Dataset Information

Organization of the Drosophila larval visual circuit.

ABSTRACT: Visual systems transduce, process and transmit light-dependent environmental cues. Computation of visual features depends on photoreceptor neuron types (PR) present, organization of the eye and wiring of the underlying neural circuit. Here, we describe the circuit architecture of the visual system of Drosophila larvae by mapping the synaptic wiring diagram and neurotransmitters. By contacting different targets, the two larval PR-subtypes create two converging pathways potentially underlying the computation of ambient light intensity and temporal light changes already within this first visual processing center. Locally processed visual information then signals via dedicated projection interneurons to higher brain areas including the lateral horn and mushroom body. The stratified structure of the larval optic neuropil (LON) suggests common organizational principles with the adult fly and vertebrate visual systems. The complete synaptic wiring diagram of the LON paves the way to understanding how circuits with reduced numerical complexity control wide ranges of behaviors.

SUBMITTER: Larderet I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5577918 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Organization of the <i>Drosophila</i> larval visual circuit.

Larderet Ivan I Fritsch Pauline Mj PM Gendre Nanae N Neagu-Maier G Larisa GL Fetter Richard D RD Schneider-Mizell Casey M CM Truman James W JW Zlatic Marta M Cardona Albert A Sprecher Simon G SG

eLife 20170808

Visual systems transduce, process and transmit light-dependent environmental cues. Computation of visual features depends on photoreceptor neuron types (PR) present, organization of the eye and wiring of the underlying neural circuit. Here, we describe the circuit architecture of the visual system of <i>Drosophila</i> larvae by mapping the synaptic wiring diagram and neurotransmitters. By contacting different targets, the two larval PR-subtypes create two converging pathways potentially underlyi ...[more]

PMID: 30726702

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Project description:Abstract We present a functionally relevant, quantitative characterization of the neural circuitry of Drosophila melanogaster at the mesoscopic level of neuron types as classified exclusively based on potential network connectivity. Starting from a large neuron-to-neuron brain-wide connectome of the fruit fly, we use stochastic block modeling and spectral graph clustering to group neurons together into a common “cell class” if they connect to neurons of other classes according to the same probability distributions. We then characterize the connectivity-based cell classes with standard neuronal biomarkers, including neurotransmitters, developmental birthtimes, morphological features, spatial embedding, and functional anatomy. Mutual information indicates that connectivity-based classification reveals aspects of neurons that are not adequately captured by traditional classification schemes. Next, using graph theoretic and random walk analyses to identify neuron classes as hubs, sources, or destinations, we detect pathways and patterns of directional connectivity that potentially underpin specific functional interactions in the Drosophila brain. We uncover a core of highly interconnected dopaminergic cell classes functioning as the backbone communication pathway for multisensory integration. Additional predicted pathways pertain to the facilitation of circadian rhythmic activity, spatial orientation, fight-or-flight response, and olfactory learning. Our analysis provides experimentally testable hypotheses critically deconstructing complex brain function from organized connectomic architecture. Author Summary The potential synaptic circuitry of a neural system constitutes the fundamental architectural underpinning of its in vivo dynamics, plasticity, and functions. The fruit fly neural circuit presented here captures the latent stochastic patterns of network connectivity and provides a fundamental parts list for reverse engineering brain computation. Mapping the interactions among connectivity-based neuronal classes to development, morphology, physiology, and transcriptomics result in testable hypotheses on the relationship between whole-brain neural architecture and behavior.

Dataset Information

Organization of the Drosophila larval visual circuit.

Publications

Organization of the <i>Drosophila</i> larval visual circuit.

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