Author response: Specification of diverse cell types during early neurogenesis of the mouse cerebellum

The cerebellum is a well-studied brain structure with diverse roles in motor learning, coordination, cognition, and autonomic regulation. Nonetheless, a complete inventory of cerebellar cell types is presently lacking. We used high-throughput transcriptional profiling to molecularly define cell types across individual lobules of the adult mouse cerebellum. Purkinje and granule neurons showed considerable regional specialization, with the greatest diversity occurring in the posterior lobules. For multiple types of cerebellar interneurons, the molecular variation within each type was more continuous, rather than discrete. For the unipolar brush cells (UBCs)—an interneuron population previously subdivided into two discrete populations—the continuous variation in gene expression was associated with a graded continuum of electrophysiological properties. Most surprisingly, we found that molecular layer interneurons (MLIs) were composed of two molecularly and functionally distinct types. Both show a continuum of morphological variation through the thickness of the molecular layer, but electrophysiological recordings revealed marked differences between the two types in spontaneous firing, excitability, and electrical coupling. Together, these findings provide the first comprehensive cellular atlas of the cerebellar cortex, and outline a methodological and conceptual framework for the integration of molecular, morphological, and physiological ontologies for defining brain cell types.

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Author response for "Mechanisms and consequences of subcellular RNA localization across diverse cell types"

10.1111/tra.12730/v2/response1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Krysta L. Engel ◽

Ankita Arora ◽

Raeann Goering ◽

Hei-Yong G. Lo ◽

J. Matthew Taliaferro

Keyword(s):

Cell Types ◽

Rna Localization ◽

Author Response

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Mutations affecting neurogenesis and brain morphology in the zebrafish, Danio rerio

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.123.1.205 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 123 (1) ◽

pp. 205-216 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Y.J. Jiang ◽

M. Brand ◽

C.P. Heisenberg ◽

D. Beuchle ◽

M. Furutani-Seiki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Types ◽

Brain Morphology ◽

Abnormal Development ◽

Radial Glial Cells ◽

Complementation Groups ◽

Early Neurogenesis ◽

Radial Glial ◽

General Organization ◽

Neurogenic Mutants ◽

The Brain

In a screen for embryonic mutants in the zebrafish a large number of mutants were isolated with abnormal brain morphology. We describe here 26 mutants in 13 complementation groups that show abnormal development of large regions of the brain. Early neurogenesis is affected in white tail (wit). During segmentation stages, homozygous wit embryos display an irregularly formed neural keel, particularly in the hindbrain. Using a variety of molecular markers, a severe increase in the number of various early differentiating neurons can be demonstrated. In contrast, late differentiating neurons, radial glial cells and some nonneural cell types, such as the neural crest-derived melanoblasts, are much reduced. Somitogenesis appears delayed. In addition, very reduced numbers of melanophores are present posterior to the mid-trunk. The wit phenotype is reminiscent of neurogenic mutants in Drosophila, such as Notch or Delta. In mutant parachute (pac) embryos the general organization of the hindbrain is disturbed and many rounded cells accumulate loosely in the hindbrain and midbrain ventricles. Mutants in a group of 6 genes, snakehead(snk), natter (nat), otter (ott), fullbrain (ful), viper (vip) and white snake (wis) develop collapsed brain ventricles, before showing signs of general degeneration. atlantis (atl), big head (bid), wicked brain (win), scabland (sbd) and eisspalte (ele) mutants have different malformation of the brain folds. Some of them have transient phenotypes, and mutant individuals may grow up to adults.

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