PUBLICATION

Functional heterogeneity in the pineal projection neurons of zebrafish

Authors
Sapède, D., Chaigne, C., Blader, P., Cau, E.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200207-31
Date
2020
Source
Molecular and cellular neurosciences   103: 103468 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Blader, Patrick, Cau, Elise
Keywords
Melanopsin, Photoreceptor, Pineal gland, ipRGCs
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Interneurons/metabolism*
  • Neurons/metabolism*
  • Photoreceptor Cells/physiology*
  • Pineal Gland/metabolism*
  • Pineal Gland/pathology
  • Signal Transduction/physiology
  • Zebrafish/genetics
PubMed
32027966 Full text @ Mol. Cell Neurosci.
Abstract
The zebrafish pineal organ is a photoreceptive structure containing two main neuronal populations (photoreceptors and projections neurons). Here we describe a subpopulation of projection neurons that expresses the melanopsin gene, opn4xa. This new pineal cell type, that displays characteristics of both projection neurons and photoreceptors, share a similar dependency for BMP and Notch signalling pathways with classical non-photosensitive projection neurons (PN). Functionally, however, whereas classical, opn4xa-negative PNs display an achromatic LIGHT OFF response, the novel cell type we describe exhibit a LIGHT ON character that is elicited by green and blue light. Taken together, our data suggest a previously unanticipated heterogeneity in the projection neuron population in the zebrafish pineal organ raising the question of the importance of these differences in pineal function.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping