Name: modeling the functional network for spatial navigation in the human brain
Uploaded: 2023-10-13T13:20:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain at JoVE.com

Xiang-Zhen Kong was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32171031), STI 2030 - Major Project (2021ZD0200409), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2021XZZX006), and Information Technology Center of Zhejiang University.

NOTE: All the software used here is shown in the Table of Materials. The data used in this study for demonstration purposes were from the Human Connectome Project (HCP: http://www. humanconnectome.org)15. All experimental procedures were approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Washington University. Imaging data in the HCP dataset were acquired using a modified 3T Siemens Skyra scanner with a 32-channel head coil. Other image acquisition parameters are detailed in an e...

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E., Fleiss, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intraclass+correlations:+uses+in+assessing+rater+reliability.">Intraclass correlations: uses in assessing rater reliability.</a> Psychological Bulletin. 86 (2), 420 (1979).</li><li>McGraw, K. O., Wong, S. 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Network neuroscience is expected to help in understanding how the brain network supports human cognitive functions32. This protocol demonstrates an integrative approach to studying the functional network for spatial navigation in the human brain, which can also inspire network modeling for other cognitive constructs (e.g., language).
This approach consisted of three main steps: node definition, network construction, and network analysis. While network construction and n...

Functional specificity is a fundamental organization principle of the human brain, which plays a crucial role in shaping cognitive functions1. Abnormalities in the organization of functional specificity can reflect hallmark cognitive impairments and the associated pathological foundations of major brain disorders such as autism and Alzheimer&#39;s disease2,3. While conventional theories and research have tended to focus on single brain regions, such as the fusiform face area (FFA) for face recognition4 and parahippocampus place area (PPA)5 for scene processing, an increasing body of evidence suggests that complex cognitive functions, including spatial navigation and language, require coordinate activity across multiple brain regions6. Investigating the mechanisms underlying the interactions in support of complex cognitive functions is a critical scientific question that will help to shed light on the functional architecture and operation of the brain. Here, taking spatial navigation as an example, we present an integrative method for modeling the functional network for spatial navigation in the human brain.
Spatial navigation is a complex cognitive function, which involves the integration and manipulation of multiple cognitive components, such as visual-spatial coding, memory, and decision making7. With functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), numerous studies have made significant advances in understanding the underlying cognitive processing and neural mechanisms. For instance, specific functions have been linked to different brain regions using various navigation tasks: scene processing&#160;is specifically associated with PPA, and transformation of navigation strategies is associated with the retrosplenial cortex (RSC)8,9. These studies provided important insights into the neural basis of spatial navigation. However, navigation is an internally dynamic and multimodal function, and the functions of single regions are not sufficient to explain large individual differences in spatial navigation10 that are commonly observed.
With the emergence of fMRI-based connectomics, researchers began to explore how some key brain regions interact with each other to support spatial navigation. For example, functional connectivity between the entorhinal and posterior cingulate cortices has been found to underpin navigation discrepancies in at-risk Alzheimer&#39;s disease11. In another study, we for the first time proposed a network approach by integrating connectome methods and almost all functionally relevant regions (nodes) for spatial navigation, and the results showed that topological properties of this network showed specific associations with navigation behaviors12. This study provides new insights into theories of how multiple brain regions interact with each other to support flexible navigation behaviors10,13.
The present work demonstrates an updated version of the integrative approach for modeling the functional network. Briefly, two updates were included: 1) While the nodes defined in the original study were identified based on an earlier and smaller database (55 studies with 2,765 activations, accessed in 2014), the present definition was based on the latest database (77 studies with 3,908 activations, accessed in 2022); 2) to increase functional homogeneity of each node, besides the original anatomical AAL (Anatomical Automatic Labeling) atlas14, we applied a new brain parcellation, which has a much finer resolution and higher functional homogeneity (see below). We expected that both updates would improve the modeling of the functional network. This updated protocol provides a detailed procedure for investigating the neural basis of spatial navigation from a network perspective and helps understand individual variations in navigation behaviors in health and disease. A similar procedure could also be used for network modeling for other cognitive constructs (e.g., language and memory).

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Brain connectivity toolbox (BCT)</td>
			<td>Mikail Rubinov &#38; Olaf Sporns&#160;</td>
			<td>2019</td>
			<td>The Brain Connectivity Toolbox (brain-connectivity-toolbox.net) is a MATLAB toolbox for complex-network (graph) analysis of structural and functional brain-connectivity data sets.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GRETNA</td>
			<td>Jinhui Wang et al.</td>
			<td>2</td>
			<td>GRETNA is a graph theoretical network analysis toolbox which allows researchers to perform comprehensive analysis on the topology of brain connectome by integrating the most of network measures studied in current neuroscience field.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MATLAB</td>
			<td>MathWorks</td>
			<td>2021a</td>
			<td>MATLAB is a programming and numeric computing platform used by millions of engineers and scientists to analyze data, develop algorithms, and create models.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Python</td>
			<td>Guido van Rossum et al.</td>
			<td>3.8.6</td>
			<td>Python is a programming language that lets you work more quickly and integrate your systems more effectively.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM)</td>
			<td>Karl Friston et.al&#160;</td>
			<td>12</td>
			<td>Statistical Parametric Mapping&#160;refers to the construction and assessment of spatially extended statistical processes used to test hypotheses about functional imaging data.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

modeling the functional network for spatial navigation in the human brain

Spatial navigation is a complex function involving the integration and manipulation of multisensory information. Using different navigation tasks, many promising results have been achieved on the specific functions of various brain regions (e.g., hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and parahippocampal place area). Recently, it has been suggested that a non-aggregate network process involving multiple interacting brain regions may better characterize the neural basis of this complex function. This paper presents an integrative approach for constructing and analyzing the functionally-specific network for spatial navigation in the human brain. Briefly, this integrative approach consists of three major steps: 1) to identify brain regions important for spatial navigation (nodes definition); 2) to estimate functional connectivity between each pair of these regions and construct the connectivity matrix (network construction); 3) to investigate the topological properties (e.g., modularity and small worldness) of the resulting network (network analysis). The presented approach, from a network perspective, could help us better understand how our brain supports flexible navigation in complex and dynamic environments, and the revealed topological properties of the network can also provide important biomarkers for guiding early identification and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in clinical practice.

The navigation networks 
The present study identified 27 brain regions, which are associated with spatial navigation, by incorporating the latest meta-analysis neuroimaging database and the AICHA atlas. These regions consisted of the medial temporal and the parietal regions that have been commonly reported in navigation neuroimaging studies. The spatial distribution of these regions is shown in Figure 5A and Figure 5C. As a...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain at JoVE.com

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

This paper presents an integrative approach to investigating the functional network for spatial navigation in the human brain. This approach incorporates a large-scale neuroimaging meta-analytic database, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, and network modeling and graph-theoretical techniques.

Spatial navigation is a complex function involving the integration and manipulation of multisensory information. Using different navigation tasks, many ...

Spatial navigation is a complex process that involves a distributed network in the brain. Our work presents an integrative approach for modeling a functional network for spatial navigation using FMRI data. The optimal network model provides new insights for understanding how brain regions within the network interact.The network model could also better capture variability in behaviors in both health and disease. Our method can also be applied to studies or other complex functions. For instance, a similar procedure could be used for modeling brain network for language and memory.To begin, check the data quality and exclude participants with missing retest data and excessive head motion. Then open the graph theoretical network analysis or GRETNA toolbox in MATLAB. Click the tab FC Matrix Construction"and select the path of the functional dataset to load the nifty documents.Execute the steps as displayed in the pipeline option. Next, to perform network node definition, download the latest Neurosynth database by typing the following command. Then generate a new dataset instance from database.txt and add features to this data by typing this command. Run a meta analysis of the term of interest such as navigation by typing the command. Next, define clusters of interest by incorporating the meta analytic map and the whole brain parcelization atlas such as AICHA or AAL by typing this command from FSL.Then type the following scripts in Python to check the size of each region in the map. After that, integrate all brain regions into a template by FSL Maths in FSL. For network connectivity estimation, click on FC Matrix Construction in the GRETNA software and click Static Correlation.Upload the node obtained from network node definition as an atlas to calculate the static correlation of rs-fMRI signals of each pair of regions and transfer them into Fisher's Z scores. To get a positive and weighted network with the steps displayed in the pipeline option, click on Network Analysis. Then add the network matrices into the brain connectivity matrix window and choose an output directory for preparation.Add a small world, global efficiency, clustering coefficient, shortest path length, degree centrality, and local efficiency to the GRETNA network metric analysis pipeline. Select positive in the sign of matrix. Select network sparsity in the thresholding method and enter a set of threshold sequences.Choose the network type as weighted. Set the random network number as 1, 000 and click on Run. To determine the optimal number of modules in the network, first calculate the averaging navigation network.Then divide the resulting average network into 2, 3, 4, and 5 modules using the function, spectral cluster, in MATLAB. Then align the module divisions using the script, procrustes_alignment. m, and calculate the portion of nodes divided into the same module in rest one and rest two.Select the number of modules with the highest repeatability. To perform the network analysis, examine the similarity of these network metrics between two networks with different types of strategies for no definition like NaviNet AICHA and NaviNet AAL. Check the test retest reliability of these network metrics using the function ICC in MATLAB.In this study, 27 brain regions associated with spatial navigation were identified using the AICHA atlas. These regions consisted of the medial temporal and parietal regions that have been reported in navigation neuroimaging studies. As a comparison, 20 regions from the AAL atlas were included.It showed a large overlap and similar community distribution between the two sets including similar ventral and dorsal modules in both networks. Further, five of the six metrics, except for the clustering coefficient, showed significant correlations between the two networks. The similarity values increased with the sparsity threshold for almost all metrics, suggesting that the network level analysis could reflect stable individual differences, independent of node definition choices, and that the sparsity threshold of 0.30 to 0.40 would result in better generalizability in navigation network analysis.Moreover, evaluation of the rest retest reliability of the topological measures of the navigation networks indicated that the majority of the network's metrics showed fair to good reliability in AICHA, while the AAL network showed relatively higher reliability. In addition, including global signal regression in FMRI data pre-processing could result in high reliability. These results suggested that the clustering coefficient and small world are the most reliable among these metrics.With this approach, researchers can investigate the developmental trajectory of functionally specific networks. Network properties also provide new biomarkers for guiding early identification of brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

modeling-functional-network-for-spatial-navigation-human

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Combining Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and fMRI to Examine the Default Mode Network

The default mode network is a group of brain regions that are active when an individual is not focused on the outside world and the brain is at "wakeful rest."1,2,3 It is thought the default mode network corresponds to self-referential or "internal mentation".2,3
It has been hypothesized that, in humans, activity within the default mode network is correlated with certain pathologies (for instance, hyper-activation has been linked to schizophrenia 4,5,6 and autism spectrum disorders 7 whilst hypo-activation of the network has been linked to Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases 8). As such, noninvasive modulation of this network may represent a potential therapeutic intervention for a number of neurological and psychiatric pathologies linked to abnormal network activation. One possible tool to effect this modulation is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: a non-invasive neurostimulatory and neuromodulatory technique that can transiently or lastingly modulate cortical excitability (either increasing or decreasing it) via the application of localized magnetic field pulses.9
In order to explore the default mode network's propensity towards and tolerance of modulation, we will be combining TMS (to the left inferior parietal lobe) with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Through this article, we will examine the protocol and considerations necessary to successfully combine these two neuroscientific tools.

In this article, we examine the methodology and considerations relevant to the combination of TMS and fMRI to examine the effects of brain stimulation on the default network.

The default mode network is a group of brain regions that are active when an individual is not focused on the outside world and the brain is at "wakeful ...

Using MazeSuite and Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy to Study Learning in Spatial Navigation

MazeSuite is a complete toolset to prepare, present and analyze navigational and spatial experiments1. MazeSuite can be used to design and edit adapted virtual 3D environments, track a participants' behavioral performance within the virtual environment and synchronize with external devices for physiological and neuroimaging measures, including electroencephalogram and eye tracking.
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) is an optical brain imaging technique that enables continuous, noninvasive, and portable monitoring of changes in cerebral blood oxygenation related to human brain functions2-7. Over the last decade fNIR is used to effectively monitor cognitive tasks such as attention, working memory and problem solving7-11. fNIR can be implemented in the form of a wearable and minimally intrusive device; it has the capacity to monitor brain activity in ecologically valid environments. 
Cognitive functions assessed through task performance involve patterns of brain activation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) that vary from the initial novel task performance, after practice and during retention12. Using positron emission tomography (PET), Van Horn and colleagues found that regional cerebral blood flow was activated in the right frontal lobe during the encoding (i.e., initial na&iuml;ve performance) of spatial navigation of virtual mazes while there was little to no activation of the frontal regions after practice and during retention tests. Furthermore, the effects of contextual interference, a learning phenomenon related to organization of practice, are evident when individuals acquire multiple tasks under different practice schedules13,14. High contextual interference (random practice schedule) is created when the tasks to be learned are presented in a non-sequential, unpredictable order. Low contextual interference (blocked practice schedule) is created when the tasks to be learned are presented in a predictable order.
Our goal here is twofold: first to illustrate the experimental protocol design process and the use of MazeSuite, and second, to demonstrate the setup and deployment of the fNIR brain activity monitoring system using Cognitive Optical Brain Imaging (COBI) Studio software15. To illustrate our goals, a subsample from a study is reported to show the use of both MazeSuite and COBI Studio in a single experiment. The study involves the assessment of cognitive activity of the PFC during the acquisition and learning of computer maze tasks for blocked and random orders. Two right-handed adults (one male, one female) performed 315 acquisition, 30 retention and 20 transfer trials across four days. Design, implementation, data acquisition and analysis phases of the study were explained with the intention to provide a guideline for future studies.

MazeSuite is a complete toolset to prepare, present and analyze navigational and spatial experiments. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) is an optical brain imaging technique that enables noninvasive and portable monitoring of cerebral blood oxygenation changes. This paper summarizes collective use of MazeSuite and fNIR within a cognitive processing learning paradigm.

MazeSuite is a complete toolset to prepare, present and analyze navigational and spatial experiments1. MazeSuite can be used to design and edit adapted ...

High-resolution Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods for Human Midbrain

Functional MRI (fMRI) is a widely used tool for non-invasively measuring correlates of human brain activity. However, its use has mostly been focused upon measuring activity on the surface of cerebral cortex rather than in subcortical regions such as midbrain and brainstem. Subcortical fMRI must overcome two challenges: spatial resolution and physiological noise. Here we describe an optimized set of techniques developed to perform high-resolution fMRI in human SC, a structure on the dorsal surface of the midbrain; the methods can also be used to image other brainstem and subcortical structures.
High-resolution (1.2 mm voxels) fMRI of the SC requires a non-conventional approach. The desired spatial sampling is obtained using a multi-shot (interleaved) spiral acquisition1. Since, T2* of SC tissue is longer than in cortex, a correspondingly longer echo time (TE ~ 40 msec) is used to maximize functional contrast. To cover the full extent of the SC, 8-10 slices are obtained. For each session a structural anatomy with the same slice prescription as the fMRI is also obtained, which is used to align the functional data to a high-resolution reference volume.
In a separate session, for each subject, we create a high-resolution (0.7 mm sampling) reference volume using a T1-weighted sequence that gives good tissue contrast. In the reference volume, the midbrain region is segmented using the ITK-SNAP software application2. This segmentation is used to create a 3D surface representation of the midbrain that is both smooth and accurate3. The surface vertices and normals are used to create a map of depth from the midbrain surface within the tissue4.
Functional data is transformed into the coordinate system of the segmented reference volume. Depth associations of the voxels enable the averaging of fMRI time series data within specified depth ranges to improve signal quality. Data is rendered on the 3D surface for visualization.
In our lab we use this technique for measuring topographic maps of visual stimulation and covert and overt visual attention within the SC1. As an example, we demonstrate the topographic representation of polar angle to visual stimulation in SC.

This article describes techniques to perform high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging with 1.2 mm sampling in human midbrain and subcortical structures using a 3T scanner. Use of these techniques to resolve topographic maps of visual stimulation in the human superior colliculus (SC) is given as an example.

Functional MRI (fMRI) is a widely used tool for non-invasively measuring correlates of human brain activity. However, its use has mostly been focused upon ...

High-throughput Analysis of Locomotor Behavior in the Drosophila Island Assay

Advances in next-generation sequencing technologies contribute to the identification of (candidate) disease genes for movement disorders and other neurological diseases at an increasing speed. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underlie these disorders. The genetic, molecular, and behavioral toolbox of Drosophila melanogaster makes this model organism particularly useful to characterize new disease genes and mechanisms in a high-throughput manner. Nevertheless, high-throughput screens require efficient and reliable assays that, ideally, are cost-effective and allow for the automatized quantification of traits relevant to these disorders. The island assay is a cost-effective and easily set-up method to evaluate Drosophila locomotor behavior. In this assay, flies are thrown onto a platform from a fixed height. This induces an innate motor response that enables the flies to escape from the platform within seconds. At present, quantitative analyses of filmed island assays are done manually, which is a laborious undertaking, particularly when performing large screens.
This manuscript describes the &#34;Drosophila Island Assay&#34; and &#34;Island Assay Analysis&#34; algorithms for&#160;high-throughput, automated data processing and quantification of island assay data. In the setup, a simple webcam connected to a laptop collects an image series of the platform while the assay is performed. The &#34;Drosophila Island Assay&#34; algorithm developed for the open-source software Fiji processes these image series and quantifies, for each experimental condition, the number of flies on the platform over time. The &#34;Island Assay Analysis&#34; script, compatible with the free software R, was developed to automatically process the obtained data and to calculate whether treatments/genotypes are statistically different. This greatly improves the efficiency of the island assay and makes it a powerful readout for basic locomotion and flight behavior. It can thus be applied to large screens investigating fly locomotor ability, Drosophila models of movement disorders, and drug efficacy.

High-throughput Analysis of Locomotor Behavior in the Drosophila Island Assay

The island assay is a relatively new, cost-effective assay that can be used to evaluate the basic locomotor behavior of Drosophila melanogaster. This manuscript describes algorithms for automatic data processing and objective quantification of island assay data, making this assay a sensitive, high-throughput readout for large genetic or pharmacological screens.

Advances in next-generation sequencing technologies contribute to the identification of (candidate) disease genes for movement disorders and other ...

Recording Synaptic Plasticity in Acute Hippocampal Slices Maintained in a Small-volume Recycling-, Perfusion-, and Submersion-type Chamber System

Even though experiments on brain slices have been in use since 1951, problems remain that reduce the probability of achieving a stable and successful analysis of synaptic transmission modulation when performing field potential or intracellular recordings. This manuscript describes methodological aspects that might be helpful in improving experimental conditions for the maintenance of acute brain slices and for recording field excitatory postsynaptic potentials in a commercially available submersion chamber with an outflow-carbogenation unit. The outflow-carbogenation helps to stabilize the oxygen level in experiments that rely on the recycling of a small buffer reservoir to enhance the cost-efficiency of drug experiments. In addition, the manuscript presents representative experiments that examine the effects of different carbogenation modes and stimulation paradigms on the activity-dependent synaptic plasticity of synaptic transmission.

This protocol describes the stabilization of the oxygen level in a small volume of recycled buffer and methodological aspects of recording activity-dependent synaptic plasticity in submerged acute hippocampal slices.

Even though experiments on brain slices have been in use since 1951, problems remain that reduce the probability of achieving a stable and successful ...

3D Kinematic Analysis for the Functional Evaluation in the Rat Model of Sciatic Nerve Crush Injury

Compared to the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI), kinematic analysis is a more reliable and sensitive method for performing functional evaluations of sciatic nerve injury rodent models. In this protocol, we describe a novel kinematic analysis method that uses a three-dimensional (3D) motion capture apparatus for functional evaluations using a rat sciatic nerve crush injury model. First, the rat is familiarized with treadmill walking. Markers are then attached to the designated bone landmarks and the rat is made to walk on the treadmill at the desired speed. Meanwhile, the posterior limb movements of the rat are recorded using four cameras. Depending on the software used, marker tracings are created using both automatic and manual modes and the desired data are produced after subtle adjustments. This method of kinematic analysis, which uses a 3D motion capture apparatus, offers numerous advantages, including superior precision and accuracy. Many more parameters can be investigated during the comprehensive functional evaluations. This method has several shortcomings that require consideration: The system is expensive, can be complicated to operate, and may produce data deviations due to skin shifting. Nevertheless, kinematic analysis using a 3D motion capture apparatus is useful for performing functional anterior and posterior limb evaluations. In the future, this method may become increasingly useful for generating accurate assessments of various traumas and diseases.

We introduce a kinematic analysis method that uses a three-dimensional motion capture apparatus containing four cameras and data processing software for performing functional evaluations during fundamental research involving rodent models.

Compared to the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI), kinematic analysis is a more reliable and sensitive method for performing functional evaluations of ...

A Metric Test for Assessing Spatial Working Memory in Adult Rats Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Impairments to sensory, short-term, and long-term memory are common side effects after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Due to the ethical limitations of human studies, animal models provide suitable alternatives to test treatment methods, and to study the mechanisms and related complications of the condition. Experimental rodent models have historically been the most widely used due to their accessibility, low cost, reproducibility, and validated approaches. A metric test, which tests the ability to recall the placement of two objects at various distances and angles from one another, is a technique to study impairment in spatial working memory (SWM) after TBI. The significant advantages of metric tasks include the possibility of dynamic observation, low cost, reproducibility, relative ease of implementation, and low stress environment. Here, we present a metric test protocol to measure impairment of SWM in adult rats after TBI. This test provides a feasible way to evaluate physiology and pathophysiology of brain function more effectively.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is commonly associated with memory impairment. Here, we present a protocol to assess spatial working memory after TBI via a metric task. A metric test is a useful tool to study spatial working memory impairment after TBI.

Impairments to sensory, short-term, and long-term memory are common side effects after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Due to the ethical limitations of ...

Generation of Human Brain Organoids for Mitochondrial Disease Modeling

Mitochondrial diseases represent the largest class of inborn errors of metabolism and are currently incurable. These diseases cause neurodevelopmental defects whose underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. A major roadblock is the lack of effective models recapitulating the early-onset neuronal impairment seen in the patients. Advances in the technology of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) enable the generation of three-dimensional (3D) brain organoids that can be used to investigate the impact of diseases on the development and organization of the nervous system. Researchers, including these authors, have recently introduced human brain organoids to model mitochondrial disorders. This paper reports a detailed protocol for the robust generation of human iPSC-derived brain organoids and their use in mitochondrial bioenergetic profiling and imaging analyses. These experiments will allow the use of brain organoids to investigate metabolic and developmental dysfunctions and may provide crucial information to dissect the neuronal pathology of mitochondrial diseases.

We describe a detailed protocol for the generation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain organoids and their use in modeling mitochondrial diseases.

Mitochondrial diseases represent the largest class of inborn errors of metabolism and are currently incurable. These diseases cause neurodevelopmental ...

Generation of Human Motor Units with Functional Neuromuscular Junctions in Microfluidic Devices

Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are specialized synapses between the axon of the lower motor neuron and the muscle facilitating the engagement of muscle contraction. In motor neuron disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), NMJs degenerate, resulting in muscle atrophy and progressive paralysis. The underlying mechanism of NMJ degeneration is unknown, largely due to the lack of translatable research models. This study aimed to create a versatile and reproducible in vitro model of a human motor unit with functional NMJs. Therefore, human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived motor neurons and human primary mesoangioblast (MAB)-derived myotubes were co-cultured in commercially available microfluidic devices. The use of fluidically isolated micro-compartments allows for the maintenance of cell-specific microenvironments while permitting cell-to-cell contact through microgrooves. By applying a chemotactic and volumetric gradient, the growth of motor neuron-neurites through the microgrooves promoting myotube interaction and the formation of NMJs were stimulated. These NMJs were identified immunocytochemically through co-localization of motor neuron presynaptic marker synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) marker &#945;-bungarotoxin (Btx) on myotubes and characterized morphologically using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The functionality of the NMJs was confirmed by measuring calcium responses in myotubes upon depolarization of the motor neurons. The motor unit generated using standard microfluidic devices and stem cell technology can aid future research focusing on NMJs in health and disease.

We describe a method to generate human motor units in commercially available microfluidic devices by co-culturing human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons with human primary mesoangioblast-derived myotubes resulting in the formation of functionally active neuromuscular junctions.

Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are specialized synapses between the axon of the lower motor neuron and the muscle facilitating the engagement of muscle ...

Investigation of Spatial Interaction Between Astrocytes and Neurons in Cleared Brains

Combining viral vector transduction and tissue clearing using the CLARITY method makes it possible to simultaneously investigate several types of brain cells and their interactions. Viral vector transduction enables the marking of diverse cell types in different fluorescence colors within the same tissue. Cells can be identified genetically by activity or projection. Using a modified CLARITY protocol, the potential sample size of astrocytes and neurons has grown by 2-3 orders of magnitude. The use of CLARITY allows the imaging of complete astrocytes, which are too large to fit in their entirety in slices, and the examination of the somata with all their processes. In addition, it provides the opportunity to investigate the spatial interaction between astrocytes and different neuronal cell types, namely, the number of pyramidal neurons in each astrocytic domain or the proximity between astrocytes and specific inhibitory neuron populations. This paper describes, in detail, how these methods are to be applied.

Combining viral vector transduction and brain clearing using the CLARITY method allows the investigation of a large number of neurons and astrocytes simultaneously.

Combining viral vector transduction and tissue clearing using the CLARITY method makes it possible to simultaneously investigate several types of brain ...