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Ahrens MB. Closing the Experiment-Modeling-Perturbation Loop in Whole-Brain Neuroscience. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:1212-1214. [PMID: 39014175 PMCID: PMC11306461 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-024-01253-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Misha B Ahrens
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA.
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2
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Chen AB, Duque M, Wang VM, Dhanasekar M, Mi X, Rymbek A, Tocquer L, Narayan S, Prober D, Yu G, Wyart C, Engert F, Ahrens MB. Norepinephrine changes behavioral state via astroglial purinergic signaling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.23.595576. [PMID: 38826423 PMCID: PMC11142163 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.23.595576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Both neurons and glia communicate via diffusible neuromodulatory substances, but the substrates of computation in such neuromodulatory networks are unclear. During behavioral transitions in the larval zebrafish, the neuromodulator norepinephrine drives fast excitation and delayed inhibition of behavior and circuit activity. We find that the inhibitory arm of this feedforward motif is implemented by astroglial purinergic signaling. Neuromodulator imaging, behavioral pharmacology, and perturbations of neurons and astroglia reveal that norepinephrine triggers astroglial release of adenosine triphosphate, extracellular conversion into adenosine, and behavioral suppression through activation of hindbrain neuronal adenosine receptors. This work, along with a companion piece by Lefton and colleagues demonstrating an analogous pathway mediating the effect of norepinephrine on synaptic connectivity in mice, identifies a computational and behavioral role for an evolutionarily conserved astroglial purinergic signaling axis in norepinephrine-mediated behavioral and brain state transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex B. Chen
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University; Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Marc Duque
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University; Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Vickie M. Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University; Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mahalakshmi Dhanasekar
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Xuelong Mi
- Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Arlington, VA 22203, USA
| | - Altyn Rymbek
- Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Loeva Tocquer
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Sujatha Narayan
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
- Present address: Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics; Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - David Prober
- Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Guoqiang Yu
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University; Beijing 100084, P.R. China
| | - Claire Wyart
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Florian Engert
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University; Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Misha B. Ahrens
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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3
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Doszyn O, Dulski T, Zmorzynska J. Diving into the zebrafish brain: exploring neuroscience frontiers with genetic tools, imaging techniques, and behavioral insights. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1358844. [PMID: 38533456 PMCID: PMC10963419 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1358844] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is increasingly used in neuroscience research. Zebrafish are relatively easy to maintain, and their high fecundity makes them suitable for high-throughput experiments. Their small, transparent embryos and larvae allow for easy microscopic imaging of the developing brain. Zebrafish also share a high degree of genetic similarity with humans, and are amenable to genetic manipulation techniques, such as gene knockdown, knockout, or knock-in, which allows researchers to study the role of specific genes relevant to human brain development, function, and disease. Zebrafish can also serve as a model for behavioral studies, including locomotion, learning, and social interactions. In this review, we present state-of-the-art methods to study the brain function in zebrafish, including genetic tools for labeling single neurons and neuronal circuits, live imaging of neural activity, synaptic dynamics and protein interactions in the zebrafish brain, optogenetic manipulation, and the use of virtual reality technology for behavioral testing. We highlight the potential of zebrafish for neuroscience research, especially regarding brain development, neuronal circuits, and genetic-based disorders and discuss its certain limitations as a model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - J. Zmorzynska
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB), Warsaw, Poland
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4
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Chai Y, Qi K, Wu Y, Li D, Tan G, Guo Y, Chu J, Mu Y, Shen C, Wen Q. All-optical interrogation of brain-wide activity in freely swimming larval zebrafish. iScience 2024; 27:108385. [PMID: 38205255 PMCID: PMC10776927 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
We introduce an all-optical technique that enables volumetric imaging of brain-wide calcium activity and targeted optogenetic stimulation of specific brain regions in unrestrained larval zebrafish. The system consists of three main components: a 3D tracking module, a dual-color fluorescence imaging module, and a real-time activity manipulation module. Our approach uses a sensitive genetically encoded calcium indicator in combination with a long Stokes shift red fluorescence protein as a reference channel, allowing the extraction of Ca2+ activity from signals contaminated by motion artifacts. The method also incorporates rapid 3D image reconstruction and registration, facilitating real-time selective optogenetic stimulation of different regions of the brain. By demonstrating that selective light activation of the midbrain regions in larval zebrafish could reliably trigger biased turning behavior and changes of brain-wide neural activity, we present a valuable tool for investigating the causal relationship between distributed neural circuit dynamics and naturalistic behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuming Chai
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Integrative Imaging, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Kexin Qi
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Integrative Imaging, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yubin Wu
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Integrative Imaging, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Daguang Li
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Integrative Imaging, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Guodong Tan
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Integrative Imaging, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yuqi Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology and Center for Biomedical Optics and Molecular Imaging, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun Chu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology and Center for Biomedical Optics and Molecular Imaging, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu Mu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Shen
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Integrative Imaging, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Quan Wen
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Integrative Imaging, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
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5
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Carbo-Tano M, Lapoix M, Jia X, Thouvenin O, Pascucci M, Auclair F, Quan FB, Albadri S, Aguda V, Farouj Y, Hillman EMC, Portugues R, Del Bene F, Thiele TR, Dubuc R, Wyart C. The mesencephalic locomotor region recruits V2a reticulospinal neurons to drive forward locomotion in larval zebrafish. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1775-1790. [PMID: 37667039 PMCID: PMC10545542 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01418-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) is a brain stem area whose stimulation triggers graded forward locomotion. How MLR neurons recruit downstream vsx2+ (V2a) reticulospinal neurons (RSNs) is poorly understood. Here, to overcome this challenge, we uncovered the locus of MLR in transparent larval zebrafish and show that the MLR locus is distinct from the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus. MLR stimulations reliably elicit forward locomotion of controlled duration and frequency. MLR neurons recruit V2a RSNs via projections onto somata in pontine and retropontine areas, and onto dendrites in the medulla. High-speed volumetric imaging of neuronal activity reveals that strongly MLR-coupled RSNs are active for steering or forward swimming, whereas weakly MLR-coupled medullary RSNs encode the duration and frequency of the forward component. Our study demonstrates how MLR neurons recruit specific V2a RSNs to control the kinematics of forward locomotion and suggests conservation of the motor functions of V2a RSNs across vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Carbo-Tano
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Mathilde Lapoix
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Xinyu Jia
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Thouvenin
- Institut Langevin, École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Marco Pascucci
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, NeuroSpin, Baobab, Centre d'études de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- The American University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - François Auclair
- Département de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Feng B Quan
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Shahad Albadri
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Vernie Aguda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Younes Farouj
- Institute of Neuroscience, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elizabeth M C Hillman
- Laboratory for Functional Optical Imaging, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ruben Portugues
- Institute of Neuroscience, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Filippo Del Bene
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Tod R Thiele
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Réjean Dubuc
- Département de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
- Groupe de Recherche en Activité Physique Adaptée, Department of Exercise Science, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Claire Wyart
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
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6
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Tajima S, Kim YS, Fukuda M, Jo Y, Wang PY, Paggi JM, Inoue M, Byrne EFX, Kishi KE, Nakamura S, Ramakrishnan C, Takaramoto S, Nagata T, Konno M, Sugiura M, Katayama K, Matsui TE, Yamashita K, Kim S, Ikeda H, Kim J, Kandori H, Dror RO, Inoue K, Deisseroth K, Kato HE. Structural basis for ion selectivity in potassium-selective channelrhodopsins. Cell 2023; 186:4325-4344.e26. [PMID: 37652010 PMCID: PMC7615185 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
KCR channelrhodopsins (K+-selective light-gated ion channels) have received attention as potential inhibitory optogenetic tools but more broadly pose a fundamental mystery regarding how their K+ selectivity is achieved. Here, we present 2.5-2.7 Å cryo-electron microscopy structures of HcKCR1 and HcKCR2 and of a structure-guided mutant with enhanced K+ selectivity. Structural, electrophysiological, computational, spectroscopic, and biochemical analyses reveal a distinctive mechanism for K+ selectivity; rather than forming the symmetrical filter of canonical K+ channels achieving both selectivity and dehydration, instead, three extracellular-vestibule residues within each monomer form a flexible asymmetric selectivity gate, while a distinct dehydration pathway extends intracellularly. Structural comparisons reveal a retinal-binding pocket that induces retinal rotation (accounting for HcKCR1/HcKCR2 spectral differences), and design of corresponding KCR variants with increased K+ selectivity (KALI-1/KALI-2) provides key advantages for optogenetic inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Thus, discovery of a mechanism for ion-channel K+ selectivity also provides a framework for next-generation optogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seiya Tajima
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoon Seok Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Masahiro Fukuda
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
| | - YoungJu Jo
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Peter Y Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Joseph M Paggi
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Masatoshi Inoue
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Eamon F X Byrne
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Koichiro E Kishi
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiwa Nakamura
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Shunki Takaramoto
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Takashi Nagata
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Masae Konno
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan; PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masahiro Sugiura
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Showa-ku, Japan
| | - Kota Katayama
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Showa-ku, Japan
| | - Toshiki E Matsui
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keitaro Yamashita
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Suhyang Kim
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hisako Ikeda
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jaeah Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hideki Kandori
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Showa-ku, Japan; OptoBioTechnology Research Center, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Showa-ku, Japan
| | - Ron O Dror
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Keiichi Inoue
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Karl Deisseroth
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; CNC Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Hideaki E Kato
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; FOREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan.
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7
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Brandt JP, Smith CJ. Piezo1-mediated spontaneous calcium transients in satellite glia impact dorsal root ganglia development. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002319. [PMID: 37747915 PMCID: PMC10564127 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous Ca2+ transients of neural cells is a hallmark of the developing nervous system. It is widely accepted that chemical signals, like neurotransmitters, contribute to spontaneous Ca2+ transients in the nervous system. Here, we reveal an additional mechanism of spontaneous Ca2+ transients that is mechanosensitive in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) using intravital imaging of growing dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in zebrafish embryos. GCaMP6s imaging shows that developing DRG satellite glia contain distinct spontaneous Ca2+ transients, classified into simultaneous, isolated, and microdomains. Longitudinal analysis over days in development demonstrates that as DRG satellite glia become more synchronized, isolated Ca2+ transients remain constant. Using a chemical screen, we identify that Ca2+ transients in DRG glia are dependent on mechanical properties, which we confirmed using an experimental application of mechanical force. We find that isolated spontaneous Ca2+ transients of the glia during development is altered by manipulation of mechanosensitive protein Piezo1, which is expressed in the developing ganglia. In contrast, simultaneous Ca2+ transients of DRG satellite glia is not Piezo1-mediated, thus demonstrating that distinct mechanisms mediate subtypes of spontaneous Ca2+ transients. Activating Piezo1 eventually impacts the cell abundance of DRG cells and behaviors that are driven by DRG neurons. Together, our results reveal mechanistically distinct subtypes of Ca2+ transients in satellite glia and introduce mechanobiology as a critical component of spontaneous Ca2+ transients in the developing PNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob P. Brandt
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- The Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Cody J. Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- The Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
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8
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Hagio H, Koyama W, Hosaka S, Song AD, Narantsatsral J, Matsuda K, Sugihara T, Shimizu T, Koyanagi M, Terakita A, Hibi M. Optogenetic manipulation of Gq- and Gi/o-coupled receptor signaling in neurons and heart muscle cells. eLife 2023; 12:e83974. [PMID: 37589544 PMCID: PMC10435233 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) transmit signals into cells depending on the G protein type. To analyze the functions of GPCR signaling, we assessed the effectiveness of animal G-protein-coupled bistable rhodopsins that can be controlled into active and inactive states by light application using zebrafish. We expressed Gq- and Gi/o-coupled bistable rhodopsins in hindbrain reticulospinal V2a neurons, which are involved in locomotion, or in cardiomyocytes. Light stimulation of the reticulospinal V2a neurons expressing Gq-coupled spider Rh1 resulted in an increase in the intracellular Ca2+ level and evoked swimming behavior. Light stimulation of cardiomyocytes expressing the Gi/o-coupled mosquito Opn3, pufferfish TMT opsin, or lamprey parapinopsin induced cardiac arrest, and the effect was suppressed by treatment with pertussis toxin or barium, suggesting that Gi/o-dependent regulation of inward-rectifier K+ channels controls cardiac function. These data indicate that these rhodopsins are useful for optogenetic control of GPCR-mediated signaling in zebrafish neurons and cardiomyocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanako Hagio
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
| | - Wataru Koyama
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
| | - Shiori Hosaka
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
| | | | | | - Koji Matsuda
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
| | | | | | | | - Akihisa Terakita
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Masahiko Hibi
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
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9
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Hagio H, Koyama W, Hosaka S, Song AD, Narantsatsral J, Matsuda K, Shimizu T, Hososhima S, Tsunoda SP, Kandori H, Hibi M. Optogenetic manipulation of neuronal and cardiomyocyte functions in zebrafish using microbial rhodopsins and adenylyl cyclases. eLife 2023; 12:e83975. [PMID: 37589546 PMCID: PMC10435232 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Even though microbial photosensitive proteins have been used for optogenetics, their use should be optimized to precisely control cell and tissue functions in vivo. We exploited GtCCR4 and KnChR, cation channelrhodopsins from algae, BeGC1, a guanylyl cyclase rhodopsin from a fungus, and photoactivated adenylyl cyclases (PACs) from cyanobacteria (OaPAC) or bacteria (bPAC), to control cell functions in zebrafish. Optical activation of GtCCR4 and KnChR in the hindbrain reticulospinal V2a neurons, which are involved in locomotion, induced swimming behavior at relatively short latencies, whereas activation of BeGC1 or PACs achieved it at long latencies. Activation of GtCCR4 and KnChR in cardiomyocytes induced cardiac arrest, whereas activation of bPAC gradually induced bradycardia. KnChR activation led to an increase in intracellular Ca2+ in the heart, suggesting that depolarization caused cardiac arrest. These data suggest that these optogenetic tools can be used to reveal the function and regulation of zebrafish neurons and cardiomyocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanako Hagio
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, JapanNagoyaJapan
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
| | - Wataru Koyama
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, JapanNagoyaJapan
| | - Shiori Hosaka
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, JapanNagoyaJapan
| | | | | | - Koji Matsuda
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, JapanNagoyaJapan
| | - Takashi Shimizu
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, JapanNagoyaJapan
| | - Shoko Hososhima
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of TechnologyNagoyaJapan
| | - Satoshi P Tsunoda
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of TechnologyNagoyaJapan
| | - Hideki Kandori
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of TechnologyNagoyaJapan
| | - Masahiko Hibi
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, JapanNagoyaJapan
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10
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Seki T, Takeuchi H, Ansai S. Optogenetic control of medaka behavior with channelrhodopsin. Dev Growth Differ 2023; 65:288-299. [PMID: 37354208 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Optogenetics enables the manipulation of neural activity with high spatiotemporal resolution in genetically defined neurons. The method is widely used in various model animals in the neuroscience and physiology fields. Channelrhodopsins are robust tools for optogenetic manipulation, but they have not yet been used for studies in medaka. In the present study, we used the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9-mediated knock-in approach to establish a transgenic medaka strain expressing the Chloromonas oogama channelrhodopsin (CoChR) in the ISL LIM homeobox 1 (isl1) locus. We demonstrated that light stimuli elicited specific behavioral responses, such as bending or turning locomotion in the embryos and pectoral fin movements in the larvae and adults. The response probabilities and intensities of these movements could be controlled by adjusting the intensity, duration, or wavelength of each light stimulus. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the pectoral fin movements in the adult stage could be elicited using a laser pointer to irradiate region including the caudal hind brain and the rostral spinal cord. Our results indicate that CoChR allows for manipulation of medaka behaviors by activating targeted neurons, which will further our understanding of the detailed neural mechanisms of motor control or social behaviors in medaka.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahide Seki
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hideaki Takeuchi
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ansai
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Laboratory of Genome Editing Breeding, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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11
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Hageter J, Starkey J, Horstick EJ. Thalamic regulation of a visual critical period and motor behavior. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112287. [PMID: 36952349 PMCID: PMC10514242 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
During the visual critical period (CP), sensory experience refines the structure and function of visual circuits. The basis of this plasticity was long thought to be limited to cortical circuits, but recently described thalamic plasticity challenges this dogma and demonstrates greater complexity underlying visual plasticity. Yet how visual experience modulates thalamic neurons or how the thalamus modulates CP timing is incompletely understood. Using a larval zebrafish, thalamus-centric ocular dominance model, we show functional changes in the thalamus and a role of inhibitory signaling to establish CP timing using a combination of functional imaging, optogenetics, and pharmacology. Hemisphere-specific changes in genetically defined thalamic neurons correlate with changes in visuomotor behavior, establishing a role of thalamic plasticity in modulating motor performance. Our work demonstrates that visual plasticity is broadly conserved and that visual experience leads to neuron-level functional changes in the thalamus that require inhibitory signaling to establish critical period timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Hageter
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Jacob Starkey
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Eric J Horstick
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
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12
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Pan YK, Perry SF. The control of breathing in fishes - historical perspectives and the path ahead. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:307288. [PMID: 37097020 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
The study of breathing in fishes has featured prominently in Journal of Experimental Biology (JEB), particularly during the latter half of the past century. Indeed, many of the seminal discoveries in this important sub-field of comparative respiratory physiology were reported first in JEB. The period spanning 1960-1990 (the 'golden age of comparative respiratory physiology') witnessed intense innovation in the development of methods to study the control of breathing. Many of the guiding principles of piscine ventilatory control originated during this period, including our understanding of the dominance of O2 as the driver of ventilation in fish. However, a critical issue - the identity of the peripheral O2 chemoreceptors - remained unanswered until methods for cell isolation, culture and patch-clamp recording established that gill neuroepithelial cells (NECs) respond to hypoxia in vitro. Yet, the role of the NECs and other putative peripheral or central chemoreceptors in the control of ventilation in vivo remains poorly understood. Further progress will be driven by the implementation of genetic tools, most of which can be used in zebrafish (Danio rerio). These tools include CRISPR/Cas9 for selective gene knockout, and Tol2 systems for transgenesis, the latter of which enables optogenetic stimulation of cellular pathways, cellular ablation and in vivo cell-specific biosensing. Using these methods, the next period of discovery will see the identification of the peripheral sensory pathways that initiate ventilatory responses, and will elucidate the nature of their integration within the central nervous system and their link to the efferent motor neurons that control breathing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihang Kevin Pan
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1N 6N5
| | - Steve F Perry
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1N 6N5
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13
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Silic MR, Zhang G. Bioelectricity in Developmental Patterning and Size Control: Evidence and Genetically Encoded Tools in the Zebrafish Model. Cells 2023; 12:cells12081148. [PMID: 37190057 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental patterning is essential for regulating cellular events such as axial patterning, segmentation, tissue formation, and organ size determination during embryogenesis. Understanding the patterning mechanisms remains a central challenge and fundamental interest in developmental biology. Ion-channel-regulated bioelectric signals have emerged as a player of the patterning mechanism, which may interact with morphogens. Evidence from multiple model organisms reveals the roles of bioelectricity in embryonic development, regeneration, and cancers. The Zebrafish model is the second most used vertebrate model, next to the mouse model. The zebrafish model has great potential for elucidating the functions of bioelectricity due to many advantages such as external development, transparent early embryogenesis, and tractable genetics. Here, we review genetic evidence from zebrafish mutants with fin-size and pigment changes related to ion channels and bioelectricity. In addition, we review the cell membrane voltage reporting and chemogenetic tools that have already been used or have great potential to be implemented in zebrafish models. Finally, new perspectives and opportunities for bioelectricity research with zebrafish are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin R Silic
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - GuangJun Zhang
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Diseases (PI4D), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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14
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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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15
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Brown W, Wesalo J, Tsang M, Deiters A. Engineering Small Molecule Switches of Protein Function in Zebrafish Embryos. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:2395-2403. [PMID: 36662675 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c11366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Precise temporally regulated protein function directs the highly complex processes that make up embryo development. The zebrafish embryo is an excellent model organism to study development, and conditional control over enzymatic activity is desirable to target chemical intervention to specific developmental events and to investigate biological mechanisms. Surprisingly few, generally applicable small molecule switches of protein function exist in zebrafish. Genetic code expansion allows for site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins that contain caging groups that are removed through addition of small molecule triggers such as phosphines or tetrazines. This broadly applicable control of protein function was applied to activate several enzymes, including a GTPase and a protease, with temporal precision in zebrafish embryos. Simple addition of the small molecule to the media produces robust and tunable protein activation, which was used to gain insight into the development of a congenital heart defect from a RASopathy mutant of NRAS and to control DNA and protein cleavage events catalyzed by a viral recombinase and a viral protease, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wes Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Joshua Wesalo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Michael Tsang
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Alexander Deiters
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
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16
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Perry SF, Pan YK, Gilmour KM. Insights into the control and consequences of breathing adjustments in fishes-from larvae to adults. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1065573. [PMID: 36793421 PMCID: PMC9923008 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1065573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Adjustments of ventilation in fishes to regulate the volume of water flowing over the gills are critically important responses to match branchial gas transfer with metabolic needs and to defend homeostasis during environmental fluctuations in O2 and/or CO2 levels. In this focused review, we discuss the control and consequences of ventilatory adjustments in fish, briefly summarizing ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia before describing the current state of knowledge of the chemoreceptor cells and molecular mechanisms involved in sensing O2 and CO2. We emphasize, where possible, insights gained from studies on early developmental stages. In particular, zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae have emerged as an important model for investigating the molecular mechanisms of O2 and CO2 chemosensing as well as the central integration of chemosensory information. Their value stems, in part, from their amenability to genetic manipulation, which enables the creation of loss-of-function mutants, optogenetic manipulation, and the production of transgenic fish with specific genes linked to fluorescent reporters or biosensors.
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17
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Brown W, Rosenblum C, Deiters A. Small-Molecule Phosphine Activation of Protein Function in Zebrafish Embryos with an Expanded Genetic Code. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2676:247-263. [PMID: 37277638 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3251-2_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Conditional control of protein function in a living model organism is an important tool for studying the effects of that protein during development and disease. In this chapter, we walk through the steps to generate a small-molecule-activatable enzyme in zebrafish embryos through the incorporation of a noncanonical amino acid into the protein active site. This method can be applied to many enzyme classes, which we highlight with temporal control of a luciferase and a protease. We demonstrate that strategic placement of the noncanonical amino acid completely blocks enzyme activity, which is then promptly restored after addition of the nontoxic small molecule inducer to the embryo water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wes Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Carolyn Rosenblum
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alexander Deiters
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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18
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Cho HJ, Lee WS, Jeong J, Lee JS. A review on the impacts of nanomaterials on neuromodulation and neurological dysfunction using a zebrafish animal model. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 261:109428. [PMID: 35940544 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2022.109428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Nanomaterials have been widely employed from industrial to medical fields due to their small sizes and versatile characteristics. However, nanomaterials can also induce unexpected adverse effects on health. In particular, exposure of the nervous system to nanomaterials can cause serious neurological dysfunctions and neurodegenerative diseases. A number of studies have adopted various animal models to evaluate the neurotoxic effects of nanomaterials. Among them, zebrafish has become an attractive animal model for neurotoxicological studies due to several advantages, including the well-characterized nervous system, efficient genome editing, convenient generation of transgenic lines, high-resolution in vivo imaging, and an array of behavioral assays. In this review, we summarize recent studies on the neurotoxicological effects of nanomaterials, particularly engineered nanomaterials and nanoplastics, using zebrafish and discuss key findings with advantages and limitations of the zebrafish model in neurotoxicological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Ju Cho
- Microbiome Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Wang Sik Lee
- Environmental Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinyoung Jeong
- Environmental Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; KRIBB School, University of Science and Technology, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jeong-Soo Lee
- Microbiome Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; KRIBB School, University of Science and Technology, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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19
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Bhandiwad AA, Chu NC, Semenova SA, Holmes GA, Burgess HA. A cerebellar-prepontine circuit for tonic immobility triggered by an inescapable threat. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo0549. [PMID: 36170356 PMCID: PMC9519051 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo0549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Sudden changes in the environment are frequently perceived as threats and provoke defensive behavioral states. One such state is tonic immobility, a conserved defensive strategy characterized by powerful suppression of movement and motor reflexes. Tonic immobility has been associated with multiple brainstem regions, but the underlying circuit is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a strong vibratory stimulus evokes tonic immobility in larval zebrafish defined by suppressed locomotion and sensorimotor responses. Using a circuit-breaking screen and targeted neuron ablations, we show that cerebellar granule cells and a cluster of glutamatergic ventral prepontine neurons (vPPNs) that express key stress-associated neuropeptides are critical components of the circuit that suppresses movement. The complete sensorimotor circuit transmits information from sensory ganglia through the cerebellum to vPPNs to regulate reticulospinal premotor neurons. These results show that cerebellar regulation of a neuropeptide-rich prepontine structure governs a conserved and ancestral defensive behavior that is triggered by an inescapable threat.
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20
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Russell LE, Dalgleish HWP, Nutbrown R, Gauld OM, Herrmann D, Fişek M, Packer AM, Häusser M. All-optical interrogation of neural circuits in behaving mice. Nat Protoc 2022; 17:1579-1620. [PMID: 35478249 PMCID: PMC7616378 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00691-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances combining two-photon calcium imaging and two-photon optogenetics with computer-generated holography now allow us to read and write the activity of large populations of neurons in vivo at cellular resolution and with high temporal resolution. Such 'all-optical' techniques enable experimenters to probe the effects of functionally defined neurons on neural circuit function and behavioral output with new levels of precision. This greatly increases flexibility, resolution, targeting specificity and throughput compared with alternative approaches based on electrophysiology and/or one-photon optogenetics and can interrogate larger and more densely labeled populations of neurons than current voltage imaging-based implementations. This protocol describes the experimental workflow for all-optical interrogation experiments in awake, behaving head-fixed mice. We describe modular procedures for the setup and calibration of an all-optical system (~3 h), the preparation of an indicator and opsin-expressing and task-performing animal (~3-6 weeks), the characterization of functional and photostimulation responses (~2 h per field of view) and the design and implementation of an all-optical experiment (achievable within the timescale of a normal behavioral experiment; ~3-5 h per field of view). We discuss optimizations for efficiently selecting and targeting neuronal ensembles for photostimulation sequences, as well as generating photostimulation response maps from the imaging data that can be used to examine the impact of photostimulation on the local circuit. We demonstrate the utility of this strategy in three brain areas by using different experimental setups. This approach can in principle be adapted to any brain area to probe functional connectivity in neural circuits and investigate the relationship between neural circuit activity and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lloyd E Russell
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Henry W P Dalgleish
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Nutbrown
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Oliver M Gauld
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Dustin Herrmann
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mehmet Fişek
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Adam M Packer
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK.
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Michael Häusser
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK.
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21
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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
| | - Michael Granato
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, 421 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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22
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Bello-Rojas S, Bagnall MW. Clonally related, Notch-differentiated spinal neurons integrate into distinct circuits. eLife 2022; 11:83680. [PMID: 36580075 PMCID: PMC9799969 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Shared lineage has diverse effects on patterns of neuronal connectivity. In mammalian cortex, excitatory sister neurons assemble into shared microcircuits. In Drosophila, in contrast, sister neurons with different levels of Notch expression (NotchON/NotchOFF) develop distinct identities and diverge into separate circuits. Notch-differentiated sister neurons have been observed in vertebrate spinal cord and cerebellum, but whether they integrate into shared or distinct circuits remains unknown. Here, we evaluate how sister V2a (NotchOFF)/V2b (NotchON) neurons in the zebrafish integrate into spinal circuits. Using an in vivo labeling approach, we identified pairs of sister V2a/b neurons born from individual Vsx1+ progenitors and observed that they have somata in close proximity to each other and similar axonal trajectories. However, paired whole-cell electrophysiology and optogenetics revealed that sister V2a/b neurons receive input from distinct presynaptic sources, do not communicate with each other, and connect to largely distinct targets. These results resemble the divergent connectivity in Drosophila and represent the first evidence of Notch-differentiated circuit integration in a vertebrate system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saul Bello-Rojas
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Martha W Bagnall
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
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23
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Neely SA, Lyons DA. Insights Into Central Nervous System Glial Cell Formation and Function From Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:754606. [PMID: 34912801 PMCID: PMC8666443 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.754606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The term glia describes a heterogenous collection of distinct cell types that make up a large proportion of our nervous system. Although once considered the glue of the nervous system, the study of glial cells has evolved significantly in recent years, with a large body of literature now highlighting their complex and diverse roles in development and throughout life. This progress is due, in part, to advances in animal models in which the molecular and cellular mechanisms of glial cell development and function as well as neuron-glial cell interactions can be directly studied in vivo in real time, in intact neural circuits. In this review we highlight the instrumental role that zebrafish have played as a vertebrate model system for the study of glial cells, and discuss how the experimental advantages of the zebrafish lend themselves to investigate glial cell interactions and diversity. We focus in particular on recent studies that have provided insight into the formation and function of the major glial cell types in the central nervous system in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Neely
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Lyons
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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24
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Adesnik H, Abdeladim L. Probing neural codes with two-photon holographic optogenetics. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:1356-1366. [PMID: 34400843 PMCID: PMC9793863 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00902-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Optogenetics ushered in a revolution in how neuroscientists interrogate brain function. Because of technical limitations, the majority of optogenetic studies have used low spatial resolution activation schemes that limit the types of perturbations that can be made. However, neural activity manipulations at finer spatial scales are likely to be important to more fully understand neural computation. Spatially precise multiphoton holographic optogenetics promises to address this challenge and opens up many new classes of experiments that were not previously possible. More specifically, by offering the ability to recreate extremely specific neural activity patterns in both space and time in functionally defined ensembles of neurons, multiphoton holographic optogenetics could allow neuroscientists to reveal fundamental aspects of the neural codes for sensation, cognition and behavior that have been beyond reach. This Review summarizes recent advances in multiphoton holographic optogenetics that substantially expand its capabilities, highlights outstanding technical challenges and provides an overview of the classes of experiments it can execute to test and validate key theoretical models of brain function. Multiphoton holographic optogenetics could substantially accelerate the pace of neuroscience discovery by helping to close the loop between experimental and theoretical neuroscience, leading to fundamental new insights into nervous system function and disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillel Adesnik
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Lamiae Abdeladim
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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25
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Haspel G, Severi KE, Fauci LJ, Cohen N, Tytell ED, Morgan JR. Resilience of neural networks for locomotion. J Physiol 2021; 599:3825-3840. [PMID: 34187088 DOI: 10.1113/jp279214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Locomotion is an essential behaviour for the survival of all animals. The neural circuitry underlying locomotion is therefore highly robust to a wide variety of perturbations, including injury and abrupt changes in the environment. In the short term, fault tolerance in neural networks allows locomotion to persist immediately after mild to moderate injury. In the longer term, in many invertebrates and vertebrates, neural reorganization including anatomical regeneration can restore locomotion after severe perturbations that initially caused paralysis. Despite decades of research, very little is known about the mechanisms underlying locomotor resilience at the level of the underlying neural circuits and coordination of central pattern generators (CPGs). Undulatory locomotion is an ideal behaviour for exploring principles of circuit organization, neural control and resilience of locomotion, offering a number of unique advantages including experimental accessibility and modelling tractability. In comparing three well-characterized undulatory swimmers, lampreys, larval zebrafish and Caenorhabditis elegans, we find similarities in the manifestation of locomotor resilience. To advance our understanding, we propose a comparative approach, integrating experimental and modelling studies, that will allow the field to begin identifying shared and distinct solutions for overcoming perturbations to persist in orchestrating this essential behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gal Haspel
- Federated Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA
| | - Kristen E Severi
- Federated Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA
| | - Lisa J Fauci
- Department of Mathematics, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Netta Cohen
- School of Computing, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Eric D Tytell
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Jennifer R Morgan
- The Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
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26
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Lim WK, Kaur P, Huang H, Jo RS, Ramamoorthy A, Ng LF, Suresh J, Maisha FI, Mathuru AS, Tolwinski NS. Optogenetic approaches for understanding homeostatic and degenerative processes in Drosophila. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5865-5880. [PMID: 34232330 PMCID: PMC8260576 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03836-4] [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: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Many organs and tissues have an intrinsic ability to regenerate from a dedicated, tissue-specific stem cell pool. As organisms age, the process of self-regulation or homeostasis begins to slow down with fewer stem cells available for tissue repair. Tissues become more fragile and organs less efficient. This slowdown of homeostatic processes leads to the development of cellular and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we highlight the recent use and future potential of optogenetic approaches to study homeostasis. Optogenetics uses photosensitive molecules and genetic engineering to modulate cellular activity in vivo, allowing precise experiments with spatiotemporal control. We look at applications of this technology for understanding the mechanisms governing homeostasis and degeneration as applied to widely used model organisms, such as Drosophila melanogaster, where other common tools are less effective or unavailable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Kin Lim
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Prameet Kaur
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Huanyan Huang
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Li Fang Ng
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jahnavi Suresh
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Ajay S Mathuru
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
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27
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Lovett-Barron M. Learning-dependent neuronal activity across the larval zebrafish brain. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 67:42-49. [PMID: 32861055 PMCID: PMC7907282 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Learning changes the activity of neurons across multiple brain regions, but the significance of this distributed organization remains poorly understood, owing in part to the difficulty of observing brain-wide activity patterns in commonly used mammalian model systems. This review discusses the promise of using the small and optically accessible nervous system of larval zebrafish to study the brain-wide networks that encode experience. I discuss the opportunities and challenges of studying learning and memory in the larval zebrafish, the lessons learned from recent studies of brain-wide imaging during experience-dependent behavior, and the potential for using zebrafish neurotechnology to understand the physiological principles and behavioral significance of distributed memory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Lovett-Barron
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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28
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Asakawa K, Handa H, Kawakami K. Illuminating ALS Motor Neurons With Optogenetics in Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:640414. [PMID: 33816488 PMCID: PMC8012537 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.640414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Spinal motor neurons align along the spinal cord length within the vertebral column, and extend long axons to connect with skeletal muscles covering the body surface. Due to this anatomy, spinal motor neurons are among the most difficult cells to observe in vivo. Larval zebrafish have transparent bodies that allow non-invasive visualization of whole cells of single spinal motor neurons, from somas to the neuromuscular synapses. This unique feature, combined with its amenability to genome editing, pharmacology, and optogenetics, enables functional analyses of ALS-associated proteins in the spinal motor neurons in vivo with subcellular resolution. Here, we review the zebrafish skeletal neuromuscular system and the optical methods used to study it. We then introduce a recently developed optogenetic zebrafish ALS model that uses light illumination to control oligomerization, phase transition and aggregation of the ALS-associated DNA/RNA-binding protein called TDP-43. Finally, we will discuss how this disease-in-a-fish ALS model can help solve key questions about ALS pathogenesis and lead to new ALS therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhide Asakawa
- Department of Chemical Biology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Handa
- Department of Chemical Biology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Kawakami
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan.,Department of Genetics, Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima, Japan
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MacDonald AJ, Yang YHC, Cruz AM, Beall C, Ellacott KLJ. Brain-Body Control of Glucose Homeostasis-Insights From Model Organisms. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:662769. [PMID: 33868184 PMCID: PMC8044781 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.662769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tight regulation of blood glucose is essential for long term health. Blood glucose levels are defended by the correct function of, and communication between, internal organs including the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, liver, and brain. Critically, the brain is sensitive to acute changes in blood glucose level and can modulate peripheral processes to defend against these deviations. In this mini-review we highlight select key findings showcasing the utility, strengths, and limitations of model organisms to study brain-body interactions that sense and control blood glucose levels. First, we discuss the large platform of genetic tools available to investigators studying mice and how this field may yet reveal new modes of communication between peripheral organs and the brain. Second, we discuss how rats, by virtue of their size, have unique advantages for the study of CNS control of glucose homeostasis and note that they may more closely model some aspects of human (patho)physiology. Third, we discuss the nascent field of studying the CNS control of blood glucose in the zebrafish which permits ease of genetic modification, large-scale measurements of neural activity and live imaging in addition to high-throughput screening. Finally, we briefly discuss glucose homeostasis in drosophila, which have a distinct physiology and glucoregulatory systems to vertebrates.
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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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