Central Control Circuit for Context-Dependent Micturition.
Urine release (micturition) serves an essential physiological function as well as a critical role in social communication in many animals. Here, we show a combined effect of olfaction and social hierarchy on micturition patterns in adult male mice, confirming the existence of a micturition control center that integrates pro- and anti-micturition cues. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a cluster of neurons expressing corticotropin-releasing hormone (Crh) in the pontine micturition center (PMC) is electrophysiologically distinct from their Crh-negative neighbors and sends glutamatergic projections to the spinal cord. The activity of PMC Crh-expressing neurons correlates with and is sufficient to drive bladder contraction, and when silenced impairs micturition behavior. These neurons receive convergent input from widespread higher brain areas that are capable of carrying diverse pro- and anti-micturition signals, and whose activity modulates hierarchy-dependent micturition. Taken together, our results indicate that PMC Crh-expressing neurons are likely the integration center for context-dependent micturition behavior.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Xun Helen
XH
Hou
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Minsuk
M
Hyun
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
Julian
J
Taranda
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Kee Wui
KW
Huang
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Emmalee
E
Todd
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Danielle
D
Feng
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Emily
E
Atwater
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Donyell
D
Croney
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Mark Lawrence
ML
Zeidel
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
Pavel
P
Osten
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: bsabatini@hms.harvard.edu.
Bernardo Luis
BL
Sabatini
D000818:Animals; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011149:Pons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology*
D018698:Glutamic Acid; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
Barrington's nucleus; bladder; corticotropin-releasing hormone; medial pre-optic area; micturition; pons
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