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Long-range connectome of pyramidal neurons in the sensorimotor cortex
Mei Yao1, Ayizuohere Tudi1, Tao Jiang2
1Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Iscience
|March 27, 2023
Summary
This study maps the long-range connections of pyramidal neurons in the sensorimotor cortex using advanced imaging. It reveals a topological organization in cortical circuits, detailing connections between intratelencephalic (IT) and pyramidal tract (PT) neurons.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
- Connectomics
Background:
- The neocortex processes information via complex neural circuits with diverse neuron types.
- Projection neurons in different cortical regions and layers form specific connections, enabling distinct physiological functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To dissect the long-range connectome of pyramidal neurons in six sensorimotor cortex subregions.
- To investigate the input and output connectivity patterns of intratelencephalic (IT) and pyramidal tract (PT) neurons.
Main Methods:
- Utilized fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography (fMOST).
- Employed transgenic mice to target specific layers of IT and PT neurons.
Main Results:
- Identified similar input regions for IT and PT neurons within the same cortical area.
- Observed region-specific input preferences for neurons in different subregions.
- Demonstrated topological organization in cortico-cortical, cortico-thalamic, and cortico-striatal circuits.
Conclusions:
- Provides a comprehensive resource on the anatomical connections of cortical circuits.
- Highlights the topologically organized nature of sensorimotor cortex connectivity.
- Offers insights into the functional organization of neural pathways.
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