental Perspective. Front Neurol 2021; 12:668081. [PMID: 34367047 PMCID: PMC8343097 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.668081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Dystonia is a disorder of sensorimotor integration, involving dysfunction within the basal ganglia, cortex, cerebellum, or their inter-connections as part of the sensorimotor network. Some forms of dystonia are also characterized by maladaptive or exaggerated plasticity. Development of the neuronal processes underlying sensorimotor integration is incompletely understood but involves activity-dependent modeling and refining of sensorimotor circuits through processes that are already taking place in utero and which continue through infancy, childhood, and into adolescence. Several genetic dystonias have clinical onset in early childhood, but there is evidence that sensorimotor circuit development may already be disrupted prenatally in these conditions. Dystonic cerebral palsy (DCP) is a form of acquired dystonia with perinatal onset during a period of rapid neurodevelopment and activity-dependent refinement of sensorimotor networks. However, physiological studies of children with dystonia are sparse. This discussion paper addresses the role of neuroplasticity in the development of sensorimotor integration with particular focus on the relevance of these mechanisms for understanding childhood dystonia, DCP, and implications for therapy selection, including neuromodulation and timing of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verity M McClelland
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Children's Neurosciences Department, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-Pierre Lin
- Children's Neurosciences Department, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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27
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Martini FJ, Guillamón-Vivancos T, Moreno-Juan V, Valdeolmillos M, López-Bendito G. Spontaneous activity in developing thalamic and cortical sensory networks. Neuron 2021; 109:2519-2534. [PMID: 34293296 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Developing sensory circuits exhibit different patterns of spontaneous activity, patterns that are related to the construction and refinement of functional networks. During the development of different sensory modalities, spontaneous activity originates in the immature peripheral sensory structures and in the higher-order central structures, such as the thalamus and cortex. Certainly, the perinatal thalamus exhibits spontaneous calcium waves, a pattern of activity that is fundamental for the formation of sensory maps and for circuit plasticity. Here, we review our current understanding of the maturation of early (including embryonic) patterns of spontaneous activity and their influence on the assembly of thalamic and cortical sensory networks. Overall, the data currently available suggest similarities between the developmental trajectory of brain activity in experimental models and humans, which in the future may help to improve the early diagnosis of developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Martini
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
| | - Teresa Guillamón-Vivancos
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Verónica Moreno-Juan
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Miguel Valdeolmillos
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Guillermina López-Bendito
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
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28
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Xing W, de Lima AD, Voigt T. The Structural E/I Balance Constrains the Early Development of Cortical Network Activity. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:687306. [PMID: 34349623 PMCID: PMC8326976 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.687306] [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: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Neocortical networks have a characteristic constant ratio in the number of glutamatergic projection neurons (PN) and GABAergic interneurons (IN), and deviations in this ratio are often associated with developmental neuropathologies. Cultured networks with defined cellular content allowed us to ask if initial PN/IN ratios change the developmental population dynamics, and how different ratios impact the physiological excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance and the network activity development. During the first week in vitro, the IN content modulated PN numbers, increasing their proliferation in networks with higher IN proportions. The proportion of INs in each network set remained similar to the initial plating ratio during the 4 weeks cultivation period. Results from additional networks generated with more diverse cellular composition, including early-born GABA neurons, suggest that a GABA-dependent mechanism may decrease the survival of additional INs. A large variation of the PN/IN ratio did not change the balance between isolated spontaneous glutamatergic and GABAergic postsynaptic currents charge transfer (E/I balance) measured in PNs or INs. In contrast, the E/I balance of multisynaptic bursts reflected differences in IN content. Additionally, the spontaneous activity recorded by calcium imaging showed that higher IN ratios were associated with increased frequency of network bursts combined with a decrease of participating neurons per event. In the 4th week in vitro, bursting activity was stereotypically synchronized in networks with very few INs but was more desynchronized in networks with higher IN proportions. These results suggest that the E/I balance of isolated postsynaptic currents in single cells may be regulated independently of PN/IN proportions, but the network bursts E/I balance and the maturation of spontaneous network activity critically depends upon the structural PN/IN ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxi Xing
- Medizinische Fakultät, Institut für Physiologie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ana Dolabela de Lima
- Medizinische Fakultät, Institut für Physiologie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Voigt
- Medizinische Fakultät, Institut für Physiologie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Magdeburg, Germany
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29
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Abstract
In mammals, the selective transformation of transient experience into stored memory occurs in the hippocampus, which develops representations of specific events in the context in which they occur. In this review, we focus on the development of hippocampal circuits and the self-organized dynamics embedded within them since the latter critically support the role of the hippocampus in learning and memory. We first discuss evidence that adult hippocampal cells and circuits are sculpted by development as early as during embryonic neurogenesis. We argue that these primary developmental programs provide a scaffold onto which later experience of the external world can be grafted. Next, we review the different sequences in the development of hippocampal cells and circuits at anatomical and functional levels. We cover a period extending from neurogenesis and migration to the appearance of phenotypic diversity within hippocampal cells, and their wiring into functional networks. We describe the progressive emergence of network dynamics in the hippocampus, from sensorimotor-driven early sharp waves to sequences of place cells tracking relational information. We outline the critical turn points and discontinuities in that developmental journey, and close by formulating open questions. We propose that rewinding the process of hippocampal development helps understand the main organization principles of memory circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Cossart
- Inserm, INMED, Turing Center for Living Systems, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Rustem Khazipov
- Inserm, INMED, Turing Center for Living Systems, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan Russia
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30
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Nakazawa S, Iwasato T. Spatial organization and transitions of spontaneous neuronal activities in the developing sensory cortex. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:323-339. [PMID: 34166527 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The sensory cortex underlies our ability to perceive and interact with the external world. Sensory perceptions are controlled by specialized neuronal circuits established through fine-tuning, which relies largely on neuronal activity during the development. Spontaneous neuronal activity is an essential driving force of neuronal circuit refinement. At early developmental stages, sensory cortices display spontaneous activities originating from the periphery and characterized by correlated firing arranged spatially according to the modality. The firing patterns are reorganized over time and become sparse, which is typical for the mature brain. This review focuses mainly on rodent sensory cortices. First, the features of the spontaneous activities during early postnatal stages are described. Then, the developmental changes in the spatial organization of the spontaneous activities and the transition mechanisms involved are discussed. The identification of the principles controlling the spatial organization of spontaneous activities in the developing sensory cortex is essential to understand the self-organization process of neuronal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Nakazawa
- Laboratory of Mammalian Neural Circuits, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan.,Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Takuji Iwasato
- Laboratory of Mammalian Neural Circuits, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan.,Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Japan
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31
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Wong Fong Sang IE, Schroer J, Halbhuber L, Warm D, Yang JW, Luhmann HJ, Kilb W, Sinning A. Optogenetically Controlled Activity Pattern Determines Survival Rate of Developing Neocortical Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6575. [PMID: 34205237 PMCID: PMC8235092 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A substantial proportion of neurons undergoes programmed cell death (apoptosis) during early development. This process is attenuated by increased levels of neuronal activity and enhanced by suppression of activity. To uncover whether the mere level of activity or also the temporal structure of electrical activity affects neuronal death rates, we optogenetically controlled spontaneous activity of synaptically-isolated neurons in developing cortical cultures. Our results demonstrate that action potential firing of primary cortical neurons promotes neuronal survival throughout development. Chronic patterned optogenetic stimulation allowed to effectively modulate the firing pattern of single neurons in the absence of synaptic inputs while maintaining stable overall activity levels. Replacing the burst firing pattern with a non-physiological, single pulse pattern significantly increased cell death rates as compared to physiological burst stimulation. Furthermore, physiological burst stimulation led to an elevated peak in intracellular calcium and an increase in the expression level of classical activity-dependent targets but also decreased Bax/BCL-2 expression ratio and reduced caspase 3/7 activity. In summary, these results demonstrate at the single-cell level that the temporal pattern of action potentials is critical for neuronal survival versus cell death fate during cortical development, besides the pro-survival effect of action potential firing per se.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Anne Sinning
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (I.E.W.F.S.); (J.S.); (L.H.); (D.W.); (J.-W.Y.); (H.J.L.); (W.K.)
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32
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Effects of urethane and isoflurane on the sensory evoked response and local blood flow in the early postnatal rat somatosensory cortex. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9567. [PMID: 33953244 PMCID: PMC8099888 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88461-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional studies in the central nervous system are often conducted using anesthesia. While the dose-dependent effects of anesthesia on neuronal activity have been extensively characterized in adults, little is known about the effects of anesthesia on cortical activity and cerebral blood flow in the immature central nervous system. Substitution of electrophysiological recordings with the less-invasive technique of optical intrinsic signal imaging (OIS) in vivo allowed simultaneous recordings of sensory-evoked functional response and local blood flow changes in the neonatal rat barrel cortex. Using OIS we characterize the effects of two widely used anesthetics—urethane and isoflurane. We found that both anesthetics suppressed the sensory-evoked optical intrinsic signal in a dose-dependent manner. Dependence of the cortical response suppression matched the exponential decay model. At experimental levels of anesthesia, urethane affected the evoked cortical response less than isoflurane, which is in agreement with the results of electrophysiological recordings demonstrated by other authors. Changes in oxygenation and local blood flow also showed negative correlation with both anesthetics. The high similarity in immature patterns of activity recorded in different regions of the developing cortex suggested similar principles of development regardless of the cortical region. Therefore the indicated results should be taken into account during functional explorations in the entire developing cortex. Our results also point to urethane as the anesthetic of choice in non-survival experimental recordings in the developing brain as it produces less prominent impairment of cortical neuronal activity in neonatal animals.
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33
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Iannone AF, De Marco García NV. The Emergence of Network Activity Patterns in the Somatosensory Cortex - An Early Window to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Neuroscience 2021; 466:298-309. [PMID: 33887384 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Across mammalian species, patterned activity in neural populations is a prominent feature of developing sensory cortices. Numerous studies have long appreciated the diversity of these patterns, characterizing their differences in spatial and temporal dynamics. In the murine somatosensory cortex, neuronal co-activation is thought to guide the formation of sensory maps and prepare the cortex for sensory processing after birth. While pioneering studies deftly utilized slice electrophysiology and unit recordings to characterize correlated activity, a detailed understanding of the underlying circuits remains poorly understood. More recently, advances in in vivo calcium imaging in awake mouse pups and increasing genetic tractability of neuronal types have allowed unprecedented manipulation of circuit components at select developmental timepoints. These novel approaches have proven fundamental in uncovering the identity of neurons engaged in correlated activity during development. In particular, recent studies have highlighted interneurons as key in refining the spatial extent and temporal progression of patterned activity. Here, we discuss how emergent synchronous activity across the first postnatal weeks is shaped by underlying gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic contributors in the somatosensory cortex. Further, the importance of participation in specific activity patterns per se for neuronal maturation and perdurance will be of particular highlight in this survey of recent literature. Finally, we underscore how aberrant neuronal synchrony and disrupted inhibitory interneuron activity underlie sensory perturbations in neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), emphasizing the importance of future investigative approaches that incorporate the spatiotemporal features of patterned activity alongside the cellular components to probe disordered circuit assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Iannone
- Center for Neurogenetics, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Natalia V De Marco García
- Center for Neurogenetics, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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34
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The extracellular matrix regulates cortical layer dynamics and cross-columnar frequency integration in the auditory cortex. Commun Biol 2021; 4:322. [PMID: 33692502 PMCID: PMC7946889 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01837-4] [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: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In the adult vertebrate brain, enzymatic removal of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is increasingly recognized to promote learning, memory recall, and restorative plasticity. The impact of the ECM on translaminar dynamics during cortical circuit processing is still not understood. Here, we removed the ECM in the primary auditory cortex (ACx) of adult Mongolian gerbils using local injections of hyaluronidase (HYase). Using laminar current-source density (CSD) analysis, we found layer-specific changes of the spatiotemporal synaptic patterns with increased cross-columnar integration and simultaneous weakening of early local sensory input processing within infragranular layers Vb. These changes had an oscillatory fingerprint within beta-band (25-36 Hz) selectively within infragranular layers Vb. To understand the laminar interaction dynamics after ECM digestion, we used time-domain conditional Granger causality (GC) measures to identify the increased drive of supragranular layers towards deeper infragranular layers. These results showed that ECM degradation altered translaminar cortical network dynamics with a stronger supragranular lead of the columnar response profile.
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35
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Zhou J, Lin Y, Huynh T, Noguchi H, Bush JO, Pleasure SJ. NMDA receptors control development of somatosensory callosal axonal projections. eLife 2021; 10:59612. [PMID: 33661095 PMCID: PMC7959694 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Callosal projections from primary somatosensory cortex (S1) are key for processing somatosensory inputs and integrating sensory-motor information. How the callosal innervation pattern in S1 is formed during early postnatal development is not clear. We found that the normal termination pattern of these callosal projections is disrupted in cortex specific NMDAR mutants. Rather than projecting selectively to the primary/secondary somatosensory cortex (S1/S2) border, axons were uniformly distributed throughout S1. In addition, the density of this projection increased over postnatal life until the mice died by P30. By combining genetic and antibody-mediated loss of function, we demonstrated that it is GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors in target S1 that mediate this guidance phenotype, thus playing a central role in interhemispheric connectivity. Furthermore, we found that this function of NMDA receptors in callosal circuit formation is independent of ion channel function and works with the EPHRIN-B/EPHB system. Thus, NMDAR in target S1 cortex regulates the formation callosal circuits perhaps by modulating EPH-dependent repulsion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhou
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Yong Lin
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Department of Neurological Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Trung Huynh
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Hirofumi Noguchi
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Jeffrey O Bush
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, Program in Craniofacial Biology and Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Samuel J Pleasure
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Programs in Neuroscience and Developmental Stem Cell Biology, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, San Francisco, United States
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36
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NMDA Receptor Enhances Correlation of Spontaneous Activity in Neonatal Barrel Cortex. J Neurosci 2021; 41:1207-1217. [PMID: 33372060 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0527-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Correlated spontaneous activity plays critical role in the organization of neocortical circuits during development. However, cortical mechanisms regulating activity correlation are still elusive. In this study, using two-photon calcium imaging of the barrel cortex layer 4 (L4) in living neonatal mice, we found that NMDA receptors (NMDARs) in L4 neurons are important for enhancement of spontaneous activity correlation. Disruption of GluN1 (Grin1), an obligatory NMDAR subunit, in a sparse population of L4 neurons reduced activity correlation between GluN1 knock-out (GluN1KO) neuron pairs within a barrel. This reduction in activity correlation was even detected in L4 neuron pairs in neighboring barrels and most evident when either or both of neurons are located on the barrel edge. Our results provide evidence for the involvement of L4 neuron NMDARs in spatial organization of the spontaneous firing activity of L4 neurons in the neonatal barrel cortex.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Precise wiring of the thalamocortical circuits is necessary for proper sensory information processing, and thalamus-derived correlated spontaneous activity is important for thalamocortical circuit formation. The molecular mechanisms involved in the correlated activity transfer from the thalamus to the neocortex are largely unknown. In vivo two-photon calcium imaging of the neonatal barrel cortex revealed that correlated spontaneous activity between layer four neurons is reduced by mosaic knock-out (KO) of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) obligatory subunit GluN1. Our results suggest that the function of NMDARs in layer four neurons is necessary for the communication between presynaptic and postsynaptic partners during thalamocortical circuit formation.
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37
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Hanganu-Opatz IL, Butt SJB, Hippenmeyer S, De Marco García NV, Cardin JA, Voytek B, Muotri AR. The Logic of Developing Neocortical Circuits in Health and Disease. J Neurosci 2021; 41:813-822. [PMID: 33431633 PMCID: PMC7880298 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1655-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The sensory and cognitive abilities of the mammalian neocortex are underpinned by intricate columnar and laminar circuits formed from an array of diverse neuronal populations. One approach to determining how interactions between these circuit components give rise to complex behavior is to investigate the rules by which cortical circuits are formed and acquire functionality during development. This review summarizes recent research on the development of the neocortex, from genetic determination in neural stem cells through to the dynamic role that specific neuronal populations play in the earliest circuits of neocortex, and how they contribute to emergent function and cognition. While many of these endeavors take advantage of model systems, consideration will also be given to advances in our understanding of activity in nascent human circuits. Such cross-species perspective is imperative when investigating the mechanisms underlying the dysfunction of early neocortical circuits in neurodevelopmental disorders, so that one can identify targets amenable to therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ileana L Hanganu-Opatz
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, 20246, Germany
| | - Simon J B Butt
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PT, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Hippenmeyer
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria
| | - Natalia V De Marco García
- Center for Neurogenetics, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
| | - Jessica A Cardin
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
| | - Bradley Voytek
- University of California San Diego, Department of Cognitive Science, Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, Neurosciences Graduate Program, La Jolla, California 92093
- University of California San Diego, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Alysson R Muotri
- University of California San Diego, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, La Jolla, California 92093
- University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny, La Jolla, California 92037
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38
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Pires J, Nelissen R, Mansvelder HD, Meredith RM. Spontaneous synchronous network activity in the neonatal development of mPFC in mice. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 81:207-225. [PMID: 33453138 PMCID: PMC8048581 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous Synchronous Network Activity (SSA) is a hallmark of neurodevelopment found in numerous central nervous system structures, including neocortex. SSA occurs during restricted developmental time‐windows, commonly referred to as critical periods in sensory neocortex. Although part of the neocortex, the critical period for SSA in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the underlying mechanisms for generation and propagation are unknown. Using Ca2+ imaging and whole‐cell patch‐clamp in an acute mPFC slice mouse model, the development of spontaneous activity and SSA was investigated at cellular and network levels during the two first postnatal weeks. The data revealed that developing mPFC neuronal networks are spontaneously active and exhibit SSA in the first two postnatal weeks, with peak synchronous activity at postnatal days (P)8–9. Networks remain active but are desynchronized by the end of this 2‐week period. SSA was driven by excitatory ionotropic glutamatergic transmission with a small contribution of excitatory GABAergic transmission at early time points. The neurohormone oxytocin desynchronized SSA in the first postnatal week only without affecting concurrent spontaneous activity. By the end of the second postnatal week, inhibiting GABAA receptors restored SSA. These findings point to the emergence of GABAA receptor‐mediated inhibition as a major factor in the termination of SSA in mouse mPFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johny Pires
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics & Cognitive Research, Faculty of Science, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rosalie Nelissen
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics & Cognitive Research, Faculty of Science, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Huibert D Mansvelder
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics & Cognitive Research, Faculty of Science, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rhiannon M Meredith
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics & Cognitive Research, Faculty of Science, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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39
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Rao MS, Mizuno H. Elucidating mechanisms of neuronal circuit formation in layer 4 of the somatosensory cortex via intravital imaging. Neurosci Res 2020; 167:47-53. [PMID: 33309867 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2020.10.007] [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] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The cerebral cortex has complex yet perfectly wired neuronal circuits that are important for high-level brain functions such as perception and cognition. The rodent's somatosensory system is widely used for understanding the mechanisms of circuit formation during early developmental periods. In this review, we summarize the developmental processes of circuit formation in layer 4 of the somatosensory cortex, and we describe the molecules involved in layer 4 circuit formation and neuronal activity-dependent mechanisms of circuit formation. We also introduce the dynamic mechanisms of circuit formation in layer 4 revealed by intravital two-photon imaging technologies, which include time-lapse imaging of neuronal morphology and calcium imaging of neuronal activity in newborn mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhura S Rao
- Laboratory of Multi-dimensional Imaging, International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan; Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Hidenobu Mizuno
- Laboratory of Multi-dimensional Imaging, International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan; Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan.
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40
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Bitzenhofer SH, Pöpplau JA, Hanganu-Opatz I. Gamma activity accelerates during prefrontal development. eLife 2020; 9:e56795. [PMID: 33206597 PMCID: PMC7673781 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gamma oscillations are a prominent activity pattern in the cerebral cortex. While gamma rhythms have been extensively studied in the adult prefrontal cortex in the context of cognitive (dys)functions, little is known about their development. We addressed this issue by using extracellular recordings and optogenetic stimulations in mice across postnatal development. We show that fast rhythmic activity in the prefrontal cortex becomes prominent during the second postnatal week. While initially at about 15 Hz, fast oscillatory activity progressively accelerates with age and stabilizes within gamma frequency range (30-80 Hz) during the fourth postnatal week. Activation of layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons drives fast oscillations throughout development, yet the acceleration of their frequency follows similar temporal dynamics as the maturation of fast-spiking interneurons. These findings uncover the development of prefrontal gamma activity and provide a framework to examine the origin of abnormal gamma activity in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian H Bitzenhofer
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Jastyn A Pöpplau
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Ileana Hanganu-Opatz
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfHamburgGermany
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Wallois F, Routier L, Heberlé C, Mahmoudzadeh M, Bourel-Ponchel E, Moghimi S. Back to basics: the neuronal substrates and mechanisms that underlie the electroencephalogram in premature neonates. Neurophysiol Clin 2020; 51:5-33. [PMID: 33162287 DOI: 10.1016/j.neucli.2020.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Electroencephalography is the only clinically available technique that can address the premature neonate normal and pathological functional development week after week. The changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG) result from gradual structural and functional modifications that arise during the last trimester of pregnancy. Here, we review the structural changes over time that underlie the establishment of functional immature neural networks, the impact of certain anatomical specificities (fontanelles, connectivity, etc.) on the EEG, limitations in EEG interpretation, and the utility of high-resolution EEG (HR-EEG) in premature newborns (a promising technique with a high degree of spatiotemporal resolution). In particular, we classify EEG features according to whether they are manifestations of endogenous generators (i.e. theta activities that coalesce with a slow wave or delta brushes) or come from a broader network. Furthermore, we review publications on EEG in premature animals because the data provide a better understanding of what is happening in premature newborns. We then discuss the results and limitations of functional connectivity analyses in premature newborns. Lastly, we report on the magnetoelectroencephalographic studies of brain activity in the fetus. A better understanding of complex interactions at various structural and functional levels during normal neurodevelopment (as assessed using electroencephalography as a benchmark method) might lead to better clinical care and monitoring for premature neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Wallois
- INSERM U1105, Research Group on Multimodal Analysis of Brain Function, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France; Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux Pédiatrique, Amiens-Picardie Medical Center, Amiens, France.
| | - Laura Routier
- INSERM U1105, Research Group on Multimodal Analysis of Brain Function, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France; Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux Pédiatrique, Amiens-Picardie Medical Center, Amiens, France
| | - Claire Heberlé
- INSERM U1105, Research Group on Multimodal Analysis of Brain Function, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France; Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux Pédiatrique, Amiens-Picardie Medical Center, Amiens, France
| | - Mahdi Mahmoudzadeh
- INSERM U1105, Research Group on Multimodal Analysis of Brain Function, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France; Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux Pédiatrique, Amiens-Picardie Medical Center, Amiens, France
| | - Emilie Bourel-Ponchel
- INSERM U1105, Research Group on Multimodal Analysis of Brain Function, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France; Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux Pédiatrique, Amiens-Picardie Medical Center, Amiens, France
| | - Sahar Moghimi
- INSERM U1105, Research Group on Multimodal Analysis of Brain Function, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France; Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux Pédiatrique, Amiens-Picardie Medical Center, Amiens, France
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Developmental Phase Transitions in Spatial Organization of Spontaneous Activity in Postnatal Barrel Cortex Layer 4. J Neurosci 2020; 40:7637-7650. [PMID: 32887743 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1116-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatially-organized spontaneous activity is a characteristic feature of developing mammalian sensory systems. However, the transitions of spontaneous-activity spatial organization during development and related mechanisms remain largely unknown. We reported previously that layer 4 (L4) glutamatergic neurons in the mouse barrel cortex exhibit spontaneous activity with a patchwork-type pattern at postnatal day (P)5, which is during barrel formation. In the current work, we revealed that spontaneous activity in mouse barrel-cortex L4 glutamatergic neurons exhibits at least three phases during the first two weeks of postnatal development. Phase I activity has a patchwork-type pattern and is observed not only at P5, but also P1, before barrel formation. Phase II is found at P9, by which time barrel formation is completed, and exhibits broadly synchronized activity across barrel borders. Phase III emerges around P11 when L4-neuron activity is desynchronized. The Phase I activity, but not Phase II or III activity, is blocked by thalamic inhibition, demonstrating that the Phase I to II transition is associated with loss of thalamic dependency. Dominant-negative (DN)-Rac1 expression in L4 neurons hampers the Phase II to III transition. It also suppresses developmental increases in spine density and excitatory synapses of L4 neurons in the second postnatal week, suggesting that Rac1-mediated synapse maturation could underlie the Phase II to III transition. Our findings revealed the presence of distinct mechanisms for Phase I to II and Phase II to III transition. They also highlighted the role of a small GTPase in the developmental desynchronization of cortical spontaneous activity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Developing neocortex exhibits spatially-organized spontaneous activity, which plays a critical role in cortical circuit development. The features of spontaneous-activity spatial organization and the mechanisms underlying its changes during development remain largely unknown. In the present study, using two-photon in vivo imaging, we revealed three phases (Phases I, II, and III) of spontaneous activity in barrel-cortex layer 4 (L4) glutamatergic neurons during the first two postnatal weeks. We also demonstrated the presence of distinct mechanisms underlying phase transitions. Phase I to II shift arose from the switch in the L4-neuron driving source, and Phase II to III transition relied on L4-neuron Rac1 activity. These results provide new insights into the principles of developmental transitions of neocortical spontaneous-activity spatial patterns.
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Ciarrusta J, Dimitrova R, McAlonan G. Early maturation of the social brain: How brain development provides a platform for the acquisition of social-cognitive competence. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2020; 254:49-70. [PMID: 32859293 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2020.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Across the last century psychology has provided a lot of insight about social-cognitive competence. Recognizing facial expressions, joint attention, discrimination of cues and experiencing empathy are just a few examples of the social skills humans acquire from birth to adolescence. However, how very early brain maturation provides a platform to support the attainment of highly complex social behavior later in development remains poorly understood. Magnetic Resonance Imaging provides a safe means to investigate the typical and atypical maturation of regions of the brain responsible for social cognition in as early as the perinatal period. Here, we first review some technical challenges and advances of using functional magnetic resonance imaging on developing infants to then describe current knowledge on the development of diverse systems associated with social function. We will then explain how these characteristics might differ in infants with genetic or environmental risk factors, who are vulnerable to atypical neurodevelopment. Finally, given the rapid early development of systems necessary for social skills, we propose a new framework to investigate sensitive time windows of development when neural substrates might be more vulnerable to impairment due to a genetic or environmental insult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Ciarrusta
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ralica Dimitrova
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Grainne McAlonan
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
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Han S, Márquez-Gómez R, Woodman M, Ellender T. Histaminergic Control of Corticostriatal Synaptic Plasticity during Early Postnatal Development. J Neurosci 2020; 40:6557-6571. [PMID: 32709692 PMCID: PMC7486653 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0740-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A reduction in the synthesis of the neuromodulator histamine has been associated with Tourette's syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Symptoms of these disorders are thought to arise from a dysfunction or aberrant development ofcorticostriatal circuits. Here, we investigated how histamine affects developing corticostriatal circuits, both acutely and longer-term, during the first postnatal weeks, using patch-clamp and field recordings in mouse brain slices (C57Bl/6, male and female). Immunohistochemistry for histamine-containing axons reveals striatal histaminergic innervation by the second postnatal week, and qRT-PCR shows transcripts for H1, H2, and H3 histamine receptors in striatum from the first postnatal week onwards, with pronounced developmental increases in H3 receptor expression. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of striatal spiny projection neurons and histamine superfusion demonstrates expression of functional histamine receptors from the first postnatal week onwards, with histamine having diverse effects on their electrical properties, including depolarization of the membrane potential while simultaneously decreasing action potential output. Striatal field recordings and electrical stimulation of corticostriatal afferents revealed that histamine, acting at H3 receptors, negatively modulates corticostriatal synaptic transmission from the first postnatal week onwards. Last, we investigated effects of histamine on longer-term changes at developing corticostriatal synapses and show that histamine facilitates NMDA receptor-dependent LTP via H3 receptors during the second postnatal week, but inhibits synaptic plasticity at later developmental stages. Together, these results show that histamine acutely modulates developing striatal neurons and synapses and controls longer-term changes in developing corticostriatal circuits, thus providing insight into the possible etiology underlying neurodevelopmental disorders resulting from histamine dysregulation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Monogenic causes of neurologic disorders, although rare, can provide opportunities to both study and understand the brain. For example, a nonsense mutation in the coding gene for the histamine-synthesizing enzyme has been associated with Tourette's syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and dysfunction of corticostriatal circuits. Nevertheless, the etiology of these neurodevelopmental disorders and histamine's role in the development of corticostriatal circuits have remained understudied. Here we show that histamine is an active neuromodulator during the earliest periods of postnatal life and acts at developing striatal neurons and synapses. Crucially, we show that histamine permits NMDA receptor-dependent corticostriatal synaptic plasticity during an early critical period of postnatal development, which suggests that genetic or environmental perturbations of histamine levels can impact striatal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungwon Han
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, OX1 3QT, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Myles Woodman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, OX1 3QT, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tommas Ellender
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, OX1 3QT, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Zhang Y, Zhang X. Portrait of visual cortical circuits for generating neural oscillation dynamics. Cogn Neurodyn 2020; 15:3-16. [PMID: 34109010 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-020-09623-4] [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: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The mouse primary visual cortex (V1) has emerged as a classical system to study neural circuit mechanisms underlying visual function and plasticity. A variety of efferent-afferent neuronal connections exists within the V1 and between the V1 and higher visual cortical areas or thalamic nuclei, indicating that the V1 system is more than a mere receiver in information processing. Sensory representations in the V1 are dynamically correlated with neural activity oscillations that are distributed across different cortical layers in an input-dependent manner. Circuits consisting of excitatory pyramidal cells (PCs) and inhibitory interneurons (INs) are the basis for generating neural oscillations. In general, INs are clustered with their adjacent PCs to form specific microcircuits that gate or filter the neural information. The interaction between these two cell populations has to be coordinated within a local circuit in order to preserve neural coding schemes and maintain excitation-inhibition (E-I) balance. Phasic alternations of the E-I balance can dynamically regulate temporal rhythms of neural oscillation. Accumulating experimental evidence suggests that the two major sub-types of INs, parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) cells and somatostatin-expressing (SOM+) INs, are active in controlling slow and fast oscillations, respectively, in the mouse V1. The review summarizes recent experimental findings on elucidating cellular or circuitry mechanisms for the generation of neural oscillations with distinct rhythms in either developing or matured mouse V1, mainly focusing on visual relaying circuits and distinct local inhibitory circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 China
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Kostović I. The enigmatic fetal subplate compartment forms an early tangential cortical nexus and provides the framework for construction of cortical connectivity. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 194:101883. [PMID: 32659318 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The most prominent transient compartment of the primate fetal cortex is the deep, cell-sparse, synapse-containing subplate compartment (SPC). The developmental role of the SPC and its extraordinary size in humans remain enigmatic. This paper evaluates evidence on the development and connectivity of the SPC and discusses its role in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. A synthesis of data shows that the subplate becomes a prominent compartment by its expansion from the deep cortical plate (CP), appearing well-delineated on MR scans and forming a tangential nexus across the hemisphere, consisting of an extracellular matrix, randomly distributed postmigratory neurons, multiple branches of thalamic and long corticocortical axons. The SPC generates early spontaneous non-synaptic and synaptic activity and mediates cortical response upon thalamic stimulation. The subplate nexus provides large-scale interareal connectivity possibly underlying fMR resting-state activity, before corticocortical pathways are established. In late fetal phase, when synapses appear within the CP, transient the SPC coexists with permanent circuitry. The histogenetic role of the SPC is to provide interactive milieu and capacity for guidance, sorting, "waiting" and target selection of thalamocortical and corticocortical pathways. The new evolutionary role of the SPC and its remnant white matter neurons is linked to the increasing number of associative pathways in the human neocortex. These roles attributed to the SPC are regulated using a spatiotemporal gene expression during critical periods, when pathogenic factors may disturb vulnerable circuitry of the SPC, causing neurodevelopmental cognitive circuitry disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivica Kostović
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Salata 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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Whitehead K, Papadelis C, Laudiano-Dray MP, Meek J, Fabrizi L. The Emergence of Hierarchical Somatosensory Processing in Late Prematurity. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:2245-2260. [PMID: 30843584 PMCID: PMC6458926 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The somatosensory system has a hierarchical organization. Information processing increases in complexity from the contralateral primary sensory cortex to bilateral association cortices and this is represented by a sequence of somatosensory-evoked potentials recorded with scalp electroencephalographies. The mammalian somatosensory system matures over the early postnatal period in a rostro-caudal progression, but little is known about the development of hierarchical information processing in the human infant brain. To investigate the normal human development of the somatosensory hierarchy, we recorded potentials evoked by mechanical stimulation of hands and feet in 34 infants between 34 and 42 weeks corrected gestational age, with median postnatal age of 3 days. We show that the shortest latency potential was evoked for both hands and feet at all ages with a contralateral somatotopic source in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI). However, the longer latency responses, localized in SI and beyond, matured with age. They gradually emerged for the foot and, although always present for the hand, showed a shift from purely contralateral to bilateral hemispheric activation. These results demonstrate the rostro-caudal development of human somatosensory hierarchy and suggest that the development of its higher tiers is complete only just before the time of normal birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Whitehead
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
| | - C Papadelis
- Laboratory of Children's Brain Dynamics, Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M P Laudiano-Dray
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
| | - J Meek
- Neonatal Unit, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
| | - L Fabrizi
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
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48
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Felix L, Stephan J, Rose CR. Astrocytes of the early postnatal brain. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 54:5649-5672. [PMID: 32406559 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In the rodent forebrain, the majority of astrocytes are generated during the early postnatal phase. Following differentiation, astrocytes undergo maturation which accompanies the development of the neuronal network. Neonate astrocytes exhibit a distinct morphology and domain size which differs to their mature counterparts. Moreover, many of the plasma membrane proteins prototypical for fully developed astrocytes are only expressed at low levels at neonatal stages. These include connexins and Kir4.1, which define the low membrane resistance and highly negative membrane potential of mature astrocytes. Newborn astrocytes moreover express only low amounts of GLT-1, a glutamate transporter critical later in development. Furthermore, they show specific differences in the properties and spatio-temporal pattern of intracellular calcium signals, resulting from differences in their repertoire of receptors and signalling pathways. Therefore, roles fulfilled by mature astrocytes, including ion and transmitter homeostasis, are underdeveloped in the young brain. Similarly, astrocytic ion signalling in response to neuronal activity, a process central to neuron-glia interaction, differs between the neonate and mature brain. This review describes the unique functional properties of astrocytes in the first weeks after birth and compares them to later stages of development. We conclude that with an immature neuronal network and wider extracellular space, astrocytic support might not be as demanding and critical compared to the mature brain. The delayed differentiation and maturation of astrocytes in the first postnatal weeks might thus reflect a reduced need for active, energy-consuming regulation of the extracellular space and a less tight control of glial feedback onto synaptic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Felix
- Institute of Neurobiology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Jonathan Stephan
- Institute of Neurobiology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Christine R Rose
- Institute of Neurobiology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
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Self-Generated Whisker Movements Drive State-Dependent Sensory Input to Developing Barrel Cortex. Curr Biol 2020; 30:2404-2410.e4. [PMID: 32413304 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Cortical development is an activity-dependent process [1-3]. Regarding the role of activity in the developing somatosensory cortex, one persistent debate concerns the importance of sensory feedback from self-generated movements. Specifically, recent studies claim that cortical activity is generated intrinsically, independent of movement [3, 4]. However, other studies claim that behavioral state moderates the relationship between movement and cortical activity [5-7]. Thus, perhaps inattention to behavioral state leads to failures to detect movement-driven activity [8]. Here, we resolve this issue by associating local field activity (i.e., spindle bursts) and unit activity in the barrel cortex of 5-day-old rats with whisker movements during wake and myoclonic twitches of the whiskers during active (REM) sleep. Barrel activity increased significantly within 500 ms of whisker movements, especially after twitches. Also, higher-amplitude movements were more likely to trigger barrel activity; when we controlled for movement amplitude, barrel activity was again greater after a twitch than a wake movement. We then inverted the analysis to assess the likelihood that increases in barrel activity were preceded within 500 ms by whisker movements: at least 55% of barrel activity was attributable to sensory feedback from whisker movements. Finally, when periods with and without movement were compared, 70%-75% of barrel activity was movement related. These results confirm the importance of sensory feedback from movements in driving activity in sensorimotor cortex and underscore the necessity of monitoring sleep-wake states to ensure accurate assessments of the contributions of the sensory periphery to activity in developing somatosensory cortex.
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50
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Flossmann T, Kaas T, Rahmati V, Kiebel SJ, Witte OW, Holthoff K, Kirmse K. Somatostatin Interneurons Promote Neuronal Synchrony in the Neonatal Hippocampus. Cell Rep 2020; 26:3173-3182.e5. [PMID: 30893591 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.02.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Synchronized activity is a universal characteristic of immature neural circuits that is essential for their developmental refinement and strongly depends on GABAergic neurotransmission. A major subpopulation of GABA-releasing interneurons (INs) expresses somatostatin (SOM) and proved critical for rhythm generation in adulthood. Here, we report a mechanism whereby SOM INs promote neuronal synchrony in the neonatal CA1 region. Combining imaging and electrophysiological approaches, we demonstrate that SOM INs and pyramidal cells (PCs) coactivate during spontaneous activity. Bidirectional optogenetic manipulations reveal excitatory GABAergic outputs to PCs that evoke correlated network events in an NKCC1-dependent manner and contribute to spontaneous synchrony. Using a dynamic systems modeling approach, we show that SOM INs affect network dynamics through a modulation of network instability and amplification threshold. Our study identifies a network function of SOM INs with implications for the activity-dependent construction of developing brain circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Flossmann
- Hans-Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Kaas
- Hans-Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Vahid Rahmati
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01187 Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan J Kiebel
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01187 Dresden, Germany
| | - Otto W Witte
- Hans-Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Knut Holthoff
- Hans-Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Knut Kirmse
- Hans-Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany.
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