Parallel visual circuitry in a basal chordate.

TitleParallel visual circuitry in a basal chordate.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsKourakis MJ, Borba C, Zhang A, Newman-Smith E, Salas P, Manjunath B, Smith WC
JournalElife
Volume8
Date Published2019 04 18
ISSN2050-084X
KeywordsAnimals, Ciona, Connectome, Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing Techniques, Neurons, Photoreceptor Cells, Visual Pathways
Abstract

A common CNS architecture is observed in all chordates, from vertebrates to basal chordates like the ascidian stands apart among chordates in having a complete larval connectome. Starting with visuomotor circuits predicted by the connectome, we used expression maps of neurotransmitter use with behavioral assays to identify two parallel visuomotor circuits that are responsive to different components of visual stimuli. The first circuit is characterized by glutamatergic photoreceptors and responds to the direction of light. These photoreceptors project to cholinergic motor neurons, via two tiers of cholinergic interneurons. The second circuit responds to changes in ambient light and mediates an escape response. This circuit uses GABAergic photoreceptors which project to GABAergic interneurons, and then to cholinergic interneurons. Our observations on the behavior of larvae either treated with a GABA receptor antagonist or carrying a mutation that eliminates photoreceptors indicate the second circuit is disinhibitory.

DOI10.7554/eLife.44753
Alternate JournalElife
PubMed ID30998184
PubMed Central IDPMC6499539
Grant ListR01 NS103774 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
R01NS103774 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States