Transcriptomic neuron types vary topographically in function and morphology

Nature, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 12, 2025

Abstract Neuronal phenotypic traits such as morphology, connectivity and function are dictated, to a large extent, by specific combination of differentially expressed genes. Clusters neurons in transcriptomic space correspond distinct cell types some cases—for example, Caenorhabditis elegans 1 retinal ganglion cells 2–4 —have been shown share morphology function. The zebrafish optic tectum is composed spatial array that transforms visual inputs into motor outputs. Although the visuotopic map continuous, subregions functionally specialized 5,6 . Here, uncover cell-type architecture tectum, we transcriptionally profiled its neurons, revealing more than 60 organized anatomical layers. We measured responses thousands tectal two-photon calcium imaging matched them with their transcriptional profiles. Furthermore, characterized morphologies identified using transgenic lines. Notably, found similar can diverge shape, responses. Incorporating coordinates within volume revealed morphologically defined subclusters individual clusters. Our findings demonstrate extrinsic, position-dependent factors expand repertoire genetically neurons.

Language: Английский

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Accessing genetically defined cell types in the Superior Colliculus with transgenic mouse lines

iScience, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(4), P. 112194 - 112194

Published: March 11, 2025

Recent studies have revealed diverse neuron types in the superior colliculus (SC), a midbrain structure critical for sensorimotor transformation. Here, as an important step toward studying function of these subtypes, we characterize 10 transgenic mouse lines based on recently published molecular atlas superficial SC. We show that Cre or fluorescence expression some corresponds specifically to certain transcriptomic types. These include two GENSAT been used target morphological cell SC and three knockin lines. In contrast, such correspondence is not seen other tested mice. Importantly, pattern marker genes all highly consistent with atlas. Together, our support correlation between types, identify useful targeting genetically, demonstrate validity single-cell transcriptomics data.

Language: Английский

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Genetically defined neuron types underlying visuomotor transformation in the superior colliculus

Nature reviews. Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 27, 2024

Language: Английский

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Predation without direction selectivity

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(12)

Published: March 14, 2024

Across the animal kingdom, visual predation relies on motion-sensing neurons in superior colliculus (SC) and its orthologs. These exhibit complex stimulus preferences, including direction selectivity, which is thought to be critical for tracking unpredictable escape routes of prey. The source selectivity SC contested, contributions have not been tested experimentally. Here, we use type-specific cell removal show that narrow-field (NF) mouse guide predation. In vivo recordings demonstrate direction-selective responses NF cells are independent recently reported stimulus-edge effects. Monosynaptic retrograde tracing reveals receive synaptic input from ganglion cells. When eliminate retina adult mice, SC, cells, lost. However, eliminating retinal does affect hunting success or strategies even when removed after mice learned hunt, despite abolishing gaze-stabilizing optokinetic reflex. Thus, our results identify SC. They predation, an essential spatial orienting task, their revealing behavioral multiplexing neural feature preferences highlighting importance feature-selective manipulations neuroethology.

Language: Английский

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Transformation of Motion Pattern Selectivity from Retina to Superior Colliculus

Journal of Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 44(20), P. e1704232024 - e1704232024

Published: April 3, 2024

The superior colliculus (SC) is a prominent and conserved visual center in all vertebrates. In mice, the most superficial lamina of SC enriched with neurons that are selective for moving direction stimuli. Here, we study how these respond to complex motion patterns known as plaids, using two-photon calcium imaging awake male female mice. plaid pattern consists two superimposed sinusoidal gratings different directions, giving an apparent lies between directions component gratings. Most mouse robustly plaids show high selectivity but not its components. Pattern seen both excitatory inhibitory especially prevalent response large cross angles However, retinal inputs ambiguous their versus motion. Modeling suggests can arise from nonlinear transformation converging inputs. contrast, prevalence primary cortex (V1). These results demonstrate interesting difference V1 processing reveal important site encoding

Language: Английский

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Analysis methods for large-scale neuronal recordings

Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 386(6722)

Published: Nov. 7, 2024

Simultaneous recordings from hundreds or thousands of neurons are becoming routine because innovations in instrumentation, molecular tools, and data processing software. Such can be analyzed with science methods, but it is not immediately clear what methods to use how adapt them for neuroscience applications. We review, categorize, illustrate diverse analysis neural population describe these have been used make progress on longstanding questions neuroscience. review a variety approaches, ranging the mathematically simple complex, exploratory hypothesis-driven, recently developed more established methods. also some common statistical pitfalls analyzing large-scale data.

Language: Английский

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Coordination of distinct sources of excitatory inputs enhances motion selectivity in the mouse visual thalamus

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 9, 2025

Multiple sources innervate the visual thalamus to influence image-forming vision prior cortex, yet it remains unclear how non-retinal and retinal input coordinate shape thalamic selectivity. Using dual-color two-photon calcium imaging in of awake mice, we observed similar coarse-scale retinotopic organization between axons superior colliculus neurons ganglion cells, both providing strong converging excitatory neurons. At a fine scale ∼10 µm, collicular boutons often shared feature preferences with nearby boutons. Inhibiting significantly suppressed responses specifically reduced motion selectivity preferring nasal-to-temporal motion. The reduction could be result silencing sharply tuned direction-selective colliculogeniculate input. These findings suggest that is not merely relay but selectively integrates inputs from multiple regions build stimulus information transmitted cortex. Chronic reveals diverse tuning axonal boutons.Nearby share at µm scaleSilencing suppresses majority neurons.Silencing reduces

Language: Английский

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Characterization of auditory responsive neurons in the mouse superior colliculus to naturalistic sounds

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 13, 2025

Abstract Locating the source of a specific sound in complex environment and determining its saliency is critical for survival. The superior colliculus (SC), sensorimotor midbrain structure, plays an important role localization has been shown to have topographic map auditory space range species. In mice, previous studies using broadband white noise stimuli found that neurons use high-frequency monaural spectral cues interaural level differences (ILDs) compute spatially restricted receptive fields (RFs), these RFs are organized topographically along azimuth. However, naturalistic environment, animal encounters may rich components; however, sources can still be localized efficiently. It remains unknown whether how SC respond sounds and, turn, RF. Here, we show results from large-scale vivo physiological recordings response noise, ultrasonic pup calls chirps. We find mouse with distinct temporal patterns spatial preference predominantly at ∼60 degrees contralateral addition, categorized based on their spectrotemporal field demonstrated there least 4 subtypes responsive neurons. Significance Statement (SC) receives visual information used localize objects. While organization composition visually well described, much less known about types properties presented calls, chirp mice while recording Analysis neuronal responses defines classes also stimuli, mainly occur when side but not front animal. These lead hypothesis different strategies depending source.

Language: Английский

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Co-Conservation of Synaptic Gene Expression and Circuitry in Collicular Neurons

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 23, 2025

The superior colliculus (SC), a midbrain sensorimotor hub, is anatomically and functionally similar across vertebrates, but how its cell types have evolved unclear. Using single-nucleus transcriptomics, we compared the SC's molecular cellular organization in mice, tree shrews, humans. Despite over 96 million years of evolutionary divergence, identified ∼30 consensus neuronal subtypes, including Cbln2 + neurons that form SC-pulvinar circuit mice shrews. Synapse-related genes were among most conserved, unlike neocortex, suggesting co-conservation synaptic circuitry. In contrast, cilia-related diverged significantly species, highlighting potential importance primary cilium SC evolution. Additionally, novel inhibitory neuron shrews humans not mice. Our findings reveal has by conserving genes, circuitry, while diversifying ciliary gene expression an subtype.

Language: Английский

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Dendritic Architecture Enables de Novo Computation of Salient Motion in the Superior Colliculus

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 1, 2025

Dendritic architecture plays a crucial role in shaping how neurons extract behaviorally relevant information from sensory inputs. Wide-field the superior colliculus integrate visual retina to encode cues critical for visually guided orienting behaviors. However, principles governing these filter their inputs generate appropriate responses remain unclear. Using viral tracing, two-photon calcium imaging, and computational modeling, we show that wide-field receive functionally diverse twelve retinal ganglion cell types, forming layered, type-specific organization along dendrites. This structured arrangement allows multiplex salient motion cues, selectively amplifying movement suppressing static features. Computational models reveal spatial of dendrites enables selective extraction stimuli, including de novo computations. Our findings underscore dendritic processing neural circuit function.

Language: Английский

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