Imaging activity of neuronal populations with new long-wavelength voltage-sensitive dyes

In vivo wide-field voltage imaging in zebrafish with voltage-sensitive dye and genetically encoded voltage indicator

The brain consists of neural circuits, which are assemblies of various neuron types. For understanding how the brain works, it is essential to identify the functions of each type of neuron and neuronal circuits. Recent advances in our understanding of brain function and its development have been achieved using light to detect neuronal activity. Optical measurement of membrane potentials through voltage imaging is a desirable approach, enabling fast, direct, and simultaneous detection of membrane potentials in a population of neurons. Its high speed and directness can help detect synaptic and action potentials and hyperpolarization, which encode critical information for brain function. Here, we describe in vivo voltage imaging procedures that we have recently established using zebrafish, a powerful animal model in developmental biology and neuroscience. By applying two types of voltage sensors, voltage-sensitive dyes (VSDs, Di-4-ANEPPS) and genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs, ASAP1), spatiotemporal dynamics of voltage signals can be detected in the whole cerebellum and spinal cord in awake fish at single-cell and neuronal population levels. Combining this method with other approaches, such as optogenetics, behavioral analysis, and electrophysiology would facilitate a deeper understanding of the network dynamics of the brain circuitry and its development.

Absorption and Emission Spectroscopic Investigation of the Thermal Dynamics of the Archaerhodopsin 3 Based Fluorescent Voltage Sensor QuasAr1

QuasAr1 is a fluorescent voltage sensor derived from Archaerhodopsin 3 (Arch) of Halorubrum sodomense by directed evolution. Here we report absorption and emission spectroscopic studies of QuasAr1 in Tris buffer at pH 8. Absorption cross-section spectra, fluorescence quantum distributions, fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence excitation spectra were determined. The thermal stability of QuasAr1 was studied by long-time attenuation coefficient measurements at room temperature (23 ± 2 °C) and at 2.5 ± 0.5 °C. The apparent melting temperature was determined by stepwise sample heating up and cooling down (obtained apparent melting temperature: 65 ± 3 °C). In the protein melting process the originally present protonated retinal Schiff base (PRSB) with absorption maximum at 580 nm converted to de-protonated retinal Schiff base (RSB) with absorption maximum at 380 nm. Long-time storage of QuasAr1 at temperatures around 2.5 °C and around 23 °C caused gradual protonated retinal Schiff base isomer changes to other isomer conformations, de-protonation to retinal Schiff base isomers, and apoprotein structure changes showing up in ultraviolet absorption increase. Reaction coordinate schemes are presented for the thermal protonated retinal Schiff base isomerizations and deprotonations in parallel with the dynamic apoprotein restructurings.

Optical interrogation of neuronal circuitry in zebrafish using genetically encoded voltage indicators

Optical measurement of membrane potentials enables fast, direct and simultaneous detection of membrane potentials from a population of neurons, providing a desirable approach for functional analysis of neuronal circuits. Here, we applied recently developed genetically encoded voltage indicators, ASAP1 (Accelerated Sensor of Action Potentials 1) and QuasAr2 (Quality superior to Arch 2), to zebrafish, an ideal model system for studying neurogenesis. To achieve this, we established transgenic lines which express the voltage sensors, and showed that ASAP1 is expressed in zebrafish neurons. To examine whether neuronal activity could be detected by ASAP1, we performed whole-cerebellum imaging, showing that depolarization was detected widely in the cerebellum and optic tectum upon electrical stimulation. Spontaneous activity in the spinal cord was also detected by ASAP1 imaging at single-cell resolution as well as at the neuronal population level. These responses mostly disappeared following treatment with tetrodotoxin, indicating that ASAP1 enabled optical measurement of neuronal activity in the zebrafish brain. Combining this method with other approaches, such as optogenetics and behavioural analysis may facilitate a deeper understanding of the functional organization of brain circuitry and its development.

All-optical mapping of barrel cortex circuits based on simultaneous voltage-sensitive dye imaging and channelrhodopsin-mediated photostimulation

We describe an experimental approach that uses light to both control and detect neuronal activity in mouse barrel cortex slices: blue light patterned by a digital micromirror array system allowed us to photostimulate specific layers and columns, while a red-shifted voltage-sensitive dye was used to map out large-scale circuit activity. We demonstrate that such all-optical mapping can interrogate various circuits in somatosensory cortex by sequentially activating different layers and columns. Further, mapping in slices from whisker-deprived mice demonstrated that chronic sensory deprivation did not significantly alter feedforward inhibition driven by layer 5 pyramidal neurons. Further development of voltage-sensitive optical probes should allow this all-optical mapping approach to become an important and high-throughput tool for mapping circuit interactions in the brain.

Combining Membrane Potential Imaging with Other Optical Techniques

Membrane potential imaging using voltage-sensitive dyes can be combined with other optical techniques for a variety of applications. Combining voltage imaging with Ca2+ imaging allows correlating membrane potential changes with intracellular Ca2+ signals or with Ca2+ currents. Combining voltage imaging with uncaging techniques allows analyzing electrical signals elicited by photorelease of a particular molecule. This approach is also a useful tool to calibrate the change in fluorescence intensity in terms of membrane potential changes from different sites permitting spatial mapping of electrical activity. Finally, combining voltage imaging with optogenetics, in particular with channelrhodopsin stimulation, opens the gate to novel investigations of brain circuitries by allowing measurements of synaptic signals mediated by specific sets of neurons. Here we describe in detail the methods of membrane potential imaging in combination with other optical techniques and discus some important applications.

Combined optogenetics and voltage sensitive dye imaging at single cell resolution

Information processing in the central nervous system makes use of densely woven networks of neurons with complex dendritic and axonal arborizations. Studying signaling in such a network requires precise control over the activity of specific neurons and an understanding how the synaptic signals are integrated. We established a system using a recently published red-shifted voltage sensitive dye in slices from mice expressing channelrhodopsin (Ch) in GABAergic neurons. Using a focused 473 nm laser for Ch activation and 635 nm laser wide field illumination for voltage sensitive dye excitation we were able to simultaneously measure dendritic voltage transients and stimulate inhibitory synaptic connections. The combination of these techniques provides excellent spatiotemporal control over neuron activation and high resolution information on dendritic signal processing.

Probing the function of neuronal populations: combining micromirror-based optogenetic photostimulation with voltage-sensitive dye imaging

Recent advances in our understanding of brain function have come from using light to either control or image neuronal activity. Here we describe an approach that combines both techniques: a micromirror array is used to photostimulate populations of presynaptic neurons expressing channelrhodopsin-2, while a red-shifted voltage-sensitive dye allows optical detection of resulting postsynaptic activity. Such technology allowed us to control the activity of cerebellar interneurons while simultaneously recording inhibitory responses in multiple Purkinje neurons, their postsynaptic targets. This approach should substantially accelerate our understanding of information processing by populations of neurons within brain circuits.

OLM interneurons differentially modulate CA3 and entorhinal inputs to hippocampal CA1 neurons

The vast diversity of GABAergic interneurons is believed to endow hippocampal microcircuits with the required flexibility for memory encoding and retrieval. However, dissection of the functional roles of defined interneuron types have been hampered by the lack of cell specific tools. Here we report a precise molecular marker for a population of hippocampal GABAergic interneurons known as oriens lacunosum-moleculare (OLM) cells. By combining novel transgenic mice and optogenetic tools, we demonstrate that OLM cells have a key role in gating the information flow in CA1, facilitating the transmission of intrahippocampal information (from CA3) while reducing the influence of extrahippocampal inputs (from the entorhinal cortex). We further demonstrate that OLM cells are interconnected by gap junctions, receive direct cholinergic inputs from subcortical afferents, and account for the effect of nicotine on synaptic plasticity of the Schaffer collateral pathway. Our results suggest that acetylcholine acting through OLM cells can control the mnemonic processes executed by the hippocampus.

Genetically engineered fluorescent voltage reporters

Fluorescent membrane voltage indicators that enable optical imaging of neuronal circuit operations in the living mammalian brain are powerful tools for biology and particularly neuroscience. Classical voltage-sensitive dyes, typically low molecular-weight organic compounds, have been in widespread use for decades but are limited by issues related to optical noise, the lack of generally applicable procedures that enable staining of specific cell populations, and difficulties in performing imaging experiments over days and weeks. Genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) represent a newer alternative that overcomes several of the limitations inherent to classical voltage-sensitive dyes. We critically review the fundamental concepts of this approach, the variety of available probes and their state of development.