Transcriptomic neuron types vary topographically in function and morphology.
Details
Serval ID
serval:BIB_F0345D75E227
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Transcriptomic neuron types vary topographically in function and morphology.
Journal
Nature
ISSN
1476-4687 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0028-0836
Publication state
Published
Issued date
02/2025
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
638
Number
8052
Pages
1023-1033
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: ppublish
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Neuronal phenotypic traits such as morphology, connectivity and function are dictated, to a large extent, by a specific combination of differentially expressed genes. Clusters of neurons in transcriptomic space correspond to distinct cell types and in some cases-for example, Caenorhabditis elegans neurons <sup>1</sup> and retinal ganglion cells <sup>2-4</sup> -have been shown to share morphology and function. The zebrafish optic tectum is composed of a spatial array of neurons that transforms visual inputs into motor outputs. Although the visuotopic map is continuous, subregions of the tectum are functionally specialized <sup>5,6</sup> . Here, to uncover the cell-type architecture of the tectum, we transcriptionally profiled its neurons, revealing more than 60 cell types that are organized in distinct anatomical layers. We measured the visual responses of thousands of tectal neurons by two-photon calcium imaging and matched them with their transcriptional profiles. Furthermore, we characterized the morphologies of transcriptionally identified neurons using specific transgenic lines. Notably, we found that neurons that are transcriptionally similar can diverge in shape, connectivity and visual responses. Incorporating the spatial coordinates of neurons within the tectal volume revealed functionally and morphologically defined anatomical subclusters within individual transcriptomic clusters. Our findings demonstrate that extrinsic, position-dependent factors expand the phenotypic repertoire of genetically similar neurons.
Keywords
Animals, Zebrafish, Transcriptome, Superior Colliculi/cytology, Superior Colliculi/physiology, Neurons/cytology, Neurons/metabolism, Animals, Genetically Modified, Male, Female, Gene Expression Profiling, Calcium/metabolism
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
13/02/2025 11:31
Last modification date
04/03/2025 7:52