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Distinct projection targets define subpopulations of mouse brainstem vagal neurons that express the autism-associated MET receptor tyrosine kinase.

The Journal of comparative neurology | 2017

Detailed anatomical tracing and mapping of the viscerotopic organization of the vagal motor nuclei has provided insight into autonomic function in health and disease. To further define specific cellular identities, we paired information based on visceral connectivity with a cell-type specific marker of a subpopulation of neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) and nucleus ambiguus (nAmb) that express the autism-associated MET receptor tyrosine kinase. As gastrointestinal disturbances are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we sought to define the relationship between MET-expressing (MET+) neurons in the DMV and nAmb, and the gastrointestinal tract. Using wholemount tissue staining and clearing, or retrograde tracing in a METEGFP transgenic mouse, we identify three novel subpopulations of EGFP+ vagal brainstem neurons: (a) EGFP+ neurons in the nAmb projecting to the esophagus or laryngeal muscles, (b) EGFP+ neurons in the medial DMV projecting to the stomach, and (b) EGFP+ neurons in the lateral DMV projecting to the cecum and/or proximal colon. Expression of the MET ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), by tissues innervated by vagal motor neurons during fetal development reveal potential sites of HGF-MET interaction. Furthermore, similar cellular expression patterns of MET in the brainstem of both the mouse and nonhuman primate suggests that MET expression at these sites is evolutionarily conserved. Together, the data suggest that MET+ neurons in the brainstem vagal motor nuclei are anatomically positioned to regulate distinct portions of the gastrointestinal tract, with implications for the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal comorbidities of ASD.

Pubmed ID: 28758209 RIS Download

Research resources used in this publication

Additional research tools detected in this publication

Antibodies used in this publication

Associated grants

  • Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 MH067842
  • Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R21 NS086413

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This is a list of tools and resources that we have found mentioned in this publication.


Abbott Diagnostics (tool)

RRID:SCR_008392

Company offering a broad range of instrument systems and diagnostic tests for hospitals, reference labs, blood banks, physician offices and clinics to aid in the diagnosis of a range of serious health issues such as infectious diseases, cancer, and diabetes, as well as monitor other important indicators of health.

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Anti-Tyrosine Hydroxylase Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_390204

This polyclonal targets Tyrosine Hydroxylase

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Anti-Choline Acetyltransferase Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_2079751

This polyclonal targets Choline Acetyltransferase

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Mouse HGF R/c-MET Affinity Purified Polyclonal Ab (antibody)

RRID:AB_355414

This polyclonal targets Mouse HGF R/c-MET Affinity Purified Ab

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Met Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_331361

This monoclonal targets Met

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Anti-Green Fluorescent Protein Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_10000240

This polyclonal targets Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)

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Anti-GFP antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_300798

This polyclonal targets GFP

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C57BL/6J (organism)

RRID:IMSR_JAX:000664

Mus musculus with name C57BL/6J from IMSR.

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ImageJ (software resource)

RRID:SCR_003070

Open source Java based image processing software program designed for scientific multidimensional images. ImageJ has been transformed to ImageJ2 application to improve data engine to be sufficient to analyze modern datasets.

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GraphPad Prism (software resource)

RRID:SCR_002798

Statistical analysis software that combines scientific graphing, comprehensive curve fitting (nonlinear regression), understandable statistics, and data organization. Designed for biological research applications in pharmacology, physiology, and other biological fields for data analysis, hypothesis testing, and modeling.

View all literature mentions

Imaris (software resource)

RRID:SCR_007370

Imaris provides range of capabilities for working with three dimensional images. Uses flexible editing and processing functions, such as interactive surface rendering and object slicing capabilities. And output to standard TIFF, Quicktime and AVI formats. Imaris accepts virtually all image formats that are used in confocal microscopy and many of those used in wide-field image acquisition.

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NIH Blueprint NHP Atlas (atlas)

RRID:SCR_010559

Atlas of gene expression in the developing rhesus macaque brain. This atlas is a free online resource with a unique set of data and tools aimed to create a developmental neuroanatomical framework for exploring the cellular and molecular architecture of the developing postnatal primate brain with direct relevance for human brain development. The atlas includes: * Microarray ** Microdissection: Fine structure transcriptional profiling across postnatal development for fine nuclear subdivisions of the prefrontal cortex, primary visual cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and ventral striatum ** Macrodissection: Gross structure transcriptional profiling across postnatal development for the same structures * ISH: ** Cellular resolution in situ hybridization image data of five major brain regions during postnatal developmental periods for genes clinically important for a variety of human neurodevelopmental disorders, including prefrontal cortex, primary visual cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and ventral striatum. ** Serial analysis of selected genes across the entire adult brain, focusing on cellular marker genes, genes with cortical area specificity and gene families important to neural function. * ISH Anatomic Search: Detailed gene expression search on the ISH data based on expert annotation * Reference Data: Developmental stage-specific reference series, consisting of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Nissl histology to provide a neuroanatomical context for the gene expression data. These data and tools are designed to provide a valuable public resource for researchers and educators to explore neurodevelopment in non-human primates, and a key evolutionary link between other Web-based gene expression atlases for adult and developing mouse and human brain.

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C57BL/6J (organism)

RRID:IMSR_JAX:000664

Mus musculus with name C57BL/6J from IMSR.

View all literature mentions

Gene Expression Nervous System Atlas (biomaterial supply resource)

RRID:SCR_002721

Gene expression data and maps of mouse central nervous system. Gene expression atlas of developing adult central nervous system in mouse, using in situ hybridization and transgenic mouse techniques. Collection of pictorial gene expression maps of brain and spinal cord of mouse. Provides tools to catalog, map, and electrophysiologically record individual cells. Application of Cre recombinase technologies allows for cell-specific gene manipulation. Transgenic mice created by this project are available to scientific community.

View all literature mentions

Anti-Tyrosine Hydroxylase Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_390204

This polyclonal targets Tyrosine Hydroxylase

View all literature mentions

Anti-Tyrosine Hydroxylase Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_390204

This polyclonal targets Tyrosine Hydroxylase

View all literature mentions

Anti-Green Fluorescent Protein Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_10000240

This polyclonal targets Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)

View all literature mentions

Met Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_331361

This monoclonal targets Met

View all literature mentions

Met Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_331361

This monoclonal targets Met

View all literature mentions

Imaris (software resource)

RRID:SCR_007370

Imaris provides range of capabilities for working with three dimensional images. Uses flexible editing and processing functions, such as interactive surface rendering and object slicing capabilities. And output to standard TIFF, Quicktime and AVI formats. Imaris accepts virtually all image formats that are used in confocal microscopy and many of those used in wide-field image acquisition.

View all literature mentions

Anti-Green Fluorescent Protein Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_10000240

This polyclonal targets Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)

View all literature mentions

GraphPad Prism (software resource)

RRID:SCR_002798

Statistical analysis software that combines scientific graphing, comprehensive curve fitting (nonlinear regression), understandable statistics, and data organization. Designed for biological research applications in pharmacology, physiology, and other biological fields for data analysis, hypothesis testing, and modeling.

View all literature mentions

Anti-GFP antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_300798

This polyclonal targets GFP

View all literature mentions

Mouse HGF R/c-MET Affinity Purified Polyclonal Ab (antibody)

RRID:AB_355414

This polyclonal targets Mouse HGF R/c-MET Affinity Purified Ab

View all literature mentions

Gene Expression Nervous System Atlas (biomaterial supply resource)

RRID:SCR_002721

Gene expression data and maps of mouse central nervous system. Gene expression atlas of developing adult central nervous system in mouse, using in situ hybridization and transgenic mouse techniques. Collection of pictorial gene expression maps of brain and spinal cord of mouse. Provides tools to catalog, map, and electrophysiologically record individual cells. Application of Cre recombinase technologies allows for cell-specific gene manipulation. Transgenic mice created by this project are available to scientific community.

View all literature mentions

Mouse HGF R/c-MET Affinity Purified Polyclonal Ab (antibody)

RRID:AB_355414

This polyclonal targets Mouse HGF R/c-MET Affinity Purified Ab

View all literature mentions

C57BL/6J (organism)

RRID:IMSR_JAX:000664

Mus musculus with name C57BL/6J from IMSR.

View all literature mentions

Anti-GFP antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_300798

This polyclonal targets GFP

View all literature mentions

Anti-Choline Acetyltransferase Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_2079751

This polyclonal targets Choline Acetyltransferase

View all literature mentions

Anti-Choline Acetyltransferase Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_2079751

This polyclonal targets Choline Acetyltransferase

View all literature mentions

Anti-GFP antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_300798

This polyclonal targets GFP

View all literature mentions

Anti-Choline Acetyltransferase Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_2079751

This polyclonal targets Choline Acetyltransferase

View all literature mentions

Anti-Green Fluorescent Protein Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_10000240

This polyclonal targets Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)

View all literature mentions

NIH Blueprint NHP Atlas (atlas)

RRID:SCR_010559

Atlas of gene expression in the developing rhesus macaque brain. This atlas is a free online resource with a unique set of data and tools aimed to create a developmental neuroanatomical framework for exploring the cellular and molecular architecture of the developing postnatal primate brain with direct relevance for human brain development. The atlas includes: * Microarray ** Microdissection: Fine structure transcriptional profiling across postnatal development for fine nuclear subdivisions of the prefrontal cortex, primary visual cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and ventral striatum ** Macrodissection: Gross structure transcriptional profiling across postnatal development for the same structures * ISH: ** Cellular resolution in situ hybridization image data of five major brain regions during postnatal developmental periods for genes clinically important for a variety of human neurodevelopmental disorders, including prefrontal cortex, primary visual cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and ventral striatum. ** Serial analysis of selected genes across the entire adult brain, focusing on cellular marker genes, genes with cortical area specificity and gene families important to neural function. * ISH Anatomic Search: Detailed gene expression search on the ISH data based on expert annotation * Reference Data: Developmental stage-specific reference series, consisting of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Nissl histology to provide a neuroanatomical context for the gene expression data. These data and tools are designed to provide a valuable public resource for researchers and educators to explore neurodevelopment in non-human primates, and a key evolutionary link between other Web-based gene expression atlases for adult and developing mouse and human brain.

View all literature mentions

Met Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_331361

This monoclonal targets Met

View all literature mentions

Mouse HGF R/c-MET Affinity Purified Polyclonal Ab (antibody)

RRID:AB_355414

This polyclonal targets Mouse HGF R/c-MET Affinity Purified Ab

View all literature mentions

Met Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_331361

This monoclonal targets Met

View all literature mentions

Anti-Green Fluorescent Protein Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_10000240

This polyclonal targets Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)

View all literature mentions

Anti-GFP antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_300798

This polyclonal targets GFP

View all literature mentions

Anti-Tyrosine Hydroxylase Antibody (antibody)

RRID:AB_390204

This polyclonal targets Tyrosine Hydroxylase

View all literature mentions

Mouse HGF R/c-MET Affinity Purified Polyclonal Ab (antibody)

RRID:AB_355414

This polyclonal targets Mouse HGF R/c-MET Affinity Purified Ab

View all literature mentions