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Li Y, Lee SH, Yu C, Hsu LM, Wang TWW, Do K, Kim HJ, Shih YYI, Grill WM. Optogenetic fMRI reveals therapeutic circuits of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:S1935-861X(24)00137-2. [PMID: 39096961 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
While deep brain stimulation (DBS) is widely employed for managing motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD), its exact circuit mechanisms remain controversial. To identify the neural targets affected by therapeutic DBS in PD, we analyzed DBS-evoked whole brain activity in female hemi-parkinsonian rats using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We delivered subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS at various stimulation pulse repetition rates using optogenetics, allowing unbiased examination of cell-type specific STN feedforward neural activity. Unilateral optogenetic STN DBS elicited pulse repetition rate-dependent alterations of blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) signals in SNr (substantia nigra pars reticulata), GP (globus pallidus), and CPu (caudate putamen). Notably, this modulation effectively ameliorated pathological circling behavior in animals expressing the kinetically faster Chronos opsin, but not in animals expressing ChR2. Furthermore, mediation analysis revealed that the pulse repetition rate-dependent behavioral rescue was significantly mediated by optogenetic DBS induced activity changes in GP and CPu, but not in SNr. This suggests that the activation of GP and CPu are critically involved in the therapeutic mechanisms of STN DBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhui Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
| | - Sung-Ho Lee
- Center for Animal MRI, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | | | - Li-Ming Hsu
- Center for Animal MRI, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Tzu-Wen W Wang
- Center for Animal MRI, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Khoa Do
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
| | - Hyeon-Joong Kim
- Center for Animal MRI, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Yen-Yu Ian Shih
- Center for Animal MRI, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
| | - Warren M Grill
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC; Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC.
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2
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Zou Y, Tong C, Peng W, Qiu Y, Li J, Xia Y, Pei M, Zhang K, Li W, Xu M, Liang Z. Cell-type-specific optogenetic fMRI on basal forebrain reveals functional network basis of behavioral preference. Neuron 2024; 112:1342-1357.e6. [PMID: 38359827 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The basal forebrain (BF) is a complex structure that plays key roles in regulating various brain functions. However, it remains unclear how cholinergic and non-cholinergic BF neurons modulate large-scale functional networks and their relevance in intrinsic and extrinsic behaviors. With an optimized awake mouse optogenetic fMRI approach, we revealed that optogenetic stimulation of four BF neuron types evoked distinct cell-type-specific whole-brain BOLD activations, which could be attributed to BF-originated low-dimensional structural networks. Additionally, optogenetic activation of VGLUT2, ChAT, and PV neurons in the BF modulated the preference for locomotion, exploration, and grooming, respectively. Furthermore, we uncovered the functional network basis of the above BF-modulated behavioral preference through a decoding model linking the BF-modulated BOLD activation, low-dimensional structural networks, and behavioral preference. To summarize, we decoded the functional network basis of differential behavioral preferences with cell-type-specific optogenetic fMRI on the BF and provided an avenue for investigating mouse behaviors from a whole-brain view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijuan Zou
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; International Center for Primate Brain Research, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Chuanjun Tong
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; International Center for Primate Brain Research, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Wanling Peng
- Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yue Qiu
- Cardiac Intensive Care Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiangxue Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ying Xia
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Mengchao Pei
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Kaiwei Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Weishuai Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Min Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Zhifeng Liang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; International Center for Primate Brain Research, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China.
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3
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Carter F, Cossette MP, Trujillo-Pisanty I, Pallikaras V, Breton YA, Conover K, Caplan J, Solis P, Voisard J, Yaksich A, Shizgal P. Does phasic dopamine release cause policy updates? Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:1260-1277. [PMID: 38039083 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Phasic dopamine activity is believed to both encode reward-prediction errors (RPEs) and to cause the adaptations that these errors engender. If so, a rat working for optogenetic stimulation of dopamine neurons will repeatedly update its policy and/or action values, thus iteratively increasing its work rate. Here, we challenge this view by demonstrating stable, non-maximal work rates in the face of repeated optogenetic stimulation of midbrain dopamine neurons. Furthermore, we show that rats learn to discriminate between world states distinguished only by their history of dopamine activation. Comparison of these results to reinforcement learning simulations suggests that the induced dopamine transients acted more as rewards than RPEs. However, pursuit of dopaminergic stimulation drifted upwards over a time scale of days and weeks, despite its stability within trials. To reconcile the results with prior findings, we consider multiple roles for dopamine signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Carter
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Ivan Trujillo-Pisanty
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Langara College, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | - Kent Conover
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jill Caplan
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pavel Solis
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jacques Voisard
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alexandra Yaksich
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Peter Shizgal
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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4
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Li Y, Lee SH, Yu C, Hsu LM, Wang TWW, Do K, Kim HJ, Shih YYI, Grill WM. Optogenetic fMRI reveals therapeutic circuits of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.22.581627. [PMID: 38464010 PMCID: PMC10925223 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.22.581627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
While deep brain stimulation (DBS) is widely employed for managing motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD), its exact circuit mechanisms remain controversial. To identify the neural targets affected by therapeutic DBS in PD, we analyzed DBS-evoked whole brain activity in female hemi-parkinsonian rats using function magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We delivered subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS at various stimulation pulse repetition rates using optogenetics, allowing unbiased examinations of cell-type specific STN feed-forward neural activity. Unilateral STN optogenetic stimulation elicited pulse repetition rate-dependent alterations of blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) signals in SNr (substantia nigra pars reticulata), GP (globus pallidus), and CPu (caudate putamen). Notably, these manipulations effectively ameliorated pathological circling behavior in animals expressing the kinetically faster Chronos opsin, but not in animals expressing ChR2. Furthermore, mediation analysis revealed that the pulse repetition rate-dependent behavioral rescue was significantly mediated by optogenetically induced activity changes in GP and CPu, but not in SNr. This suggests that the activation of GP and CPu are critically involved in the therapeutic mechanisms of STN DBS.
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5
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Mandino F, Vujic S, Grandjean J, Lake EMR. Where do we stand on fMRI in awake mice? Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad478. [PMID: 38100331 PMCID: PMC10793583 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Imaging awake animals is quickly gaining traction in neuroscience as it offers a means to eliminate the confounding effects of anesthesia, difficulties of inter-species translation (when humans are typically imaged while awake), and the inability to investigate the full range of brain and behavioral states in unconscious animals. In this systematic review, we focus on the development of awake mouse blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Mice are widely used in research due to their fast-breeding cycle, genetic malleability, and low cost. Functional MRI yields whole-brain coverage and can be performed on both humans and animal models making it an ideal modality for comparing study findings across species. We provide an analysis of 30 articles (years 2011-2022) identified through a systematic literature search. Our conclusions include that head-posts are favorable, acclimation training for 10-14 d is likely ample under certain conditions, stress has been poorly characterized, and more standardization is needed to accelerate progress. For context, an overview of awake rat fMRI studies is also included. We make recommendations that will benefit a wide range of neuroscience applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Mandino
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Stella Vujic
- Department of Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Joanes Grandjean
- Donders Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Cognition, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department for Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Evelyn M R Lake
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
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6
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Hike D, Liu X, Xie Z, Zhang B, Choi S, Zhou XA, Liu A, Murstein A, Jiang Y, Devor A, Yu X. High-resolution awake mouse fMRI at 14 Tesla. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.08.570803. [PMID: 38106227 PMCID: PMC10723470 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.08.570803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution awake mouse fMRI remains challenging despite extensive efforts to address motion-induced artifacts and stress. This study introduces an implantable radiofrequency (RF) surface coil design that minimizes image distortion caused by the air/tissue interface of mouse brains while simultaneously serving as a headpost for fixation during scanning. Using a 14T scanner, high-resolution fMRI enabled brain-wide functional mapping of visual and vibrissa stimulation at 100×100×200μm resolution with a 2s per frame sampling rate. Besides activated ascending visual and vibrissa pathways, robust BOLD responses were detected in the anterior cingulate cortex upon visual stimulation and spread through the ventral retrosplenial area (VRA) with vibrissa air-puff stimulation, demonstrating higher-order sensory processing in association cortices of awake mice. In particular, the rapid hemodynamic responses in VRA upon vibrissa stimulation showed a strong correlation with the hippocampus, thalamus, and prefrontal cortical areas. Cross-correlation analysis with designated VRA responses revealed early positive BOLD signals at the contralateral barrel cortex (BC) occurring 2 seconds prior to the air-puff in awake mice with repetitive stimulation, which was not detectable with the randomized stimulation paradigm. This early BC activation indicated learned anticipation through the vibrissa system and association cortices in awake mice under continuous training of repetitive air-puff stimulation. This work establishes a high-resolution awake mouse fMRI platform, enabling brain-wide functional mapping of sensory signal processing in higher association cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hike
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Xiaochen Liu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Zeping Xie
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Bei Zhang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Sangcheon Choi
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Xiaoqing Alice Zhou
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Andy Liu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
- Graduate program in Neuroscience, Boston University, Commonwealth Ave, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 02215
| | - Alyssa Murstein
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
- Graduate program in Neuroscience, Boston University, Commonwealth Ave, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 02215
| | - Yuanyuan Jiang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Anna Devor
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 02215
| | - Xin Yu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
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7
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Poplawsky AJ, Cover C, Reddy S, Chishti HB, Vazquez A, Fukuda M. Odor-evoked layer-specific fMRI activities in the awake mouse olfactory bulb. Neuroimage 2023; 274:120121. [PMID: 37080347 PMCID: PMC10240534 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Awake rodent fMRI is increasingly common over the use of anesthesia since it permits behavioral paradigms and does not confound normal brain function or neurovascular coupling. It is well established that adequate acclimation to the loud fMRI environment and head fixation reduces stress in the rodents and allows for whole brain imaging with little contamination from motion. However, it is unknown whether high-resolution fMRI with increased susceptibility to motion and lower sensitivity can measure small, but spatially discrete, activations in awake mice. To examine this, we used contrast-enhanced cerebral blood volume-weighted (CBVw) fMRI in the mouse olfactory bulb for its enhanced sensitivity and neural specificity. We determined that activation patterns in the glomerular layer to four different odors were spatially distinct and were consistent with previously established histological patterns. In addition, odor-evoked laminar activations were greatest in superficial layers that decreased with laminar depth, similar to previous observations. Interestingly, the fMRI response strengths in the granule cell layer were greater in awake mice than our previous anesthetized rat studies, suggesting that feedback neural activities were intact with wakefulness. We finally determined that fMRI signal changes to repeated odor exposure (i.e., olfactory adaptation) attenuated relatively more in the feedback granule cell layer compared to the input glomerular layer, which is consistent with prior observations. We, therefore, conclude that high-resolution CBVw fMRI can measure odor-specific activation patterns and distinguish changes in laminar activity of head and body restrained awake mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander John Poplawsky
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Building, 3025 E. Carson St., rm. 159, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, United States.
| | - Christopher Cover
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Building, 3025 E. Carson St., rm. 159, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sujatha Reddy
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Building, 3025 E. Carson St., rm. 159, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, United States
| | - Harris B Chishti
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Alberto Vazquez
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Building, 3025 E. Carson St., rm. 159, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Mitsuhiro Fukuda
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Building, 3025 E. Carson St., rm. 159, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, United States
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8
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Kim S, Moon HS, Vo TT, Kim CH, Im GH, Lee S, Choi M, Kim SG. Whole-brain mapping of effective connectivity by fMRI with cortex-wide patterned optogenetics. Neuron 2023; 111:1732-1747.e6. [PMID: 37001524 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with optogenetic neural manipulation is a powerful tool that enables brain-wide mapping of effective functional networks. To achieve flexible manipulation of neural excitation throughout the mouse cortex, we incorporated spatiotemporal programmable optogenetic stimuli generated by a digital micromirror device into an MRI scanner via an optical fiber bundle. This approach offered versatility in space and time in planning the photostimulation pattern, combined with in situ optical imaging and cell-type-specific or circuit-specific genetic targeting in individual mice. Brain-wide effective connectivity obtained by fMRI with optogenetic stimulation of atlas-based cortical regions is generally congruent with anatomically defined axonal tracing data but is affected by the types of anesthetics that act selectively on specific connections. fMRI combined with flexible optogenetics opens a new path to investigate dynamic changes in functional brain states in the same animal through high-throughput brain-wide effective connectivity mapping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seonghoon Kim
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, Republic of Korea; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Seok Moon
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea; Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Thanh Tan Vo
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea; Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Ho Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Geun Ho Im
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungho Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Myunghwan Choi
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, Republic of Korea; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seong-Gi Kim
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea; Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Menon V, Cerri D, Lee B, Yuan R, Lee SH, Shih YYI. Optogenetic stimulation of anterior insular cortex neurons in male rats reveals causal mechanisms underlying suppression of the default mode network by the salience network. Nat Commun 2023; 14:866. [PMID: 36797303 PMCID: PMC9935890 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36616-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The salience network (SN) and default mode network (DMN) play a crucial role in cognitive function. The SN, anchored in the anterior insular cortex (AI), has been hypothesized to modulate DMN activity during stimulus-driven cognition. However, the causal neural mechanisms underlying changes in DMN activity and its functional connectivity with the SN are poorly understood. Here we combine feedforward optogenetic stimulation with fMRI and computational modeling to dissect the causal role of AI neurons in dynamic functional interactions between SN and DMN nodes in the male rat brain. Optogenetic stimulation of Chronos-expressing AI neurons suppressed DMN activity, and decreased AI-DMN and intra-DMN functional connectivity. Our findings demonstrate that feedforward optogenetic stimulation of AI neurons induces dynamic suppression and decoupling of the DMN and elucidates previously unknown features of rodent brain network organization. Our study advances foundational knowledge of causal mechanisms underlying dynamic cross-network interactions and brain network switching.
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Grants
- R01 MH121069 NIMH NIH HHS
- P50 HD103573 NICHD NIH HHS
- T32 AA007573 NIAAA NIH HHS
- R01 NS091236 NINDS NIH HHS
- R01 MH126518 NIMH NIH HHS
- S10 MH124745 NIMH NIH HHS
- U01 AA020023 NIAAA NIH HHS
- R01 MH111429 NIMH NIH HHS
- S10 OD026796 NIH HHS
- R01 NS086085 NINDS NIH HHS
- R01 EB022907 NIBIB NIH HHS
- P60 AA011605 NIAAA NIH HHS
- RF1 NS086085 NINDS NIH HHS
- RF1 MH117053 NIMH NIH HHS
- This work was supported in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH121069 to V.M., and R01MH126518, RF1MH117053, R01MH111429, S10MH124745 to Y.-Y.I.S.), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (P60AA011605 and U01AA020023 to Y.-Y.I.S., T32AA007573 to D.C.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS086085 to V.M., R01NS091236 to Y.-Y.I.S.), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P50HD103573 to Y.-Y.I.S.), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (R01EB022907 to V.M.), and National Institute of Health Office of the Director (S10OD026796 to Y.-Y.I.S.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinod Menon
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Domenic Cerri
- Center for Animal MRI, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Byeongwook Lee
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Rui Yuan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Sung-Ho Lee
- Center for Animal MRI, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yen-Yu Ian Shih
- Center for Animal MRI, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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10
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Hemodynamic transient and functional connectivity follow structural connectivity and cell type over the brain hierarchy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2202435120. [PMID: 36693103 PMCID: PMC9945945 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2202435120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural circuit of the brain is organized as a hierarchy of functional units with wide-ranging connections that support information flow and functional connectivity. Studies using MRI indicate a moderate coupling between structural and functional connectivity at the system level. However, how do connections of different directions (feedforward and feedback) and regions with different excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) neurons shape the hemodynamic activity and functional connectivity over the hierarchy are unknown. Here, we used functional MRI to detect optogenetic-evoked and resting-state activities over a somatosensory pathway in the mouse brain in relation to axonal projection and E/I distribution. Using a highly sensitive ultrafast imaging, we identified extensive activation in regions up to the third order of axonal projections following optogenetic excitation of the ventral posteriomedial nucleus of the thalamus. The evoked response and functional connectivity correlated with feedforward projections more than feedback projections and weakened with the hierarchy. The hemodynamic response exhibited regional and hierarchical differences, with slower and more variable responses in high-order areas and bipolar response predominantly in the contralateral cortex. Electrophysiological recordings suggest that these reflect differences in neural activity rather than neurovascular coupling. Importantly, the positive and negative parts of the hemodynamic response correlated with E/I neuronal densities, respectively. Furthermore, resting-state functional connectivity was more associated with E/I distribution, whereas stimulus-evoked effective connectivity followed structural wiring. These findings indicate that the structure-function relationship is projection-, cell-type- and hierarchy-dependent. Hemodynamic transients could reflect E/I activity and the increased complexity of hierarchical processing.
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Lee JY, You T, Woo CW, Kim SG. Optogenetic fMRI for Brain-Wide Circuit Analysis of Sensory Processing. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012268. [PMID: 36293125 PMCID: PMC9602603 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory processing is a complex neurological process that receives, integrates, and responds to information from one's own body and environment, which is closely related to survival as well as neurological disorders. Brain-wide networks of sensory processing are difficult to investigate due to their dynamic regulation by multiple brain circuits. Optogenetics, a neuromodulation technique that uses light-sensitive proteins, can be combined with functional magnetic resonance imaging (ofMRI) to measure whole-brain activity. Since ofMRI has increasingly been used for investigating brain circuits underlying sensory processing for over a decade, we systematically reviewed recent ofMRI studies of sensory circuits and discussed the challenges of optogenetic fMRI in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Yun Lee
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Taeyi You
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Choong-Wan Woo
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Seong-Gi Kim
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-31-299-4350; Fax: +82-31-299-4506
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Ioanas HI, Schlegel F, Skachokova Z, Schroeter A, Husak T, Rudin M. Hybrid fiber optic-fMRI for multimodal cell-specific recording and manipulation of neural activity in rodents. NEUROPHOTONICS 2022; 9:032206. [PMID: 35355657 PMCID: PMC8936941 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.9.3.032206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Significance: Multiscale imaging holds particular relevance to neuroscience, where it helps integrate the cellular and molecular biological scale, which is most accessible to interventions, with holistic organ-level evaluations, most relevant with respect to function. Being inextricably interdisciplinary, multiscale imaging benefits substantially from incremental technology adoption, and a detailed overview of the state-of-the-art is vital to an informed application of imaging methods. Aim: In this article, we lay out the background and methodological aspects of multimodal approaches combining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with simultaneous optical measurement or stimulation. Approach: We focus on optical techniques as these allow, in conjunction with genetically encoded proteins (e.g. calcium indicators or optical signal transducers), unprecedented read-out and control specificity for individual cell-types during fMRI experiments, while leveraging non-interfering modalities. Results: A variety of different solutions for optical/fMRI methods has been reported ranging from bulk fluorescence recordings via fiber photometry to high resolution microscopy. In particular, the plethora of optogenetic tools has enabled the transformation of stimulus-evoked fMRI into a cell biological interrogation method. We discuss the capabilities and limitations of these genetically encoded molecular tools in the study of brain phenomena of great methodological and neuropsychiatric interest-such as neurovascular coupling (NVC) and neuronal network mapping. We provide a methodological description of this interdisciplinary field of study, and focus in particular on the limitations of the widely used blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal and how multimodal readouts can shed light on the contributions arising from neurons, astrocytes, or the vasculature. Conclusion: We conclude that information from multiple signaling pathways must be incorporated in future forward models of the BOLD response to prevent erroneous conclusions when using fMRI as a surrogate measure for neural activity. Further, we highlight the potential of direct neuronal stimulation via genetically defined brain networks towards advancing neurophysiological understanding and better estimating effective connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Horea-Ioan Ioanas
- University of Zurich Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Engineering, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Dartmouth College, Center for Open Neuroscience, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States
- Address all correspondence to Markus Rudin, ; Horea-Ioan Ioanas,
| | - Felix Schlegel
- University of Zurich Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Zhiva Skachokova
- University of Zurich Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Aileen Schroeter
- University of Zurich Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, USZ Innovation Hub, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tetiana Husak
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Markus Rudin
- University of Zurich Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
- The LOOP Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Address all correspondence to Markus Rudin, ; Horea-Ioan Ioanas,
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Lake EMR, Higley MJ. Building bridges: simultaneous multimodal neuroimaging approaches for exploring the organization of brain networks. NEUROPHOTONICS 2022; 9:032202. [PMID: 36159712 PMCID: PMC9506627 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.9.3.032202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Brain organization is evident across spatiotemporal scales as well as from structural and functional data. Yet, translating from micro- to macroscale (vice versa) as well as between different measures is difficult. Reconciling disparate observations from different modes is challenging because each specializes within a restricted spatiotemporal milieu, usually has bounded organ coverage, and has access to different contrasts. True intersubject biological heterogeneity, variation in experiment implementation (e.g., use of anesthesia), and true moment-to-moment variations in brain activity (maybe attributable to different brain states) also contribute to variability between studies. Ultimately, for a deeper and more actionable understanding of brain organization, an ability to translate across scales, measures, and species is needed. Simultaneous multimodal methods can contribute to bettering this understanding. We consider four modes, three optically based: multiphoton imaging, single-photon (wide-field) imaging, and fiber photometry, as well as magnetic resonance imaging. We discuss each mode as well as their pairwise combinations with regard to the definition and study of brain networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn M. R. Lake
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Michael J. Higley
- Yale School of Medicine, Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, and Repair, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
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Optogenetic stimulation of medial prefrontal cortex excites GABAergic cells in the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus of Wistar-Kyoto rats exposed to chronic mild stress. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:2299-2307. [PMID: 35292832 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06116-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High frequency optogenetic stimulation (OGS) of prelimbic cortex (PLC) has been reported to exert antidepressant-like effects in the chronic mild stress model of depression in Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, which are non-responsive to antidepressant drugs. Here we have examined the effect of OGS on activity in the PLC and in two other regions implicated in depression, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and hippocampus (HPC). METHOD OGS was applied to the PLC of WKY rats using the same stress schedule, and the identical placement, virus infection and stimulation parameters, used in the earlier behavioural experiments. Confocal microscopy was used to identify cells co-expressing the immediate early gene c-Fos and markers of GABAergic (GAD) and glutamatergic (CaMKII) neurons. RESULTS Stress decreased sucrose intake, which was restored by OGS. Stress also caused an overall decrease in Fos expression in the structures examined. In stressed animals, but not in non-stressed controls, OGS in mPFC increased the number of Fos+ cells in both the core and shell of the NAc (where the vast majority of cells are GABAergic), and increased the number and proportion of active GABAergic, but not glutamatergic, cells in dorsal and ventral HPC and dentate gyrus. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that OGS of PLC has a net excitatory effect on outputs from the PLC, leading to an overall inhibitory effect in structures innervated (NAc and HPC).
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Lindhardt TB, Gutiérrez-Jiménez E, Liang Z, Hansen B. Male and Female C57BL/6 Mice Respond Differently to Awake Magnetic Resonance Imaging Habituation. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:853527. [PMID: 35757553 PMCID: PMC9226328 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.853527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, preclinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been performed in anesthetized animals. However, anesthesia has been shown to perturb normal brain function and physiology. Such effects limit our ability to detect subtle physiological alterations in disease models and treatment studies, thus hampering discovery and compromising generality of findings. Therefore, methods for awake animal MRI are needed to study the rodent brain in its natural physiological state, free of anesthetics. Current setups for awake animal MRI rely on restraining systems to avoid animal movement during scanning. To reduce restraint stress, animals are habituated to the scanner environment prior to MRI data collection. To date, however, most awake MRI studies employ male rodents only. This is a fundamental limitation as results obtained may be pertinent only to half of the population. We characterized training and habituation responses of male and female mice to provide improved, sex-dependent training procedures for awake mouse MRI. We recorded heart rate, monitored behavioral responses (body weight and fecal boli weight) and fecal corticosterone levels (FCM) as indicators of wellbeing and stress during a 14-day progressive habituation protocol. In addition, we also assessed discomfort levels and anxiety using the mouse grimace scale (MGS) and light/dark test (LDT), respectively. All scores were compared between both groups. We found that heart rate was significantly decreased after 10 and 11 days of training for both males and females, respectively. However, the specific time course for this decrease was significantly different between males and females, and females exhibited higher anxiety levels during habituation and 14 days after habituation than males. Lastly, we also found that mean FCM levels for both groups were decreased after 11 days of MRI habituation. The present work shows that mice can be successfully trained for extended MRI sessions which is necessary for many (particularly non-fMRI) studies. Importantly, we find that males and females differ in their response to awake MRI habituation, which should be considered in future awake MRI studies that aim to include male and female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Beck Lindhardt
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Eugenio Gutiérrez-Jiménez
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Zhifeng Liang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Sciences and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Brian Hansen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Medial prefrontal cortex and anteromedial thalamus interaction regulates goal-directed behavior and dopaminergic neuron activity. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1386. [PMID: 35296648 PMCID: PMC8927595 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28892-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex is involved in goal-directed behavior. Here, we investigate circuits of the PFC regulating motivation, reinforcement, and its relationship to dopamine neuron activity. Stimulation of medial PFC (mPFC) neurons in mice activated many downstream regions, as shown by fMRI. Axonal terminal stimulation of mPFC neurons in downstream regions, including the anteromedial thalamic nucleus (AM), reinforced behavior and activated midbrain dopaminergic neurons. The stimulation of AM neurons projecting to the mPFC also reinforced behavior and activated dopamine neurons, and mPFC and AM showed a positive-feedback loop organization. We also found using fMRI in human participants watching reinforcing video clips that there is reciprocal excitatory functional connectivity, as well as co-activation of the two regions. Our results suggest that this cortico-thalamic loop regulates motivation, reinforcement, and dopaminergic neuron activity. The prefrontal cortex is involved in goal-directed behaviour. Here the authors show that medial prefrontal cortex activates goal-directed motivation and dopamine neurons via a feedback loop with the anteromedial thalamus.
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