Bulk RNA sequencing of intracortically-projecting neurons at P10. Bulk RNA sequencing of intracortically-projecting neurons at P10

Distinct subtypes of intracortically-projecting neurons (ICPN) are present in all layers, allowing propagation of information within and across cortical columns. How the molecular identities of ICPN relate to their defining anatomical and functional properties is unknown. Here we show that the transcriptional identities of ICPN primarily reflect their broad axonal projections rather than their date of birth or laminar position. Thus, conserved circuit-related transcriptional programs are at play across cortical layers, which may preserve canonical circuit features across development. Overall design: We performed bulk RNA sequencing of P10 layer 4 Tomato+ spiny stellate neurons, and retrogradely labeled callosal projection neurons from deep and superficial layers of the neocortex.

皮层内投射神经元（intracortically-projecting neurons, ICPN）的不同亚型遍布所有皮层分层，可介导皮层柱内部及跨皮层柱的信息传递。目前尚不明确ICPN的分子特征与其标志性解剖学及功能特性之间的关联。本研究证实，ICPN的转录特征主要反映其广泛的轴突投射特性，而非神经元诞生时间或皮层分层位置。由此可见，跨皮层分层存在保守的环路相关转录程序并发挥作用，该程序或可在发育过程中维持典型的环路特征。
实验设计概述：我们对出生后第10天（P10）第4层Tomato阳性棘星神经元开展了批量RNA测序，并对新皮层深层与表层的胼胝体投射神经元进行了逆行标记。