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Hilgen G, Kartsaki E, Kartysh V, Cessac B, Sernagor E. A novel approach to the functional classification of retinal ganglion cells. Open Biol 2022; 12:210367. [PMID: 35259949 PMCID: PMC8905177 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal neurons are remarkedly diverse based on structure, function and genetic identity. Classifying these cells is a challenging task, requiring multimodal methodology. Here, we introduce a novel approach for retinal ganglion cell (RGC) classification, based on pharmacogenetics combined with immunohistochemistry and large-scale retinal electrophysiology. Our novel strategy allows grouping of cells sharing gene expression and understanding how these cell classes respond to basic and complex visual scenes. Our approach consists of several consecutive steps. First, the spike firing frequency is increased in RGCs co-expressing a certain gene (Scnn1a or Grik4) using excitatory DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) in order to single out activity originating specifically from these cells. Their spike location is then combined with post hoc immunostaining, to unequivocally characterize their anatomical and functional features. We grouped these isolated RGCs into multiple clusters based on spike train similarities. Using this novel approach, we were able to extend the pre-existing list of Grik4-expressing RGC types to a total of eight and, for the first time, we provide a phenotypical description of 13 Scnn1a-expressing RGCs. The insights and methods gained here can guide not only RGC classification but neuronal classification challenges in other brain regions as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerrit Hilgen
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK,Health and Life Sciences, Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Evgenia Kartsaki
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK,Université Côte d'Azur, Inria, Biovision team and Neuromod Institute, 06902 Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France
| | - Viktoriia Kartysh
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK,Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases (LBI-RUD), 1090 Vienna, Austria,Research Centre for Molecular Medicine (CeMM) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bruno Cessac
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inria, Biovision team and Neuromod Institute, 06902 Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France
| | - Evelyne Sernagor
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
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Ramezani Z, Seo KJ, Fang H. Hybrid Electrical and Optical Neural Interfaces. JOURNAL OF MICROMECHANICS AND MICROENGINEERING : STRUCTURES, DEVICES, AND SYSTEMS 2021; 31:044002. [PMID: 34177136 PMCID: PMC8232899 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6439/abeb30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Neural interfaces bridge the nervous system and the outside world by recording and stimulating neurons. Combining electrical and optical modalities in a single, hybrid neural interface system could lead to complementary and powerful new ways to explore the brain. It has gained robust and exciting momentum recently in neuroscience and neural engineering research. Here, we review developments in the past several years aiming to achieve such hybrid electrical and optical microsystem platforms. Specifically, we cover three major categories of technological advances: transparent neuroelectrodes, optical neural fibers with electrodes, and neural probes/grids integrating electrodes and microscale light-emitting diodes. We discuss examples of these probes tailored to combine electrophysiological recording with optical imaging or optical neural stimulation of the brain and possible directions of future innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hui Fang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Ferrari U, Deny S, Sengupta A, Caplette R, Trapani F, Sahel JA, Dalkara D, Picaud S, Duebel J, Marre O. Towards optogenetic vision restoration with high resolution. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007857. [PMID: 32667921 PMCID: PMC7416966 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In many cases of inherited retinal degenerations, ganglion cells are spared despite photoreceptor cell death, making it possible to stimulate them to restore visual function. Several studies have shown that it is possible to express an optogenetic protein in ganglion cells and make them light sensitive, a promising strategy to restore vision. However the spatial resolution of optogenetically-reactivated retinas has rarely been measured, especially in the primate. Since the optogenetic protein is also expressed in axons, it is unclear if these neurons will only be sensitive to the stimulation of a small region covering their somas and dendrites, or if they will also respond to any stimulation overlapping with their axon, dramatically impairing spatial resolution. Here we recorded responses of mouse and macaque retinas to random checkerboard patterns following an in vivo optogenetic therapy. We show that optogenetically activated ganglion cells are each sensitive to a small region of visual space. A simple model based on this small receptive field predicted accurately their responses to complex stimuli. From this model, we simulated how the entire population of light sensitive ganglion cells would respond to letters of different sizes. We then estimated the maximal acuity expected by a patient, assuming it could make an optimal use of the information delivered by this reactivated retina. The obtained acuity is above the limit of legal blindness. Our model also makes interesting predictions on how acuity might vary upon changing the therapeutic strategy, assuming an optimal use of the information present in the retinal activity. Optogenetic therapy could thus potentially lead to high resolution vision, under conditions that our model helps to determinine. In many cases of blindness, ganglion cells, the retinal output, remain functional. A promising strategy to restore vision is to express optogenetic proteins in ganglion cells. However, it is not clear what is the resolution of this new light sensor. A major concern is that axons might become light sensitive, and a focal stimulation would activate a very broad area of the retina, dramatically impairing spatial resolution. Here we show that this is not the case. Ganglion cells are activated only by stimulations close to their soma. Using a combination of data analysis and modeling based on mouse and non-human primate retina recordings, we show that the acuity expected with this therapy could be above the level of legal blindness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulisse Ferrari
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Deny
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Abhishek Sengupta
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Romain Caplette
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Francesco Trapani
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Serge Picaud
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Jens Duebel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Olivier Marre
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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Pisano F, Pisanello M, De Vittorio M, Pisanello F. Single-cell micro- and nano-photonic technologies. J Neurosci Methods 2019; 325:108355. [PMID: 31319100 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.108355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Since the advent of optogenetics, the technology development has focused on new methods to optically interact with single nerve cells. This gave rise to the field of photonic neural interfaces, intended as the set of technologies that can modify light radiation in either a linear or non-linear fashion to control and/or monitor cellular functions. This set includes the use of plasmonic effects, up-conversion, electron transfer and integrated light steering, with some of them already implemented in vivo. This article will review available approaches in this framework, with a particular emphasis on methods operating at the single-unit level or having the potential to reach single-cell resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Pisano
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Via Barsanti, 73010 Arnesano (Lecce), Italy
| | - Marco Pisanello
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Via Barsanti, 73010 Arnesano (Lecce), Italy
| | - Massimo De Vittorio
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Via Barsanti, 73010 Arnesano (Lecce), Italy; Dipartimento di Ingeneria dell'Innovazione, Università del Salento, via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Ferruccio Pisanello
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Via Barsanti, 73010 Arnesano (Lecce), Italy.
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