PUBLICATION

Neuropeptidergic regulation of neuromuscular signaling in larval zebrafish alters swimming behavior and synaptic transmission

Authors
Dill, H., Liewald, J.F., Becker, M., Seidenthal, M., Gottschalk, A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-240910-9
Date
2024
Source
iScience   27: 110687110687 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Behavioral neuroscience, Biological sciences, Molecular neuroscience, Neuroscience
MeSH Terms
none
PubMed
39252958 Full text @ iScience
Abstract
Chemical synaptic transmission is modulated to accommodate different activity levels, thus enabling homeostatic scaling in pre- and postsynaptic compartments. In nematodes, cholinergic neurons use neuropeptide signaling to modulate synaptic vesicle content. To explore if this mechanism is conserved in vertebrates, we studied the involvement of neuropeptides in cholinergic transmission at the neuromuscular junction of larval zebrafish. Optogenetic stimulation by photoactivated adenylyl cyclase evoked locomotion. We generated mutants lacking the neuropeptide-processing enzyme carboxypeptidase E (cpe), and the most abundant neuropeptide precursor in motor neurons, tachykinin (tac1). Both mutants showed exaggerated locomotion after photostimulation. Recording excitatory postsynaptic currents demonstrated overall larger amplitudes in the wild type. Exaggerated locomotion in the mutants thus reflected upscaling of postsynaptic excitability. Both mutant muscles expressed more nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on their surface; thus, neuropeptide signaling regulates synaptic transmitter output in zebrafish motor neurons, and muscle cells homeostatically regulate nAChR surface expression, compensating reduced presynaptic input.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping