Mesoscopic analysis of GABAergic marker distribution in cholinergic neurons in the mouse brain

[ DOI: https://doi.org/10.35077/g.1188 ]

 

Dataset Citation:

Goral, Rene Oliver, Roy, Snehashis, Yakel, Jerrel Louis, Usdin, Theodore B.. (2025). Mesoscopic analysis of GABAergic marker distribution in cholinergic neurons in the mouse brain. [ Collection / Dataset ]. Brain Image Library. https://doi.org/10.35077/g.1188

 

Abstract:

This project explores the distribution of acetylcholine (ACh) neurons which co-express GABAergic markers in the mouse brain. GABAergic marker co-expression may explain which cholinergic neuron populations have the potential to co-transmit the neurotransmitter GABA at cholinergic synapses. ACh/GABA co-transmission has been previously reported as contributor to neural circuit function in health and disease. However, the role and location of GABA co-transmission from ACh neurons remains unclear. Using transgenic animal models in combination with tissue clearing and light-sheet microscopy, we investigated which ACh neurons are GABA co-positive. With this approach, we assessed the role of GABA co-transmission in ACh neuron function and quantified ACh and ACh/GABA neuron sub-populations in the brain. Our results suggest that GABA co-transmission from ACh neurons is dispensable to maintain a physiologic ACh neuron count in the brain. Furthermore, we report that a large subset of ACh neurons were or can synthesize GABA and, therefore, have a partial GABAergic fate. However, most of these ACh neurons lack another GABAergic marker which would enable these neurons to release GABA. Taken together, we conclude that GABA co-transmission likely occurs only from a small population of ACh neurons restricted to few brain nuclei.

 

Funding:

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 1-ZIA-ES090089-28 Modulation Of Neuronal Channels and Receptors in the Brain;
National Institute of Mental Health 1-ZIC-MH002963-08 Systems Neuroscience Imaging Resource

 

Contributors:

Goral, Rene Oliver (DataCollector) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2206-5070 ] National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Roy, Snehashis (DataCurator) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7997-3993 ] National Institute of Mental Health
Yakel, Jerrel Louis (ProjectLeader) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5463-674X ] National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Usdin, Theodore B. (ProjectLeader) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3813-0049 ] National Institute of Mental Health

 

Related Identifiers:

Requires [ URL : https://api.brainimagelibrary.org/web/view?bildid=ace-owl-cow ];
Requires [ URL : https://api.brainimagelibrary.org/web/view?bildid=ace-owl-cot ];
IsCitedBy [ DOI : https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.10.675394 ];