Functional dissection of a molecularly identified female-specific neural pathway in mice

项目摘要/摘要 现代神经科学的一个中心目标是将基因定义的神经回路与特定行为联系起来。深沉 测序研究揭示了种群内神经元亚型的惊人转录异质性 以前被认为是同质的。尽管发现了这种分子异质性，但功能和 这些最近基因定义的神经细胞类型的行为相关性在很大程度上是未知的。我们的应用程序 通过专注于神经元对社会行为的控制来解决这一知识缺口。社交互动，范围从 非语音交流，复杂的语言，核心行为，如求爱或攻击性，对 心理健康和生育成功。支撑这些不同行为的神经回路一直很困难。 解开，用非基因定向的方法在多个行为领域产生表型。在这里我们 提出了孕激素和雌激素受体α表达的神经元(PVL神经元)的特征 下丘脑腹内侧核(VMHvl)调节社会行为。我们的深度测序研究揭示了 PVL神经元群体中不同的神经细胞类型，其中一种仅限于女性。vbl.使用 新开发的CRE和Flpo小鼠品系在PVL神经元中标记这种女性受限的神经细胞类型，我们 将确定其活动(特定目标1)、行为功能(特定目标2)和功能连通性(特定目标 3)因为这些涉及到女性的社会行为。我们的研究将共同揭示活动的动力学、功能和 基因定义的PVL神经元的神经细胞类型的连通性；同时，我们还将描述 补充一组剩余的下丘脑室旁核神经元，并测试它们对社会行为的参与。因此，我们的研究旨在 了解神经细胞群体中遗传定义的细胞异质性如何与功能特异性相关 在控制社会行为方面，这是神经科学中的一个关键问题。 与健康相关：不同的神经退行性疾病和精神疾病表现为毁灭性的临床 症状以及社交和情绪行为方面的一系列缺陷。VMHvl内的PVL神经元代表 调节不同性别之间不同的核心、发展程序化社会行为的关键枢纽。1~2成熟 这一区域附近病变的病例报告显示，社会行为发生了戏剧性的变化。因此，我们的研究将 为神经科学中的基本问题提供新的见解，他们也有可能阐明如何 VMHvl产生的通路功能障碍改变了疾病状态下的社会行为。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT A central goal of modern neuroscience is to link genetically defined neural circuits with specific behaviors. Deep sequencing studies have revealed an incredible transcriptional heterogeneity of neuronal subtypes within populations previously thought to be homogeneous. Despite the discovery of such molecular heterogeneity, the functional and behavioral relevance of these recently genetically defined neuronal cell types is largely unknown. Our application addresses this gap in knowledge by focusing on the neuronal control of social behaviors. Social interactions, ranging from non-vocal communication to complex language to core behaviors such as courtship or aggression, are important for mental well-being and reproductive success. The neural circuits underpinning these diverse behaviors have been difficult to disentangle, with non-genetically targeted approaches yielding phenotypes in multiple behavioral domains. Here we propose to characterize how progesterone and estrogen receptor alpha expressing neurons (Pvl neurons) in the ventromedial hypothalamus ventrolateralis (VMHvl) regulate social behaviors. Our deep sequencing studies reveal distinct neuronal cell types within the population of Pvl neurons, with one of them restricted exclusively to females. Using newly developed Cre and Flpo mouse strains that mark this female-restricted neuronal cell type within Pvl neurons, we will determine its activity (Specific Aim 1), behavioral function (Specific Aim 2), and functional connectivity (Specific Aim 3) as these relate to female social behaviors. Together, our studies will uncover the activity dynamics, function, and connectivity of a genetically defined neuronal cell type of Pvl neurons; in parallel, we will also characterize the complementary set of remaining Pvl neurons and test their participation ins social behaviors. Thus, our research aims to understand how genetically defined cellular heterogeneity within a neuronal population relates to functional specificity in the control of social behaviors, a critical issue in neuroscience. Health Relatedness: Diverse neurodegenerative conditions and mental illnesses manifest with devastating clinical symptoms as well as a range of deficits in social and emotional behaviors. Pvl neurons within the VMHvl represent a critical hub that regulates diverse core, developmentally programmed social behaviors that differ between the sexes. Rare case reports of lesions in proximity to this region show dramatic alterations in social behaviors. Our studies therefore will provide new insights into fundamental questions in neuroscience, and they also have the potential to shed light on how dysfunction in pathways emanating from the VMHvl alters social behavior in disease states.