Gynandromorphs,rare in vertebrates,exhibit distinct sex-determining gene expression on each side of the body despite sharing a uniform hormonal environment.This provides a unique opportunity to investigate the respect...Gynandromorphs,rare in vertebrates,exhibit distinct sex-determining gene expression on each side of the body despite sharing a uniform hormonal environment.This provides a unique opportunity to investigate the respective roles of genes and hormones in sex determination.We accidently obtained a gynandromorphic Zebra Finch with a male-female chimeric appearance but only with an ovary-like gonad.Its plasma estradiol was significantly higher than that of age-matched females,and its sexual partner preference was also feminine.Although it did not sing like males,its calls showed masculinization.In the brain on one side of the body with male plumage,the area of song motor nucleus,the robust nucleus of the arcopallium(RA),and the excitatory synaptic transmission of RA projection neurons showed masculinization.Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes related to cholinergic neuron function were significantly upregulated in the masculinized side of brain.Moreover,there were extensive and consistent expression differences of neuroactive substance receptor genes in both sides of body,indicating that cell-autonomous determination plays a key role in sex dimorphism of neuromodulation.展开更多
The mammalian cerebral cortex,despite its variation in brain shape and size,is a stereotypical six-layered structure composed of pyramidal cells,interneurons,astrocytes,microglia,oligodendrocytes,and endothelial cells...The mammalian cerebral cortex,despite its variation in brain shape and size,is a stereotypical six-layered structure composed of pyramidal cells,interneurons,astrocytes,microglia,oligodendrocytes,and endothelial cells.During development,these cells differ in their origin,birth timing,and developmental trajectories.Nonetheless,they converge during development,forming nascent cortical circuits crucial for organismal behavior.While the relative proportions of cortical cells vary between regions.展开更多
Maintaining a stable body temperature is essential for survival.Multiple brain regions contribute to thermoregulation,but their specific characteristics and underlying neural mechanisms in the coordination of thermore...Maintaining a stable body temperature is essential for survival.Multiple brain regions contribute to thermoregulation,but their specific characteristics and underlying neural mechanisms in the coordination of thermoregulation are not fully clarified.Here,we reveal the distinct roles of two preoptic subregions in warm defense in mice:the anterior ventromedial preoptic area(VMPO)and the ventral part of the lateral preoptic nucleus(vLPO).VMPO vesicular glutamate transporter 2(Vglut2)neurons exhibited dramatic responses to rising temperatures,producing a marked decrease in core temperature by warm defense responses.In contrast,excitatory and inhibitory vLPO neurons responded gently to warm stimuli,exerting moderate effects on warm defense.Further postsynaptic tracing and caspase ablation identified distinct cell type-specific downstream targets in the dorsomedial hypothalamus(DMH)mediating these different warm defense responses.Taken together,our findings reveal distinct yet complementary pathways in the preoptic DMH network that enable both rapid and fine-tuned regulation of body temperature under elevated thermal conditions.展开更多
The temporal pole(TP),one of the most expanded cortical regions in humans relative to other primates,plays a crucial role in human language processing.It is also one of the most structurally and functionally asymmetri...The temporal pole(TP),one of the most expanded cortical regions in humans relative to other primates,plays a crucial role in human language processing.It is also one of the most structurally and functionally asymmetric regions.However,whether the functional architecture of the TP is shared by humans and macaques is an open question.We used spectral clustering algorithms to define a cross-species fine-grained TP atlas with different anatomical connectivity patterns.We identified three similar subregions,two ventral and one dorsal,within the TP in both humans and macaques.The parcellation scheme for the TP was validated using functional gradient mapping,anatomical connectivity and resting-state functional connectivity pattern analysis,and functional characterization.Furthermore,in conjunction with the Allen Human Brain Atlas,we revealed the molecular basis for the functional connectivity patterns of each human TP subregion.In addition,we compared the hemispheric asymmetry in mean gray matter volume,anatomical connectivity fingerprints,and whole brain functional connectivity patterns to reveal the evolutionary differences in the TP and found different asymmetric patterns between humans and macaques.In conclusion,our findings reveal that the asymmetry in structure and connectivity may underpin the hemispheric functional specialization of the brain and provide a novel insight into understanding the evolutionary origin of the TP.展开更多
The brain's functions are governed by molecular metabolic networks.However,due to the sophisticated spatial organization and diverse activities of the brain,characterizing both the minute and large-scale metabolic...The brain's functions are governed by molecular metabolic networks.However,due to the sophisticated spatial organization and diverse activities of the brain,characterizing both the minute and large-scale metabolic activity across the entire brain and its numerous micro-regions remains incredibly challenging.Here,we offer a high-definition spatially resolved metabolomics technique to better understand the metabolic specialization and interconnection throughout the mouse brain using improved ambient mass spectrometry imaging.This method allows for the simultaneous mapping of thousands of metabolites at a 30 μm spatial resolution across the mouse brain,ranging from structural lipids to functional neurotransmitters.This approach effectively reveals the distribution patterns of delicate microregions and their distinctive metabolic characteristics.Using an integrated database,we annotated 259 metabolites,demonstrating that the metabolome and metabolic pathways are unique to each brain microregion.The distribution of metabolites,closely linked to functionally connected brain regions and their interactions,offers profound insights into the complexity of chemical processes and their roles in brain function.An initial dataset for future metabolomics research might be obtained from the high-definition mouse brain's spatial metabolome atlas.展开更多
The neuromuscular junction and its proregenerative niche:The mammalian peripheral nervous system,unlike the central nervous system,has preserved throughout evolution the ability to regenerate and fully restore functio...The neuromuscular junction and its proregenerative niche:The mammalian peripheral nervous system,unlike the central nervous system,has preserved throughout evolution the ability to regenerate and fully restore function.Key factors for effective nerve regeneration include a supportive neuronal environment and a coordinated tissue response(Brosius Lutz and Barres,2014).展开更多
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32160123 and 32170974)Jiangxi Provincial Key Project of Natural Science Foundation(20212ACB205002)Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecules(2024SSY05141)。
文摘Gynandromorphs,rare in vertebrates,exhibit distinct sex-determining gene expression on each side of the body despite sharing a uniform hormonal environment.This provides a unique opportunity to investigate the respective roles of genes and hormones in sex determination.We accidently obtained a gynandromorphic Zebra Finch with a male-female chimeric appearance but only with an ovary-like gonad.Its plasma estradiol was significantly higher than that of age-matched females,and its sexual partner preference was also feminine.Although it did not sing like males,its calls showed masculinization.In the brain on one side of the body with male plumage,the area of song motor nucleus,the robust nucleus of the arcopallium(RA),and the excitatory synaptic transmission of RA projection neurons showed masculinization.Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes related to cholinergic neuron function were significantly upregulated in the masculinized side of brain.Moreover,there were extensive and consistent expression differences of neuroactive substance receptor genes in both sides of body,indicating that cell-autonomous determination plays a key role in sex dimorphism of neuromodulation.
基金supported by the Medical Research Council(MR/T030143/1)grant and the University of Manchester。
文摘The mammalian cerebral cortex,despite its variation in brain shape and size,is a stereotypical six-layered structure composed of pyramidal cells,interneurons,astrocytes,microglia,oligodendrocytes,and endothelial cells.During development,these cells differ in their origin,birth timing,and developmental trajectories.Nonetheless,they converge during development,forming nascent cortical circuits crucial for organismal behavior.While the relative proportions of cortical cells vary between regions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32171001,32371050,and 82371554).
文摘Maintaining a stable body temperature is essential for survival.Multiple brain regions contribute to thermoregulation,but their specific characteristics and underlying neural mechanisms in the coordination of thermoregulation are not fully clarified.Here,we reveal the distinct roles of two preoptic subregions in warm defense in mice:the anterior ventromedial preoptic area(VMPO)and the ventral part of the lateral preoptic nucleus(vLPO).VMPO vesicular glutamate transporter 2(Vglut2)neurons exhibited dramatic responses to rising temperatures,producing a marked decrease in core temperature by warm defense responses.In contrast,excitatory and inhibitory vLPO neurons responded gently to warm stimuli,exerting moderate effects on warm defense.Further postsynaptic tracing and caspase ablation identified distinct cell type-specific downstream targets in the dorsomedial hypothalamus(DMH)mediating these different warm defense responses.Taken together,our findings reveal distinct yet complementary pathways in the preoptic DMH network that enable both rapid and fine-tuned regulation of body temperature under elevated thermal conditions.
基金supported by the Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects(202501AV070005 and 202201BE070001-004).
文摘The temporal pole(TP),one of the most expanded cortical regions in humans relative to other primates,plays a crucial role in human language processing.It is also one of the most structurally and functionally asymmetric regions.However,whether the functional architecture of the TP is shared by humans and macaques is an open question.We used spectral clustering algorithms to define a cross-species fine-grained TP atlas with different anatomical connectivity patterns.We identified three similar subregions,two ventral and one dorsal,within the TP in both humans and macaques.The parcellation scheme for the TP was validated using functional gradient mapping,anatomical connectivity and resting-state functional connectivity pattern analysis,and functional characterization.Furthermore,in conjunction with the Allen Human Brain Atlas,we revealed the molecular basis for the functional connectivity patterns of each human TP subregion.In addition,we compared the hemispheric asymmetry in mean gray matter volume,anatomical connectivity fingerprints,and whole brain functional connectivity patterns to reveal the evolutionary differences in the TP and found different asymmetric patterns between humans and macaques.In conclusion,our findings reveal that the asymmetry in structure and connectivity may underpin the hemispheric functional specialization of the brain and provide a novel insight into understanding the evolutionary origin of the TP.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.82473887 and 21927808)the Scientific and Technological Innovation Program of Shanghai (No.23DZ2202500)the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (No.2021-1-I2M-026)。
文摘The brain's functions are governed by molecular metabolic networks.However,due to the sophisticated spatial organization and diverse activities of the brain,characterizing both the minute and large-scale metabolic activity across the entire brain and its numerous micro-regions remains incredibly challenging.Here,we offer a high-definition spatially resolved metabolomics technique to better understand the metabolic specialization and interconnection throughout the mouse brain using improved ambient mass spectrometry imaging.This method allows for the simultaneous mapping of thousands of metabolites at a 30 μm spatial resolution across the mouse brain,ranging from structural lipids to functional neurotransmitters.This approach effectively reveals the distribution patterns of delicate microregions and their distinctive metabolic characteristics.Using an integrated database,we annotated 259 metabolites,demonstrating that the metabolome and metabolic pathways are unique to each brain microregion.The distribution of metabolites,closely linked to functionally connected brain regions and their interactions,offers profound insights into the complexity of chemical processes and their roles in brain function.An initial dataset for future metabolomics research might be obtained from the high-definition mouse brain's spatial metabolome atlas.
基金supported by the University of Padua(to MR)by the project“RIPANE”of the Italian Ministry of Defense(to CM)by Cariparo Foundation(to CM)。
文摘The neuromuscular junction and its proregenerative niche:The mammalian peripheral nervous system,unlike the central nervous system,has preserved throughout evolution the ability to regenerate and fully restore function.Key factors for effective nerve regeneration include a supportive neuronal environment and a coordinated tissue response(Brosius Lutz and Barres,2014).
