Three-Dimensional Mapping of Retrograde Multi-Labeled Motor Neuron Columns in the Spinal Cord
Jianyi Xu,
Xiaofeng Yin,
Yisong Qi,
Bo Chen,
Yusha Li,
Peng Wan,
Yingtao Yao,
Dan Zhu,
Baoguo Jiang,
Tingting Yu
Affiliations
Jianyi Xu
Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Xiaofeng Yin
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
Yisong Qi
Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Bo Chen
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
Yusha Li
Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Peng Wan
Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Yingtao Yao
Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Dan Zhu
Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Baoguo Jiang
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
Tingting Yu
Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
The quantification and distribution characteristics of spinal motor neurons play important roles in the study of spinal cord and peripheral nerve injury and repair. In most research, the sole retrograde labeling of each nerve or muscle could not simultaneously obtain the distributions of different motor neuron subpopulations. Therefore, it did not allow mapping of spatial relationships of different motor neuron columns for disclosing the functional relationship of different nerve branches. Here, we combined the multiple retrograde labeling, optical clearing, and imaging for three-dimensional (3D) visualization of motor neurons of multiple brachial plexus branches. After screening fluorescent tracers by the labeling feasibility of motor neurons and fluorescence compatibility with optical clearing, we performed mapping and quantification of the motor neurons of ulnar, median, and radial nerves in the spinal cord, then disclosed the relative spatial distribution among different neuronal subpopulations. This work will provide valuable mapping data for the understanding of the functional relationships among brachial plexus branches, hopefully facilitating the study of regeneration of axons and remodeling of motor neurons in peripheral nerve repair.
