Advanced Technologies for Local Neural Circuits in the Cerebral Cortex

Endo, Masaaki; Maruoka, Hisato; Okabe, Susumu

doi:10.3389/fnana.2021.757499

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 168 publications

(209 reference statements)

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“…Even so, spatial transcriptomics, as an intriguing and emerging technique, geniusly integrate cellular transcriptomics with their spatial coordinates within tissues, together allowing a deeper understanding of cellular composition, and heterogeneity as well as cell-cell communications ( Wolock et al, 2019 ; Anderson et al, 2022 ; Fang S. et al, 2022 ; Shen et al, 2022 ). On the other hand, neuronal activities in local neural circuits have been thought to be organized for information processing both spatially and temporally, which can be at least partially explained by spatial transcriptomics and other structural analyses ( Weisenburger and Vaziri, 2018 ; Parra-Damas and Saura, 2020 ; Endo et al, 2021 ). In addition, given specific cognitive functions as well as distinct computational properties of different brain areas, we would like to discuss these single-cell transcriptomic studies addressing neuronal diversity and neural circuit complexity according to the distribution of neurons in the brain in the following chapters, respectively.…”

Section: Potential Value Of Single-cell Sequencing In Studying Neuron...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More recently, Endo and coworkers have comprehensively reviewed the emerging technologies for studying local neural circuits in the cerebral cortex and given new insight into local neural circuits obtained by these technologies, such as single-cell sequencing and tissue clearing, etc. ( Endo et al, 2021 ). In this review, we mainly focus on the application of single-cell sequencing in studying neuronal diversity and neural circuit complexity.…”

Section: Advances In Studying Cortical Neurons and Circuits ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recent advances in understanding neuronal diversity and neural circuit complexity across different brain regions using single-cell sequencing

Lei¹,

Zan

Liu

2023

Front. Neural Circuits

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Neural circuits are characterized as interconnecting neuron networks connected by synapses. Some kinds of gene expression and/or functional changes of neurons and synaptic connections may result in aberrant neural circuits, which has been recognized as one crucial pathological mechanism for the onset of many neurological diseases. Gradual advances in single-cell sequencing approaches with strong technological advantages, as exemplified by high throughput and increased resolution for live cells, have enabled it to assist us in understanding neuronal diversity across diverse brain regions and further transformed our knowledge of cellular building blocks of neural circuits through revealing numerous molecular signatures. Currently published transcriptomic studies have elucidated various neuronal subpopulations as well as their distribution across prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and dorsal root ganglion, etc. Better characterization of brain region-specific circuits may shed light on new pathological mechanisms involved and assist in selecting potential targets for the prevention and treatment of specific neurological disorders based on their established roles. Given diverse neuronal populations across different brain regions, we aim to give a brief sketch of current progress in understanding neuronal diversity and neural circuit complexity according to their locations. With the special focus on the application of single-cell sequencing, we thereby summarize relevant region-specific findings. Considering the importance of spatial context and connectivity in neural circuits, we also discuss a few published results obtained by spatial transcriptomics. Taken together, these single-cell sequencing data may lay a mechanistic basis for functional identification of brain circuit components, which links their molecular signatures to anatomical regions, connectivity, morphology, and physiology. Furthermore, the comprehensive characterization of neuron subtypes, their distributions, and connectivity patterns via single-cell sequencing is critical for understanding neural circuit properties and how they generate region-dependent interactions in different context.

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Section: Potential Value Of Single-cell Sequencing In Studying Neuron...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Advances In Studying Cortical Neurons and Circuits ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent advances in understanding neuronal diversity and neural circuit complexity across different brain regions using single-cell sequencing

Lei¹,

Zan

Liu

2023

Front. Neural Circuits

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“…The discovery and further development of brain staining techniques has characterized the history of neuroscience from its dawning, enabling the morphological study of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Although the latest advances are more oriented toward the deciphering of neuronal connections at microscopic, circuit and ultrastructural levels ( Endo et al, 2021 ; Luo, 2021 ), macroscopic staining of brain slices still finds a useful application in neuroanatomical teaching. The development of fiber-dissecting techniques has helped generations of neurosurgeons to develop their skills prior to operation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fixation and staining methods for macroscopical investigation of the brain

2023

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The proper preservation of human brain tissue is an indispensable requirement for post-mortem investigations. Neuroanatomical teaching, neuropathological examination, neurosurgical training, basic and clinical neuroscientific research are some of the possible downstream applications of brain specimens and, although much apart from one another, proper tissue fixation and preservation is a common denominator to all of them. In this review, the most relevant procedures to fixate brain tissue are described. In situ and immersion fixation approaches have been so far the most widespread ways to deliver the fixatives inside the skull. Although most of them rely on the use of formalin, alternative fixative solutions containing lower amounts of this compound mixed with other preservative agents, have been attempted. The combination of fixation and freezing paved the way for fiber dissection, particularly relevant for the neurosurgical practice and clinical neuroscience. Moreover, special techniques have been developed in neuropathology to tackle extraordinary problems, such as the examination of highly infective specimens, as in the case of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob encephalopathy, or fetal brains. Fixation is a fundamental prerequisite for further staining of brain specimens. Although several staining techniques have been developed for the microscopical investigation of the central nervous system, numerous approaches are also available for staining macroscopic brain specimens. They are mostly relevant for neuroanatomical and neuropathological teaching and can be divided in white and gray matter staining techniques. Altogether, brain fixation and staining techniques are rooted in the origins of neuroscience and continue to arouse interest in both preclinical and clinical neuroscientists also nowadays.

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