Quantitative Neuroanatomy

NIH RePORTER · NIH · U19 · $1,070,228 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Abstract Core 2: Quantitative Neuroanatomy The neuroanatomy of orofacial circuitry has grown in complexity as viral-genetic tracing methods uncover neuronal projections of a myriad of premotor and pre2motor neurons. New methodologies for brain-wide localization of functionally labelled neuron populations at scale and techniques for reconstruction of the entire extent of single neurons out to its most distal axonal projections will provide a comprehensive view of the distribution and detailed connectivity of these cells within the orofacial circuitry. Aim 1 of the Quantitative Neuroanatomy Core will, in close partnership with Allen Brain Institute, provide a mature pipeline for SPIM (selective plane illumination microscopy, a.k.a., light sheet microscopy) imaging of brain-wide maps of labelled populations of premotor and pre2motor neurons, as well as localization of multi- electrode arrays in the brain. In further samples provided by Project 4, the fine scale axonal projections of individual premotor neurons as well as those of its inputs will be systematically reconstructed and examined. These pipelines will serve to co-register labeled neuronal populations from different experiments onto a common reference space, the Allen CCF: this is crucial for identification of neighborhoods of different types of neurons as proximity can be predictive of functional interactions for coordination of multiple orofacial behaviors. Aim 2 of the Quantitative Neuroanatomy Core addresses the challenge of effective data-sharing across neuroanatomy laboratories. Recently, the UCSD's site initiated the use of NeuroGlancer, an open-source 3D volumetric visualization platform to visualize Cryojane (tape transfer) serially sectioned whole mouse brains with premotor neuron fluorescent transsynaptic neuronal labeling from peripheral muscles. These samples parallel our recent publications. We propose to prepare additional Cryojane samples (Projects 1, 3-5) to map new premotor neuron populations in the context of the counter-stained cytoarchitecture. These are complementary to samples run through whole-brain clearing and SPIM (see Aim 1). It is critical to the scientific success of the Team to have inter-project review of annotated histology files, including data from the Allen Institute, for decisions about regional boundary annotations. To access these NeuroGlancer files across laboratories, Core 2 will introduce BrainSharer, a Web-accessible platform for hosting NeuroGlancer files initially developed in a collaboration (Samuel Wang laboratory in Princeton). Importantly, this platform improves cross-laboratory interactions through real-time peer-to-peer review of three-dimensional data sets with user-generated tools that support annotation of cells and of regions across Performance Sites.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10930314
Project number
1U19NS137920-01
Recipient
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
Principal Investigator
Beth Friedman
Activity code
U19
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2024
Award amount
$1,070,228
Award type
1
Project period
2024-08-15 → 2029-07-31