VNC-Dist: A machine learning-based semi-automated pipeline for quantification of neuronal position in the C. elegans ventral nerve cord

The C. elegans ventral nerve cord (VNC) provides a genetically tractable model for investigating the developmental mechanisms involved in neuronal positioning and organization. The VNC of newly hatched larvae contains a set of 22 motoneurons organized into three distinct classes (DD, DA, and DB) that show consistent positioning and arrangement. This organization arises from the action of multiple convergent genetic pathways, which are poorly understood. To better understand these pathways, accurate and efficient methods for quantifying motoneuron cell body positions within large microscopy datasets are required. Here, we present VNC-Dist (Ventral Nerve Cord Distances), a software toolkit that replaces manual measurements with a faster and more accurate computer-assisted approach, combining machine learning and other tools, to quantify neuron cell body positions in the VNC. The VNC-Dist pipeline integrates several components: manual neuron cell body localization using Fiji's multipoint tool, deep learning-based worm segmentation with modified Segment Anything Model (SAM), accurate spline-based measurements of neuronal distances along the VNC, and built-in tools for statistical analysis and graphing. To demonstrate the robustness and versatility of VNC-Dist, we applied it to several genetic mutants known to disrupt neuronal positioning in the VNC. This toolbox will enable batch acquisition and analysis of large datasets across genotypes, thereby advancing investigations into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern VNC neuronal positioning and arrangement.