Single-Cell Reconstruction of Oxytocinergic Neurons Reveals Separate Hypophysiotropic and Encephalotropic Subtypes in Larval Zebrafish.
Oxytocin regulates a diverse set of processes including stress, analgesia, metabolism, and social behavior. How such diverse functions are mediated by a single hormonal system is not well understood. Different functions of oxytocin could be mediated by distinct cell groups, yet it is currently unknown whether different oxytocinergic cell types exist that specifically mediate peripheral neuroendocrine or various central neuromodulatory processes via dedicated pathways. Using the Brainbow technique to map the morphology and projections of individual oxytocinergic cells in the larval zebrafish brain, we report here the existence of two main types of oxytocinergic cells: those that innervate the pituitary and those that innervate diverse brain regions. Similar to the situation in the adult rat and the adult midshipman, but in contrast to the situation in the adult trout, these two cell types are mutually exclusive and can be distinguished based on morphological and anatomical criteria. Further, our results reveal that complex oxytocinergic innervation patterns are already established in the larval zebrafish brain.
Developmental Genetics of the Nervous System, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research , 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Ulrich
0000-0002-4419-1414
U
Herget
Developmental Genetics of the Nervous System, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research , 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Jose Arturo
JA
Gutierrez-Triana
Developmental Genetics of the Nervous System, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research , 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Oriana
0000-0003-1390-8870
O
Salazar Thula
Developmental Genetics of the Nervous System, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research , 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Boris
B
Knerr
Developmental Genetics of the Nervous System, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Focus Program Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
Soojin
0000-0002-7059-0160
S
Ryu
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
D010121:Oxytocin
Brainbow; morphology; neuronal subtypes; oxytocin; zebrafish