1
|
Anneser L, Satou C, Hotz HR, Friedrich RW. Molecular organization of neuronal cell types and neuromodulatory systems in the zebrafish telencephalon. Curr Biol 2024; 34:298-312.e4. [PMID: 38157860 PMCID: PMC10808507 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The function of neuronal networks is determined not only by synaptic connectivity but also by neuromodulatory systems that broadcast information via distributed connections and volume transmission. To understand the molecular constraints that organize neuromodulatory signaling in the telencephalon of adult zebrafish, we used transcriptomics and additional approaches to delineate cell types, to determine their phylogenetic conservation, and to map the expression of marker genes at high granularity. The combinatorial expression of GPCRs and cell-type markers indicates that all neuronal cell types are subject to modulation by multiple monoaminergic systems and distinct combinations of neuropeptides. Individual cell types were associated with multiple (typically >30) neuromodulatory signaling networks but expressed only a few diagnostic GPCRs at high levels, suggesting that different neuromodulatory systems act in combination, albeit with unequal weights. These results provide a detailed map of cell types and brain areas in the zebrafish telencephalon, identify core components of neuromodulatory networks, highlight the cell-type specificity of neuropeptides and GPCRs, and begin to decipher the logic of combinatorial neuromodulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Anneser
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Chie Satou
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Rudolf Hotz
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rainer W Friedrich
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Novel object recognition in Octopus maya. Anim Cogn 2023; 26:1065-1072. [PMID: 36809584 PMCID: PMC10066149 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01753-6] [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: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
The Novel Object Recognition task (NOR) is widely used to study vertebrates' memory. It has been proposed as an adequate model for studying memory in different taxonomic groups, allowing similar and comparable results. Although in cephalopods, several research reports could indicate that they recognize objects in their environment, it has not been tested as an experimental paradigm that allows studying different memory phases. This study shows that two-month-old and older Octopus maya subjects can differentiate between a new object and a known one, but one-month-old subjects cannot. Furthermore, we observed that octopuses use vision and tactile exploration of new objects to achieve object recognition, while familiar objects only need to be explored visually. To our knowledge, this is the first time showing an invertebrate performing the NOR task similarly to how it is performed in vertebrates. These results establish a guide to studying object recognition memory in octopuses and the ontological development of that memory.
Collapse
|
3
|
Hettiarachchi P, Johnson MA. Characterization of D3 Autoreceptor Function in Whole Zebrafish Brain with Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:2863-2873. [PMID: 36099546 PMCID: PMC10105970 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are ideal model organisms for investigating nervous system function, both in health and disease. Nevertheless, functional characteristics of dopamine (DA) release and uptake regulation are still not well-understood in zebrafish. In this study, we assessed D3 autoreceptor function in the telencephalon of whole zebrafish brains ex vivo by measuring the electrically stimulated DA release ([DA]max) and uptake at carbon fiber microelectrodes with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry. Treatment with pramipexole and 7-OH-DPAT, selective D3 autoreceptor agonists, sharply decreased [DA]max. Conversely, SB277011A, a selective D3 antagonist, nearly doubled [DA]max and decreased k, the first-order rate constant for the DA uptake, to about 20% of its original value. Treatment with desipramine, a selective norepinephrine transporter blocker, failed to increase current, suggesting that our electrochemical signal arises solely from the release of DA. Furthermore, blockage of DA uptake with nomifensine-reversed 7-OH-DPAT induced decreases in [DA]max. Collectively, our data show that, as in mammals, D3 autoreceptors regulate DA release, likely by inhibiting uptake. The results of this study are useful in the further development of zebrafish as a model organism for DA-related neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and drug addiction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piyanka Hettiarachchi
- Department of Chemistry and R.N. Adams Institute for Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045
| | - Michael A Johnson
- Department of Chemistry and R.N. Adams Institute for Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Miri A, Bhasin BJ, Aksay ERF, Tank DW, Goldman MS. Oculomotor plant and neural dynamics suggest gaze control requires integration on distributed timescales. J Physiol 2022; 600:3837-3863. [PMID: 35789005 PMCID: PMC10010930 DOI: 10.1113/jp282496] [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: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental principle of biological motor control is that the neural commands driving movement must conform to the response properties of the motor plants they control. In the oculomotor system, characterizations of oculomotor plant dynamics traditionally supported models in which the plant responds to neural drive to extraocular muscles on exclusively short, subsecond timescales. These models predict that the stabilization of gaze during fixations between saccades requires neural drive that approximates eye position on longer timescales and is generated through the temporal integration of brief eye velocity-encoding signals that cause saccades. However, recent measurements of oculomotor plant behaviour have revealed responses on longer timescales. Furthermore, measurements of firing patterns in the oculomotor integrator have revealed a more complex encoding of eye movement dynamics. Yet, the link between these observations has remained unclear. Here we use measurements from the larval zebrafish to link dynamics in the oculomotor plant to dynamics in the neural integrator. The oculomotor plant in both anaesthetized and awake larval zebrafish was characterized by a broad distribution of response timescales, including those much longer than 1 s. Analysis of the firing patterns of oculomotor integrator neurons, which exhibited a broadly distributed range of decay time constants, demonstrates the sufficiency of this activity for stabilizing gaze given an oculomotor plant with distributed response timescales. This work suggests that leaky integration on multiple, distributed timescales by the oculomotor integrator reflects an inverse model for generating oculomotor commands, and that multi-timescale dynamics may be a general feature of motor circuitry. KEY POINTS: Recent observations of oculomotor plant response properties and neural activity across the oculomotor system have called into question classical formulations of both the oculomotor plant and the oculomotor integrator. Here we use measurements from new and published experiments in the larval zebrafish together with modelling to reconcile recent oculomotor plant observations with oculomotor integrator function. We developed computational techniques to characterize oculomotor plant responses over several seconds in awake animals, demonstrating that long timescale responses seen in anaesthetized animals extend to the awake state. Analysis of firing patterns of oculomotor integrator neurons demonstrates the sufficiency of this activity for stabilizing gaze given an oculomotor plant with multiple, distributed response timescales. Our results support a formulation of gaze stabilization by the oculomotor system in which commands for stabilizing gaze are generated through integration on multiple, distributed timescales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Miri
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Bezos Center for Neural Circuit Dynamics, and the Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Brandon J Bhasin
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Emre R F Aksay
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine and the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - David W Tank
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Bezos Center for Neural Circuit Dynamics, and the Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Mark S Goldman
- Center for Neuroscience, Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, and Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chin JSR, Phan TAN, Albert LT, Keene AC, Duboué ER. Long lasting anxiety following early life stress is dependent on glucocorticoid signaling in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12826. [PMID: 35896563 PMCID: PMC9329305 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16257-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic adversity in early childhood is associated with increased anxiety and a propensity for substance abuse later in adulthood, yet the effects of early life stress (ELS) on brain development remain poorly understood. The zebrafish, Danio rerio, is a powerful model for studying neurodevelopment and stress. Here, we describe a zebrafish model of ELS and identify a role for glucocorticoid signaling during a critical window in development that leads to long-term changes in brain function. Larval fish subjected to chronic stress in early development exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior and elevated glucocorticoid levels later in life. Increased stress-like behavior was only observed when fish were subjected to ELS within a precise time window in early development, revealing a temporal critical window of sensitivity. Moreover, enhanced anxiety-like behavior only emerges after two months post-ELS, revealing a developmentally specified delay in the effects of ELS. ELS leads to increased levels of baseline cortisol, and resulted in a dysregulation of cortisol receptors' mRNA expression, suggesting long-term effects on cortisol signaling. Together, these findings reveal a 'critical window' for ELS to affect developmental reprogramming of the glucocorticoid receptor pathway, resulting in chronic elevated stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline S R Chin
- Jupiter Life Science Initiative, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL, 33407, USA
| | - Tram-Anh N Phan
- Jupiter Life Science Initiative, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL, 33407, USA
| | - Lydia T Albert
- Jupiter Life Science Initiative, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL, 33407, USA
| | - Alex C Keene
- College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, 3258 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Erik R Duboué
- Jupiter Life Science Initiative, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL, 33407, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Nathan FM, Kibat C, Goel T, Stewart J, Claridge‐Chang A, Mathuru AS. Contingent stimulus delivery assay for zebrafish reveals a role for CCSER1 in alcohol preference. Addict Biol 2022; 27:e13126. [PMID: 35229935 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorders are complex, multifactorial phenomena with a large footprint within the global burden of diseases. Here, we report the development of an accessible, two-choice self-administration zebrafish assay (SAZA) to study the neurobiology of addiction. Using this assay, we first demonstrated that, although zebrafish avoid higher concentrations of alcohol, they are attracted to low concentrations. Pre-exposure to alcohol did not change this relative preference, but acute exposure to an alcohol deterrent approved for human use decreased alcohol self-administration. A pigment mutant used in whole-brain imaging studies displayed a similar relative alcohol preference profile; however, mutants in CCSER1, a gene associated with alcohol dependence in human genetic studies, showed a reversal in relative preference. The presence of a biphasic response (hormesis) in zebrafish validated a key aspect of vertebrate responses to alcohol. SAZA adds a new dimension for discovering novel alcohol deterrents and studying the neurogenetics of addiction using the zebrafish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Caroline Kibat
- Department of Physiology, YLL School of Medicine National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
| | - Tanisha Goel
- Department of Physiology, YLL School of Medicine National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
| | - James Stewart
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology Singapore Singapore
- Duke‐NUS Medical School Singapore Singapore
| | - Adam Claridge‐Chang
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology Singapore Singapore
- Duke‐NUS Medical School Singapore Singapore
| | - Ajay S. Mathuru
- Yale‐NUS College Singapore Singapore
- Department of Physiology, YLL School of Medicine National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology Singapore Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Karuppan SJ, Vogt A, Fischer Z, Ladutska A, Swiastyn J, McGraw HF, Bouyain S. Members of the vertebrate contactin and amyloid precursor protein families interact through a conserved interface. J Biol Chem 2021; 298:101541. [PMID: 34958801 PMCID: PMC8808184 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Contactins (CNTNs) are neural cell adhesion molecules that encode axon-target specificity during the patterning of the vertebrate visual and olfactory systems. Because CNTNs are tethered to the plasma membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor, they lack an intracellular region to communicate across the membrane. Instead, they form coreceptor complexes with distinct transmembrane proteins to transmit signals inside the cell. In particular, a complex of CNTN4 and amyloid precursor protein (APP) is known to guide the assembly of specific circuits in the visual system. Here, using in situ hybridization in zebrafish embryos, we show that CNTN4, CNTN5, and the APP homologs, amyloid beta precursor like protein 1 and amyloid beta precursor like protein 2, are expressed in olfactory pits, suggesting that these receptors may also function together in the organization of olfactory tissues. Furthermore, we use biochemical and structural approaches to characterize interactions between members of these two receptor families. In particular, APP and amyloid beta precursor like protein 1 interact with CNTN3–5, whereas amyloid beta precursor like protein 2 only binds to CNTN4 and CNTN5. Finally, structural analyses of five CNTN–amyloid pairs indicate that these proteins interact through a conserved interface involving the second fibronectin type III repeat of CNTNs and the copper-binding domain of amyloid proteins. Overall, this work sets the stage for analyzing CNTN–amyloid-mediated connectivity in vertebrate sensory circuits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian J Karuppan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5009 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
| | - Alex Vogt
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5009 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
| | - Zachary Fischer
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5009 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
| | - Aliona Ladutska
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5009 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
| | - Jonathan Swiastyn
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5009 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
| | - Hillary F McGraw
- Department of Genetics, Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5009 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
| | - Samuel Bouyain
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5009 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Umans RA, Ten Kate M, Pollock C, Sontheimer H. Fishing for Contact: Modeling Perivascular Glioma Invasion in the Zebrafish Brain. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2021; 4:1295-1305. [PMID: 34423267 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly invasive, central nervous system (CNS) cancer for which there is no cure. Invading tumor cells evade treatment, limiting the efficacy of the current standard of care regimen. Understanding the underlying invasive behaviors that support tumor growth may allow for generation of novel GBM therapies. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are attractive for genetics and live imaging and have, in recent years, emerged as a model system suitable for cancer biology research. While other groups have studied CNS tumors using zebrafish, few have concentrated on the invasive behaviors supporting the development of these diseases. Previous studies demonstrated that one of the main mechanisms of GBM invasion is perivascular invasion, i.e., single tumor cell migration along blood vessels. Here, we characterize phenotypes, methodology, and potential therapeutic avenues for utilizing zebrafish to model perivascular GBM invasion. Using patient-derived xenolines or an adherent cell line, we demonstrate tumor expansion within the zebrafish brain. Within 24-h postintracranial injection, D54-MG-tdTomato glioma cells produce fingerlike projections along the zebrafish brain vasculature. As few as 25 GBM cells were sufficient to promote single cell vessel co-option. Of note, these tumor-vessel interactions are CNS specific and do not occur on pre-existing blood vessels when injected into the animal's peripheral tissue. Tumor-vessel interactions increase over time and can be pharmacologically disrupted through inhibition of Wnt signaling. Therefore, zebrafish serve as a favorable model system to study perivascular glioma invasion, one of the deadly characteristics that make GBM so difficult to treat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robyn A Umans
- Center for Glial Biology in Health, Disease, and Cancer, The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, United States
| | - Mattie Ten Kate
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hall, 210 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Carolyn Pollock
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hall, 210 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Harald Sontheimer
- Center for Glial Biology in Health, Disease, and Cancer, The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, United States.,School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hall, 210 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Costa KCM, Brigante TAV, Fernandes GG, Scomparin DS, Scarante FF, de Oliveira DP, Campos AC. Zebrafish as a Translational Model: An Experimental Alternative to Study the Mechanisms Involved in Anosmia and Possible Neurodegenerative Aspects of COVID-19? eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0027-21.2021. [PMID: 33952614 PMCID: PMC8174008 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0027-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) presents a variability of clinical symptoms, ranging from asymptomatic to severe respiratory and systemic conditions. In a cohort of patients, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), beyond the classical respiratory manifestations, induces anosmia. Evidence has suggested SARS-CoV-2-induced anosmia can be the result of neurodegeneration of the olfactory pathway. Neurologic symptoms associated with COVID-19 have been reported; however, the precise mechanism and possible long-lasting effects remain poorly investigated. Preclinical models are valuable tools for describing and testing new possible treatments for neurologic disorders. In this way, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) organism model represents an attractive tool in the field of neuroscience, showing economic and logistic advantages besides genetic and physiologic similarities with mammalian, including the brain structure and functions. Besides, its external embryonic development, high availability of eggs, and fast development allows easy genetic manipulation and fast replications. In the present review, we suggest that the zebrafish model can be advantageous to investigate the neurologic features of COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karla C M Costa
- Pharmacology of Neuroplasticity Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 14049-900,
| | - Tamires A V Brigante
- Pharmacology of Neuroplasticity Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 14049-900
| | - Gabriel G Fernandes
- Pharmacology of Neuroplasticity Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 14049-900
| | - Davi S Scomparin
- Pharmacology of Neuroplasticity Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 14049-900
| | - Franciele F Scarante
- Pharmacology of Neuroplasticity Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 14049-900
| | - Danielle P de Oliveira
- EcoHumanTox Laboratory, Department of Clinical, Toxicological and Bromatological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil 14049-900
| | - Alline C Campos
- Pharmacology of Neuroplasticity Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 14049-900
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Friedrich RW, Wanner AA. Dense Circuit Reconstruction to Understand Neuronal Computation: Focus on Zebrafish. Annu Rev Neurosci 2021; 44:275-293. [PMID: 33730512 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-110220-013050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The dense reconstruction of neuronal wiring diagrams from volumetric electron microscopy data has the potential to generate fundamentally new insights into mechanisms of information processing and storage in neuronal circuits. Zebrafish provide unique opportunities for dynamical connectomics approaches that combine reconstructions of wiring diagrams with measurements of neuronal population activity and behavior. Such approaches have the power to reveal higher-order structure in wiring diagrams that cannot be detected by sparse sampling of connectivity and that is essential for neuronal computations. In the brain stem, recurrently connected neuronal modules were identified that can account for slow, low-dimensional dynamics in an integrator circuit. In the spinal cord, connectivity specifies functional differences between premotor interneurons. In the olfactory bulb, tuning-dependent connectivity implements a whitening transformation that is based on the selective suppression of responses to overrepresented stimulus features. These findings illustrate the potential of dynamical connectomics in zebrafish to analyze the circuit mechanisms underlying higher-order neuronal computations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rainer W Friedrich
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; .,Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Adrian A Wanner
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Burbano-L. DA, Porfiri M. Modeling multi-sensory feedback control of zebrafish in a flow. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008644. [PMID: 33481795 PMCID: PMC7857640 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how animals navigate complex environments is a fundamental challenge in biology and a source of inspiration for the design of autonomous systems in engineering. Animal orientation and navigation is a complex process that integrates multiple senses, whose function and contribution are yet to be fully clarified. Here, we propose a data-driven mathematical model of adult zebrafish engaging in counter-flow swimming, an innate behavior known as rheotaxis. Zebrafish locomotion in a two-dimensional fluid flow is described within the finite-dipole model, which consists of a pair of vortices separated by a constant distance. The strength of these vortices is adjusted in real time by the fish to afford orientation and navigation control, in response to of the multi-sensory input from vision, lateral line, and touch. Model parameters for the resulting stochastic differential equations are calibrated through a series of experiments, in which zebrafish swam in a water channel under different illumination conditions. The accuracy of the model is validated through the study of a series of measures of rheotactic behavior, contrasting results of real and in-silico experiments. Our results point at a critical role of hydromechanical feedback during rheotaxis, in the form of a gradient-following strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Burbano-L.
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Maurizio Porfiri
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York City, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York City, New York, USA
- Center for Urban Sciences and Progress, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York City, New York, USA
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Chin JSR, Loomis CL, Albert LT, Medina-Trenche S, Kowalko J, Keene AC, Duboué ER. Analysis of stress responses in Astyanax larvae reveals heterogeneity among different populations. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2020; 334:486-496. [PMID: 32767504 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Stress responses are conserved physiological and behavioral outcomes as a result of facing potentially harmful stimuli, yet in pathological states, stress becomes debilitating. Stress responses vary considerably throughout the animal kingdom, but how these responses are shaped evolutionarily is unknown. The Mexican cavefish has emerged as a powerful system for examining genetic principles underlying behavioral evolution. Here, we demonstrate that cave Astyanax have reduced behavioral and physiological measures of stress when examined at larval stages. We also find increased expression of the glucocorticoid receptor, a repressible element of the neuroendocrine stress pathway. Additionally, we examine stress in three different cave populations, and find that some, but not all, show reduced stress measures. Together, these results reveal a mechanistic system by which cave-dwelling fish reduced stress, presumably to compensate for a predator poor environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline S R Chin
- Program in Neurogenetics, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida.,Department of Biological Science, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Cody L Loomis
- Program in Neurogenetics, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida.,Department of Biological Science, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Lydia T Albert
- Program in Neurogenetics, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida.,Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Shirley Medina-Trenche
- Program in Neurogenetics, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida.,Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Johanna Kowalko
- Program in Neurogenetics, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida.,Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Alex C Keene
- Program in Neurogenetics, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida.,Department of Biological Science, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Erik R Duboué
- Program in Neurogenetics, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida.,Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Mathuru AS, Libersat F, Vyas A, Teseo S. Why behavioral neuroscience still needs diversity?: A curious case of a persistent need. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 116:130-141. [PMID: 32565172 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In the past few decades, a substantial portion of neuroscience research has moved from studies conducted across a spectrum of animals to reliance on a few species. While this undoubtedly promotes consistency, in-depth analysis, and a better claim to unraveling molecular mechanisms, investing heavily in a subset of species also restricts the type of questions that can be asked, and impacts the generalizability of findings. A conspicuous body of literature has long advocated the need to expand the diversity of animal systems used in neuroscience research. Part of this need is utilitarian with respect to translation, but the remaining is the knowledge that historically, a diverse set of species were instrumental in obtaining transformative understanding. We argue that diversifying matters also because the current approach limits the scope of what can be discovered. Technological advancements are already bridging several practical gaps separating these two worlds. What remains is a wholehearted embrace by the community that has benefitted from past history. We suggest the time for it is now.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ajay S Mathuru
- Yale-NUS College, 12 College Avenue West, Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A⁎STAR, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore; Dept. of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Frédéric Libersat
- Dept. of Life Sciences and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 8410501 Israel
| | - Ajai Vyas
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, 637551, Singapore
| | - Serafino Teseo
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, 637551, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Cellular Localization of gdnf in Adult Zebrafish Brain. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10050286. [PMID: 32403347 PMCID: PMC7288084 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10050286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) was initially described as important for dopaminergic neuronal survival and is involved in many other essential functions in the central nervous system. Characterization of GDNF phenotype in mammals is well described; however, studies in non-mammalian vertebrate models are scarce. Here, we characterized the anatomical distribution of gdnf-expressing cells in adult zebrafish brain by means of combined in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry. Our results revealed that gdnf was widely dispersed in the brain. gdnf transcripts were co-localized with radial glial cells along the ventricular area of the telencephalon and in the hypothalamus. Interestingly, Sox2 positive cells expressed gdnf in the neuronal layer but not in the ventricular zone of the telencephalon. A subset of GABAergic precursor cells labeled with dlx6a-1.4kbdlx5a/6a: green fluorescence protein (GFP) in the pallium, parvocellular preoptic nucleus, and the anterior and dorsal zones of the periventricular hypothalamus also showed expression with gdnf mRNA. In addition, gdnf signals were detected in subsets of dopaminergic neurons, including those in the ventral diencephalon, similar to what is seen in mammalian brain. Our work extends our knowledge of gdnf action sites and suggests a potential role for gdnf in adult brain neurogenesis and regeneration.
Collapse
|
15
|
A virtual reality system to analyze neural activity and behavior in adult zebrafish. Nat Methods 2020; 17:343-351. [PMID: 32123394 PMCID: PMC7100911 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-020-0759-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Virtual realities are powerful tools to analyze and manipulate interactions between animals and their environment and to enable measurements of neuronal activity during behavior. In many species, however, optical access to the brain and/or the behavioral repertoire are limited. We developed a high-resolution virtual reality for head-restrained adult zebrafish, which exhibit cognitive behaviors not shown by larvae. We noninvasively measured activity throughout the dorsal telencephalon by multiphoton calcium imaging. Fish in the virtual reality showed regular swimming patterns and were attracted to animations of conspecifics. Manipulations of visuo-motor feedback revealed neurons that responded selectively to the mismatch between the expected and the actual visual consequences of motor output. Such error signals were prominent in multiple telencephalic areas, consistent with models of predictive processing. A virtual reality system for adult zebrafish therefore provides opportunities to analyze neuronal processing mechanisms underlying higher brain functions including decision making, associative learning, and social interactions.
Collapse
|
16
|
Tian W, Czopka T, López-Schier H. Systemic loss of Sarm1 protects Schwann cells from chemotoxicity by delaying axon degeneration. Commun Biol 2020; 3:49. [PMID: 32001778 PMCID: PMC6992705 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-0776-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Protecting the nervous system from chronic effects of physical and chemical stress is a pressing clinical challenge. The obligate pro-degenerative protein Sarm1 is essential for Wallerian axon degeneration. Thus, blocking Sarm1 function is emerging as a promising neuroprotective strategy with therapeutic relevance. Yet, the conditions that will most benefit from inhibiting Sarm1 remain undefined. Here we combine genome engineering, pharmacology and high-resolution intravital videmicroscopy in zebrafish to show that genetic elimination of Sarm1 increases Schwann-cell resistance to toxicity by diverse chemotherapeutic agents after axonal injury. Synthetic degradation of Sarm1-deficient axons reversed this effect, suggesting that glioprotection is a non-autonomous effect of delayed axon degeneration. Moreover, loss of Sarm1 does not affect macrophage recruitment to nerve-wound microenvironment, injury resolution, or neural-circuit repair. These findings anticipate that interventions aimed at inhibiting Sarm1 can counter heightened glial vulnerability to chemical stressors and may be an effective strategy to reduce chronic consequences of neurotrauma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weili Tian
- Sensory Biology & Organogenesis, Helmholtz Zentrum Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tim Czopka
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Gawel K, Banono NS, Michalak A, Esguerra CV. A critical review of zebrafish schizophrenia models: Time for validation? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:6-22. [PMID: 31381931 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects 1% of the population worldwide and is manifested as a broad spectrum of symptoms, from hallucinations to memory impairment. It is believed that genetic and/or environmental factors may contribute to the occurrence of this disease. Recently, the zebrafish has emerged as a valuable and attractive model for various neurological disorders including schizophrenia. In this review, we describe current pharmacological models of schizophrenia with special emphasis on providing insights into the pros and cons of using zebrafish as a behavioural model of this disease. Moreover, we highlight the advantages and utility of using zebrafish for elucidating the genetic mechanisms underlying this psychiatric disorder. We believe that the zebrafish has high potential also in the area of precision medicine and may complement the development of therapeutics, especially for pharmacoresistant patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gawel
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego St. 8b, 20-090, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Nancy Saana Banono
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Agnieszka Michalak
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki St. 4A, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Camila V Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Kunst M, Laurell E, Mokayes N, Kramer A, Kubo F, Fernandes AM, Förster D, Dal Maschio M, Baier H. A Cellular-Resolution Atlas of the Larval Zebrafish Brain. Neuron 2019; 103:21-38.e5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
19
|
Engineering brain activity patterns by neuromodulator polytherapy for treatment of disorders. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2620. [PMID: 31197165 PMCID: PMC6565674 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10541-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional drug screens and treatments often ignore the underlying complexity of brain network dysfunctions, resulting in suboptimal outcomes. Here we ask whether we can correct abnormal functional connectivity of the entire brain by identifying and combining multiple neuromodulators that perturb connectivity in complementary ways. Our approach avoids the combinatorial complexity of screening all drug combinations. We develop a high-speed platform capable of imaging more than 15000 neurons in 50ms to map the entire brain functional connectivity in large numbers of vertebrates under many conditions. Screening a panel of drugs in a zebrafish model of human Dravet syndrome, we show that even drugs with related mechanisms of action can modulate functional connectivity in significantly different ways. By clustering connectivity fingerprints, we algorithmically select small subsets of complementary drugs and rapidly identify combinations that are significantly more effective at correcting abnormal networks and reducing spontaneous seizures than monotherapies, while minimizing behavioral side effects. Even at low concentrations, our polytherapy performs superior to individual drugs even at highest tolerated concentrations. Brain disorders are associated with network dysfunctions that are not addressed by conventional drug screens. Here, the authors use high-throughput functional imaging of brain activity in zebrafish larvae to study the effects of individual drugs on network connectivity and demonstrate an algorithm that predicts the most effective drug combinations to normalize both the activity patterns and the animal behavior.
Collapse
|
20
|
Calvo-Ochoa E, Byrd-Jacobs CA. The Olfactory System of Zebrafish as a Model for the Study of Neurotoxicity and Injury: Implications for Neuroplasticity and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20071639. [PMID: 30986990 PMCID: PMC6480214 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20071639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The olfactory system, composed of the olfactory organs and the olfactory bulb, allows organisms to interact with their environment and through the detection of odor signals. Olfaction mediates behaviors pivotal for survival, such as feeding, mating, social behavior, and danger assessment. The olfactory organs are directly exposed to the milieu, and thus are particularly vulnerable to damage by environmental pollutants and toxicants, such as heavy metals, pesticides, and surfactants, among others. Given the widespread occurrence of olfactory toxicants, there is a pressing need to understand the effects of these harmful compounds on olfactory function. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a valuable model for studying human physiology, disease, and toxicity. Additionally, the anatomical components of the zebrafish olfactory system are similar to those of other vertebrates, and they present a remarkable degree of regeneration and neuroplasticity, making it an ideal model for the study of regeneration, reorganization and repair mechanisms following olfactory toxicant exposure. In this review, we focus on (1) the anatomical, morphological, and functional organization of the olfactory system of zebrafish; (2) the adverse effects of olfactory toxicants and injury to the olfactory organ; and (3) remodeling and repair neuroplasticity mechanisms following injury and degeneration by olfactory toxicant exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika Calvo-Ochoa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5410, USA.
| | - Christine A Byrd-Jacobs
- Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5410, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Rapid olfactory discrimination learning in adult zebrafish. Exp Brain Res 2018; 236:2959-2969. [PMID: 30088022 PMCID: PMC6223846 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-018-5352-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The zebrafish is a model organism to study olfactory information processing, but efficient behavioral procedures to analyze olfactory discrimination and memory are lacking. We devised an automated odor discrimination task for adult zebrafish based on olfactory conditioning of feeding behavior. Presentation of a conditioned odor (CS+), but not a neutral odor (CS−) was followed by food delivery at a specific location. Fish developed differential behavioral responses to CS+ and CS− within a few trials. The behavioral response to the CS+ was complex and included components reminiscent of food search such as increased swimming speed and water surface sampling. Appetitive behavior was therefore quantified by a composite score that combined measurements of multiple behavioral parameters. Robust discrimination behavior was observed in different strains, even when odors were chemically similar, and learned preferences could overcome innate odor preferences. These results confirm that zebrafish can rapidly learn to make fine odor discriminations. The procedure is efficient and provides novel opportunities to dissect the neural mechanisms underlying olfactory discrimination and memory.
Collapse
|
22
|
Monesson-Olson B, McClain JJ, Case AE, Dorman HE, Turkewitz DR, Steiner AB, Downes GB. Expression of the eight GABAA receptor α subunits in the developing zebrafish central nervous system. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196083. [PMID: 29702678 PMCID: PMC5922542 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
GABA is a robust regulator of both developing and mature neural networks. It exerts many of its effects through GABAA receptors, which are heteropentamers assembled from a large array of subunits encoded by distinct genes. In mammals, there are 19 different GABAA subunit types, which are divided into the α, β, γ, δ, ε, π, θ and ρ subfamilies. The immense diversity of GABAA receptors is not fully understood. However, it is known that specific isoforms, with their distinct biophysical properties and expression profiles, tune responses to GABA. Although larval zebrafish are well-established as a model system for neural circuit analysis, little is known about GABAA receptors diversity and expression in this system. Here, using database analysis, we show that the zebrafish genome contains at least 23 subunits. All but the mammalian θ and ε subunits have at least one zebrafish ortholog, while five mammalian GABAA receptor subunits have two zebrafish orthologs. Zebrafish contain one subunit, β4, which does not have a clear mammalian ortholog. Similar to mammalian GABAA receptors, the zebrafish α subfamily is the largest and most diverse of the subfamilies. In zebrafish there are eight α subunits, and RNA in situ hybridization across early zebrafish development revealed that they demonstrate distinct patterns of expression in the brain, spinal cord, and retina. Some subunits were very broadly distributed, whereas others were restricted to small populations of cells. Subunit-specific expression patterns in zebrafish resembled were those found in frogs and rodents, which suggests that the roles of different GABAA receptor isoforms are largely conserved among vertebrates. This study provides a platform to examine isoform specific roles of GABAA receptors within zebrafish neural circuits and it highlights the potential of this system to better understand the remarkable heterogeneity of GABAA receptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Monesson-Olson
- Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States of America
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States of America
| | - Jon J. McClain
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States of America
| | - Abigail E. Case
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States of America
| | - Hanna E. Dorman
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States of America
| | - Daniel R. Turkewitz
- Department of Biology and Health Sciences, Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, United States of America
| | - Aaron B. Steiner
- Department of Biology and Health Sciences, Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, United States of America
| | - Gerald B. Downes
- Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States of America
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lacalli T. Amphioxus neurocircuits, enhanced arousal, and the origin of vertebrate consciousness. Conscious Cogn 2018; 62:127-134. [PMID: 29598920 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Gene expression studies have recently identified the amphioxus homolog of a domain comprising the combined caudal diencephalon plus midbrain, regions implicated in locomotory control and some forms of primary consciousness in vertebrates. The results of EM-level reconstructions of the larval brain of amphioxus, reviewed here, highlight the importance of inputs to this region for light and physical contact, both of which impinge on the same synaptic zone. The neural circuitry provides a starting point for understanding the organization and evolution of locomotory control and arousal in vertebrates, and implies that one of the tasks of midbrain-based consciousness, as it first emerged in vertebrates, would have been to distinguish between light and physical contact, probably sharp pain in the latter case, by assigning different qualia to each. If so, investigating midbrain circuitry more fully could lead to a better understanding of the neural basis of some forms of sensory experience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thurston Lacalli
- Biology Department, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W-3N5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Soares MC, Cardoso SC, Carvalho TDS, Maximino C. Using model fish to study the biological mechanisms of cooperative behaviour: A future for translational research concerning social anxiety disorders? Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 82:205-215. [PMID: 29154800 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Human societies demand of its composing members the development of a wide array of social tools and strategies. A notable example is human outstanding ability to cooperate with others, in all its complex forms, depicting the reality of a highly demanding social framework in which humans need to be integrated as to attain physical and mental benefits. Considering the importance of social engagement, it's not entirely unexpected that most psychiatric disorders involve some disruption of normal social behaviour, ranging from an abnormal absence to a significant increase of social functioning. It is however surprising that knowledge on these social anxiety disorders still remains so limited. Here we review the literature focusing on the social and cooperative toolbox of 3 fish model species (cleaner fishes, guppies and zebrafish) which are amenable systems to test for social disorders. We build on current knowledge based on ethological information, arising from studies on cooperative behaviour in cleanerfishes and guppies, while profiting from the advantages of the intense use of zebrafish, to create novel paradigms aiming at the major socio-cognitive modules/dimensions in fish species. This focus may enable the discovery of putative conserved endpoints which are relevant for research into social disorders. We suggest that cross-species, cross-domain, functional and genetic approaches could provide a wider array of information on the neurobiological bases of social and cooperative behaviour, crucial to understanding the neural bases of social disorders and key to finding novel avenues towards treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta C Soares
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Sónia C Cardoso
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Tamires Dos Santos Carvalho
- IESB, Instituto de Estudos em Saúde e Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, Unidade III, Marabá, Brazil
| | - Caio Maximino
- IESB, Instituto de Estudos em Saúde e Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, Unidade III, Marabá, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Freifeld L, Odstrcil I, Förster D, Ramirez A, Gagnon JA, Randlett O, Costa EK, Asano S, Celiker OT, Gao R, Martin-Alarcon DA, Reginato P, Dick C, Chen L, Schoppik D, Engert F, Baier H, Boyden ES. Expansion microscopy of zebrafish for neuroscience and developmental biology studies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E10799-E10808. [PMID: 29162696 PMCID: PMC5740639 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1706281114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Expansion microscopy (ExM) allows scalable imaging of preserved 3D biological specimens with nanoscale resolution on fast diffraction-limited microscopes. Here, we explore the utility of ExM in the larval and embryonic zebrafish, an important model organism for the study of neuroscience and development. Regarding neuroscience, we found that ExM enabled the tracing of fine processes of radial glia, which are not resolvable with diffraction-limited microscopy. ExM further resolved putative synaptic connections, as well as molecular differences between densely packed synapses. Finally, ExM could resolve subsynaptic protein organization, such as ring-like structures composed of glycine receptors. Regarding development, we used ExM to characterize the shapes of nuclear invaginations and channels, and to visualize cytoskeletal proteins nearby. We detected nuclear invagination channels at late prophase and telophase, potentially suggesting roles for such channels in cell division. Thus, ExM of the larval and embryonic zebrafish may enable systematic studies of how molecular components are configured in multiple contexts of interest to neuroscience and developmental biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Limor Freifeld
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Iris Odstrcil
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Dominique Förster
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Alyson Ramirez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - James A Gagnon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Owen Randlett
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Emma K Costa
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Shoh Asano
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Orhan T Celiker
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Ruixuan Gao
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | | | - Paul Reginato
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Cortni Dick
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Linlin Chen
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139
- Neuroscience Program, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481
| | - David Schoppik
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York NY 10016
| | - Florian Engert
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Herwig Baier
- Department Genes-Circuits-Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Edward S Boyden
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139;
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Center for Neurobiological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Abstract
In the last 30 years, the zebrafish has become a widely used model organism for research on vertebrate development and disease. Through a powerful combination of genetics and experimental embryology, significant inroads have been made into the regulation of embryonic axis formation, organogenesis, and the development of neural networks. Research with this model has also expanded into other areas, including the genetic regulation of aging, regeneration, and animal behavior. Zebrafish are a popular model because of the ease with which they can be maintained, their small size and low cost, the ability to obtain hundreds of embryos on a daily basis, and the accessibility, translucency, and rapidity of early developmental stages. This primer describes the swift progress of genetic approaches in zebrafish and highlights recent advances that have led to new insights into vertebrate biology.
Collapse
|
27
|
Hoang TV, Kizilyaprak C, Spehner D, Humbel BM, Schultz P. Automatic segmentation of high pressure frozen and freeze-substituted mouse retina nuclei from FIB-SEM tomograms. J Struct Biol 2017; 197:123-134. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2016.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Revised: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
28
|
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a newly emerged vertebrate animal model with a conserved gross architecture of the brain and a rich repertoire of behaviors. Due to the optical transparency and structural simplicity of its brain, larval zebrafish has become an ideal in vivo model for dissecting neural mechanisms of brain functions at a whole-brain scale based on a strategy that spans scales from synapses, neurons, and circuits to behaviors. Whole-cell patch-clamp recording is an indispensable approach for studying synaptic and circuit mechanisms of brain functions. Due to the small size of neurons in the zebrafish brain, it is challenging to get whole-cell recordings from these cells. Here, we describe a protocol for obtaining in vivo whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from neurons in larval zebrafish.
Collapse
|
29
|
TRP channel mediated neuronal activation and ablation in freely behaving zebrafish. Nat Methods 2015; 13:147-50. [PMID: 26657556 PMCID: PMC4851460 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.3691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a useful vertebrate model system in which to study neural circuits and behavior, but tools to modulate neurons in freely behaving animals are limited. As poikilotherms that live in water, zebrafish are amenable to thermal and pharmacological perturbations. We exploit these properties by using transient receptor potential (TRP) channels to activate or ablate specific neuronal populations using the chemical and thermal agonists of heterologously expressed TRPV1, TRPM8 and TRPA1.
Collapse
|
30
|
|
31
|
Hondow N, Brown MR, Starborg T, Monteith AG, Brydson R, Summers HD, Rees P, Brown A. Quantifying the cellular uptake of semiconductor quantum dot nanoparticles by analytical electron microscopy. J Microsc 2015; 261:167-76. [PMID: 25762522 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Semiconductor quantum dot nanoparticles are in demand as optical biomarkers yet the cellular uptake process is not fully understood; quantification of numbers and the fate of internalized particles are still to be achieved. We have focussed on the characterization of cellular uptake of quantum dots using a combination of analytical electron microscopies because of the spatial resolution available to examine uptake at the nanoparticle level, using both imaging to locate particles and spectroscopy to confirm identity. In this study, commercially available quantum dots, CdSe/ZnS core/shell particles coated in peptides to target cellular uptake by endocytosis, have been investigated in terms of the agglomeration state in typical cell culture media, the traverse of particle agglomerates across U-2 OS cell membranes during endocytosis, the merging of endosomal vesicles during incubation of cells and in the correlation of imaging flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy to measure the final nanoparticle dose internalized by the U-2 OS cells. We show that a combination of analytical transmission electron microscopy and serial block face scanning electron microscopy can provide a comprehensive description of the internalization of an initial exposure dose of nanoparticles by an endocytically active cell population and how the internalized, membrane bound nanoparticle load is processed by the cells. We present a stochastic model of an endosome merging process and show that this provides a data-driven modelling framework for the prediction of cellular uptake of engineered nanoparticles in general.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Hondow
- Institute for Materials Research, School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - M Rowan Brown
- Centre for Nanohealth, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK
| | - Tobias Starborg
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Rik Brydson
- Institute for Materials Research, School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Huw D Summers
- Centre for Nanohealth, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK
| | - Paul Rees
- Centre for Nanohealth, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK
| | - Andy Brown
- Institute for Materials Research, School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Nishimura Y, Murakami S, Ashikawa Y, Sasagawa S, Umemoto N, Shimada Y, Tanaka T. Zebrafish as a systems toxicology model for developmental neurotoxicity testing. Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2015; 55:1-16. [PMID: 25109898 DOI: 10.1111/cga.12079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The developing brain is extremely sensitive to many chemicals. Exposure to neurotoxicants during development has been implicated in various neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Although rodents have been widely used for developmental neurotoxicity testing, experiments using large numbers of rodents are time-consuming, expensive, and raise ethical concerns. Using alternative non-mammalian animal models may relieve some of these pressures by allowing testing of large numbers of subjects while reducing expenses and minimizing the use of mammalian subjects. In this review, we discuss some of the advantages of using zebrafish in developmental neurotoxicity testing, focusing on central nervous system development, neurobehavior, toxicokinetics, and toxicodynamics in this species. We also describe some important examples of developmental neurotoxicity testing using zebrafish combined with gene expression profiling, neuroimaging, or neurobehavioral assessment. Zebrafish may be a systems toxicology model that has the potential to reveal the pathways of developmental neurotoxicity and to provide a sound basis for human risk assessments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuhei Nishimura
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacoinformatics, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan; Mie University Medical Zebrafish Research Center, Tsu, Japan; Depertment of Systems Pharmacology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan; Department of Omics Medicine, Mie University Industrial Technology Innovation Institute, Tsu, Japan; Department of Bioinformatics, Mie University Life Science Research Center, Tsu, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Investigation of resins suitable for the preparation of biological sample for 3-D electron microscopy. J Struct Biol 2014; 189:135-46. [PMID: 25433274 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2014.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In the last two decades, the third-dimension has become a focus of attention in electron microscopy to better understand the interactions within subcellular compartments. Initially, transmission electron tomography (TEM tomography) was introduced to image the cell volume in semi-thin sections (∼ 500 nm). With the introduction of the focused ion beam scanning electron microscope, a new tool, FIB-SEM tomography, became available to image much larger volumes. During TEM tomography and FIB-SEM tomography, the resin section is exposed to a high electron/ion dose such that the stability of the resin embedded biological sample becomes an important issue. The shrinkage of a resin section in each dimension, especially in depth, is a well-known phenomenon. To ensure the dimensional integrity of the final volume of the cell, it is important to assess the properties of the different resins and determine the formulation which has the best stability in the electron/ion beam. Here, eight different resin formulations were examined. The effects of radiation damage were evaluated after different times of TEM irradiation. To get additional information on mass-loss and the physical properties of the resins (stiffness and adhesion), the topography of the irradiated areas was analysed with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Further, the behaviour of the resins was analysed after ion milling of the surface of the sample with different ion currents. In conclusion, two resin formulations, Hard Plus and the mixture of Durcupan/Epon, emerged that were considerably less affected and reasonably stable in the electron/ion beam and thus suitable for the 3-D investigation of biological samples.
Collapse
|
34
|
Abstract
The reticular formation in the brainstem controls motor output via axonal projections to the hindbrain and spinal cord. It remains unclear how individual groups of brainstem neurons contribute to specific motor functions. Here, we investigate the behavioral role of the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (nMLF), a small group of reticulospinal neurons in the zebrafish midbrain. Calcium imaging revealed that nMLF activity is correlated with bouts of swimming. Optogenetic stimulation of neurons in the left or right nMLF activates the posterior hypaxial muscle and produces a graded ipsilateral tail deflection. Unilateral ablation of a subset of nMLF cells biases the tail position to the intact side during visually evoked swims, while sparing other locomotor maneuvers. We conclude that activity in the nMLF provides postural control of tail orientation and thus steers the direction of swimming. Our studies provide an example of fine-grained modularity of descending motor control in vertebrates.
Collapse
|
35
|
Abstract
Since electron microscopy (EM) first appeared in the 1930s, it has held centre stage as the primary tool for the exploration of biological structure. Yet, with the recent developments of light microscopy techniques that overcome the limitations imposed by the diffraction boundary, the question arises as to whether the importance of EM in on the wane. This Commentary describes some of the pioneering studies that have shaped our understanding of cell structure. These include the development of cryo-EM techniques that have given researchers the ability to capture images of native structures and at the molecular level. It also describes how a number of recent developments significantly increase the ability of EM to visualise biological systems across a range of length scales, and in 3D, ensuring that EM will remain at the forefront of biology research for the foreseeable future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Graham Knott
- BioEM Facility, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Microscopie Electronique, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Friedrich RW, Wiechert MT. Neuronal circuits and computations: pattern decorrelation in the olfactory bulb. FEBS Lett 2014; 588:2504-13. [PMID: 24911205 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.05.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Revised: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal circuits in the olfactory bulb transform odor-evoked activity patterns across the input channels, the olfactory glomeruli, into distributed activity patterns across the output neurons, the mitral cells. One computation associated with this transformation is a decorrelation of activity patterns representing similar odors. Such a decorrelation has various benefits for the classification and storage of information by associative networks in higher brain areas. Experimental results from adult zebrafish show that pattern decorrelation involves a redistribution of activity across the population of mitral cells. These observations imply that pattern decorrelation cannot be explained by a global scaling mechanism but that it depends on interactions between distinct subsets of neurons in the network. This article reviews insights into the network mechanism underlying pattern decorrelation and discusses recent results that link pattern decorrelation in the olfactory bulb to odor discrimination behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rainer W Friedrich
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Martin T Wiechert
- Laboratory for Perception and Memory, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris, France; CNRS UMR3571, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Peddie CJ, Collinson LM. Exploring the third dimension: Volume electron microscopy comes of age. Micron 2014; 61:9-19. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2014.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 245] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Revised: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
38
|
Zou M, De Koninck P, Neve RL, Friedrich RW. Fast gene transfer into the adult zebrafish brain by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and electroporation: methods and optogenetic applications. Front Neural Circuits 2014; 8:41. [PMID: 24834028 PMCID: PMC4018551 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2014.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish has various advantages as a model organism to analyze the structure and function of neural circuits but efficient viruses or other tools for fast gene transfer are lacking. We show that transgenes can be introduced directly into the adult zebrafish brain by herpes simplex type I viruses (HSV-1) or electroporation. We developed a new procedure to target electroporation to defined brain areas and identified promoters that produced strong long-term expression. The fast workflow of electroporation was exploited to express multiple channelrhodopsin-2 variants and genetically encoded calcium indicators in telencephalic neurons for measurements of neuronal activity and synaptic connectivity. The results demonstrate that HSV-1 and targeted electroporation are efficient tools for gene delivery into the zebrafish brain, similar to adeno-associated viruses and lentiviruses in other species. These methods fill an important gap in the spectrum of molecular tools for zebrafish and are likely to have a wide range of applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zou
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research Basel, Switzerland ; University of Basel Basel, Switzerland
| | - Paul De Koninck
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research Basel, Switzerland ; Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec Québec, QC, Canada ; Département de Biochimie, Microbiologie et Bio-informatique, Université Laval Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Rachael L Neve
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rainer W Friedrich
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research Basel, Switzerland ; University of Basel Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Baraban SC, Löscher W. What new modeling approaches will help us identify promising drug treatments? ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 813:283-94. [PMID: 25012385 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-8914-1_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Despite the development of numerous novel antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in recent years, several unmet clinical needs remain, including resistance to AEDs in about 30 % of patients with epilepsy, adverse effects of AEDs that can reduce quality of life, and the lack of treatments that can prevent development of epilepsy in patients at risk. Animal models of seizures and epilepsy have been instrumental in the discovery and preclinical development of novel AEDs, but obviously the previously used models have failed to identify drugs that address unmet medical needs. Thus, we urgently need fresh ideas for improving preclinical AED development. In this review, a number of promising models will be described, including the use of simple vertebrates such as zebrafish (Danio rerio), large animal models such as the dog and newly characterized rodent models of pharmacoresistant epilepsy. While these strategies, like any animal model approach also have their limitations, they offer hope that new more effective AEDs will be identified in the coming years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott C Baraban
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA,
| | | |
Collapse
|