1
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New EM, Hurd JA, Alarcon GA, Miller CS, Williams PA, Greene NT, Sergott CE, Li BZ, Lei TC, McCullagh EA. Hearing ability of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). J Acoust Soc Am 2024; 155:555-567. [PMID: 38259128 PMCID: PMC10807928 DOI: 10.1121/10.0024357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The hearing abilities of mammals are impacted by factors such as social cues, habitat, and physical characteristics. Despite being used commonly to study social behaviors, hearing of the monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) has never been characterized. In this study, anatomical features are measured and auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) are used to measure auditory capabilities of prairie voles, characterizing monaural and binaural hearing and hearing range. Sexually naive male and female voles were measured to characterize differences due to sex. It was found that prairie voles show a hearing range with greatest sensitivity between 8 and 32 kHz, binaural hearing across interaural time difference ranges appropriate for their head sizes. No differences are shown between the sexes in binaural hearing or hearing range (except at 1 kHz), however, female voles have increased amplitude of peripheral ABR waves I and II and longer latency of waves III and IV compared to males. The results confirm that prairie voles have a broad hearing range, binaural hearing consistent with rodents of similar size, and differences in amplitudes and thresholds of monaural physiological measures between the sexes. These data further highlight the necessity to understand sex-specific differences in neural processing that may underly variability in responses between sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M New
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA
| | - Jessica A Hurd
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA
| | - Genesis A Alarcon
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA
| | - Cameron S Miller
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA
| | - Peyton A Williams
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA
| | - Nathaniel T Greene
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | - Casey E Sergott
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA
| | - Ben-Zheng Li
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80204, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | - Tim C Lei
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80204, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | - Elizabeth A McCullagh
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA
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2
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Reichert MS, Bolek MG, McCullagh EA. Parasite effects on receivers in animal communication: Hidden impacts on behavior, ecology, and evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2300186120. [PMID: 37459523 PMCID: PMC10372545 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300186120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasites exert a profound effect on biological processes. In animal communication, parasite effects on signalers are well-known drivers of the evolution of communication systems. Receiver behavior is also likely to be altered when they are parasitized or at risk of parasitism, but these effects have received much less attention. Here, we present a broad framework for understanding the consequences of parasitism on receivers for behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary processes. First, we outline the different kinds of effects parasites can have on receivers, including effects on signal processing from the many parasites that inhabit, occlude, or damage the sensory periphery and the central nervous system or that affect physiological processes that support these organs, and effects on receiver response strategies. We then demonstrate how understanding parasite effects on receivers could answer important questions about the mechanistic causes and functional consequences of variation in animal communication systems. Variation in parasitism levels is a likely source of among-individual differences in response to signals, which can affect receiver fitness and, through effects on signaler fitness, impact population levels of signal variability. The prevalence of parasitic effects on specific sensory organs may be an important selective force for the evolution of elaborate and multimodal signals. Finally, host-parasite coevolution across heterogeneous landscapes will generate geographic variation in communication systems, which could ultimately lead to evolutionary divergence. We discuss applications of experimental techniques to manipulate parasitism levels and point the way forward by calling for integrative research collaborations between parasitologists, neurobiologists, and behavioral and evolutionary ecologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. Reichert
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK74078
| | - Matthew G. Bolek
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK74078
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3
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Ethridge LE, Auerbach BD, Contractor A, Ethell IM, McCullagh EA, Pedapati EV. Editorial: Neural markers of sensory processing in development. Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 17:1256437. [PMID: 37547460 PMCID: PMC10401584 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1256437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Ethridge
- Department of Psychology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Benjamin D. Auerbach
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Anis Contractor
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Iryna M. Ethell
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. McCullagh
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Ernest V. Pedapati
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Child Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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4
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Abstract
Altering the diet to treat disease dates to c. 400 BC when starvation was used to reduce seizures in persons with epilepsy. The current diversity of symptomology and mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and a corresponding lack of disorder-specific effective treatments prompts an evaluation of diet as a therapeutic approach to improve symptoms of ASDs. In this review article, we summarize the main findings of nutritional studies in ASDs, with an emphasis on the most common monogenic cause of autism, Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), and the most studied dietary intervention, the ketogenic diet as well as other dietary interventions. We also discuss the gut microbiota in relation to pre- and probiotic therapies and provide insight into future directions that could aid in understanding the mechanism(s) underlying dietary efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabiha Alam
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Cara J. Westmark
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. McCullagh
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
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5
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Molinaro G, Huber KM, McCullagh EA, Thomson SR. Editorial: Recent advances in mechanisms and therapeutics for Fragile X Syndrome and autism. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1187799. [PMID: 37266542 PMCID: PMC10230571 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1187799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Molinaro
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Kimberly M. Huber
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. McCullagh
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Sophie R. Thomson
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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6
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Li BZ, Sumera A, Booker SA, McCullagh EA. Current Best Practices for Analysis of Dendritic Spine Morphology and Number in Neurodevelopmental Disorder Research. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:1561-1572. [PMID: 37070364 PMCID: PMC10161226 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantitative methods for assessing neural anatomy have rapidly evolved in neuroscience and provide important insights into brain health and function. However, as new techniques develop, it is not always clear when and how each may be used to answer specific scientific questions posed. Dendritic spines, which are often indicative of synapse formation and neural plasticity, have been implicated across many brain regions in neurodevelopmental disorders as a marker for neural changes reflecting neural dysfunction or alterations. In this Perspective we highlight several techniques for staining, imaging, and quantifying dendritic spines as well as provide a framework for avoiding potential issues related to pseudoreplication. This framework illustrates how others may apply the most rigorous approaches. We consider the cost-benefit analysis of the varied techniques, recognizing that the most sophisticated equipment may not always be necessary for answering some research questions. Together, we hope this piece will help researchers determine the best strategy toward using the ever-growing number of techniques available to determine neural changes underlying dendritic spine morphology in health and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben-Zheng Li
- Department
of Physiology and Biophysics, University
of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Anna Sumera
- Simons
Initiative for the Developing Brain, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, U.K.
| | - Sam A Booker
- Simons
Initiative for the Developing Brain, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, U.K.
| | - Elizabeth A. McCullagh
- Department
of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, United States
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7
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Capshaw G, Brown AD, Peña JL, Carr CE, Christensen-Dalsgaard J, Tollin DJ, Womack MC, McCullagh EA. The continued importance of comparative auditory research to modern scientific discovery. Hear Res 2023; 433:108766. [PMID: 37084504 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2023.108766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
A rich history of comparative research in the auditory field has afforded a synthetic view of sound information processing by ears and brains. Some organisms have proven to be powerful models for human hearing due to fundamental similarities (e.g., well-matched hearing ranges), while others feature intriguing differences (e.g., atympanic ears) that invite further study. Work across diverse "non-traditional" organisms, from small mammals to avians to amphibians and beyond, continues to propel auditory science forward, netting a variety of biomedical and technological advances along the way. In this brief review, limited primarily to tetrapod vertebrates, we discuss the continued importance of comparative studies in hearing research from the periphery to central nervous system with a focus on outstanding questions such as mechanisms for sound capture, peripheral and central processing of directional/spatial information, and non-canonical auditory processing, including efferent and hormonal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Capshaw
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
| | - Andrew D Brown
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - José L Peña
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Catherine E Carr
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | | | - Daniel J Tollin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Molly C Womack
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A McCullagh
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
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8
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McCullagh EA, Peacock J, Lucas A, Poleg S, Greene NT, Gaut A, Lagestee S, Zhang Y, Kaczmarek LK, Park TJ, Tollin DJ, Klug A. Auditory brainstem development of naked mole-rats ( Heterocephalus glaber). Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220878. [PMID: 35946148 PMCID: PMC9363996 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Life underground often leads to animals having specialized auditory systems to accommodate the constraints of acoustic transmission in tunnels. Despite living underground, naked mole-rats use a highly vocal communication system, implying that they rely on central auditory processing. However, little is known about these animals' central auditory system, and whether it follows a similar developmental time course as other rodents. Naked mole-rats show slowed development in the hippocampus suggesting they have altered brain development compared to other rodents. Here, we measured morphological characteristics and voltage-gated potassium channel Kv3.3 expression and protein levels at different key developmental time points (postnatal days 9, 14, 21 and adulthood) to determine whether the auditory brainstem (lateral superior olive and medial nucleus of the trapezoid body) develops similarly to two common auditory rodent model species: gerbils and mice. Additionally, we measured the hearing onset of naked mole-rats using auditory brainstem response recordings at the same developmental timepoints. In contrast with other work in naked mole-rats showing that they are highly divergent in many aspects of their physiology, we show that naked mole-rats have a similar hearing onset, between postnatal day (P) 9 and P14, to many other rodents. On the other hand, we show some developmental differences, such as a unique morphology and Kv3.3 protein levels in the brainstem.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John Peacock
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Alexandra Lucas
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Shani Poleg
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nathaniel T. Greene
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Addison Gaut
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Samantha Lagestee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Yalan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Leonard K. Kaczmarek
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Thomas J. Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Daniel J. Tollin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Achim Klug
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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9
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McCullagh EA, Poleg S, Stich D, Moldovan R, Klug A. Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS) Application for Imaging Myelination in Brain Slices. J Vis Exp 2022. [DOI: 10.3791/64013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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10
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McCullagh EA, Kaczmarek LK, Tollin DJ, Klug A. Editorial: Alterations in the Sound Localization Pathway Related to Impaired Cocktail-Party Performance. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:902197. [PMID: 35546884 PMCID: PMC9082812 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.902197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. McCullagh
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States,*Correspondence: Elizabeth A. McCullagh
| | - Leonard K. Kaczmarek
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States,Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Daniel J. Tollin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Achim Klug
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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11
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Chawla A, McCullagh EA. Auditory Brain Stem Responses in the C57BL/6J Fragile X Syndrome-Knockout Mouse Model. Front Integr Neurosci 2022; 15:803483. [PMID: 35111002 PMCID: PMC8802689 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.803483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory hypersensitivity, especially in the auditory system, is a common symptom in Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common monogenic form of intellectual disability. However, linking phenotypes across genetic background strains of mouse models has been a challenge and could underly some of the issues with translatability of drug studies to the human condition. This study is the first to characterize the auditory brain stem response (ABR), a minimally invasive physiological readout of early auditory processing that is also used in humans, in a commonly used mouse background strain model of FXS, C57BL/6J. We measured morphological features of pinna and head and used ABR to measure the hearing range, and monaural and binaural auditory responses in hemizygous males, homozygous females, and heterozygous females compared with those in wild-type mice. Consistent with previous study, we showed no difference in morphological parameters across genotypes or sexes. There was no significant difference in hearing range between the sexes or genotypes, however there was a trend towards high frequency hearing loss in male FXS mice. In contrast, female mice with homozygous FXS had a decreased amplitude of wave IV of the monaural ABR, while there was no difference in males for amplitudes and no change in latency of ABR waveforms across sexes and genotypes. Finally, males with FXS had an increased latency of the binaural interaction component (BIC) at 0 interaural timing difference compared with that in wild-type males. These findings further clarify auditory brain stem processing in FXS by adding more information across genetic background strains allowing for a better understanding of shared phenotypes.
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12
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Lucas A, Poleg S, Klug A, McCullagh EA. Myelination Deficits in the Auditory Brainstem of a Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:772943. [PMID: 34858133 PMCID: PMC8632548 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.772943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Auditory symptoms are one of the most frequent sensory issues described in people with Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic form of intellectual disability. However, the mechanisms that lead to these symptoms are under explored. In this study, we examined whether there are defects in myelination in the auditory brainstem circuitry. Specifically, we studied myelinated fibers that terminate in the Calyx of Held, which encode temporally precise sound arrival time, and are some of the most heavily myelinated axons in the brain. We measured anatomical myelination characteristics using coherent anti-stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) and electron microscopy (EM) in a FXS mouse model in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) where the Calyx of Held synapses. We measured number of mature oligodendrocytes (OL) and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to determine if changes in myelination were due to changes in the number of myelinating or immature glial cells. The two microscopy techniques (EM and CARS) showed a decrease in fiber diameter in FXS mice. Additionally, EM results indicated reductions in myelin thickness and axon diameter, and an increase in g-ratio, a measure of structural and functional myelination. Lastly, we showed an increase in both OL and OPCs in MNTB sections of FXS mice suggesting that the myelination phenotype is not due to an overall decrease in number of myelinating OLs. This is the first study to show that a myelination defects in the auditory brainstem that may underly auditory phenotypes in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Lucas
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Shani Poleg
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Achim Klug
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Elizabeth A McCullagh
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
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13
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McCullagh EA, Bernardi F, Malta M, Nowak K, Marklein AR, Horne KV, Clark TL, Cheng SJ, Zaringhalam M, Edwards LL. Assessing gage: an online tool for improving gender visibility in STEMM. Facets (Ott) 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2021-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Women continue to be underrepresented and less visible in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM). 500 Women Scientists created and launched in January 2018 a global (>140 countries to date), online, open-access directory of women in STEMM fields. This directory—recently renamed gage—now also includes gender diverse persons (i.e., additional underrepresented genders) in STEMM fields. The purpose of the directory is to make these scientists’ expertise easier to locate and access for conference organizers, journalists, policy makers, educators, and others. Here, we undertake an assessment of the directory using surveys, Google Analytics, and focus groups to understand its efficacy and direction to date and identify future improvements we pledge to undertake. Through this assessment—conducted externally and in accordance with privacy protocols by Concolor Research—we identified who and how people are using our directory, why people signed up to be a resource, and areas for improvement. Through such assessment, we can learn how to enhance the directory’s efficacy and our broader efforts to boost the visibility of underrepresented people in STEMM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. McCullagh
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Member, 500 Women Scientists
| | - Francesca Bernardi
- Member, 500 Women Scientists
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA
| | - Monica Malta
- Member, 500 Women Scientists
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Katarzyna Nowak
- Faculty of Agricultural, Life, and Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H1, Canada
- Yukon University, 500 University Drive, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 5K4, Canada
- The Safina Center, 80 North Country Road, Setauket, NY 11733 USA
| | - Alison R. Marklein
- Member, 500 Women Scientists
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California – Riverside, Riverside, CA 92507, USA
| | | | | | - Susan J. Cheng
- Member, 500 Women Scientists
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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14
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McCullagh EA, Rotschafer SE, Auerbach BD, Klug A, Kaczmarek LK, Cramer KS, Kulesza RJ, Razak KA, Lovelace JW, Lu Y, Koch U, Wang Y. Mechanisms underlying auditory processing deficits in Fragile X syndrome. FASEB J 2020; 34:3501-3518. [PMID: 32039504 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201902435r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are strongly associated with auditory hypersensitivity or hyperacusis (difficulty tolerating sounds). Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common monogenetic cause of ASD, has emerged as a powerful gateway for exploring underlying mechanisms of hyperacusis and auditory dysfunction in ASD. This review discusses examples of disruption of the auditory pathways in FXS at molecular, synaptic, and circuit levels in animal models as well as in FXS individuals. These examples highlight the involvement of multiple mechanisms, from aberrant synaptic development and ion channel deregulation of auditory brainstem circuits, to impaired neuronal plasticity and network hyperexcitability in the auditory cortex. Though a relatively new area of research, recent discoveries have increased interest in auditory dysfunction and mechanisms underlying hyperacusis in this disorder. This rapidly growing body of data has yielded novel research directions addressing critical questions regarding the timing and possible outcomes of human therapies for auditory dysfunction in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A McCullagh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Sarah E Rotschafer
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, GA, USA
| | - Benjamin D Auerbach
- Center for Hearing and Deafness, Department of Communicative Disorders & Sciences, SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Achim Klug
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Leonard K Kaczmarek
- Departments of Pharmacology and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Karina S Cramer
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Randy J Kulesza
- Department of Anatomy, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA, USA
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | | | - Yong Lu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
| | - Ursula Koch
- Institute of Biology, Neurophysiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
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15
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Cheng S, Fu Y, Zhang Y, Xian W, Wang H, Grothe B, Liu X, Xu X, Klug A, McCullagh EA. Enhancement of de novo sequencing, assembly and annotation of the Mongolian gerbil genome with transcriptome sequencing and assembly from several different tissues. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:903. [PMID: 31775624 PMCID: PMC6882081 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6276-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) has historically been used as a model organism for the auditory and visual systems, stroke/ischemia, epilepsy and aging related research since 1935 when laboratory gerbils were separated from their wild counterparts. In this study we report genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation further supported by transcriptome sequencing and assembly from 27 different tissues samples. RESULTS The genome was sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000 and after assembly resulted in a final genome size of 2.54 Gbp with contig and scaffold N50 values of 31.4 Kbp and 500.0 Kbp, respectively. Based on the k-mer estimated genome size of 2.48 Gbp, the assembly appears to be complete. The genome annotation was supported by transcriptome data that identified 31,769 (> 2000 bp) predicted protein-coding genes across 27 tissue samples. A BUSCO search of 3023 mammalian groups resulted in 86% of curated single copy orthologs present among predicted genes, indicating a high level of completeness of the genome. CONCLUSIONS We report the first de novo assembly of the Mongolian gerbil genome enhanced by assembly of transcriptome data from several tissues. Sequencing of this genome and transcriptome increases the utility of the gerbil as a model organism, opening the availability of now widely used genetic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shifeng Cheng
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 51803 China
| | - Yuan Fu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Yaolei Zhang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Wenfei Xian
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 51803 China
| | - Hongli Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Benedikt Grothe
- Division of Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich, 82152 Planegg, Martinsried Germany
| | - Xin Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Xun Xu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Achim Klug
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
| | - Elizabeth A. McCullagh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
- Present Address: Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74074 USA
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16
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Wang PK, Pun SH, Chen CH, McCullagh EA, Klug A, Li A, Vai MI, Mak PU, Lei TC. Low-latency single channel real-time neural spike sorting system based on template matching. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225138. [PMID: 31756211 PMCID: PMC6874356 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent technical advancements in neural engineering allow for precise recording and control of neural circuits simultaneously, opening up new opportunities for closed-loop neural control. In this work, a rapid spike sorting system was developed based on template matching to rapidly calculate instantaneous firing rates for each neuron in a multi-unit extracellular recording setting. Cluster templates were first generated by a desktop computer using a non-parameter spike sorting algorithm (Super-paramagnetic clustering) and then transferred to a field-programmable gate array digital circuit for rapid sorting through template matching. Two different matching techniques–Euclidean distance (ED) and correlational matching (CM)–were compared for the accuracy of sorting and the performance of calculating firing rates. The performance of the system was first verified using publicly available artificial data and was further confirmed with pre-recorded neural spikes from an anesthetized Mongolian gerbil. Real-time recording and sorting from an awake mouse were also conducted to confirm the system performance in a typical behavioral neuroscience experimental setting. Experimental results indicated that high sorting accuracies were achieved for both template-matching methods, but CM can better handle spikes with non-Gaussian spike distributions, making it more robust for in vivo recording. The technique was also compared to several other off-line spike sorting algorithms and the results indicated that the sorting accuracy is comparable but sorting time is significantly shorter than these other techniques. A low sorting latency of under 2 ms and a maximum spike sorting rate of 941 spikes/second have been achieved with our hybrid hardware/software system. The low sorting latency and fast sorting rate allow future system developments of neural circuit modulation through analyzing neural activities in real-time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Ke Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau, China
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Sio Hang Pun
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Chang Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Elizabeth A. McCullagh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Achim Klug
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Anan Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Mang I. Vai
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau, China
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Peng Un Mak
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Tim C. Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau, China
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, United States of America
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Abstract
A global online register of women scientists, ready to share their science, was established by a cohort of volunteer women from the grassroots organization 500 Women Scientists on January 17th, 2018. In less than one year, the database “Request a Woman Scientist” comprised over 7,500 women from 174 scientific disciplines and 133 countries. The database is built upon a voluntary questionnaire regarding career stage, degree, scientific discipline, geographic location, and other self-identifying dimensions of representation. The information was visualized using the software platform Tableau, with dropdown menus that help query the database and output a list of names, email addresses, and websites. The biological sciences and women scientists from the United States of America were best represented in the database. A survey of women in the database conducted in November 2018 showed that of 1,278 respondents, 11% had been contacted since signing up for a variety of engagements, including media, peer review, panel participation, educational outreach, and professional/research connections. These engagements resulted in consultations for articles, video chats with students, and speaking opportunities at conferences and events. With improved functionality and marketing, outreach in the global south, and future translation in other languages, this database will further promote the profile and participation of women scientists across society, which in turn will benefit the advancement of science. This Community Page article describes the “Request a Woman Scientist” resource, which was launched in January 2018 through the 500 Women Scientists organization, and constitutes an important step in increasing the diversity of voices represented as scientists in the public and scientific communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. McCullagh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado-Anschutz, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- 500 Women Scientists, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Katarzyna Nowak
- 500 Women Scientists, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- The Safina Center, Setauket, New York, United States of America
| | - Anne Pogoriler
- 500 Women Scientists, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Jessica L. Metcalf
- 500 Women Scientists, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | | | - T. Jane Zelikova
- 500 Women Scientists, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, United States of America
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18
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McCullagh EA, McCullagh P, Klug A, Leszczynski JK, Fong DL. Effects of an Extended Cage-change Interval on Ammonia Levels and Reproduction in Mongolian Gerbils ( Meriones unguiculatus). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2017; 56:713-717. [PMID: 29256365 PMCID: PMC5710149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Prompted by the cage cleanliness of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), we evaluated a prolonged cage-change interval. We compared the effects of a 2-wk and 6-wk cage-change schedule on ammonia levels, temperature, humidity, and reproductive performance in breeding pairs housed in IVC. We hypothesized that ammonia levels would remain below our threshold for cage changing and that reproductive performance would not be affected. Although ammonia levels increased over time, they remained low (less than 5 ppm) over the 6-wk period. In addition, the 6-wk cage-change interval did not significantly influence reproductive parameters, such as average pup weaning weight, number of litters, and number of pups per litter. We conclude that an extended cage-change interval (6-wk) can be used for gerbils without significant increases in intracage ammonia levels or effects on reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A McCullagh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Peter McCullagh
- Department of Statistics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Achim Klug
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jori K Leszczynski
- Office of Laboratory Animal Resources, Office of Laboratory Animal Resources, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Derek L Fong
- Office of Laboratory Animal Resources, Office of Laboratory Animal Resources, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado;,
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19
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McCullagh EA, Salcedo E, Huntsman MM, Klug A. Tonotopic alterations in inhibitory input to the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. J Comp Neurol 2017; 525:3543-3562. [PMID: 28744893 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hyperexcitability and the imbalance of excitation/inhibition are one of the leading causes of abnormal sensory processing in Fragile X syndrome (FXS). The precise timing and distribution of excitation and inhibition is crucial for auditory processing at the level of the auditory brainstem, which is responsible for sound localization ability. Sound localization is one of the sensory abilities disrupted by loss of the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (Fmr1) gene. Using triple immunofluorescence staining we tested whether there were alterations in the number and size of presynaptic structures for the three primary neurotransmitters (glutamate, glycine, and GABA) in the auditory brainstem of Fmr1 knockout mice. We found decreases in either glycinergic or GABAergic inhibition to the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) specific to the tonotopic location within the nucleus. MNTB is one of the primary inhibitory nuclei in the auditory brainstem and participates in the sound localization process with fast and well-timed inhibition. Thus, a decrease in inhibitory afferents to MNTB neurons should lead to greater inhibitory output to the projections from this nucleus. In contrast, we did not see any other significant alterations in balance of excitation/inhibition in any of the other auditory brainstem nuclei measured, suggesting that the alterations observed in the MNTB are both nucleus and frequency specific. We furthermore show that glycinergic inhibition may be an important contributor to imbalances in excitation and inhibition in FXS and that the auditory brainstem is a useful circuit for testing these imbalances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A McCullagh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Ernesto Salcedo
- Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Molly M Huntsman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicinen University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Achim Klug
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
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20
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Chen CH, McCullagh EA, Pun SH, Mak PU, Vai MI, Mak PI, Klug A, Lei TC. An Integrated Circuit for Simultaneous Extracellular Electrophysiology Recording and Optogenetic Neural Manipulation. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2017; 64:557-568. [PMID: 28221990 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2016.2609412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The ability to record and to control action potential firing in neuronal circuits is critical to understand how the brain functions. The objective of this study is to develop a monolithic integrated circuit (IC) to record action potentials and simultaneously control action potential firing using optogenetics. METHODS A low-noise and high input impedance (or low input capacitance) neural recording amplifier is combined with a high current laser/light-emitting diode (LED) driver in a single IC. RESULTS The low input capacitance of the amplifier (9.7 pF) was achieved by adding a dedicated unity gain stage optimized for high impedance metal electrodes. The input referred noise of the amplifier is [Formula: see text], which is lower than the estimated thermal noise of the metal electrode. Thus, the action potentials originating from a single neuron can be recorded with a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 6.6. The LED/laser current driver delivers a maximum current of 330 mA, which is adequate for optogenetic control. The functionality of the IC was tested with an anesthetized Mongolian gerbil and auditory stimulated action potentials were recorded from the inferior colliculus. Spontaneous firings of fifth (trigeminal) nerve fibers were also inhibited using the optogenetic protein Halorhodopsin. Moreover, a noise model of the system was derived to guide the design. SIGNIFICANCE A single IC to measure and control action potentials using optogenetic proteins is realized so that more complicated behavioral neuroscience research and the translational neural disorder treatments become possible in the future.
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21
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Gantois I, Khoutorsky A, Popic J, Aguilar-Valles A, Freemantle E, Cao R, Sharma V, Pooters T, Nagpal A, Skalecka A, Truong VT, Wiebe S, Groves IA, Jafarnejad SM, Chapat C, McCullagh EA, Gamache K, Nader K, Lacaille JC, Gkogkas CG, Sonenberg N. Metformin ameliorates core deficits in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. Nat Med 2017; 23:674-677. [PMID: 28504725 DOI: 10.1038/nm.4335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Trinucleotide repeat expansions in FMR1 abolish FMRP expression, leading to hyperactivation of ERK and mTOR signaling upstream of mRNA translation. Here we show that metformin, the most widely used drug for type 2 diabetes, rescues core phenotypes in Fmr1-/y mice and selectively normalizes ERK signaling, eIF4E phosphorylation and the expression of MMP-9. Thus, metformin is a potential FXS therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilse Gantois
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Arkady Khoutorsky
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Anesthesia, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jelena Popic
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Argel Aguilar-Valles
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Erika Freemantle
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ruifeng Cao
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Vijendra Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Tine Pooters
- Patrick Wild Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Anmol Nagpal
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Agnieszka Skalecka
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Vinh T Truong
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Shane Wiebe
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabelle A Groves
- Patrick Wild Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Seyed Mehdi Jafarnejad
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Clément Chapat
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A McCullagh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Karine Gamache
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Karim Nader
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-Claude Lacaille
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Christos G Gkogkas
- Patrick Wild Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Nahum Sonenberg
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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McCullagh EA, Cristol DA, Phillips JB. Plumage color and reproductive output of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) nesting near a mercury-contaminated river. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng 2015; 50:1020-1028. [PMID: 26121017 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2015.1038168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite the growing evidence of mercury's impact on ecosystems, few studies have looked at the environmental impact of mercury pollution on terrestrial songbirds and the complex ways through which mercury might influence their fitness. In 2007-2008 eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) were monitored on mercury contaminated and reference sites for blood and feather mercury, reproductive success and plumage coloration. Higher tissue mercury accumulation was associated with plumage that was overall brighter and shifted towards the UV portion of the spectrum. In females, long-term mercury exposure, as indicated by feather mercury, was associated with smaller clutches of eggs. In males, recent mercury exposure, as indicated by blood mercury, was associated with a reduction in the proportion of hatchlings that fledged, potentially through reduced male provisioning of offspring. Reproductive success and plumage color are closely linked in bluebirds through mate choice, and our findings indicate that mercury contamination is associated with reproductive success directly and possibly indirectly, through coloration of bluebirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A McCullagh
- a Department of Physiology and Biophysics , University of Colorado School of Medicine , Aurora , Colorado , USA
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