Visual pathway cooperation to align viewing strategies and processing specializations for predation

项目摘要 视觉产生于观察和视觉处理的结合。动物如何使观看策略与 完成特定行为任务的区域加工专业化尚不清楚。我们最近发现 老鼠使用双目视觉来追逐和捕捉昆虫。在这里，我们将跟进这一发现，以了解 视网膜信号和下游通路，调节双目视觉以进行捕食(目标1)和控制 凝视以将目标保持在双目视野内(目标2)。哺乳动物的双眼视觉依赖于存在 同侧投射的视网膜神经节细胞(RGC)。我们最近报道，40多只小鼠中有9只 类型有同侧的投影。在这里，我们检验假设，两种同侧投射的RGC类型， 持续开启和持续关闭α(SONα-和SOFTα-)RGC，引导双目捕食。我们有 开发了交叉转基因工具来选择性地标记、沉默和移除同侧突起 SONα-和SOFTα-RGC(约30 0个细胞，约占RGC的0.6%)。SONα-和SOFTα-RGC密度增加 和敏锐度(即，减少的接受视野大小)在腹颞部视网膜。在目标1中，我们将结合转基因 免疫组织化学标记和全视网膜高分辨率成像以了解组织 Sonα和Sofα-RGC在腹颞部视网膜的锐区。我们将分析Sonα和Soffα是如何- RGC通过有针对性的膜片钳对局部、全局和组合的运动单独和作为群体进行编码 和双光子钙成像。视觉刺激参数将基于对我们的大型3D跟踪的分析 老鼠捕猎蟋蟀的数据集。接下来，我们将评估SONα-和SOFTα-RGC信号的双目处理 通过上丘的特定神经元，视网膜靶介导捕食。最后，我们会 用选择性方法测量同侧投射SONα和SOFTαRGC对捕食的贡献 静音和删除以及3D行为跟踪。在目标2中，我们将测试开关方向的假设- 选择性(DS-)RGC在追捕过程中控制凝视，使猎物保持在双目视野内。 结合双光子钙成像和免疫组织化学，我们将分析地形图 DS-RGC方向偏好在SON-α和SOFT-α-RGC急性区周围。我们将使用靶向膜片钳 录音和双光子钙成像，以了解开关DS-RGC如何编码本地、全球和 结合运动刺激与行为学相关参数和体内电生理学分析 它们的信号通过上丘中的特定神经元进行转换，而上丘负责调节凝视转移。最后， 我们将测试在捕食过程中从开关DS-RGC中去除方向选择性对凝视控制的影响。 我们的研究将揭示两个保守的RGC亚类，它们在视网膜(急性)中的区域特化 区域和地形方向偏好图)和下游路径协作以对齐观看 一种基本的生存行为的策略和视觉处理。

Project Summary Vision arises from the combination of viewing and visual processing. How animals align viewing strategies with regional processing specializations to accomplish specific behavioral tasks is unclear. We recently discovered that mice use binocular vision to pursue and capture insects. Here, we follow up on this discovery to understand the retinal signals and downstream pathways that mediate binocular vision for predation (Aim 1) and control the gaze to keep targets within the binocular visual field (Aim 2). Mammalian binocular vision relies on the presence of ipsilaterally projecting retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). We recently reported that nine of the 40+ mouse RGC types have ipsilateral projections. Here, we test the hypothesis, that two ipsilaterally projecting RGC types, the sustained ON and sustained OFF alpha (sONα- and sOFFα-) RGCs, guide binocular predation. We have developed intersectional transgenic tools to selectively label, silence, and remove the ipsilaterally projecting sONα- and sOFFα-RGCs (~300 cells, ~0.6% of RGCs). The sONα- and sOFFα-RGCs show increased density and acuity (i.e., reduced receptive field size) in the ventrotemporal retina. In Aim 1, we will combine transgenic and immunohistochemical labeling and high-resolution imaging of whole retinas to understand the organization of the sONα- and sOFFα-RGC acute zone in the ventrotemporal retina. We will analyze how sONα- and sOFFα- RGCs encode local, global, and combined motion individually and as populations with targeted patch clamping and two-photon calcium imaging. Visual stimulus parameters will be based on analyses of our large 3D tracking dataset of mice hunting crickets. Next, we will assess the binocular processing of sONα- and sOFFα-RGC signals by specific neurons in the superior colliculus, the retinorecipient target mediating predation. Finally, we will measure the contributions of ipsilaterally projecting sONα- and sOFFα-RGCs to predation using selective silencing and removal and 3D behavior tracking. In Aim 2, we will test the hypothesis that ON-OFF direction- selective (DS-) RGCs control the gaze to keep prey within the binocular visual field during pursuit and capture. Combining two-photon calcium imaging and immunohistochemistry, we will analyze the topographic maps of DS-RGC direction preferences around the sONα- and sOFFα-RGC acute zone. We will use targeted patch clamp recordings and two-photon calcium imaging to understand how ON-OFF DS-RGCs encode local, global, and combined motion stimuli with ethologically relevant parameters and in vivo electrophysiology to analyze the transformation of their signals by specific neurons in the superior colliculus, which mediates gaze shifts. Finally, we will test the impact of removing direction selectivity from ON-OFF DS-RGCs on gaze control during predation. Our studies will reveal how two conserved RGC subclasses, their regional specializations in the retina (acute zones and topographic direction preference maps), and downstream pathways cooperate to align viewing strategies and visual processing for an essential survival behavior.