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Ortiz C, Navarro JF, Jurek A, Märtin A, Lundeberg J, Meletis K
Sci Adv 6 (26) eabb3446 [2020-06-00; online 2020-06-26]
Brain maps are essential for integrating information and interpreting the structure-function relationship of circuits and behavior. We aimed to generate a systematic classification of the adult mouse brain based purely on the unbiased identification of spatially defining features by employing whole-brain spatial transcriptomics. We found that the molecular information was sufficient to deduce the complex and detailed neuroanatomical organization of the brain. The unsupervised (non-expert, data-driven) classification revealed new area- and layer-specific subregions, for example in isocortex and hippocampus, and new subdivisions of striatum. The molecular atlas further supports the characterization of the spatial identity of neurons from their single-cell RNA profile, and provides a resource for annotating the brain using a minimal gene set-a brain palette. In summary, we have established a molecular atlas to formally define the spatial organization of brain regions, including the molecular code for mapping and targeting of discrete neuroanatomical domains.
PubMed 32637622
DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abb3446
Crossref 10.1126/sciadv.abb3446
pmc: PMC7319762
pii: abb3446