PhD seminar series.
Online. Zoom link sent by email.
Dissection of functional modules in the hindbrain
I will discuss the neural bases of two comparatively simple and evolutionary conserved behavior in vertebrates: breathing and licking. Both circuits reside in the hindbrain (medulla and pons), a conserved sensory and motor center for the head and the autonomic nervous system. I will show that the core command circuit (rhythm generator and premotor apparatus) for breathing and for licking rely on unique neuronal types: Dbx1-derived V0 neurons for breathing and Phox2b-expressing dA3 neurons for licking. The latter provide the first anatomical and genetic identifications of the licking executive circuit in the apparently chaotic anatomy of the hindbrain subsumed under the vague term “reticular formation”.
Relevant papers:
Thoby-Brisson M, Karlén M, Wu N, Charnay P, Champagnat J, Fortin G. Genetic identification of an embryonic parafacial oscillator coupling to the preBötzinger. Nat Neurosci 12(8):1028-1035.
Bouvier J, Thoby-Brisson M, Renier N, Dubreuil V, Ericson J, Champagnat J, Pierani A, Chédotal A, Fortin G. Hindbrain interneurons and axon guidance signaling critical for breathing. Nat Neurosci 2010 13(9):1066-74
Ruffault PL, D’Autréaux F, Hayes JA, Nomaksteinsky M, Autran S, Fujiyama T,Hoshino M, Hägglund M, Kiehn O, Brunet JF, Fortin G, Goridis C. The retrotrapezoid nucleus neurons expressing Atoh1 and Phox2b are essential for the respiratory response to CO₂. eLife 2015
Wu J, Capelli P, Bouvier J, Goulding M, Arber S, Fortin G. A V0 core neuronal circuit for inspiration. Nat Commun. 2017
Organized by Bordeaux Neurocampus, NBA and Bordeaux Neurocampus Graduate Program
Gilles Fortin
CNRS
IBENS (Institut de Biologie de l’École Normale Supérieure)