In vivo optical imaging of tone-evoked activity in the dorsal cochlear nucleus with a voltage sensitive dye

Stimulus-dependent changes in optical responses of the dorsal cochlear nucleus using voltage-sensitive dye

Optical imaging with voltage-sensitive dye was used to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics of stimulus-driven activity on the surface of the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN). Stimulation with tones at low to moderate levels produced localized regions of activation that were most commonly elongated rostrocaudally. The size of these activation areas expanded with increases in sound level, while their centers shifted from the lateral direction to the medial direction with increases in stimulus frequency. In contrast to the tonotopic patterns of activation evoked by tones, electrical stimulation of the DCN surface resulted in bands of activation that were elongated along the medial-lateral axis; response latencies increased with distance along these bands from the point of stimulation. Shifting the site of electrical stimulation from the rostral direction to the caudal direction induced corresponding shifts in the rostrocaudal location of the activation band; moving the electrode tip to subsurface depths resulted in loss of the elongated band. Transecting the DCN along the rostrocaudal axis midway between its medial and lateral extremities blocked propagation of the response to the half of the DCN distal to but not proximal to the stimulating electrode. The results suggest that the two modes of stimulation activated two distinct populations of neurons, one involving primarily tonotopically organized cells and the other crossing these tonotopic zones and likely representing the activation of parallel fibers. These results reveal a number of new features in the spatial patterns of tone-elicited activation that are not readily predicted by responses recorded electrophysiologically.

Optical imaging of interaural time difference representation in rat auditory cortex

We used in vivo voltage-sensitive dye optical imaging to examine the cortical representation of interaural time difference (ITD), which is believed to be involved in sound source localization. We found that acoustic stimuli with dissimilar ITD activate various localized domains in the auditory cortex. The main loci of the activation pattern shift up to 1 mm during the first 40 ms of the response period. We suppose that some of the neurons in each pool are sensitive to the definite ITD and involved in the transduction of information about sound source localization, based on the ITD. This assumption gives a reasonable fit to the Jeffress model in which the neural network calculates the ITD to define the direction of the sound source. Such calculation forms the basis for the cortex's ability to detect the azimuth of the sound source.

Fluorescence imaging for real-time monitoring of high-intensity focused ultrasound cardiac ablation

Side effects and limitations of radio-frequency ablation of cardiac arrhythmias prompted search for alternative energy sources and means of their application. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is becoming an increasingly attractive modality for ablation because of its unique ability for non-invasive or minimally invasive, non-contact focal ablation in 3D volume without affecting intervening and surrounding cells. The purpose of this study is to develop a real-time monitoring technique to elucidate HIFU-induced modifications of electrical conduction in cardiac tissues and to investigate the HIFU cardiac ablation process to help to achieve optimal HIFU ablation outcome. We conducted experimental studies applying HIFU at 4.23 MHz to ablate the atrio-ventricular (AV) node and ventricular tissue of Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts. We employed fluorescent voltage-sensitive dye imaging and surface electrodes to monitor the electrical conduction activity induced by HIFU application in real time. In ventricular epicardium HIFU ablation, fluorescent imaging revealed gradual reduction of the plateau phase and amplitude of the action potential. Subsequently, conduction block and cell death were observed at the site of ablation. When HIFU was applied to the AV node, fluorescent imaging and electrograms revealed the development of the AV block. The study establishes that real-time fluorescent imaging provides novel monitoring and assessment to study HIFU cardiac ablation, which may be able to provide improved understanding of HIFU cardiac ablation process and mechanism useful for development of successful clinical applications.