Functional architecture of lateral line afferent neurons in larval zebrafish

Abstract

Fishes rely on the neuromasts of their lateral line system to detect water flow during behaviors such as predator avoidance and prey localization. While the pattern of neuromast development has been a topic of detailed research, we still do not understand the functional consequences of its organization. Previous work has demonstrated somatotopy in the posterior lateral line, whereby afferent neurons that contact more caudal neuromasts project more dorsally in the hindbrain than those that contact more rostral neuromasts. Recently, patch clamp recordings of posterior lateral line afferent neurons in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) show that larger cells are born earlier, have a lower input resistance, a lower spontaneous firing rate, and tend to contact multiple neuromasts located closer to the tail than smaller neurons, which are born later, have a higher input resistance, a higher spontaneous firing rate, and tend to contact single neuromasts. These data indicate that early-born neurons are poised to detect large stimuli during the initial stages of development. Later-born neurons are more easily driven to fire and thus likely to be more sensitive to local, weaker flows. Afferent projections onto identified glutamatergic regions in the hindbrain suggest a novel mechanism for lateral line somatotopy, where afferent fibers associated with tail neuromasts respond to stronger stimuli and contact dorsal hindbrain regions associated with Mauthner-mediated escape responses and fast, avoidance swimming. The ability to process flow stimuli by circumventing higher order brain centers would ease the task of processing where speed is of critical importance.