Gou Lingfeng, Wang Yanzhi, Gao Le, Liu Sang, Wang Mingli, Chai Qinwen, Fang Jiao, Zhan Lijie, Shen Xiaowen, Jiang Tao, Ren Wenqiang, Ren Miao, Jia Xueyan, Xiao Chi, Li Anan, Li Xiangning, Luo Qingming, Okazawa Gouki, Yang Tianming, Liu Zhen, Poo Mu-Ming, Yang Xiaoquan, Shen Zhiming, Xu Chun, Yan Jun
Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Cell. 2025 Jul 10;188(14):3806-3822.e24. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.06.005.
Cortical expansion endows advanced cognitive functions in primates, and whole-brain single-neuron projection analysis helps to elucidate underlying neural circuit mechanisms. Here, we reconstructed 2,231 single-neuron projectomes for the macaque prefrontal cortex (PFC) and identified 32 projectome-based subtypes of intra-telencephalic, pyramidal-tract, and cortico-thalamic neurons. Each subtype exhibited distinct topography in their soma distribution within the PFC, a characteristic pattern of axon targeting, and subregion-specific patchy terminal arborization in the targeted area, with putative functions annotated. Furthermore, we identified a subdomain connectivity network and extensive local axons within the PFC. Compared with those in mice, macaque PFC projectomes exhibited a similar topographic gradient of terminal arborization at the targeted regions but much higher target specificity, fewer collaterals, and smaller brain size-normalized arbors. Thus, whole-brain single-axon macaque projectomes revealed highly refined axon targeting and arborization, providing key insights into the structural basis for complex brain functions in primates.
皮质扩张赋予了灵长类动物高级认知功能，全脑单神经元投射分析有助于阐明潜在的神经回路机制。在这里，我们重建了猕猴前额叶皮质（PFC）的2231个单神经元投射图谱，并确定了基于投射图谱的32种端脑内、锥体束和皮质-丘脑神经元亚型。每个亚型在PFC内的胞体分布、轴突靶向的特征模式以及靶向区域内特定亚区域的斑块状终末分支上都表现出独特的拓扑结构，并标注了推定功能。此外，我们还确定了PFC内的一个子域连接网络和广泛的局部轴突。与小鼠相比，猕猴PFC投射图谱在靶向区域表现出相似的终末分支拓扑梯度，但具有更高的靶向特异性、更少的侧支和更小的脑尺寸标准化分支。因此，全脑单轴突猕猴投射图谱揭示了高度精细的轴突靶向和分支，为灵长类动物复杂脑功能的结构基础提供了关键见解。
