1
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Coomer C, Naumova D, Talay M, Zolyomi B, Snell N, Sorkac A, Chanchu JM, Cheng J, Roman I, Li J, Robson D, Barnea G, Halpern ME. Transsynaptic labeling and transcriptional control of zebrafish neural circuits. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.03.535421. [PMID: 37066422 PMCID: PMC10103993 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.03.535421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Deciphering the connectome, the ensemble of synaptic connections that underlie brain function is a central goal of neuroscience research. The trans-Tango genetic approach, initially developed for anterograde transsynaptic tracing in Drosophila, can be used to map connections between presynaptic and postsynaptic partners and to drive gene expression in target neurons. Here, we describe the successful adaptation of trans-Tango to visualize neural connections in a living vertebrate nervous system, that of the zebrafish. Connections were validated between synaptic partners in the larval retina and brain. Results were corroborated by functional experiments in which optogenetic activation of retinal ganglion cells elicited responses in neurons of the optic tectum, as measured by trans-Tango-dependent expression of a genetically encoded calcium indicator. Transsynaptic signaling through trans-Tango reveals predicted as well as previously undescribed synaptic connections, providing a valuable in vivo tool to monitor and interrogate neural circuits over time.
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2
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Ma M, Brunal AA, Clark KC, Studtmann C, Stebbins K, Higashijima SI, Pan YA. Deficiency in the cell-adhesion molecule dscaml1 impairs hypothalamic CRH neuron development and perturbs normal neuroendocrine stress axis function. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1113675. [PMID: 36875755 PMCID: PMC9978177 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1113675] [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: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-expressing neurons in the hypothalamus are critical regulators of the neuroendocrine stress response pathway, known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. As developmental vulnerabilities of CRH neurons contribute to stress-associated neurological and behavioral dysfunctions, it is critical to identify the mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal CRH neuron development. Using zebrafish, we identified Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule like-1 (dscaml1) as an integral mediator of CRH neuron development and necessary for establishing normal stress axis function. In dscaml1 mutant animals, hypothalamic CRH neurons had higher crhb (the CRH homolog in zebrafish) expression, increased cell number, and reduced cell death compared to wild-type controls. Physiologically, dscaml1 mutant animals had higher baseline stress hormone (cortisol) levels and attenuated responses to acute stressors. Together, these findings identify dscaml1 as an essential factor for stress axis development and suggest that HPA axis dysregulation may contribute to the etiology of human DSCAML1-linked neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manxiu Ma
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Alyssa A Brunal
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, United States.,Translational Biology Medicine and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Kareem C Clark
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Carleigh Studtmann
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, United States.,Translational Biology Medicine and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Katelyn Stebbins
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, United States.,Translational Biology Medicine and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.,Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Shin-Ichi Higashijima
- National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Y Albert Pan
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, United States.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
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3
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Selvaraj LK, Jeyabalan S, Wong LS, Sekar M, Logeshwari B, Umamaheswari S, Premkumar S, Sekar RT, Begum MY, Gan SH, Izzati Mat Rani NN, Chidambaram K, Subramaniyan V, Al Fatease A, Alamri A, Sathasivam KV, Selvaraj S, Vijeepallam K, Fuloria S, Fuloria NK. Baicalein prevents stress-induced anxiety behaviors in zebrafish model. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:990799. [PMID: 36386131 PMCID: PMC9659741 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.990799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Baicalein is a flavonoid mainly obtained from plants with wide range of biological activities, including neuroprotection. An acute and unexpected chronic stress (UCS) protocol has recently been adapted to zebrafish, a popular vertebrate model in brain research. The present study was aimed to evaluate baicalein's anti-anxiety potential in a zebrafish model by induction, which included neuropharmacological evaluation to determine behavioural parameters in the novel tank diving test (NTDT) and light-dark preference test (LDPT). The toxicity was also assessed using the brine shrimp lethality assay, and the 50% lethal concentration (LC50) was determined. The animals were then stressed for 7 days before being treated with different doses of baicalein (1 and 2 mg/L) for another 7 days in UCS condition. Due to acute stress and UCS, the frequency of entries and time spent in the 1) top region and 2) light area of the novel tank reduced significantly, indicating the existence of elevated anxiety levels. The biological activity of baicalein was demonstrated by its high LC50 values (1,000 μg/ml). Additionally, baicalein administration increased the frequency of entries and duration spent in the light region, indicating a significant decrease in anxiety levels. Overall, the present results showed that baicalein has a therapeutic advantage in reversing the detrimental consequences of UCS and acute stress, making it is a promising lead molecule for new drug design, development, and therapy for stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logesh Kumar Selvaraj
- Department of Pharmacology, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Pharmacy, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Srikanth Jeyabalan
- Department of Pharmacology, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Pharmacy, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ling Shing Wong
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, INTI International University, Nilai, Malaysia
| | - Mahendran Sekar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Royal College of Medicine Perak, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
| | - B. Logeshwari
- Department of Pharmacology, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Pharmacy, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S. Umamaheswari
- Department of Pharmacology, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Pharmacy, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sree Premkumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Pharmacy, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Roshan Tej Sekar
- Department of Pharmacology, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Pharmacy, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - M. Yasmin Begum
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Siew Hua Gan
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nur Najihah Izzati Mat Rani
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Royal College of Medicine Perak, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Kumarappan Chidambaram
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Adel Al Fatease
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Alamri
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | | | | | - Neeraj Kumar Fuloria
- Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia
- Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Institute of Medical andTechnical Sciences, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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4
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Satou C, Neve RL, Oyibo HK, Zmarz P, Huang KH, Arn Bouldoires E, Mori T, Higashijima SI, Keller GB, Friedrich RW. A viral toolbox for conditional and transneuronal gene expression in zebrafish. eLife 2022; 11:77153. [PMID: 35866706 PMCID: PMC9307271 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish is an important model in systems neuroscience but viral tools to dissect the structure and function of neuronal circuitry are not established. We developed methods for efficient gene transfer and retrograde tracing in adult and larval zebrafish by herpes simplex viruses (HSV1). HSV1 was combined with the Gal4/UAS system to target cell types with high spatial, temporal, and molecular specificity. We also established methods for efficient transneuronal tracing by modified rabies viruses in zebrafish. We demonstrate that HSV1 and rabies viruses can be used to visualize and manipulate genetically or anatomically identified neurons within and across different brain areas of adult and larval zebrafish. An expandable library of viruses is provided to express fluorescent proteins, calcium indicators, optogenetic probes, toxins and other molecular tools. This toolbox creates new opportunities to interrogate neuronal circuits in zebrafish through combinations of genetic and viral approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chie Satou
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rachael L Neve
- Gene Delivery Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, United States
| | - Hassana K Oyibo
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pawel Zmarz
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kuo-Hua Huang
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Takuma Mori
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Institute of Medicine, Academic Assembly, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Higashijima
- National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Georg B Keller
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rainer W Friedrich
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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5
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Nelson JC, Granato M. Zebrafish behavior as a gateway to nervous system assembly and plasticity. Development 2022; 149:275367. [PMID: 35552393 PMCID: PMC9148562 DOI: 10.1242/dev.177998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Nervous system assembly relies on a diversity of cellular processes ranging from dramatic tissue reorganization to local, subcellular changes all driven by precise molecular programs. Combined, these processes culminate in an animal's ability to plan and execute behaviors. Animal behavior can, therefore, serve as a functional readout of nervous system development. Benefitting from an expansive and growing set of molecular and imaging tools paired with an ever-growing number of assays of diverse behaviors, the zebrafish system has emerged as an outstanding platform at the intersection of nervous system assembly, plasticity and behavior. Here, we summarize recent advancements in the field, including how developing neural circuits are refined to shape complex behaviors and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C. Nelson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, 421 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Authors for correspondence (; )
| | - Michael Granato
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, 421 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Authors for correspondence (; )
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6
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Smoot J, Padilla S, Farraj AK. The utility of alternative models in particulate matter air pollution toxicology. Curr Res Toxicol 2022; 3:100077. [PMID: 35676914 PMCID: PMC9168130 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2022.100077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Countless unique particulate matter (PM) samples with limited or no toxicity information. Alternative in vivo models offer greater throughput than traditional mammalian models. Use of zebrafish, fruit flies, and nematodes in PM toxicology lacks systematic review. Their utility in PM toxicity and mechanistic research and as screening tools is reviewed.
Exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution increases risk of adverse human health effects. As more attention is brought to bear on the problem of PM, traditional mammalian in vivo models struggle to keep up with the risk assessment challenges posed by the countless number of unique PM samples across air sheds with limited or no toxicity information. This review examines the utility of three higher throughput, alternative, in vivo animal models in PM toxicity research: Danio rerio (zebrafish), Caenorhabditis elegans (nematode), and Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly). These model organisms vary in basic biology, ease of handling, methods of exposure to PM, number and types of available assays, and the degree to which they mirror human biology and responsiveness, among other differences. The use of these models in PM research dates back over a decade, with assessments of the toxicity of various PM sources including traffic-related combustion emissions, wildland fire smoke, and coal fly ash. This article reviews the use of these alternative model organisms in PM toxicity studies, their biology, the various assays developed, endpoints measured, their strengths and limitations, as well as their potential role in PM toxicity assessment and mechanistic research going forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Smoot
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Stephanie Padilla
- Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US EPA, RTP, NC, United States
| | - Aimen K. Farraj
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, US EPA, RTP, NC, United States
- Corresponding author.
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7
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Doldur-Balli F, Imamura T, Veatch OJ, Gong NN, Lim DC, Hart MP, Abel T, Kayser MS, Brodkin ES, Pack AI. Synaptic dysfunction connects autism spectrum disorder and sleep disturbances: A perspective from studies in model organisms. Sleep Med Rev 2022; 62:101595. [PMID: 35158305 PMCID: PMC9064929 DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101595] [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: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Sleep disturbances (SD) accompany many neurodevelopmental disorders, suggesting SD is a transdiagnostic process that can account for behavioral deficits and influence underlying neuropathogenesis. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) comprises a complex set of neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Diagnosis of ASD is based primarily on behavioral criteria, and there are no drugs that target core symptoms. Among the co-occurring conditions associated with ASD, SD are one of the most prevalent. SD often arises before the onset of other ASD symptoms. Sleep interventions improve not only sleep but also daytime behaviors in children with ASD. Here, we examine sleep phenotypes in multiple model systems relevant to ASD, e.g., mice, zebrafish, fruit flies and worms. Given the functions of sleep in promoting brain connectivity, neural plasticity, emotional regulation and social behavior, all of which are of critical importance in ASD pathogenesis, we propose that synaptic dysfunction is a major mechanism that connects ASD and SD. Common molecular targets in this interplay that are involved in synaptic function might be a novel avenue for therapy of individuals with ASD experiencing SD. Such therapy would be expected to improve not only sleep but also other ASD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fusun Doldur-Balli
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
| | - Toshihiro Imamura
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA; Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Olivia J Veatch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA
| | - Naihua N Gong
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Diane C Lim
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, USA
| | - Michael P Hart
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Ted Abel
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute and Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Matthew S Kayser
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA; Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Edward S Brodkin
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Allan I Pack
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
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8
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Kler S, Ma M, Narayan S, Ahrens MB, Pan YA. Cre-Dependent Anterograde Transsynaptic Labeling and Functional Imaging in Zebrafish Using VSV With Reduced Cytotoxicity. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:758350. [PMID: 34720892 PMCID: PMC8549678 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.758350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The small size and translucency of larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) have made it a unique experimental system to investigate whole-brain neural circuit structure and function. Still, the connectivity patterns between most neuronal types remain mostly unknown. This gap in knowledge underscores the critical need for effective neural circuit mapping tools, especially ones that can integrate structural and functional analyses. To address this, we previously developed a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) based approach called Tracer with Restricted Anterograde Spread (TRAS). TRAS utilizes lentivirus to complement replication-incompetent VSV (VSVΔG) to allow restricted (monosynaptic) anterograde labeling from projection neurons to their target cells in the brain. Here, we report the second generation of TRAS (TRAS-M51R), which utilizes a mutant variant of VSVΔG [VSV(M51R)ΔG] with reduced cytotoxicity. Within the primary visual pathway, we found that TRAS-M51R significantly improved long-term viability of transsynaptic labeling (compared to TRAS) while maintaining anterograde spread activity. By using Cre-expressing VSV(M51R)ΔG, TRAS-M51R could selectively label excitatory (vglut2a positive) and inhibitory (gad1b positive) retinorecipient neurons. We further show that these labeled excitatory and inhibitory retinorecipient neurons retained neuronal excitability upon visual stimulation at 5-8 days post fertilization (2-5 days post-infection). Together, these findings show that TRAS-M51R is suitable for neural circuit studies that integrate structural connectivity, cell-type identity, and neurophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Kler
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Manxiu Ma
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Sujatha Narayan
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, United States
| | - Misha B. Ahrens
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, United States
| | - Y. Albert Pan
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
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9
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Faulkner RL, Wall NR, Callaway EM, Cline HT. Application of Recombinant Rabies Virus to Xenopus Tadpole Brain. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0477-20.2021. [PMID: 34099488 PMCID: PMC8260272 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0477-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Xenopus laevis experimental system has provided significant insight into the development and plasticity of neural circuits. Xenopus neuroscience research would be enhanced by additional tools to study neural circuit structure and function. Rabies viruses are powerful tools to label and manipulate neural circuits and have been widely used to study mesoscale connectomics. Whether rabies virus can be used to transduce neurons and express transgenes in Xenopus has not been systematically investigated. Glycoprotein-deleted rabies virus transduces neurons at the axon terminal and retrogradely labels their cell bodies. We show that glycoprotein-deleted rabies virus infects local and projection neurons in the Xenopus tadpole when directly injected into brain tissue. Pseudotyping glycoprotein-deleted rabies with EnvA restricts infection to cells with exogenous expression of the EnvA receptor, TVA. EnvA pseudotyped virus specifically infects tadpole neurons with promoter-driven expression of TVA, demonstrating its utility to label targeted neuronal populations. Neuronal cell types are defined by a combination of features including anatomical location, expression of genetic markers, axon projection sites, morphology, and physiological properties. We show that driving TVA expression in one hemisphere and injecting EnvA pseudotyped virus into the contralateral hemisphere, retrogradely labels neurons defined by cell body location and axon projection site. Using this approach, rabies can be used to identify cell types in Xenopus brain and simultaneously to express transgenes which enable monitoring or manipulation of neuronal activity. This makes rabies a valuable tool to study the structure and function of neural circuits in Xenopus.Significance StatementStudies in Xenopus have contributed a great deal to our understanding of brain circuit development and plasticity, regeneration, and hormonal regulation of behavior and metamorphosis. Here, we show that recombinant rabies virus transduces neurons in the Xenopus tadpole, enlarging the toolbox that can be applied to studying Xenopus brain. Rabies can be used for retrograde labeling and expression of a broad range of transgenes including fluorescent proteins for anatomical tracing and studying neuronal morphology, voltage or calcium indicators to visualize neuronal activity, and photo- or chemosensitive channels to control neuronal activity. The versatility of these tools enables diverse experiments to analyze and manipulate Xenopus brain structure and function, including mesoscale connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina L Faulkner
- Neuroscience Department and The Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla CA
| | | | | | - Hollis T Cline
- Neuroscience Department and The Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla CA
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10
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Chadney OMT, Blankvoort S, Grimstvedt JS, Utz A, Kentros CG. Multiplexing viral approaches to the study of the neuronal circuits. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 357:109142. [PMID: 33753126 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Neural circuits are composed of multitudes of elaborately interconnected cell types. Understanding neural circuit function requires not only cell-specific knowledge of connectivity, but the ability to record and manipulate distinct cell types independently. Recent advances in viral vectors promise the requisite specificity to perform true "circuit-breaking" experiments. However, such new avenues of multiplexed, cell-specific investigation raise new technical issues: one must ensure that both the viral vectors and their transgene payloads do not overlap with each other in both an anatomical and a functional sense. This review describes benefits and issues regarding the use of viral vectors to analyse the function of neural circuits and provides a resource for the design and implementation of such multiplexing experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar M T Chadney
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Stefan Blankvoort
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Joachim S Grimstvedt
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Annika Utz
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Clifford G Kentros
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.
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11
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Guggiana Nilo DA, Riegler C, Hübener M, Engert F. Distributed chromatic processing at the interface between retina and brain in the larval zebrafish. Curr Biol 2021; 31:1945-1953.e5. [PMID: 33636122 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) are an ideal organism for studying color vision, as their retina possesses four types of cone photoreceptors, covering most of the visible range and into the UV.1,2 Additionally, their eye and nervous systems are accessible to imaging, given that they are naturally transparent.3-5 Recent studies have found that, through a set of wavelength-range-specific horizontal, bipolar, and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs),6-9 the eye relays tetrachromatic information to several retinorecipient areas (RAs).10-13 The main RA is the optic tectum, receiving 97% of the RGC axons via the neuropil mass termed arborization field 10 (AF10).14,15 Here, we aim to understand the processing of chromatic signals at the interface between RGCs and their major brain targets. We used 2-photon calcium imaging to separately measure the responses of RGCs and neurons in the brain to four different chromatic stimuli in awake animals. We find that chromatic information is widespread throughout the brain, with a large variety of responses among RGCs, and an even greater diversity in their targets. Specific combinations of response types are enriched in specific nuclei, but there is no single color processing structure. In the main interface in this pathway, the connection between AF10 and tectum, we observe key elements of neural processing, such as enhanced signal decorrelation and improved chromatic decoding.16,17 A richer stimulus set revealed that these enhancements occur in the context of a more distributed code in tectum, facilitating chromatic signal association in this small vertebrate brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drago A Guggiana Nilo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Harvard Biophysics Graduate Program, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department Synapses-Circuits-Plasticity, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 81252 Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Clemens Riegler
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mark Hübener
- Department Synapses-Circuits-Plasticity, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 81252 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Florian Engert
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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Loring MD, Thomson EE, Naumann EA. Whole-brain interactions underlying zebrafish behavior. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2020; 65:88-99. [PMID: 33221591 PMCID: PMC10697041 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Detailed quantification of neural dynamics across the entire brain will be the key to genuinely understanding perception and behavior. With the recent developments in microscopy and biosensor engineering, the zebrafish has made a grand entrance in neuroscience as its small size and optical transparency enable imaging access to its entire brain at cellular and even subcellular resolution. However, until recently many neurobiological insights were largely correlational or provided little mechanistic insight into the brain-wide population dynamics generated by diverse types of neurons. Now with increasingly sophisticated behavioral, imaging, and causal intervention paradigms, zebrafish are revealing how entire vertebrate brains function. Here we review recent research that fulfills promises made by the early wave of technical advances. These studies reveal new features of brain-wide neural processing and the importance of integrative investigation and computational modelling. Moreover, we outline the future tools necessary for solving broader brain-scale circuit problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Loring
- Duke School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, Durham, NC 27710, United States
| | - Eric E Thomson
- Duke School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, Durham, NC 27710, United States
| | - Eva A Naumann
- Duke School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, Durham, NC 27710, United States.
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