scholarly journals Chandelier cell anatomy and function reveal a variably distributed but common signal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey M. Schneider-Mizell ◽  
Agnes L. Bodor ◽  
Forrest Collman ◽  
Derrick Brittain ◽  
Adam A. Bleckert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Cortical Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Target Neuron ◽  
Chandelier Cell ◽  
Chandelier Cells

AbstractThe activity and connectivity of inhibitory cells has a profound impact on the operation of neuronal networks. While the average connectivity of many inhibitory cell types has been characterized, we still lack an understanding of how individual interneurons distribute their synapses onto their targets and how heterogeneous the inhibition is onto different individual excitatory neurons. Here, we use large-scale volumetric electron microscopy (EM) and functional imaging to address this question for chandelier cells in layer 2/3 of mouse visual cortex. Using dense morphological reconstructions from EM, we mapped the complete chandelier input onto 153 pyramidal neurons. We find that the number of input synapses is highly variable across the population, but the variability is correlated with structural features of the target neuron: soma depth, soma size, and the number of perisomatic synapses received. Functionally, we found that chandelier cell activity in vivo was highly correlated and tracks pupil diameter, a proxy for arousal state. We propose that chandelier cells provide a global signal whose strength is individually adjusted for each target neuron. This approach, combining comprehensive structural analysis with functional recordings of identified cell types, will be a powerful tool to uncover the wiring rules across the diversity of cortical cell types.

scholarly journals Structure and function of axo-axonic inhibition

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey M Schneider-Mizell ◽  
Agnes L Bodor ◽  
Forrest Collman ◽  
Derrick Brittain ◽  
Adam Bleckert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Inhibitory Neurons ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Population Activity ◽  
Chandelier Cells

Inhibitory neurons in mammalian cortex exhibit diverse physiological, morphological, molecular and connectivity signatures. While considerable work has measured the average connectivity of several interneuron classes, there remains a fundamental lack of understanding of the connectivity distribution of distinct inhibitory cell types with synaptic resolution, how it relates to properties of target cells and how it affects function. Here, we used large-scale electron microscopy and functional imaging to address these questions for chandelier cells in layer 2/3 of the mouse visual cortex. With dense reconstructions from electron microscopy, we mapped the complete chandelier input onto 153 pyramidal neurons. We found that synapse number is highly variable across the population and is correlated with several structural features of the target neuron. This variability in the number of axo-axonic ChC synapses is higher than the variability seen in perisomatic inhibition. Biophysical simulations show that the observed pattern of axo-axonic inhibition is particularly effective in controlling excitatory output when excitation and inhibition are co-active. Finally, we measured chandelier cell activity in awake animals using a cell-type specific calcium imaging approach and saw highly correlated activity across chandelier cells. In the same experiments, in vivo chandelier population activity correlated with pupil dilation, a proxy for arousal. Together these results suggest that chandelier cells provide a circuit-wide signal whose strength is adjusted relative to the properties of target neurons.

scholarly journals Transcriptional and morphological profiling of parvalbumin interneuron subpopulations in the mouse hippocampus

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Que ◽  
David Lukacsovich ◽  
Wenshu Luo ◽  
Csaba Földy
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Neuronal Identity ◽  
Parvalbumin Interneurons ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Parvalbumin Interneuron ◽  
Cam Profile ◽  
Developmental Domains

AbstractThe diversity reflected by >100 different neural cell types fundamentally contributes to brain function and a central idea is that neuronal identity can be inferred from genetic information. Recent large-scale transcriptomic assays seem to confirm this hypothesis, but a lack of morphological information has limited the identification of several known cell types. In this study, we used single-cell RNA-seq in morphologically identified parvalbumin interneurons (PV-INs), and studied their transcriptomic states in the morphological, physiological, and developmental domains. Overall, we find high transcriptomic similarity among PV-INs, with few genes showing divergent expression between morphologically different types. Furthermore, PV-INs show a uniform synaptic cell adhesion molecule (CAM) profile, suggesting that CAM expression in mature PV cells does not reflect wiring specificity after development. Together, our results suggest that while PV-INs differ in anatomy and in vivo activity, their continuous transcriptomic and homogenous biophysical landscapes are not predictive of these distinct identities.

scholarly journals Role of Luteal Glucocorticoid Metabolism during Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy in Women

Endocrinology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 148 (12) ◽  
pp. 5769-5779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Myers ◽  
M. Christy Lamont ◽  
Sander van den Driesche ◽  
Nirmala Mary ◽  
K. Joo Thong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Activity ◽  
Tissue Remodeling ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Endocrine Gland ◽  
Steroidogenic Cell ◽  
Luteal Tissue ◽  
Maternal Recognition Of Pregnancy

The human corpus luteum (hCL) is an active, transient, and dynamic endocrine gland. It will experience extensive tissue and vascular remodeling followed by 1) demise of the whole gland without any apparent scarring or 2) maintenance of structural and functional integrity dependent on conceptus-derived human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Because cortisol has well-characterized roles in tissue remodeling and repair, we hypothesized that it may have a role in controlling luteal dissolution during luteolysis and would be locally produced toward the end of the luteal cycle. Glucocorticoid-metabolizing enzymes [11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD) types 1 and 2] and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) were assessed in hCL and cultures of luteinized granulosa cells (LGC) using immunofluorescence and quantitative RT-PCR. Furthermore, the effect of cortisol on steroidogenic cell survival and fibroblast-like cell activity was explored in vitro. The hCL expressed 11βHSD isoenzymes in LGC and nuclear GR in several cell types. hCG up-regulated the expression and activity of 11βHSD type 1 (P < 0.05) and down-regulated type 2 enzyme (P < 0.05) in vitro and tended to do the same in vivo. Cortisol increased the survival of LGC treated with RU486 (P < 0.05) and suppressed the activity of a proteolytic enzyme associated with luteolysis in fibroblast-like cells (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that, rather than during luteolysis, it is luteal rescue with hCG that is associated with increased local cortisol generation by 11βHSD type 1. Locally generated cortisol may therefore act on the hCL through GR to have a luteotropic role in the regulation of luteal tissue remodeling during maternal recognition of pregnancy.

scholarly journals Exosome: A New Player in Translational Nanomedicine

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Houssam Aheget ◽  
María Tristán-Manzano ◽  
Loubna Mazini ◽  
Marina Cortijo-Gutierrez ◽  
Pablo Galindo-Moreno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Current State ◽  
Exosome Biogenesis ◽  
Production Techniques

Summary: Exosomes are extracellular vesicles released by the vast majority of cell types both in vivo and ex vivo, upon the fusion of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) with the cellular plasma membrane. Two main functions have been attributed to exosomes: their capacity to transport proteins, lipids and nucleic acids between cells and organs, as well as their potential to act as natural intercellular communicators in normal biological processes and in pathologies. From a clinical perspective, the majority of applications use exosomes as biomarkers of disease. A new approach uses exosomes as biologically active carriers to provide a platform for the enhanced delivery of cargo in vivo. One of the major limitations in developing exosome-based therapies is the difficulty of producing sufficient amounts of safe and efficient exosomes. The identification of potential proteins involved in exosome biogenesis is expected to directly cause a deliberate increase in exosome production. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge regarding exosomes, with particular emphasis on their structural features, biosynthesis pathways, production techniques and potential clinical applications.

scholarly journals The Spatial and Temporal Origin of Chandelier Cells in Mouse Neocortex

Science ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 339 (6115) ◽  
pp. 70-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroki Taniguchi ◽  
Jiangteng Lu ◽  
Z. Josh Huang
Keyword(s):  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Functional Organization ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Developmental Trajectory ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Homeodomain Protein ◽  
Germinal Zone ◽  
Embryonic Origin ◽  
Bona Fide ◽  
Chandelier Cells

Diverse γ-aminobutyric acid–releasing interneurons regulate the functional organization of cortical circuits and derive from multiple embryonic sources. It remains unclear to what extent embryonic origin influences interneuron specification and cortical integration because of difficulties in tracking defined cell types. Here, we followed the developmental trajectory of chandelier cells (ChCs), the most distinct interneurons that innervate the axon initial segment of pyramidal neurons and control action potential initiation. ChCs mainly derive from the ventral germinal zone of the lateral ventricle during late gestation and require the homeodomain protein Nkx2.1 for their specification. They migrate with stereotyped routes and schedule and achieve specific laminar distribution in the cortex. The developmental specification of this bona fide interneuron type likely contributes to the assembly of a cortical circuit motif.

scholarly journals Distinct features of brain perivascular fibroblasts and mural cells revealed by in vivo two-photon imaging

2021 ◽  
pp. 0271678X2110685
Author(s):  
Stephanie K Bonney ◽  
Liam T Sullivan ◽  
Timothy J Cherry ◽  
Richard Daneman ◽  
Andy Y Shih
Keyword(s):  
Cell Types ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Main Trunk ◽  
Perivascular Niche ◽  
Two Photon ◽  
Mural Cells ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
Photon Imaging ◽  
Two Photon Imaging

Perivascular fibroblasts (PVFs) are recognized for their pro-fibrotic role in many central nervous system disorders. Like mural cells, PVFs surround blood vessels and express Pdgfrβ. However, these shared attributes hinder the ability to distinguish PVFs from mural cells. We used in vivo two-photon imaging and transgenic mice with PVF-targeting promoters (Col1a1 or Col1a2) to compare the structure and distribution of PVFs and mural cells in cerebral cortex of healthy, adult mice. We show that PVFs localize to all cortical penetrating arterioles and their offshoots (arteriole-capillary transition zone), as well as the main trunk of only larger ascending venules. However, the capillary zone is devoid of PVF coverage. PVFs display short-range mobility along the vessel wall and exhibit distinct structural features (flattened somata and thin ruffled processes) not seen with smooth muscle cells or pericytes. These findings clarify that PVFs and mural cells are distinct cell types coexisting in a similar perivascular niche.

scholarly journals Nuclear RNA-seq of single neurons reveals molecular signatures of activation

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Lacar ◽  
Sara B. Linker ◽  
Baptiste N. Jaeger ◽  
Suguna Rani Krishnaswami ◽  
Jerika J. Barron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Granule Cells ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Environment Exposure

Abstract Single-cell sequencing methods have emerged as powerful tools for identification of heterogeneous cell types within defined brain regions. Application of single-cell techniques to study the transcriptome of activated neurons can offer insight into molecular dynamics associated with differential neuronal responses to a given experience. Through evaluation of common whole-cell and single-nuclei RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) methods, here we show that snRNA-seq faithfully recapitulates transcriptional patterns associated with experience-driven induction of activity, including immediate early genes (IEGs) such as Fos, Arc and Egr1. SnRNA-seq of mouse dentate granule cells reveals large-scale changes in the activated neuronal transcriptome after brief novel environment exposure, including induction of MAPK pathway genes. In addition, we observe a continuum of activation states, revealing a pseudotemporal pattern of activation from gene expression alone. In summary, snRNA-seq of activated neurons enables the examination of gene expression beyond IEGs, allowing for novel insights into neuronal activation patterns in vivo.

scholarly journals Murine clusterin: molecular cloning and mRNA localization of a gene associated with epithelial differentiation processes during embryogenesis

1993 ◽  
Vol 122 (5) ◽  
pp. 1119-1130 ◽  
Author(s):  
LE French ◽  
A Chonn ◽  
D Ducrest ◽  
B Baumann ◽  
D Belin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Branching Morphogenesis ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Heparin Binding ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Cell Layers

Clusterin is a broadly distributed glycoprotein constitutively expressed by various tissues and cell types, that has been shown to be involved in cell-cell adhesion and expressed during cellular differentiation in vitro. To assess the suggested participation of clusterin in these processes in vivo, we have cloned the cDNA encoding murine clusterin and studied the cellular distribution of clusterin mRNA during murine embryogenesis. Sequence analysis of the cDNA encoding murine clusterin revealed 92 and 75% sequence identity with the rat and human cDNAs, respectively, and conservation of the predicted structural features which include alpha-helical regions and heparin-binding domains. From 12.5 d of development onwards, the clusterin gene is widely expressed in developing epithelia, and selectively localized within the differentiating cell layers of tissues such as the developing skin, tooth, and duodenum where proliferating and differentiating compartments are readily distinguished. In addition, transient and localized clusterin gene expression was detected in certain morphogenetically active epithelia. In the lung, abundant gene transcripts were detected in cuboidal epithelial cells of the terminal lung buds during branching morphogenesis, and in the kidney, clusterin gene expression in the epithelial cells of comma and S-shaped bodies coincided with the process of polarization. Our results demonstrate the in vivo expression of the clusterin gene by differentiating epithelial cells during murine embryogenesis, and provide novel evidence suggesting that clusterin may be involved in the differentiation and morphogenesis of certain epithelia.

scholarly journals In Vivo Chemical Screen in Zebrafish Embryos Identifies Regulators of Hematopoiesis Using a Semiautomated Imaging Assay

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 956-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guruchandar Arulmozhivarman ◽  
Martin Stöter ◽  
Marc Bickle ◽  
Martin Kräter ◽  
Manja Wobus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem Cell ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Human Peripheral Blood ◽  
Screening Method ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Drug Candidates

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) generate all cell types of the blood and are crucial for homeostasis of all blood lineages in vertebrates. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a rapidly evolving technique that offers potential cure for hematologic cancers, such as leukemia or lymphoma. HSCT may be autologous or allogenic. Successful HSCT depends critically on the abundance of engraftment-competent HSPCs, which are currently difficult to obtain in large numbers. Therefore, finding compounds that enhance either the number or the activity of HSPCs could improve prognosis for patients undergoing HSCT and is of great clinical interest. We developed a semiautomated screening method for whole zebrafish larvae using conventional liquid handling equipment and confocal microscopy. Applying this pipeline, we screened 550 compounds in triplicate for proliferation of HSPCs in vivo and identified several modulators of hematopoietic stem cell activity. One identified hit was valproic acid (VPA), which was further validated as a compound that expands and maintains the population of HSPCs isolated from human peripheral blood ex vivo. In summary, our in vivo zebrafish imaging screen identified several potential drug candidates with clinical relevance and could easily be further expanded to screen more compounds.

scholarly journals Functional brain defects in a mouse model of a chromosomal t(1;11) translocation that disrupts DISC1 and confers increased risk of psychiatric illness

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Bonneau ◽  
Shane T. O’ Sullivan ◽  
Miguel A. Gonzalez-Lozano ◽  
Paul Baxter ◽  
Phillippe Gautier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Mutant Mouse ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Translocation Carrier ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

AbstractA balanced t(1;11) translocation that directly disrupts DISC1 is linked to schizophrenia and affective disorders. We previously showed that a mutant mouse, named Der1, recapitulates the effect of the translocation upon DISC1 expression. Here, RNAseq analysis of Der1 mouse brain tissue found enrichment for dysregulation of the same genes and molecular pathways as in neuron cultures generated previously from human t(1;11) translocation carriers via the induced pluripotent stem cell route. DISC1 disruption therefore apparently accounts for a substantial proportion of the effects of the t(1;11) translocation. RNAseq and pathway analysis of the mutant mouse predicts multiple Der1-induced alterations converging upon synapse function and plasticity. Synaptosome proteomics confirmed that the Der1 mutation impacts synapse composition, and electrophysiology found reduced AMPA:NMDA ratio in hippocampal neurons, indicating changed excitatory signalling. Moreover, hippocampal parvalbumin-positive interneuron density is increased, suggesting that the Der1 mutation affects inhibitory control of neuronal circuits. These phenotypes predict that neurotransmission is impacted at many levels by DISC1 disruption in human t(1;11) translocation carriers. Notably, genes implicated in schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder by large-scale genetic studies are enriched among the Der1-dysregulated genes, just as we previously observed for the t(1;11) translocation carrier-derived neurons. Furthermore, RNAseq analysis predicts that the Der1 mutation primarily targets a subset of cell types, pyramidal neurons and interneurons, previously shown to be vulnerable to the effects of common schizophrenia-associated genetic variants. In conclusion, DISC1 disruption by the t(1;11) translocation may contribute to the psychiatric disorders of translocation carriers through commonly affected pathways and processes in neurotransmission.

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