Fig. 4: The VTgPV neuron → PMd projection mediates exaggerated escape behaviors.
a Recordings were obtained from GCaMP7s-expressing VTgPV axons terminating in the PMd. Scale bar, 300 μm. b, c Left: example fiber photometry traces from VTgPV axons in the PMd from the rat (b) and CO2 assays (c). Right: comparison of Z-score AUC from (b, left) and (c, left) during escape; AUC, the area under the curve. (n = 8 mice for each group; One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test, ***p < 0.001). d Recordings were obtained from GCaMP7s-expressing VTgPV neurons. Scale bar, 300 μm. e, f Left: example fiber photometry traces from VTgPV neurons from the rat (e) and CO2 assays (f). Right: comparison of Z-score AUC from (e, left) and (f, left) during escape; AUC, the area under the curve. (e, n = 8 mice; f, n = 9 mice; One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test, p > 0.05). g Scheme showing the strategy used to express HM3Dq in PMd-projecting VTgPV neurons (left). A representative image showing the expression of mCherry in PMd-projecting VTgPV neurons (right). Scale bar, 300 μm. h, i Chemogenetic PMd-projecting VTgPV neuron excitation decreased the escape velocity (left) and the number (right) of flight behaviors in both rat (h) and CO2 assays (i). (mCherry, n = 12 mice; HM3Dq, n = 12 mice; two-way repeated-measures ANOVA followed by Sidak’s test, **p < 0.01). j Strategy to optogenetically excite ChR2-expressing VTgPV neuron axons terminating in the PMd (left). A representative image showing the axon terminals of PMd-projecting VTgPV neurons (right). Scale bar, 200 μm. k, l Optogenetic excitation of the VTgPV neuron/PMd projection with blue light (473 nm) decreased the escape velocity (left) and the number (right) of flight behaviors in both assays. (mCherry, n = 16 mice; ChR2, n = 16 mice; two-way repeated-measures ANOVA followed by Sidak’s test, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001). Data are presented as means ± SEM. See also Supplementary Fig. 4. Source data are provided as a Source Data file. scp, superior cerebellar peduncles.
