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Light deprivation produces distinct morphological orchestrations on RGCs and cortical cells in a depressive-like
Chanyi Lu1, Qi-Qin Li1, Yao-Yao Li1
1School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China; State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base and Key Laboratory of Vision Science, Ministry of Health P. R. China and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Optometry, China.
Abstract:
Neural physiological functions and synaptic changes underlying the pathogenesis of depression have obtained great achievements. However, neuronal morphological changes under a depressive state have not been well understood yet. Here a depressive-like YFP-H transgenic mouse model was produced by light deprivation (LD), and morphological changes of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and primary visual and auditory cortical layer 5 pyramidal cells (L5PCs) were investigated. Three distinct RGC subtypes were identified based on soma- and dendritic field (DF) size. RGA cells were highlighted by large soma and medium-sized to large DF. RGB cells were characterized by small- to medium-sized soma and small- to medium-sized DF. RGC cells were typical of small- to medium-sized soma and large DF. LD showed cell-type-specific morphological orchestrations on RGCs and predominantly promoted the dendritic growth of RGA cells, leaving no significant effect on RGB and RGC cells. LD produced a consistently suppressed effect on the morphology of primary visual and auditory cortical L5PCs. LD enhanced the dendritic spine density of primary visual cortical L5PCs, implying a compensation mechanism underlying morphological changes in individual cortical L5PCs. The increased morphological complexity of RGA cells and the simplified morphology of cortical L5PCs suggest a broad range of neuronal morphological "cross-modal plasticity" among different brain areas. Our observations in morphological changes of RGCs and cortical L5PCs under a depressive-like state will provide some insights into the pathogenesis of depression at a single neuronal morphological level.
Insights
Depression alters neuronal morphology, with light deprivation promoting dendritic growth in some retinal cells (RGA) while simplifying others in the visual cortex. This suggests cross-modal plasticity in the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Depression pathogenesis research has focused on neural and synaptic changes.
- Neuronal morphological alterations in depression remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate morphological changes in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and cortical layer 5 pyramidal cells (L5PCs) in a mouse model of depression.
- Identify cell-type-specific responses to depressive states at the neuronal level.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a light deprivation (LD) model to induce a depressive-like state in YFP-H transgenic mice.
- Classified RGC subtypes (RGA, RGB, RGC) based on soma and dendritic field (DF) size.
- Analyzed morphological changes in RGCs and L5PCs of the primary visual and auditory cortices.
Main Results:
- Light deprivation (LD) induced cell-type-specific changes in RGCs, notably promoting dendritic growth in RGA cells.
- LD suppressed the overall morphology of primary visual and auditory cortical L5PCs.
- LD increased dendritic spine density in primary visual cortical L5PCs, indicating potential compensatory mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Neuronal morphological changes, including cross-modal plasticity, occur in RGCs and cortical L5PCs during a depressive-like state.
- Findings offer insights into depression pathogenesis at the single neuronal morphological level.
