Biology subjects

Puska, G.

Publications and source records attributed to Puska, G..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Functional characterization of the lateral septal calbindin neurons in maternal care

The ventral subdivision of the lateral septum (LSv) is a forebrain region linked to maternal care with a high density of calbindin-containing (Cb+) neurons whose properties, connections and functions remain unknown. In the present study, it was established that the majority of pup-activated neurons are inhibitory Cb+ in the LSv and the density of activated neurons in the LSv is close to that of the medial preoptic area (MPOA), a central brain area in maternal care regulation. Electrophysiological recordings of LSvCb+ and LSvCb- neurons revealed that LSvCb+ neurons exhibited higher membrane resistance, lower spike amplitude and rise slope compared to LSvCb- neurons. The chemogenetic inhibition of LSvCb+ neurons led to reduction in pup-licking behavior without affecting other maternal behavior or eliciting anxiety- or depression-like behavior. To regulate licking behavior, LSvCb+ neurons connect with other maternally involved brain areas. Anterograde and retrograde tract-tracing revealed that two-thirds of the MPOA-projecting LSv neurons are Cb+. A subset of neurons within the posterior intralaminar nucleus (PIL) in the lateral thalamus, a proposed relay nucleus of tactile and auditory information from the pups, express a maternally induced neuropeptide, the parathyroid hormone 2 (PTH2). Their fibers closely apposed Cb+ neurons in the LSv. Using double labeling, we also identified PTH2 receptors on LSvCb+ neurons, which are presumably activated by PTH2 released from nearby terminals. Using electron microscopy, we confirmed synaptic connection between PTH2+ fibers and inhibitory neurons in the LSv. The results provide evidence that Cb+ neurons of the LSv are components of the maternal circuitry. Significance StatementMaternal care depends on pup cues, but many responsible circuit elements remain uncharacterized. We identify inhibitory calbindin-expressing neurons in the ventral subdivision of the lateral septum (LSv) containing a major pup-activated neuronal population with distinctive electrical properties. Their selective inhibition reduced pup-licking without affecting other maternal, anxiety- or depression-like behaviors, suggesting a specific role in caregiving. Detailed circuit tracing data revealed that a significant proportion of LSv calbindin-positive neurons extend their projections to the medial preoptic area, a well-established core maternal regulatory region. We further demonstrate synaptic input from maternally relevant parathyroid hormone 2 (PTH2)-expressing thalamic afferents onto LSv inhibitory neurons, possibly conveying pup stimuli. The data suggest that LSv calbindin neurons are key nodes in maternal circuitry.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Social Touch Suppresses Aggression via Thalamic Mechanisms

Understanding the neural circuitry underlying aggression is critical for both scientific insight and clinical intervention. Here, we identify the posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus (PIL) as a key node in an anti-aggressive circuit activated by social touch. Using a rodent model, we demonstrate that deprivation of direct physical contact during social isolation leads to heightened aggression. Chemogenetic and optogenetic manipulations reveal that PIL neurons activated by social touch inhibit aggression via excitatory projections to the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of the hypothalamus. This PIL-to-MPOA pathway is suppressed by input from the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH). Our findings establish a novel thalamic-hypothalamic circuit that mediates social touch-induced suppression of aggression, offering potential targets for therapeutic intervention in conditions marked by pathological aggression.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

A thalamo-preoptic pathway promoting social touch

Social touch is an important form of communication, it is still unknown how it is processed. Here, we discovered a functional role for a neuronal pathway projecting from the posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus (PIL) to the medial preoptic area (MPOA) in controlling social contact. Neurons in the PIL and the MPOA were activated by physical contact between female rodents and also by chemogenetic stimulation of PIL neurons. Chemogenetic stimulation of PIL neurons tagged by social contact experience increased direct physical interactions between familiar female rats without affecting other forms of social behavior. Furthermore, selective stimulation of the PIL-MPOA pathway, and the local activation of PIL terminals within the MPOA, elevated direct social contact between the animals suggesting the role of pathway-specific activated cell assemblies. Neurons projecting from the PIL to the MPOA contain the neuropeptide parathyroid hormone 2 (PTH2). The expression of the peptide was induced by social housing, the presence of PTH2 receptor was identified in MPOA neurons, and local injection of PTH2 increased the firing rate of identified preoptic area GABAergic neurons via the PTH2 receptor suggesting that PTH2 acts as a neurotransmitter in the PIL-MPOA pathway. We also found a homologous PIL to MPOA neuronal pathway in the human brain. Altogether, we discovered a direct thalamo-preoptic pathway, which bypasses the cerebral cortex and controls social touch. This pathway originates in neurons expressing PTH2, a neuropeptide recently shown in fish to respond to the social environment. These observations provide evidence for common evolutionary-conserved PTH2-containing social-touch specific engram circuits.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Role of hemocytes in the regeneration of germline stem cells in Drosophila

Cellular regeneration, which relies on extensive restructuring of cytoplasmic materials, is an essential process to restore tissues and organs lost during aging, degenerative diseases and injury. At early stages of Drosophila spermatogenesis, when cellular constituents are intensely remodeled, there are two different populations of stem cells, the somatic stem cells and the germline stem cells (GSCs). GSCs divide by asymmetric division to give rise two distinct daughter cells. One of them will leave the stem cells niche and differentiate into spermatogonial cells (SCs). Both aging and cellular stress can lead to the loss of GSCs. Lost GSCs can be restored by dedifferentiation of SCs into functional GSCs. In other tissues, macrophages provide specific conditions for cellular transformation. Here we examined the potential role of immune surveillance cells called hemocytes during dedifferentiation of SGs into GSCs. We found an elevated number of hemocytes during this dedifferentiation process. Immune depletion of hemocytes decreased the regeneration capacity of germline. We also show that autophagy, which plays a pivotal role in cellular differentiation by eliminating unwanted, superfluous parts of the cytoplasm, becomes upregulated in dedifferentiating SCs upon JAK-STAT signaling emitted by hemocytes. Furthermore, these immune cells regulate expression of Omi/HtrA2, a key regulator of apoptosis in early spermatogenesis. Together, we suggest that hemocytes have important functions in the dedifferentiation process of GSCs.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Dissection of protein cargo of citrus fruit juice sac cells-derived vesicles reveals heterogeneous transport and extracellular vesicles subpopulations

Cellular vesicles are membrane-enclosed organelles that transport material inside and outside the cell. Plant-derived vesicles are receiving more and more attention due to their potential as nanovectors for the delivery of biologically active substances. We aimed to expand our understanding about the heterogeneity and the protein biocargo of citrus fruit juice sac cell-derived vesicles. Micro- and nano-sized vesicle fractions were isolated from four citrus species, C. sinensis, C. limon, C. paradisi and C. aurantium, characterized using physicochemical methods and protein cargos were compared using label-free quantitative shotgun proteomics. In each sample approximately 600-800 proteins were identified. Orthologues of most of the top-ranking proteins have previously been reported in extracellular vesicles of mammalian origin. High expression of patellin-3-like, clathrin heavy chain, HSPs, 14-3-3 protein, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase 6 could be observed in all the vesicle samples while Aquaporin was highly expressed only in nanovesicles. Bioinformatics revealed more than hundred protein orthologues potentially implicated in vesicular trafficking. In particular, the presence of CCV, COPI and COPII coat proteins indicates the presence of highly heterogeneous populations of intracellular transport vesicles. Moreover, the differential expressions of hydrolases and oxidoreductases enabled us to gain insights into their functions in citrus fruit sac cells.

plant biology↗