Dataset Information

Genetic labeling of embryonically-born dentate granule neurons in young mice using the Penk^Cre mouse line.

ABSTRACT: The dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus is a mosaic of dentate granule neurons (DGNs) accumulated throughout life. While many studies focused on the morpho-functional properties of adult-born DGNs, much less is known about DGNs generated during development, and in particular those born during embryogenesis. One of the main reasons for this gap is the lack of methods available to specifically label and manipulate embryonically-born DGNs. Here, we have assessed the relevance of the Penk^Cre mouse line as a genetic model to target this embryonically-born population. In young animals, Penk^Cre expression allows to tag neurons in the DG with positional, morphological and electrophysiological properties characteristic of DGNs born during the embryonic period. In addition, Penk^Cre+ cells in the DG are distributed in both blades along the entire septo-temporal axis. This model thus offers new possibilities to explore the functions of this underexplored population of embryonically-born DGNs.

SUBMITTER: Mortessagne P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10904803 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Genetic labeling of embryonically-born dentate granule neurons in young mice using the Penk<sup>Cre</sup> mouse line.

Mortessagne Pierre P Cartier Estelle E Balia Maddalena M Fèvre Murielle M Corailler Fiona F Herry Cyril C Abrous Djoher Nora DN Battefeld Arne A Pacary Emilie E

Scientific reports 20240229 1

The dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus is a mosaic of dentate granule neurons (DGNs) accumulated throughout life. While many studies focused on the morpho-functional properties of adult-born DGNs, much less is known about DGNs generated during development, and in particular those born during embryogenesis. One of the main reasons for this gap is the lack of methods available to specifically label and manipulate embryonically-born DGNs. Here, we have assessed the relevance of the Penk<sup>Cre< ...[more]

PMID: 38424161

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Project description:The continuous addition of new dentate granule cells (DGCs), which is regulated exquisitely by brain activity, renders the hippocampus plastic. However, how neural circuits encode experiences to affect the addition of adult-born neurons remains unknown. Here, we used endoscopic Ca2+ imaging to track the real-time activity of individual DGCs in freely behaving mice. For the first time, we found that active DGCs responded to a novel experience by increasing their Ca2+ event frequency preferentially. This elevated activity, which we found to be associated with object exploration, returned to baseline by 1 h in the same environment, but could be dishabituated via introduction to a novel environment. To transition seamlessly between environments, we next established a freely controllable virtual reality system for unrestrained mice. We again observed increased firing of active neurons in a virtual enriched environment. Interestingly, multiple novel virtual experiences increased the number of newborn neurons accumulatively compared with a single experience. Finally, optogenetic silencing of existing DGCs during novel environmental exploration perturbed experience-induced neuronal addition. Our study shows that the adult brain conveys novel, enriched experiences to increase the addition of adult-born hippocampal neurons by increasing the firing of active DGCs.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Adult brains are constantly reshaping themselves from synapses to circuits as we encounter novel experiences from moment to moment. Importantly, this reshaping includes the addition of newborn hippocampal neurons. However, it remains largely unknown how our circuits encode experience-induced brain activity to govern the addition of new hippocampal neurons. By coupling in vivo Ca2+ imaging of dentate granule neurons with a novel, unrestrained virtual reality system for rodents, we discovered that a new experience increased firing of active dentate granule neurons rapidly and robustly. Exploration in multiple novel virtual environments, compared with a single environment, promoted dentate activation and enhanced the addition of new hippocampal neurons accumulatively. Finally, silencing this activation optogenetically during novel experiences perturbed experience-induced neuronal addition.

Dataset Information

Genetic labeling of embryonically-born dentate granule neurons in young mice using the Penk^Cre mouse line.

Publications

Genetic labeling of embryonically-born dentate granule neurons in young mice using the Penk<sup>Cre</sup> mouse line.

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Dataset Information

Genetic labeling of embryonically-born dentate granule neurons in young mice using the PenkCre mouse line.

Publications

Genetic labeling of embryonically-born dentate granule neurons in young mice using the Penk<sup>Cre</sup> mouse line.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets

Genetic labeling of embryonically-born dentate granule neurons in young mice using the Penk^Cre mouse line.