Topic: Patch-Seq

Neuronal circuits assemble in a non-random fashion, achieving specificity beyond cell-cell apposition. Two mechanisms have been classically proposed to fine-tune brain circuits: activity or genetics-dependent processes. Experimental evidence supports both options, suggesting a balanced contribution of each. In this study, we explored the interplay between synaptic activity and gene expression during developmental critical periods in olivo-cerebellar circuitry. Early postnatally, cerebellar Purkinje cells (PC) are connected by multiple climbing fibers (CF) emerging from the inferior olive in th

Spiny projection neurons (SPNs) in the mouse striatum transform multimodal inputs from the cortex and thalamus into inhibitory outputs that regulate basal ganglia activity. SPNs are typically classified into major populations according to their output projection targets and their location within striatal anatomical and neurochemical domains. However, how the cellular and circuit diversity within these broad populations is established developmentally remains largely unknown. We have previously shown that SPNs derived from a distinct apical intermediate progenitor (aIP) pool are preferentially d

Pain elaboration results from the integration within dorsal spinal cord networks of sensory and nociceptive information conveyed by primary afferents. While many evidence suggest that a major disinhibition of dorsal horn networks may promote enhanced pain transmission in chronic pain pathologies, little is known about inhibitory neurons properties themselves and whether specific inhibitory subpopulations are preferentially altered in chronic pain conditions.We used the Spared Nerve Injury (SNI) neuropathic pain model on Gad67-GFP transgenic mice, which specifically labels dorsal horn inhibitor

Cortical interneurons can be categorized into distinct subtypes based on multiple modalities; however, it remains unclear to what extent these modalities are correlated. In this study, we collected morphological, electrophysiological and molecular expression data in L5 interneurons of the mouse somatosensory cortex (S1) using Patch-PCR, aiming to reveal the correlations between molecular marker expressions and morpho-electric properties. An integrated classification procedure based on extracted morphological and electrophysiological features yielded 11 major morpho-electric subtypes (M/E types

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social communication and interactions, as well as restricted behaviours. Strikingly most of ASD patients also exhibit aberrant reactivity to sensory stimuli including tactile stimuli. Tactile information is perceived in the periphery and processed in the spinal cord under the control of inhibitory neurons before being sent to higher brain structures. However, whether these inhibitory neurons undergo functional alterations in ASD models remains poorly investigated. To explore the functional plasticity of those neurons in ASD, we

The entorhinal cortex (EC) is a brain region playing an important role in memory and navigational processes. This is driven by its unique cellular organization as well as its extrinsic connectivity. Specific neuronal cell types have been associated with the specific navigation-related functions of the EC such as grid cells, border cells, speed cells or head-direction cells. These cell types have been characterized based on their firing properties, however, still lack a molecular profile. Similarly, detailed anatomical cell types have been described within the different EC layers, including ste

The cerebral cortex, consisting of six layers, plays a key role in higher brain functions such as motor planning, sensory processing, emotions, and consciousness. Classification of neuronal subtypes based on morphological, physiological, and genetic features is an indispensable process in understanding the mechanism of higher-order cerebral function.Neocortical pyramidal neurons in layer 2/3 (L2/3) integrate information from numerous brain regions and provide the majority of input to layer five neurons, facilitating information exchange with other cortices. Despite recent advances in genetic t

Neurodegenerative diseases pose significant challenges for society due to limited treatments. Among the potential therapies, cell therapy stands out as a particularly promising one. We know that bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) can infiltrate the brain and transdifferentiate to different cell types, or fuse, for example, with Purkinje cells. These fusion events are unusual, but they increase in some pathologies, such as multiple sclerosis. In the Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, fused cells are functional and maintain two transcriptionally