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Wullimann MF, Mokayes N, Shainer I, Kuehn E, Baier H. Genoarchitectonics of the larval zebrafish diencephalon. J Comp Neurol 2024; 532:e25549. [PMID: 37983970 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25549] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The brain is spatially organized into subdivisions, nuclei and areas, which often correspond to functional and developmental units. A segmentation of brain regions in the form of a consensus atlas facilitates mechanistic studies and is a prerequisite for sharing information among neuroanatomists. Gene expression patterns objectively delineate boundaries between brain regions and provide information about their developmental and evolutionary histories. To generate a detailed molecular map of the larval zebrafish diencephalon, we took advantage of the Max Planck Zebrafish Brain (mapzebrain) atlas, which aligns hundreds of transcript and transgene expression patterns in a shared coordinate system. Inspection and co-visualization of close to 50 marker genes have allowed us to resolve the tripartite prosomeric scaffold of the diencephalon at unprecedented resolution. This approach clarified the genoarchitectonic partitioning of the alar diencephalon into pretectum (alar part of prosomere P1), thalamus (alar part of prosomere P2, with habenula and pineal complex), and prethalamus (alar part of prosomere P3). We further identified the region of the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus, as well as the posterior and anterior parts of the posterior tuberculum, as molecularly distinct basal parts of prosomeres 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Some of the markers examined allowed us to locate glutamatergic, GABAergic, dopaminergic, serotoninergic, and various neuropeptidergic domains in the larval zebrafish diencephalon. Our molecular neuroanatomical approach has thus (1) yielded an objective and internally consistent interpretation of the prosomere boundaries within the zebrafish forebrain; has (2) produced a list of markers, which in sparse combinations label the subdivisions of the diencephalon; and is (3) setting the stage for further functional and developmental studies in this vertebrate brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario F Wullimann
- Genes - Circuits - Behavior Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
- Department Biology II, Division of Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU Munich), Martinsried, Germany
| | - Nouwar Mokayes
- Genes - Circuits - Behavior Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Inbal Shainer
- Genes - Circuits - Behavior Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Enrico Kuehn
- Genes - Circuits - Behavior Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Herwig Baier
- Genes - Circuits - Behavior Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
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Gao J, Lu Y, Luo Y, Duan X, Chen P, Zhang X, Wu X, Qiu M, Shen W. β-Catenin and SOX2 Interaction Regulate Visual Experience-Dependent Cell Homeostasis in the Developing Xenopus Thalamus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13593. [PMID: 37686400 PMCID: PMC10488257 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713593] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In the vertebrate brain, sensory experience plays a crucial role in shaping thalamocortical connections for visual processing. However, it is still not clear how visual experience influences tissue homeostasis and neurogenesis in the developing thalamus. Here, we reported that the majority of SOX2-positive cells in the thalamus are differentiated neurons that receive visual inputs as early as stage 47 Xenopus. Visual deprivation (VD) for 2 days shifts the neurogenic balance toward proliferation at the expense of differentiation, which is accompanied by a reduction in nuclear-accumulated β-catenin in SOX2-positive neurons. The knockdown of β-catenin decreases the expression of SOX2 and increases the number of progenitor cells. Coimmunoprecipitation studies reveal the evolutionary conservation of strong interactions between β-catenin and SOX2. These findings indicate that β-catenin interacts with SOX2 to maintain homeostatic neurogenesis during thalamus development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanmei Gao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
- College of Life and Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yufang Lu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Yuhao Luo
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Xinyi Duan
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Peiyao Chen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Xiaohua Wu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Mengsheng Qiu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
- College of Life and Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wanhua Shen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
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Medeiros KAAL, Almeida-Souza TH, Silva RS, Santos HF, Santos EV, Gois AM, Leal PC, Santos JR. Involvement of nitric oxide in the neurobiology of fear-like behavior. Nitric Oxide 2022; 124:24-31. [PMID: 35533947 DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Fear is an emotional reaction that arises in dangerous situations, inducing the adaptation to an existing condition. This behavior was conserved in all vertebrates throughout evolution and is observed in mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. The neurocircuitry of fear involves areas of the limbic system, cortical regions, midbrain, and brainstem. These areas communicate with each other so that there is an expression of fear and memory formation to deal with the same situation at another time. The effect of nitric oxide (NO) on fear modulation has been explored. NO is a gaseous compound that easily diffuses through the cell membrane and is produced through the oxidation reaction of l-Arginine to l-citrulline catalyzed by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Activating the intracellular NO receptor (soluble guanylyl cyclase enzyme - sGC) triggers an enzymatic cascade that can culminate in plastic events in the neuron. NOS inhibitors induce anxiolytic-like responses in fear modulation, whereas NO donors promote fear- and anxiety-like behaviors. This review describes the neurobiology of fear in mammals and non-mammals, how NO is produced in the central nervous system, and how NO acts in fear-like behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katty A A L Medeiros
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Thiago H Almeida-Souza
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão, SE, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo S Silva
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Heitor F Santos
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Eliziane V Santos
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Auderlan M Gois
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Pollyana C Leal
- Graduate Program of Dentistry, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
| | - José R Santos
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil.
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López JM, Jiménez S, Morona R, Lozano D, Moreno N. Analysis of Islet-1, Nkx2.1, Pax6, and Orthopedia in the forebrain of the sturgeon Acipenser ruthenus identifies conserved prosomeric characteristics. J Comp Neurol 2021; 530:834-855. [PMID: 34547112 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The distribution patterns of a set of conserved brain developmental regulatory transcription factors were analyzed in the forebrain of the basal actinopterygian fish Acipenser ruthenus, consistent with the prosomeric model. In the telencephalon, the pallium was characterized by ventricular expression of Pax6. In the subpallium, the combined expression of Nkx2.1/Islet-1 (Isl1) allowed to propose ventral and dorsal areas, as the septo-pallidal (Nkx2.1/Isl1+) and striatal derivatives (Isl1+), respectively, and a dorsal portion of the striatal derivatives, ventricularly rich in Pax6 and devoid of Isl1 expression. Dispersed Orthopedia (Otp) cells were found in the supracommissural and posterior nuclei of the ventral telencephalon, related to the medial portion of the amygdaloid complex. The preoptic area was identified by the Nkx2.1/Isl1 expression. In the alar hypothalamus, an Otp-expressing territory, lacking Nkx2.1/Isl1, was identified as the paraventricular domain. The adjacent subparaventricular domain (Spa) was subdivided in a rostral territory expressing Nkx2.1 and an Isl1+ caudal one. In the basal hypothalamus, the tuberal region was defined by the Nkx2.1/Isl1 expression and a rostral Otp-expressing domain was identified. Moreover, the Otp/Nkx2.1 combination showed an additional zone lacking Isl1, tentatively identified as the mamillary area. In the diencephalon, both Pax6 and Isl1 defined the prethalamic domain, and within the basal prosomere 3, scattered Pax6- and Isl1-expressing cells were observed in the posterior tubercle. Finally, a small group of Pax6 cells was observed in the pretectal area. These results improve the understanding of the forebrain evolution and demonstrate that its basic bauplan is present very early in the vertebrate lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús M López
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Jiménez
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ruth Morona
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Lozano
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nerea Moreno
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
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Exner CRT, Willsey HR. Xenopus leads the way: Frogs as a pioneering model to understand the human brain. Genesis 2021; 59:e23405. [PMID: 33369095 PMCID: PMC8130472 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
From its long history in the field of embryology to its recent advances in genetics, Xenopus has been an indispensable model for understanding the human brain. Foundational studies that gave us our first insights into major embryonic patterning events serve as a crucial backdrop for newer avenues of investigation into organogenesis and organ function. The vast array of tools available in Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis allows interrogation of developmental phenomena at all levels, from the molecular to the behavioral, and the application of CRISPR technology has enabled the investigation of human disorder risk genes in a higher-throughput manner. As the only major tetrapod model in which all developmental stages are easily manipulated and observed, frogs provide the unique opportunity to study organ development from the earliest stages. All of these features make Xenopus a premier model for studying the development of the brain, a notoriously complex process that demands an understanding of all stages from fertilization to organogenesis and beyond. Importantly, core processes of brain development are conserved between Xenopus and human, underlining the advantages of this model. This review begins by summarizing discoveries made in amphibians that form the cornerstones of vertebrate neurodevelopmental biology and goes on to discuss recent advances that have catapulted our understanding of brain development in Xenopus and in relation to human development and disease. As we engage in a new era of patient-driven gene discovery, Xenopus offers exceptional potential to uncover conserved biology underlying human brain disorders and move towards rational drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron R T Exner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94143, USA
| | - Helen Rankin Willsey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94143, USA
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