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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

(10/10) We would also like to thank @lcolladotor.bsky.social , Ryan Miller, and @nick-eagles.bsky.social . Please check out VisiumStitcher (doi: 10.1186/s12864-024-10991-y) which facilitates integration of gene expression and images across multiple capture areas for a specific donor.

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

(8/10) It also provides a foundation for future higher-resolution investigation into NAc architecture, and serves as a key spatial atlas that can be integrated with functional data to better understand how the NAc mediates complex behaviors and risk for traits like substance dependence.

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

(7/10) Our work provides insight inot how the structural organization of the human NAc shapes neuromodulatory signaling, opioid sensitivity, and links to neuropsychiatric risk.

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

(6/10) You can interactively explore our data at research.libd.org/spatial_NAc/... 💻 🔓 #opendata

research.libd.org

spatialNAc

Paired snRNA-seq/Visium for human NAc

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

(5/10) Finally, we demonstrate the importance of spatial transcriptomics in understanding cell-cell communication (CCC) in the context of substance dependence with a focus on opioid signaling.

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

(4/10) We examine heterogeneity in D1 islands using complementary computational methods, such as matrix factorization and cell type deconvolution, as well as experimental techniques like RNAscope smFISH.

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

(3/10) Additionally, we show that human NAc organization is not simply divided into “core” and “shell,” but instead reflects continuous spatial gradients of MSN subtypes linked to genetic risk for psychiatric and addiction-related traits.

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

(2/10) We identify 20 transcriptionally distinct cell types, including 6 subtypes of medium spiny neurons, and 8 spatial domains, including OPRM1-expressing D1-enriched islands conserved across species, which correspond to opioid hotspots previously described in rodents and non-human primates.

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

(1/10) We’re excited to share our recently published study www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... which uncovers the spatiomolecular landscape of the human NAc, a key reward structure by integrating snRNA-seq with Visium spatial transcriptomics. 🧠 #NAcLIBD #snRNAseq #10xVisium

sciencedirect.com

Spatiomolecular mapping reveals anatomical organization of heterogeneous cell types in the human nucleus accumbens

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a key component of the mesolimbic dopamine system that is implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders. The NAc con…

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Reposted by Prashanthi Ravichandran

Kristen Maynard @kr-maynard.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Excited to share our new study characterizing spatial gene expression in the human NAc led by @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social @svitlanabach.bsky.social @rphillips3.bsky.social in collaboration with @martinowk.bsky.social @stephaniehicks.bsky.social @alexisbattle.bsky.social @lcolladotor.bsky.social.

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

(10/10) We would also like to thank @lcolladotor.bsky.social, Ryan Miller, and @nick-eagles.bsky.social. Please check out VisiumStitcher, doi:10.1186/s12864-024-10991-y, which facilitates integration of gene expression and images across multiple capture areas for a specific donor, as in our data.

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

(7/10) Our work provides insights into how the structural organization of the human NAc shapes neuromodulatory signaling, opioid sensitivity, and links to neuropsychiatric risk.

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

(6/10) You can interactively explore our data at research.libd.org/spatial_NAc/... 💻 🔓 #opendata

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

(5/10) We illustrate the importance of spatial transcriptomics in understanding cell-cell communication, and identify spatial domains that express PENK, PDYN (ligands) and OPRM1 (receptor), and delineate the spatial distribution of their corresponding predicted sender and receiver cell types.

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

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Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

(2/10) We identify 20 transcriptionally distinct cell types, including 6 subtypes of medium spiny neurons (MSNs), and 8 spatial domains conserved across species, including distinct OPRM1-expressing D1-islands, corresponding to opioid hotspots previously described in rodents and non-human primates.

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