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Multi-Scale Molecular Anatomy

Aiming to generate comprehensive descriptions of neuronal types and examine connectivity at various scales in defined cell types.

ExA-SPIM mouse brain imageGoals and Approach

The Multi-scale Molecular Anatomy group at the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics aims to generate comprehensive descriptions of neuronal types and examine connectivity at various scales in defined cell types. Using large-scale microscopy methods, this group is working to identify projection neuron types based on the structure of single neurons. This morphological data will be combined with spatial transcriptomics to uncover new morpho-molecular cell types. Finally, they are using super-resolution immunofluorescence imaging methods to study postsynaptic targets of these cells. Analysis of the wiring in the mouse brain will create foundational data sets to examine complex behaviors at the level of defined neuronal types. 

Projects

Image of ExA-SPIM an imaging tool developed by the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics

Reconstructing individual neurons across the entire brain is a challenging imaging experiment. A single axon can span many centimeters with a diameter as small as 100 nm. To achieve nanoscale resolution over centimeter-scale volumes, we have developed a new large-scale light-sheet microscopy system. By leveraging technologies from the electronics metrology industry, our new imaging system achieves unprecedented performance, enabling us to image entire intact mouse brains at 250 nm near-isotropic resolution in a single day. This capability will enable high-throughput neuron reconstructions.

Coming soon!

Science Programs at Allen Institute