Whole-animal connectomes of both Caenorhabditis elegans sexes

Steven J. Cook, Travis A. Jarrell, Christopher A. Brittin, Yi Wang, Adam E. Bloniarz, Maksim A. Yakovlev, Ken C. Q. Nguyen, Leo T.-H. Tang, Emily A. Bayer, Janet S. Duerr, Hannes E. Bülow, Oliver Hobert, David H. Hall and Scott W. Emmons ()
Additional contact information
Steven J. Cook: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Travis A. Jarrell: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Christopher A. Brittin: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Yi Wang: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Adam E. Bloniarz: Google
Maksim A. Yakovlev: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Ken C. Q. Nguyen: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Leo T.-H. Tang: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Emily A. Bayer: Columbia University
Janet S. Duerr: Ohio University
Hannes E. Bülow: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Oliver Hobert: Columbia University
David H. Hall: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Scott W. Emmons: Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Nature, 2019, vol. 571, issue 7763, 63-71

Abstract: Abstract Knowledge of connectivity in the nervous system is essential to understanding its function. Here we describe connectomes for both adult sexes of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, an important model organism for neuroscience research. We present quantitative connectivity matrices that encompass all connections from sensory input to end-organ output across the entire animal, information that is necessary to model behaviour. Serial electron microscopy reconstructions that are based on the analysis of both new and previously published electron micrographs update previous results and include data on the male head. The nervous system differs between sexes at multiple levels. Several sex-shared neurons that function in circuits for sexual behaviour are sexually dimorphic in structure and connectivity. Inputs from sex-specific circuitry to central circuitry reveal points at which sexual and non-sexual pathways converge. In sex-shared central pathways, a substantial number of connections differ in strength between the sexes. Quantitative connectomes that include all connections serve as the basis for understanding how complex, adaptive behavior is generated.

Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:571:y:2019:i:7763:d:10.1038_s41586-019-1352-7

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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1352-7

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