Neural tracing study maps whole-brain monosynaptic inputs and outputs of hypothalamic CRH neurons in male mice, highlighting structural pathways for stress and autonomic regulation.
Key Points
To comprehensively map the whole-brain monosynaptic input and output architecture of corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.
Utilized Cre-dependent modified rabies virus for retrograde monosynaptic input tracing in male CRH-Cre mice.
Employed Cre-dependent adeno-associated viruses for anterograde tracing of whole-brain axonal projections.
CRH neurons in the paraventricular nucleus received direct inputs from 55 brain regions, predominantly from diencephalic areas with a 61.4% ipsilateral bias, including inputs from ventral hippocampal CA1 and nucleus accumbens core.
Axonal projections targeted diverse circuit modules across the brain, exhibiting dense convergence onto autonomic regulatory centers and emotion-related nuclei.