PUBLICATION

Specialized neurons in the right habenula mediate response to aversive olfactory cues

Authors
Choi, J.H., Duboue, E.R., Macurak, M., Chanchu, J.M., Halpern, M.E.
ID
ZDB-PUB-211211-14
Date
2021
Source
eLIFE   10: (Journal)
Registered Authors
Chanchu, Jean Michael, Halpern, Marnie E., Macurak, Michelle
Keywords
neuroscience, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Cues
  • Female
  • Male
  • Odorants/analysis*
  • Smell*
  • Avoidance Learning*
  • Habenula/physiology*
  • Animals
  • Neurons/physiology*
(all 11)
PubMed
34878403 Full text @ Elife
Abstract
Hemispheric specializations are well studied at the functional level but less is known about the underlying neural mechanisms. We identified a small cluster of cholinergic neurons in the dorsal habenula (dHb) of zebrafish, defined by their expression of the lecithin retinol acyltransferase domain containing 2a (lratd2a) gene and their efferent connections with a subregion of the ventral interpeduncular nucleus (vIPN). The lratd2a-expressing neurons in the right dHb are innervated by a subset of mitral cells from both the left and right olfactory bulb and are activated upon exposure to the odorant cadaverine that is repellent to adult zebrafish. Using an intersectional strategy to drive expression of the botulinum neurotoxin specifically in these neurons, we find that adults no longer show aversion to cadaverine. Mutants with left-isomerized dHb that lack these neurons are also less repelled by cadaverine and their behavioral response to alarm substance, a potent aversive cue, is diminished. However, mutants in which both dHb have right identity appear more reactive to alarm substance. The results implicate an asymmetric dHb-vIPN neural circuit in the processing of repulsive olfactory cues and in modulating the resultant behavioral response.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Figure Gallery (14 images) / 2
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
c375TgTransgenic Insertion
    c403TgTransgenic Insertion
      c587TgTransgenic Insertion
        c601TgTransgenic Insertion
        c636TgTransgenic Insertion
          c662TgTransgenic Insertion
          c663TgTransgenic Insertion
            c674TgTransgenic Insertion
              c679TgTransgenic Insertion
                m1376
                  Indel
                  1 - 10 of 14
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                  Human Disease / Model
                  No data available
                  Sequence Targeting Reagents
                  Target Reagent Reagent Type
                  lratd2aCRISPR1-lratd2aCRISPR
                  slc5a7aCRISPR2-slc5a7aCRISPR
                  1 - 2 of 2
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                  Fish
                  Antibodies
                  No data available
                  Orthology
                  No data available
                  Engineered Foreign Genes
                  Marker Marker Type Name
                  BoTxBLCEFGBoTxBLC
                  CreEFGCre
                  EYFPEFGEYFP
                  GCaMPEFGGCaMP
                  GFPEFGGFP
                  mAppleEFGmApple
                  mCherryEFGmCherry
                  QFEFGQF
                  1 - 8 of 8
                  Show
                  Mapping
                  No data available