Selective plasticity of callosal neurons in the adult contralesional cortex following murine traumatic brain injury

Empl, Laura; Chovsepian, Alexandra; Chahin, Maryam; Kan, Wing Yin Vanessa; Fourneau, Julie; Van Steenbergen, Valérie; Weidinger, Sanofer; Marcantoni, Maite; Ghanem, Alexander; Bradley, Peter; Conzelmann, Karl Klaus; Cai, Ruiyao; Ghasemigharagoz, Alireza; Ertürk, Ali; Wagner, Ingrid; Kreutzfeldt, Mario; Merkler, Doron; Liebscher, Sabine; Bareyre, Florence M. (2022): Selective plasticity of callosal neurons in the adult contralesional cortex following murine traumatic brain injury. Nature Communications, 13: 2659. ISSN 2041-1723

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in deficits that are often followed by recovery. The contralesional cortex can contribute to this process but how distinct contralesional neurons and circuits respond to injury remains to be determined. To unravel adaptations in the contralesional cortex, we used chronic in vivo two-photon imaging. We observed a general decrease in spine density with concomitant changes in spine dynamics over time. With retrograde co-labeling techniques, we showed that callosal neurons are uniquely affected by and responsive to TBI. To elucidate circuit connectivity, we used monosynaptic rabies tracing, clearing techniques and histology. We demonstrate that contralesional callosal neurons adapt their input circuitry by strengthening ipsilateral connections from pre-connected areas. Finally, functional in vivo two-photon imaging demonstrates that the restoration of pre-synaptic circuitry parallels the restoration of callosal activity patterns. Taken together our study thus delineates how callosal neurons structurally and functionally adapt following a contralateral murine TBI.

• Doc-Type: Article (LMU Hospital)
• Organisational unit (Faculties): 07 Medicine > Medical Center of the University of Munich > Medical Clinic and Outpatient Clinic IV (Endocrinology, nephrology, other sections)
• DFG subject classification of scientific disciplines: Life sciences
• DFG: Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - 491502892