Harnessing Axonal Transport to Map Reward Circuitry: Differing Brain-Wide Projections from Medial Prefrontal Cortical Domains

Authors

Elaine L. Bearer, Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States. Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States.
Christopher S. Medina, Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
Taylor W. Uselman, Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
Russell E. Jacobs, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Abstract

Neurons project long axons that contact other distant neurons. Neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex project into the limbic system to regulate responses to reward or threat. Diminished neural activity in prefrontal cortex is associated with loss of executive function leading to drug use, yet the specific circuitry that mediate these effects is unknown. Different regions within the medial prefrontal cortex may project to differing limbic system nuclei. Here, we exploited the cell biology of intracellular membrane trafficking, fast axonal transport, to map projections from two adjacent medial prefrontal cortical regions. We used Mn(II), a calcium analog, to trace medial prefrontal cortical projections in the living animal by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Mn(II), a contrast agent for MRI, enters neurons through voltage-activated calcium channels and relies on kinesin-1 and amyloid-precursor protein to transport out axons to distal destinations. Aqueous MnCl

Recommended Citation

Bearer EL, Medina CS, Uselman TW, Jacobs RE. Harnessing axonal transport to map reward circuitry: Differing brain-wide projections from medial prefrontal cortical domains. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2023 Nov 30;11:1278831. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1278831. PMID: 38099294; PMCID: PMC10720719.