Sloppy morphological tuning in identified neurons of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion.
Neuronal physiology depends on a neuron's ion channel composition and unique morphology. Variable ion channel compositions can produce similar neuronal physiologies across animals. Less is known regarding the morphological precision required to produce reliable neuronal physiology. Theoretical studies suggest that moraphology is tightly tuned to minimize wiring and conduction delay of synaptic events. We utilize high-resolution confocal microscopy and custom computational tools to characterize the morphologies of four neuron types in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) of the crabCancer borealis. Macroscopic branching patterns and fine cable properties are variable within and across neuron types. We compare these neuronal structures to synthetic minimal spanning neurite trees constrained by a wiring cost equation and find that STG neurons do not adhere to prevailing hypotheses regarding wiring optimization principles. In this highly modulated and oscillating circuit, neuronal structures appear to be governed by a space-filling mechanism that outweighs the cost of inefficient wiring.
Biology Department and Volen Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States.
Adriane G
0000-0002-3224-6502
AG
Otopalik
Biology Department and Volen Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States.
Marie L
ML
Goeritz
Biology Department and Volen Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States.
Alexander C
AC
Sutton
Biology Department and Volen Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States.
Ted
T
Brookings
Biology Department and Volen Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States.
Cosmo
C
Guerini
Biology Department and Volen Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States.
Eve
0000-0001-9632-5448
E
Marder
D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003445:Crustacea / Q000166:cytology*; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000166:cytology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*
Cancer borealis; dendritic tree; neuronal morphology; neuroscience; optimization principles; wiring cost