Ectopic eyes outside the head in Xenopus tadpoles provide sensory data for light-mediated learning
Ectopic eyes outside the head in Xenopus tadpoles provide sensory data for light-mediated learning
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DOI：
10.1242/jeb.074963
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发表时间：
2013-03-01
影响因子：
2.8
通讯作者：
Levin, Michael
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Blackiston, Douglas J.;Levin, Michael
包括失明在内的人类感觉障碍的生物医学治疗的一个主要障碍是对神经系统及其适应感觉方式变化的能力的不完全理解。同样，对复杂功能解剖学的进化性的基本洞察需要了解大脑的可塑性以及神经系统和身体结构之间的相互作用。虽然在人工和生物替代组件的产生方面已经取得了进展，但大脑解释来自异位位置的感觉信息的能力还没有被很好地理解。我们报告了使用眼原基移植物沿着非洲爪哇蝌蚪的身体轴线制造异位眼睛。这些眼睛在形态上与自然眼相同，可以在尾部位置诱导。细胞标记研究表明，在尾巴产生的眼睛将投射发送到胃和躯干。为了评估功能，我们使用自动机器视觉和环境控制系统进行了光中介学习测试。结果表明，非洲爪哇蝌蚪尾部的异位眼对寄主具有视觉传递功能。因此，异位视觉器官即使出现在后方也是有功能的。这些数据和方案证明了脊椎动物大脑解释来自异位结构的感觉输入并将其纳入适应性行为程序的能力。对于理解中枢神经系统的强健可塑性，这一易于处理的新模型对再生医学和感觉增强技术具有重要意义。
A major roadblock in the biomedical treatment of human sensory disorders, including blindness, has been an incomplete understanding of the nervous system and its ability to adapt to changes in sensory modality. Likewise, fundamental insight into the evolvability of complex functional anatomies requires understanding brain plasticity and the interaction between the nervous system and body architecture. While advances have been made in the generation of artificial and biological replacement components, the brain's ability to interpret sensory information arising from ectopic locations is not well understood. We report the use of eye primordia grafts to create ectopic eyes along the body axis of Xenopus tadpoles. These eyes are morphologically identical to native eyes and can be induced at caudal locations. Cell labeling studies reveal that eyes created in the tail send projections to the stomach and trunk. To assess function we performed light-mediated learning assays using an automated machine vision and environmental control system. The results demonstrate that ectopic eyes in the tail of Xenopus tadpoles could confer vision to the host. Thus ectopic visual organs were functional even when present at posterior locations. These data and protocols demonstrate the ability of vertebrate brains to interpret sensory input from ectopic structures and incorporate them into adaptive behavioral programs. This tractable new model for understanding the robust plasticity of the central nervous system has significant implications for regenerative medicine and sensory augmentation technology.