Human shape perception spontaneously discovers the biological origin of novel, but natural, stimuli.

Humans excel at categorizing objects by shape. This facility involves identifying shape features that objects have in common with other members of their class and relies-at least in part-on semantic/cognitive constructs. For example, plants sprout branches, fish grow fins, shoes are moulded to our feet.

The olfactory network of larval Xenopus laevis regenerates accurately after olfactory nerve transection.

Across vertebrate species, the olfactory epithelium (OE) exhibits the uncommon feature of lifelong neuronal turnover. Epithelial stem cells give rise to new neurons that can adequately replace dying olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) during developmental and adult phases and after lesions. To relay olfactory information from the environment to the brain, the axons of the renewed ORNs must reconnect with the olfactory bulb (OB).

S100Z is expressed in a lateral subpopulation of olfactory receptor neurons in the main olfactory system of Xenopus laevis.

In contrast to other S100 protein members, the function of S100 calcium-binding protein Z (S100Z) remains largely uncharacterized. It is expressed in the olfactory epithelium of fish, and it is closely associated with the vomeronasal organ (VNO) in mammals. In this study, we analyzed the expression pattern of S100Z in the olfactory system of the anuran amphibian Xenopus laevis.

Functional odor map heterogeneity is based on multifaceted glomerular connectivity in larval olfactory bulb.

Glomeruli are the functional units of the vertebrate olfactory bulb (OB) connecting olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) axons and mitral/tufted cell (MTC) dendrites. In amphibians, these two circuit elements regularly branch and innervate multiple, spatially distinct glomeruli. Using functional multiphoton-microscopy and single-cell tracing, we investigate the impact of this wiring on glomerular module organization and odor representations on multiple levels of the OB network.

Patterns of Promoter-Driven Fluorescence in the Forebrain of Larval .

Microtubules are essential components of the cytoskeleton of all eukaryotic cells and consist of α- and β-tubulin heterodimers. Several tissue-specific isotypes of α- and β-tubulins, encoded by distinct genes, have been described in vertebrates. In the African clawed frog (), class II β-tubulin () is expressed exclusively in neurons, and its promoter is used to establish different transgenic frog lines.

Distinct interhemispheric connectivity at the level of the olfactory bulb emerges during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis.

During metamorphosis, the olfactory system of anuran tadpoles undergoes substantial restructuring. The main olfactory epithelium in the principal nasal cavity of Xenopus laevis tadpoles is associated with aquatic olfaction and transformed into the adult air-nose, while a new adult water-nose emerges in the middle cavity. Impacts of this metamorphic remodeling on odor processing, behavior, and network structure are still unexplored.

Whole-Brain Calcium Imaging in Larval .

Sensory systems detect environmental stimuli and transform them into electrical activity patterns interpretable by the central nervous system. En route to higher brain centers, the initial sensory input is successively transformed by interposed secondary processing centers. Mapping the neuronal activity patterns at all of those stages is essential to understand sensory information processing.

A nanobody-based fluorescent reporter reveals human α-synuclein in the cell cytosol.

Aggregation and spreading of α-Synuclein (αSyn) are hallmarks of several neurodegenerative diseases, thus monitoring human αSyn (hαSyn) in animal models or cell cultures is vital for the field. However, the detection of native hαSyn in such systems is challenging. We show that the nanobody NbSyn87, previously-described to bind hαSyn, also shows cross-reactivity for the proteasomal subunit Rpn10.

Dye Electroporation and Imaging of Calcium Signaling in Xenopus Nervous System.

Electroporation is an efficient method of transferring charged macromolecules into living cells in order to study their morphology, function, and connectivity within neuronal networks. Labeling cells with fluorophore-coupled macromolecules can be used to trace projections of whole neuronal ensembles, as well as the fine morphology of single cells. Here, we present a protocol to visualize pre- and postsynaptic components of a sensory relay synapse in the brain, using the olfactory system of Xenopus laevis tadpoles as a model.

Functional Reintegration of Sensory Neurons and Transitional Dendritic Reduction of Mitral/Tufted Cells during Injury-Induced Recovery of the Larval Olfactory Circuit.

Understanding the mechanisms involved in maintaining lifelong neurogenesis has a clear biological and clinical interest. In the present study, we performed olfactory nerve transection on larval to induce severe damage to the olfactory circuitry. We surveyed the timing of the degeneration, subsequent rewiring and functional regeneration of the olfactory system following injury.

Dual processing of sulfated steroids in the olfactory system of an anuran amphibian.

Chemical communication is widespread in amphibians, but if compared to later diverging tetrapods the available functional data is limited. The existing information on the vomeronasal system of anurans is particularly sparse. Amphibians represent a transitional stage in the evolution of the olfactory system.