A cross-modal genetic framework for the development and plasticity of sensory pathways.
Modality-specific sensory inputs from individual sense organs are processed in parallel in distinct areas of the neocortex. For each sensory modality, input follows a cortico-thalamo-cortical loop in which a 'first-order' exteroceptive thalamic nucleus sends peripheral input to the primary sensory cortex, which projects back to a 'higher order' thalamic nucleus that targets a secondary sensory cortex. This conserved circuit motif raises the possibility that shared genetic programs exist across sensory modalities. Here we report that, despite their association with distinct sensory modalities, first-order nuclei in mice are genetically homologous across somatosensory, visual, and auditory pathways, as are higher order nuclei. We further reveal peripheral input-dependent control over the transcriptional identity and connectivity of first-order nuclei by showing that input ablation leads to induction of higher-order-type transcriptional programs and rewiring of higher-order-directed descending cortical input to deprived first-order nuclei. These findings uncover an input-dependent genetic logic for the design and plasticity of sensory pathways, in which conserved developmental programs lead to conserved circuit motifs across sensory modalities.
Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
Laura
L
Frangeul
Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
Gabrielle
G
Pouchelon
Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
Ludovic
L
Telley
Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
Sandrine
S
Lefort
Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.|Clinic of Neurology, Geneva University Hospital, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
Christian
C
Luscher
Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.|Clinic of Neurology, Geneva University Hospital, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
Denis
D
Jabaudon
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
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