Biology subjects

Tsurutani, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Tsurutani, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Transcriptomic Landscape of Microglia in Mouse Models of Social Dysfunction and Oxytocin-Mediated Recovery

Atypical sociability is a hallmark of neurodevelopmental disorders arising from genetic susceptibility and prenatal environmental perturbations affecting diverse brain cell types. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we previously identified selective vulnerability of parvocellular oxytocin (OT) neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) following embryonic exposure to valproic acid (VPA), a teratogen that induces social deficits. Neonatal chemogenetic activation of OT neurons rescued these behavioral abnormalities and partially restored dysregulated gene expression. However, the effects of VPA exposure and OT neuron stimulation on non-neuronal PVH cells remained unclear. Here, we show that VPA induces transcriptional abnormalities in PVH microglia. Spatial transcriptomics revealed altered distributions of PVH microglial subtypes. Notably, neonatal OT neuron stimulation reversed a subset of VPA-induced microglial gene downregulation, while pharmacological manipulation of microglia normalized aberrant OT gene expression in putative parvocellular OT neurons. These findings support bidirectional OT neuron-microglia interactions that may underlie social dysfunction following embryonic VPA exposure. HighlightsO_LIEmbryonic VPA exposure induces potent transcriptional changes in PVH microglia C_LIO_LIPVH microglia comprise two spatially organized subtypes disrupted by VPA C_LIO_LINeonatal OT neuron stimulation restores gene expression in a microglial subtype C_LIO_LIMicroglial manipulation rescues OT ligand in parvocellular PVH neurons C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Parallel Labeled-Line Organization of Sympathetic Outflow for Selective Organ Regulation in Mice

The sympathetic nervous system is vital in maintaining homeostasis and responding to environmental changes1-3. This regulation is coordinated by the spinal sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs), which influence various organs both through neuronal pathways via postganglionic neurons and through endocrine processes by innervating the adrenal gland. Despite decades of research supporting the concept of selective control within this system1,4-9, the neural circuit organization responsible for the specificity of sympathetic outflow remains poorly understood. Notably, classical anatomical studies in rats have not revealed a definitive molecular code governing SPNs, nor have they confirmed the existence of SPNs strictly corresponding to specific output targets1,6,10,11. To reconcile this discrepancy, we aim to integrate recent transcriptome data of SPNs12,13 in mice with viral-genetic toolkits14 to map axonal projections and manipulate the functions of SPNs governing the gastrointestinal tract and adrenal gland. Here, we have identified two subtypes of SPNs in the lower thoracic spinal cord, defined at the molecular level, exhibiting non-overlapping patterns of innervation. Chemogenetic manipulations on these distinct SPN subtypes revealed selective impacts on the digestive functions in the gastrointestinal tracts or glucose metabolism mediated by the adrenal gland, respectively. This molecularly delineated parallel labeled-line organization in sympathetic outflows presents a potential avenue for selectively manipulating organ functions.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Selective Vulnerability of Parvocellular Oxytocin Neurons in Social Dysfunction

Selective vulnerability offers a conceptual framework for understanding neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinsons disease, where specific neuronal types are selectively affected while adjacent ones are spared. The applicability of this framework to neurodevelopmental disorders remains uncertain, particularly those characterized by atypical social behaviors such as autism spectrum disorder. Here, employing a single-cell transcriptome analysis in mice, we show that an embryonic disturbance known to induce social dysfunction preferentially impairs gene expressions crucial for neural functions in parvocellular oxytocin (OT) neurons--a subtype linked to social rewards--while neighboring cell types experience a lesser impact. Chemogenetic stimulation of OT neurons at the neonatal stage ameliorated social deficits in early adulthood, concurrent with a cell-type-specific sustained recovery of the pivotal gene expressions within parvocellular OT neurons. Collectively, our data shed light on the transcriptomic selective vulnerability within the hypothalamic social behavioral center and provide a potential therapeutic target through specific neonatal neurostimulation.

neuroscience↗