A Non-canonical Excitatory PV RGC–PV SC Visual Pathway for Mediating the Looming-evoked Innate Defensive Response

Parvalbumin-positive retinal ganglion cells(PV+RGCs)are an essential subset of RGCs found in various species.However,their role in transmitting visual information remains unclear.Here,we characterized PV+RGCs in the retina and explored the functions of the PV+RGC-mediated visual pathway.By applying multiple viral tracing strategies,we investigated the downstream of PV+RGCs across the whole brain.Interestingly,we found that the PV+RGCs provided direct monosynaptic input to PV+excitatory neurons in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus(SC).Ablation or suppression of SC-projecting PV+RGCs abolished or severely impaired the flight response to looming visual stimuli in mice without affecting visual acuity.Furthermore,using transcriptome expression profiling of individual cells and immunofluorescence colocalization for RGCs,we found that PV+RGCs are predominant glutamatergic neurons.Thus,our findings indicate the critical role of PV+RGCs in an innate defensive response and suggest a non-canonical subcortical visual pathway from excitatory PV+RGCs to PV+SC neurons that regulates looming visual stimuli.These results provide a potential target for intervening and treating diseases related to this circuit,such as schizophrenia and autism.

Genetic Architecture and Functional Implications of the CSF‑Contacting Nucleus

We previously identified a unique nucleus,the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)-contacting nucleus.This study aims to understand its gene architecture and preliminarily suggest its functions.The results showed that there were about 19,666 genes in this nucleus,of which 913 were distinct from the dorsal raphe nucleus(non-CSF contacting).The top 40 highly-expressed genes are mainly related to energy metabolism,protein synthesis,transport,secretion,and hydrolysis.The main neurotransmitter is 5-HT.The receptors of 5-HT and GABA are abundant.The channels for Cl–,Na+,K+,and Ca2+are routinely expressed.The signaling molecules associated with the CaMK,JAK,and MAPK pathways were identified accurately.In particular,the channels of transient receptor potential associated with nociceptors and the solute carrier superfamily members associated with cell membrane transport were significantly expressed.The relationship between the main genes of the nucleus and life activities is preliminarily verified.

The sustainability cycle of historic houses and cultural memory: Controversy between historic preservation and heritage conservation

Historic preservation and heritage conservation are two mainstream concepts related to the sustainability and renewal of historic houses.With the aim of enhancing the sustainability of historic houses,this article criticizes the view of historic preservation that insists on preserving historic houses with their old appearances,which does not fully develop their sustainability.In contrast,the article provides support for the view of heritage conservation that aims to promote the sustainability of historic houses and related legislation.In the second and third parts,this article examines the theoretical origin of historic preservation,which emphasizes and summarizes the one-way protection of cultural memory via historic houses.In the fourth part,the article turns to heritage conservation,highlights the sustainable cycle between historic houses and cultural memory,and underlines the advantages of this sustainable cycle.In the fifth part,this article presents a sustainable approach to heritage conservation and related legal safeguards by taking the renewal of historic houses in China’s Bagua Village(or"Eight Diagrams Village")as an example.In the last part,this paper summarizes the theoretical value,practical value and limitations of this article.The findings can facilitate the UN’s sustainable development of social inclusion,economic growth,and environmental protection to promote the heritage legislation and policy of present and future generations.