Publications by authors named "K Ampatzis"
Article Synopsis
- The heart's proper functioning depends on both the central nervous system and its own local neuronal networks, known as the intracardiac nervous system (IcNS), which has not been thoroughly studied.
- This research introduces a detailed classification of the IcNS by using advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing, revealing a surprising variety of neuronal types within it.
- Notably, some identified neurons share characteristics with pacemaker neurons from the central nervous system, highlighting the complexity of the IcNS and its crucial role in maintaining heart rhythm, paving the way for future research on cardiac-related issues.
The adult zebrafish spinal cord displays an impressive innate ability to regenerate after traumatic insults, yet the underlying adaptive cellular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that while the cellular and tissue responses after injury are largely conserved among vertebrates, the large-size fast spinal zebrafish motoneurons are remarkably resilient by remaining viable and functional. We also reveal the dynamic changes in motoneuron glutamatergic input, excitability, and calcium signaling, and we underscore the critical role of calretinin (CR) in binding and buffering the intracellular calcium after injury.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZebrafish have an impressive capacity to regenerate neurons in the central nervous system. However, regeneration of the principal neuron of the evolutionary conserved cerebellum, the Purkinje cell (PC), is believed to be limited to developmental stages based on invasive lesions. In contrast, non-invasive cell type-specific ablation by induced apoptosis closely represents a process of neurodegeneration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCardiomyocytes play key roles during cardiogenesis, but have poorly understood features, especially in prenatal stages. Here, we characterized human prenatal cardiomyocytes, 6.5-7 weeks post-conception, by integrating single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and ligand-receptor interaction information.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The wiring of neuronal networks is not fully understood, especially how different types of neurons connect to form subnetworks, with cadherins potentially playing a role in this process.
- - Researchers developed a transgenic zebrafish using a CRISPR/Cas9 approach to study protocadherin 9 (pcdh9), which is mainly found in the central nervous system, and observed expression in specific neurons in the cerebellum, retina, and spinal cord.
- - The study aims to explore if pcdh9-positive neurons can be synaptically connected and form a distinct network in the spinal cord by electrically characterizing these neurons using the new zebrafish line.