Transient expression of the neuropeptide galanin modulates peripheraltocentral connectivity in the somatosensory thalamus during whisker development in mice.
Nat Commun
; 15(1): 2762, 2024 Mar 29.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38553447
ABSTRACT
The significance of transient neuropeptide expression during postnatal brain development is unknown. Here, we show that galanin expression in the ventrobasal thalamus of infant mice coincides with whisker map development and modulates subcortical circuit wiring. Time-resolved neuroanatomy and single-nucleus RNA-seq identified complementary galanin (Gal) and galanin receptor 1 (Galr1) expression in the ventrobasal thalamus and the principal sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve (Pr5), respectively. Somatodendritic galanin release from the ventrobasal thalamus was time-locked to the first postnatal week, when Gal1R+ Pr5 afferents form glutamatergic (Slc17a6+) synapses for the topographical whisker map to emerge. RNAi-mediated silencing of galanin expression disrupted glutamatergic synaptogenesis, which manifested as impaired whisker-dependent exploratory behaviors in infant mice, with behavioral abnormalities enduring into adulthood. Pharmacological probing of receptor selectivity in vivo corroborated that target recognition and synaptogenesis in the thalamus, at least in part, are reliant on agonist-induced Gal1R activation in inbound excitatory axons. Overall, we suggest a neuropeptide-dependent developmental mechanism to contribute to the topographical specification of a fundamental sensory neurocircuit in mice.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Vibrissae
/
Galanin
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Nat Commun
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
CIENCIA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: