
核incertus内の遺伝的に定義された2つのニューロン集団は、結合性と機能が異なる。


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The nucleus incertus (NI), a conserved hindbrain structure implicated in the stress response, arousal, and memory, is a major site for production of the neuropeptide relaxin-3. On the basis of goosecoid homeobox 2 ( gsc2 ) expression, we identified a neuronal cluster that lies adjacent to relaxin 3a ( rln3a ) neurons in the zebrafish analogue of the NI. To delineate the characteristics of the gsc2 and rln3a NI neurons, we used CRISPR/Cas9 targeted integration to drive gene expression specifically in each neuronal group, and found that they differ in their efferent and afferent connectivity, spontaneous activity, and functional properties. gsc2 and rln3a NI neurons have widely divergent projection patterns and innervate distinct subregions of the midbrain interpeduncular nucleus (IPN). Whereas gsc2 neurons are activated by electric shock, rln3a neurons exhibit spontaneous fluctuations in calcium signaling and regulate locomotor activity. Our findings define heterogeneous neurons in the NI and provide new tools to probe its diverse functions.

### Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Genetically defined nucleus incertus neurons differ in connectivity and function

ニューロンの遺伝的定義に基づく核incertus内の神経細胞の相違点