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Wu K, Gollo LL. Dendrites contribute to the gradient of intrinsic timescales encompassing cortical and subcortical brain networks. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1404605. [PMID: 39309702 PMCID: PMC11412829 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1404605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cytoarchitectonic studies have uncovered a correlation between higher levels of cortical hierarchy and reduced dendritic size. This hierarchical organization extends to the brain's timescales, revealing longer intrinsic timescales at higher hierarchical levels. However, estimating the contribution of single-neuron dendritic morphology to the hierarchy of timescales, which is typically characterized at a macroscopic level, remains challenging. Method Here we mapped the intrinsic timescales of six functional networks using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, and characterized the influence of neuronal dendritic size on intrinsic timescales of brain regions, utilizing a multicompartmental neuronal modeling approach based on digitally reconstructed neurons. Results The fMRI results revealed a hierarchy of intrinsic timescales encompassing both cortical and subcortical brain regions. The neuronal modeling indicated that neurons with larger dendritic structures exhibit shorter intrinsic timescales. Together these findings highlight the contribution of dendrites at the neuronal level to the hierarchy of intrinsic timescales at the whole-brain level. Discussion This study sheds light on the intricate relationship between neuronal structure, cytoarchitectonic maps, and the hierarchy of timescales in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leonardo L. Gollo
- Brain Networks and Modelling Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, and Monash Biomedical Imaging, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Guan F, Gao S, Sheng H, Ma Y, Chen W, Qi X, Zhang X, Gao X, Pang S, Zhang L, Zhang L. Trim46 knockout impaired neuronal architecture and caused hypoactive behavior in rats. Dev Dyn 2024; 253:659-676. [PMID: 38193537 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.687] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tripartite motif (TRIM46) is a relatively novel protein that belongs to tripartite motif family. TRIM46 organizes parallel microtubule arrays on the axons, which are important for neuronal polarity and axonal function. TRIM46 is highly expressed in the brain, but its biological function in adults has not yet been determined. RESULTS Trim46 knockout (KO) rat line was established using CRISPR/cas9. Trim46 KO rats had smaller hippocampus sizes, fewer neuronal dendritic arbors and dendritic spines, and shorter and more distant axon initial segment. Furthermore, the protein interaction between endogenous TRIM46 and FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) in brain tissues was determined; Trim46 KO increased hippocampal FKBP5 protein levels and decreased hippocampal protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation, gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit alpha1 (GABRA1) and glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 1 (NMDAR1) protein levels. Trim46 KO rats exhibited hypoactive behavioral changes such as reduced spontaneous activity, social interaction, sucrose preference, impaired prepulse inhibition (PPI), and short-term reference memory. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the significant impact of Trim46 KO on brain structure and behavioral function. This study revealed a novel potential association of TRIM46 with dendritic development and neuropsychiatric behavior, providing new insights into the role of TRIM46 in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Guan
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China (NHC), Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hanxuan Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China (NHC), Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanwu Ma
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China (NHC), Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolong Qi
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China (NHC), Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Pang
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China (NHC), Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lianfeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China (NHC), Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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3
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Lee JI, Werginz P, Kameneva T, Im M, Fried SI. Membrane depolarization mediates both the inhibition of neural activity and cell-type-differences in response to high-frequency stimulation. Commun Biol 2024; 7:734. [PMID: 38890481 PMCID: PMC11189419 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06359-3] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuromodulation using high frequency (>1 kHz) electric stimulation (HFS) enables preferential activation or inhibition of individual neural types, offering the possibility of more effective treatments across a broad spectrum of neurological diseases. To improve effectiveness, it is important to better understand the mechanisms governing activation and inhibition with HFS so that selectivity can be optimized. In this study, we measure the membrane potential (Vm) and spiking responses of ON and OFF α-sustained retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) to a wide range of stimulus frequencies (100-2500 Hz) and amplitudes (10-100 µA). Our findings indicate that HFS induces shifts in Vm, with both the strength and polarity of the shifts dependent on the stimulus conditions. Spiking responses in each cell directly correlate with the shifts in Vm, where strong depolarization leads to spiking suppression. Comparisons between the two cell types reveal that ON cells are more depolarized by a given amplitude of HFS than OFF cells-this sensitivity difference enables the selective targeting. Computational modeling indicates that ion-channel dynamics largely account for the shifts in Vm, suggesting that a better understanding of the differences in ion-channel properties across cell types may improve the selectivity and ultimately, enhance HFS-based neurostimulation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Ik Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Paul Werginz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute of Biomedical Electronics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tatiana Kameneva
- School of Science, Computing, and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Maesoon Im
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, South Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, South Korea
- KHU-KIST Department of Converging Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Shelley I Fried
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston VA Healthcare System, Rehabilitation, Research and Development, Boston, MA, USA
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Muralidharan M, Guo T, Tsai D, Lee JI, Fried S, Dokos S, Morley JW, Lovell NH, Shivdasani MN. Neural activity of retinal ganglion cells under continuous, dynamically-modulated high frequency electrical stimulation. J Neural Eng 2024; 21:015001. [PMID: 38290151 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad2404] [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: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Objective.Current retinal prosthetics are limited in their ability to precisely control firing patterns of functionally distinct retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types. The aim of this study was to characterise RGC responses to continuous, kilohertz-frequency-varying stimulation to assess its utility in controlling RGC activity.Approach.We usedin vitropatch-clamp experiments to assess electrically-evoked ON and OFF RGC responses to frequency-varying pulse train sequences. In each sequence, the stimulation amplitude was kept constant while the stimulation frequency (0.5-10 kHz) was changed every 40 ms, in either a linearly increasing, linearly decreasing or randomised manner. The stimulation amplitude across sequences was increased from 10 to 300µA.Main results.We found that continuous stimulation without rest periods caused complex and irreproducible stimulus-response relationships, primarily due to strong stimulus-induced response adaptation and influence of the preceding stimulus frequency on the response to a subsequent stimulus. In addition, ON and OFF populations showed different sensitivities to continuous, frequency-varying pulse trains, with OFF cells generally exhibiting more dependency on frequency changes within a sequence. Finally, the ability to maintain spiking behaviour to continuous stimulation in RGCs significantly reduced over longer stimulation durations irrespective of the frequency order.Significance.This study represents an important step in advancing and understanding the utility of continuous frequency modulation in controlling functionally distinct RGCs. Our results indicate that continuous, kHz-frequency-varying stimulation sequences provide very limited control of RGC firing patterns due to inter-dependency between adjacent frequencies and generally, different RGC types do not display different frequency preferences under such stimulation conditions. For future stimulation strategies using kHz frequencies, careful consideration must be given to design appropriate pauses in stimulation, stimulation frequency order and the length of continuous stimulation duration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tianruo Guo
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - David Tsai
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Jae-Ik Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Shelley Fried
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Socrates Dokos
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - John W Morley
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Nigel H Lovell
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Tyree Institute of Health Engineering (iHealthE), UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Mohit N Shivdasani
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Tyree Institute of Health Engineering (iHealthE), UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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Chang L, Ran Y, Yang M, Auferkorte O, Butz E, Hüser L, Haverkamp S, Euler T, Schubert T. Spike desensitisation as a mechanism for high-contrast selectivity in retinal ganglion cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 17:1337768. [PMID: 38269116 PMCID: PMC10806099 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1337768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In the vertebrate retina, several dozens of parallel channels relay information about the visual world to the brain. These channels are represented by the different types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), whose responses are rendered selective for distinct sets of visual features by various mechanisms. These mechanisms can be roughly grouped into synaptic interactions and cell-intrinsic mechanisms, with the latter including dendritic morphology as well as ion channel complement and distribution. Here, we investigate how strongly ion channel complement can shape RGC output by comparing two mouse RGC types, the well-described ON alpha cell and a little-studied ON cell that is EGFP-labelled in the Igfbp5 mouse line and displays an unusual selectivity for stimuli with high contrast. Using patch-clamp recordings and computational modelling, we show that a higher activation threshold and a pronounced slow inactivation of the voltage-gated Na+ channels contribute to the distinct contrast tuning and transient responses in ON Igfbp5 RGCs, respectively. In contrast, such a mechanism could not be observed in ON alpha cells. This study provides an example for the powerful role that the last stage of retinal processing can play in shaping RGC responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Chang
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanli Ran
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, and Institute of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mingpo Yang
- Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Elisabeth Butz
- Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Laura Hüser
- Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Silke Haverkamp
- Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Computational Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – Caesar, Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Euler
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Timm Schubert
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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6
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van Hugte EJH, Lewerissa EI, Wu KM, Scheefhals N, Parodi G, van Voorst TW, Puvogel S, Kogo N, Keller JM, Frega M, Schubert D, Schelhaas HJ, Verhoeven J, Majoie M, van Bokhoven H, Nadif Kasri N. SCN1A-deficient excitatory neuronal networks display mutation-specific phenotypes. Brain 2023; 146:5153-5167. [PMID: 37467479 PMCID: PMC10689919 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Dravet syndrome is a severe epileptic encephalopathy, characterized by (febrile) seizures, behavioural problems and developmental delay. Eighty per cent of patients with Dravet syndrome have a mutation in SCN1A, encoding Nav1.1. Milder clinical phenotypes, such as GEFS+ (generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus), can also arise from SCN1A mutations. Predicting the clinical phenotypic outcome based on the type of mutation remains challenging, even when the same mutation is inherited within one family. This clinical and genetic heterogeneity adds to the difficulties of predicting disease progression and tailoring the prescription of anti-seizure medication. Understanding the neuropathology of different SCN1A mutations may help to predict the expected clinical phenotypes and inform the selection of best-fit treatments. Initially, the loss of Na+-current in inhibitory neurons was recognized specifically to result in disinhibition and consequently seizure generation. However, the extent to which excitatory neurons contribute to the pathophysiology is currently debated and might depend on the patient clinical phenotype or the specific SCN1A mutation. To examine the genotype-phenotype correlations of SCN1A mutations in relation to excitatory neurons, we investigated a panel of patient-derived excitatory neuronal networks differentiated on multi-electrode arrays. We included patients with different clinical phenotypes, harbouring various SCN1A mutations, along with a family in which the same mutation led to febrile seizures, GEFS+ or Dravet syndrome. We hitherto describe a previously unidentified functional excitatory neuronal network phenotype in the context of epilepsy, which corresponds to seizurogenic network prediction patterns elicited by proconvulsive compounds. We found that excitatory neuronal networks were affected differently, depending on the type of SCN1A mutation, but did not segregate according to clinical severity. Specifically, loss-of-function mutations could be distinguished from missense mutations, and mutations in the pore domain could be distinguished from mutations in the voltage sensing domain. Furthermore, all patients showed aggravated neuronal network responses at febrile temperatures compared with controls. Finally, retrospective drug screening revealed that anti-seizure medication affected GEFS+ patient- but not Dravet patient-derived neuronal networks in a patient-specific and clinically relevant manner. In conclusion, our results indicate a mutation-specific excitatory neuronal network phenotype, which recapitulates the foremost clinically relevant features, providing future opportunities for precision therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline J H van Hugte
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Epileptology, ACE Kempenhaeghe, 5591 VE Heeze, The Netherlands
| | - Elly I Lewerissa
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ka Man Wu
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nicky Scheefhals
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Giulia Parodi
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, 16145 GE Genova, Italy
| | - Torben W van Voorst
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sofia Puvogel
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Naoki Kogo
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jason M Keller
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Monica Frega
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk Schubert
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Helenius J Schelhaas
- Department of Neurology, Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN), 2103 SW Heemstede, The Netherlands
| | - Judith Verhoeven
- Department of Epileptology, ACE Kempenhaeghe, 5591 VE Heeze, The Netherlands
| | - Marian Majoie
- Department of Epileptology, ACE Kempenhaeghe, 5591 VE Heeze, The Netherlands
| | - Hans van Bokhoven
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nael Nadif Kasri
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Madugula SS, Vilkhu R, Shah NP, Grosberg LE, Kling A, Gogliettino AR, Nguyen H, Hottowy P, Sher A, Litke AM, Chichilnisky EJ. Inference of Electrical Stimulation Sensitivity from Recorded Activity of Primate Retinal Ganglion Cells. J Neurosci 2023; 43:4808-4820. [PMID: 37268418 PMCID: PMC10312054 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1023-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
High-fidelity electronic implants can in principle restore the function of neural circuits by precisely activating neurons via extracellular stimulation. However, direct characterization of the individual electrical sensitivity of a large population of target neurons, to precisely control their activity, can be difficult or impossible. A potential solution is to leverage biophysical principles to infer sensitivity to electrical stimulation from features of spontaneous electrical activity, which can be recorded relatively easily. Here, this approach is developed and its potential value for vision restoration is tested quantitatively using large-scale multielectrode stimulation and recording from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of male and female macaque monkeys ex vivo Electrodes recording larger spikes from a given cell exhibited lower stimulation thresholds across cell types, retinas, and eccentricities, with systematic and distinct trends for somas and axons. Thresholds for somatic stimulation increased with distance from the axon initial segment. The dependence of spike probability on injected current was inversely related to threshold, and was substantially steeper for axonal than somatic compartments, which could be identified by their recorded electrical signatures. Dendritic stimulation was largely ineffective for eliciting spikes. These trends were quantitatively reproduced with biophysical simulations. Results from human RGCs were broadly similar. The inference of stimulation sensitivity from recorded electrical features was tested in a data-driven simulation of visual reconstruction, revealing that the approach could significantly improve the function of future high-fidelity retinal implants.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This study demonstrates that individual in situ primate retinal ganglion cells of different types respond to artificially generated, external electrical fields in a systematic manner, in accordance with theoretical predictions, that allows for prediction of electrical stimulus sensitivity from recorded spontaneous activity. It also provides evidence that such an approach could be immensely helpful in the calibration of clinical retinal implants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasidhar S Madugula
- Neurosciences PhD Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
- Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Ramandeep Vilkhu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Nishal P Shah
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
- Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Lauren E Grosberg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
- Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
- Facebook Reality Labs, Facebook, Mountain View, California 94040
| | - Alexandra Kling
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
- Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Alex R Gogliettino
- Neurosciences PhD Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
- Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Huy Nguyen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Paweł Hottowy
- Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakow, Poland 30-059
| | - Alexander Sher
- Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064
| | - Alan M Litke
- Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064
| | - E J Chichilnisky
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
- Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
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8
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Boal AM, McGrady NR, Chamling X, Kagitapalli BS, Zack DJ, Calkins DJ, Risner ML. Microfluidic Platforms Promote Polarization of Human-Derived Retinal Ganglion Cells That Model Axonopathy. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2023; 12:1. [PMID: 37010860 PMCID: PMC10080917 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.12.4.1] [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: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Axons depend on long-range transport of proteins and organelles which increases susceptibility to metabolic stress in disease. The axon initial segment (AIS) is particularly vulnerable due to the high bioenergetic demand of action potential generation. Here, we prepared retinal ganglion cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hRGCs) to probe how axonal stress alters AIS morphology. Methods hRGCs were cultured on coverslips or microfluidic platforms. We assayed AIS specification and morphology by immunolabeling against ankyrin G (ankG), an axon-specific protein, and postsynaptic density 95 (PSD-95), a dendrite-specific protein. Using microfluidic platforms that enable fluidic isolation, we added colchicine to the axon compartment to lesion axons. We verified axonopathy by measuring the anterograde axon transport of cholera toxin subunit B and immunolabeling against cleaved caspase 3 (CC3) and phosphorylated neurofilament H (SMI-34). We determined the influence of axon injury on AIS morphology by immunolabeling samples against ankG and measuring AIS distance from soma and length. Results Based on measurements of ankG and PSD-95 immunolabeling, microfluidic platforms promote the formation and separation of distinct somatic-dendritic versus axonal compartments in hRGCs compared to coverslip cultures. Chemical lesioning of axons by colchicine reduced hRGC anterograde axon transport, increased varicosity density, and enhanced expression of CC3 and SMI-34. Interestingly, we found that colchicine selectively affected hRGCs with axon-carrying dendrites by reducing AIS distance from somas and increasing length, thus suggesting reduced capacity to maintain excitability. Conclusions Thus, microfluidic platforms promote polarized hRGCs that enable modeling of axonopathy. Translational Relevance Microfluidic platforms may be used to assay compartmentalized degeneration that occurs during glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Boal
- Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Nolan R. McGrady
- Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Xitiz Chamling
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bhanu S. Kagitapalli
- Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Donald J. Zack
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David J. Calkins
- Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michael L. Risner
- Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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9
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Boal AM, McGrady NR, Holden JM, Risner ML, Calkins DJ. Retinal ganglion cells adapt to ionic stress in experimental glaucoma. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1142668. [PMID: 37051140 PMCID: PMC10083336 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1142668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionIdentification of early adaptive and maladaptive neuronal stress responses is an important step in developing targeted neuroprotective therapies for degenerative disease. In glaucoma, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons undergo progressive degeneration resulting from stress driven by sensitivity to intraocular pressure (IOP). Despite therapies that can effectively manage IOP many patients progress to vision loss, necessitating development of neuronal-based therapies. Evidence from experimental models of glaucoma indicates that early in the disease RGCs experience altered excitability and are challenged with dysregulated potassium (K+) homeostasis. Previously we demonstrated that certain RGC types have distinct excitability profiles and thresholds for depolarization block, which are associated with sensitivity to extracellular K+.MethodsHere, we used our inducible mouse model of glaucoma to investigate how RGC sensitivity to K+ changes with exposure to elevated IOP.ResultsIn controls, conditions of increased K+ enhanced membrane depolarization, reduced action potential generation, and widened action potentials. Consistent with our previous work, 4 weeks of IOP elevation diminished RGC light-and current-evoked responses. Compared to controls, we found that IOP elevation reduced the effects of increased K+ on depolarization block threshold, with IOP-exposed cells maintaining greater excitability. Finally, IOP elevation did not alter axon initial segment dimensions, suggesting that structural plasticity alone cannot explain decreased K+ sensitivity.DiscussionThus, in response to prolonged IOP elevation RGCs undergo an adaptive process that reduces sensitivity to changes in K+ while diminishing excitability. These experiments give insight into the RGC response to IOP stress and lay the groundwork for mechanistic investigation into targets for neuroprotective therapy.
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10
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Kish KE, Lempka SF, Weiland JD. Modeling extracellular stimulation of retinal ganglion cells: theoretical and practical aspects. J Neural Eng 2023; 20:026011. [PMID: 36848677 PMCID: PMC10010067 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/acbf79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Objective.Retinal prostheses use electric current to activate inner retinal neurons, providing artificial vision for blind people. Epiretinal stimulation primarily targets retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which can be modeled with cable equations. Computational models provide a tool to investigate the mechanisms of retinal activation, and improve stimulation paradigms. However, documentation of RGC model structure and parameters is limited, and model implementation can influence model predictions.Approach.We created a functional guide for building a mammalian RGC multi-compartment cable model and applying extracellular stimuli. Next, we investigated how the neuron's three-dimensional shape will influence model predictions. Finally, we tested several strategies to maximize computational efficiency.Main results.We conducted sensitivity analyses to examine how dendrite representation, axon trajectory, and axon diameter influence membrane dynamics and corresponding activation thresholds. We optimized the spatial and temporal discretization of our multi-compartment cable model. We also implemented several simplified threshold prediction theories based on activating function, but these did not match the prediction accuracy achieved by the cable equations.Significance.Through this work, we provide practical guidance for modeling the extracellular stimulation of RGCs to produce reliable and meaningful predictions. Robust computational models lay the groundwork for improving the performance of retinal prostheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen E Kish
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- BioInterfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - Scott F Lempka
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- BioInterfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - James D Weiland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- BioInterfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
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11
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Ostos S, Aparicio G, Fernaud-Espinosa I, DeFelipe J, Muñoz A. Quantitative analysis of the GABAergic innervation of the soma and axon initial segment of pyramidal cells in the human and mouse neocortex. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:3882-3909. [PMID: 36058205 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac314] [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: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Perisomatic GABAergic innervation in the cerebral cortex is carried out mostly by basket and chandelier cells, which differentially participate in the control of pyramidal cell action potential output and synchronization. These cells establish multiple synapses with the cell body (and proximal dendrites) and the axon initial segment (AIS) of pyramidal neurons, respectively. Using multiple immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy and 3D quantification techniques, we have estimated the number and density of GABAergic boutons on the cell body and AIS of pyramidal neurons located through cortical layers of the human and mouse neocortex. The results revealed, in both species, that there is clear variability across layers regarding the density and number of perisomatic GABAergic boutons. We found a positive linear correlation between the surface area of the soma, or the AIS, and the number of GABAergic terminals in apposition to these 2 neuronal domains. Furthermore, the density of perisomatic GABAergic boutons was higher in the human cortex than in the mouse. These results suggest a selectivity for the GABAergic innervation of the cell body and AIS that might be related to the different functional attributes of the microcircuits in which neurons from different layers are involved in both human and mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Ostos
- Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002, Madrid, Spain.,Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus de Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Guillermo Aparicio
- Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002, Madrid, Spain.,Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus de Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Fernaud-Espinosa
- Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002, Madrid, Spain.,Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus de Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002, Madrid, Spain.,Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus de Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.,CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Muñoz
- Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002, Madrid, Spain.,Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus de Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad Complutense, José Antonio Novais 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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12
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Boal AM, McGrady NR, Risner ML, Calkins DJ. Sensitivity to extracellular potassium underlies type-intrinsic differences in retinal ganglion cell excitability. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:966425. [PMID: 35990894 PMCID: PMC9390602 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.966425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal type-specific physiologic heterogeneity can be driven by both extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms. In retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which carry visual information from the retina to central targets, evidence suggests intrinsic properties shaping action potential (AP) generation significantly impact the responses of RGCs to visual stimuli. Here, we explored how differences in intrinsic excitability further distinguish two RCG types with distinct presynaptic circuits, alpha ON-sustained (αON-S) cells and alpha OFF-sustained (αOFF-S) cells. We found that αOFF-S RGCs are more excitable to modest depolarizing currents than αON-S RGCs but excitability plateaued earlier as depolarization increased (i.e., depolarization block). In addition to differences in depolarization block sensitivity, the two cell types also produced distinct AP shapes with increasing stimulation. αOFF-S AP width and variability increased with depolarization magnitude, which correlated with the onset of depolarization block, while αON-S AP width and variability remained stable. We then tested if differences in depolarization block observed in αON-S and αOFF-S RGCs were due to sensitivity to extracellular potassium. We found αOFF-S RGCs more sensitive to increased extracellular potassium concentration, which shifted αON-S RGC excitability to that of αOFF-S cells under baseline potassium conditions. Finally, we investigated the influence of the axon initial segment (AIS) dimensions on RGC spiking. We found that the relationship between AIS length and evoked spike rate varied not only by cell type, but also by the strength of stimulation, suggesting AIS structure alone cannot fully explain the observed differences RGC excitability. Thus, sensitivity to extracellular potassium contributes to differences in intrinsic excitability, a key factor that shapes how RGCs encode visual information.
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13
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Yunzab M, Soto-Breceda A, Maturana M, Kirkby S, Slattery M, Newgreen A, Meffin H, Kameneva T, Burkitt AN, Ibbotson M, Tong W. Preferential modulation of individual retinal ganglion cells by electrical stimulation. J Neural Eng 2022; 19. [PMID: 35917811 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac861f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Retinal prostheses have been able to recover partial vision in blind patients with retinal degeneration by electrically stimulating surviving cells in the retina, such as retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), but the restored vision is limited. This is partly due to non-preferential stimulation of all RGCs near a single stimulating electrode, which include cells that conflict in their response properties and their contribution to the vision process. Our study proposes a stimulation strategy to preferentially stimulate individual RGCs based on their temporal electrical receptive fields (tERFs). APPROACH We recorded the responses of RGCs using whole-cell current-clamp and demonstrated the stimulation strategy, first using intracellular stimulation, then via extracellular stimulation. MAIN RESULTS We successfully reconstructed the tERFs according to the RGC response to Gaussian white noise current stimulation. The characteristics of the tERFs were extracted and compared according to the morphological and light response types of the cells. By re-delivering stimulation trains that are composed of the tERFs obtained from different cells, we could target individual RGCs as the cells showed lower activation thresholds to their own tERFs. SIGNIFICANCE This proposed stimulation strategy implemented in the next generation of recording and stimulating retinal prostheses may improve the quality of artificial vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molis Yunzab
- National Vision Research Institute, Australian College of Optometry, Corner of Keppel and Cardigan Streets, Carlton, Victoria, 3053, AUSTRALIA
| | - Artemio Soto-Breceda
- National Vision Research Institute, Australian College of Optometry, Corner of Keppel and Cardigan Streets, Carlton, Victoria, 3053, AUSTRALIA
| | - Matias Maturana
- National Vision Research Institute, Australian College of Optometry, Corner of Keppel and Cardigan Streets, Carlton, Victoria, 3053, AUSTRALIA
| | - Stephanie Kirkby
- National Vision Research Institute, Australian College of Optometry, Corner of Keppel and Cardigan Streets, Carlton, Victoria, 3053, AUSTRALIA
| | - Maximilian Slattery
- National Vision Research Institute, Australian College of Optometry, Corner of Keppel and Cardigan Streets, Carlton, Victoria, 3053, AUSTRALIA
| | - Anton Newgreen
- National Vision Research Institute, Australian College of Optometry, Corner of Keppel and Cardigan Streets, Carlton, Victoria, 3053, AUSTRALIA
| | - Hamish Meffin
- Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, AUSTRALIA
| | - Tatiana Kameneva
- School of Science, Engineering, and Computing Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, School of Science, Engineering, and Computing Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122, AUSTRALIA
| | - Anthony N Burkitt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, AUSTRALIA
| | - Michael Ibbotson
- National Vision Research Institute, Australian College of Optometry, Corner of Keppel and Cardigan Streets, Carlton, Victoria, 3053, AUSTRALIA
| | - Wei Tong
- University of Melbourne, School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, AUSTRALIA
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14
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Wienbar S, Schwartz GW. Differences in spike generation instead of synaptic inputs determine the feature selectivity of two retinal cell types. Neuron 2022; 110:2110-2123.e4. [PMID: 35508174 PMCID: PMC9262831 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the spiking projection neurons of the eye that encode different features of the visual environment. The circuits providing synaptic input to different RGC types to drive feature selectivity have been studied extensively, but there has been less research aimed at understanding the intrinsic properties and how they impact feature selectivity. We introduce an RGC type in the mouse, the Bursty Suppressed-by-Contrast (bSbC) RGC, and compared it to the OFF sustained alpha (OFFsA). Differences in their contrast response functions arose from differences not in synaptic inputs but in their intrinsic properties. Spike generation was the key intrinsic property behind this functional difference; the bSbC RGC undergoes depolarization block while the OFFsA RGC maintains a high spike rate. Our results demonstrate that differences in intrinsic properties allow these two RGC types to detect and relay distinct features of an identical visual stimulus to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Wienbar
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Gregory William Schwartz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
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15
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Pratiwi AM, Kekesi O, Suaning GJ. Selective neuromodulation of retinal ganglion cells via a hybrid optic-nerve and retinal neuroprosthesis for visual restoration. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2022; 2022:2381-2384. [PMID: 36086329 DOI: 10.1109/embc48229.2022.9871410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A visual neuroprosthesis delivers electrical stimulation to the surviving neural cells of the visual pathway to produce prosthetic vision. While the retina is often chosen as the stimulation site, current retinal prostheses are hindered by the lack of functional selectivity that impairs the resolution. A possible strategy to improve the resolution is to combine the retinal stimulation and the stimulation of the optic nerve bundle, which contains myelinated fibres of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) axons that vary in diameter. In this study, we used a computational model of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) with myelinated axons to predict whether the frequency of electrical stimulation delivered to the optic nerve can be modulated to preferentially inhibit a subset of optic nerve fibres classified by diameter. The model combined a finite element model of bipolar penetrating electrodes delivering sinusoidal stimulation in the range of 25-10000 Hz to the optic nerve, and a double-cable model, to represent an optic nerve fibre. We found that the diameter of the axon fibre and ion kinetic properties of the RGC affect the neuron's frequency response, demonstrating the potential of an optic nerve stimulation to produce selective inhibition based on the axon fibre size. Clinical Relevance-This establishes the importance of considering the size of the nerve cell axons, as well as the functional type of the RGC, in stimulating the optic nerve. This can be exploited to facilitate functionally selective neuromodulation when used in conjunction with retinal stimulation.
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16
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Balraj A, Clarkson-Paredes C, Pajoohesh-Ganji A, Kay MW, Mendelowitz D, Miller RH. Refinement of axonal conduction and myelination in the mouse optic nerve indicate an extended period of postnatal developmental plasticity. Dev Neurobiol 2022; 82:308-325. [PMID: 35403346 PMCID: PMC9128412 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22875] [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: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells generate a pattern of action potentials to communicate visual information from the retina to cortical areas. Myelin, an insulating sheath, wraps axonal segments to facilitate signal propagation and when deficient, can impair visual function. Optic nerve development and initial myelination has largely been considered complete by the fifth postnatal week. However, the relationship between the extent of myelination and axonal signaling in the maturing optic nerve is not well characterized. Here, we examine the relationship between axon conduction and elements of myelination using extracellular nerve recordings, immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and simulations of nerve responses. Comparing compound action potentials from mice aged 4-12 weeks revealed five functional distinct axonal populations, an increase in the number of functional axons, and shifts toward fast-conducting axon populations at 5 and 8 weeks postnatal. At these ages, our analysis revealed increased myelin thickness, lower g-ratios and changes in the 14 kDa MBP isoform, while the density of axons and nodes of Ranvier remained constant. At 5 postnatal weeks, axon diameter increased, while at 8 weeks, increased expression of a mature sodium ion channel subtype, Nav 1.6, was observed at nodes of Ranvier. A simulation model of nerve conduction suggests that ion channel subtype, axon diameter, and myelin thickness are more likely to be key regulators of nerve function than g-ratio. Such refinement of axonal function and myelin rearrangement identified an extended period of maturation in the normal optic nerve that may facilitate the development of visual signaling patterns. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Balraj
- Department of Anatomy, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Cheryl Clarkson-Paredes
- Nanofabrication and Imaging Center, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Ahdeah Pajoohesh-Ganji
- Department of Anatomy, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Matthew W. Kay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - David Mendelowitz
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Robert H. Miller
- Department of Anatomy, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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17
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Song X, Qiu S, Shivdasani MN, Zhou F, Liu Z, Ma S, Chai X, Chen Y, Cai X, Guo T, Li L. An in-silico analysis of electrically-evoked responses of midget and parasol retinal ganglion cells in different retinal regions. J Neural Eng 2022; 19. [PMID: 35255486 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac5b18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visual outcomes provided by present retinal prostheses that primarily target retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) through epiretinal stimulation remain rudimentary, partly due to the limited knowledge of retinal responses under electrical stimulation. Better understanding of how different retinal regions can be quantitatively controlled with high spatial accuracy, will be beneficial to the design of micro-electrode arrays (MEAs) and stimulation strategies for next-generation wide-view, high-resolution epiretinal implants. METHODS A computational model was developed to assess neural activity at different eccentricities (2 mm and 5 mm) within the human retina. This model included midget and parasol RGCs with anatomically accurate cell distribution and cell-specific morphological information. We then performed in silico investigations of region-specific RGC responses to epiretinal electrical stimulation using varied electrode sizes (5 µm - 210 µm diameter), emulating both commercialized retinal implants and recently-developed prototype devices. RESULTS Our model of epiretinal stimulation predicted RGC population excitation analogous to the complex percepts reported in human subjects. Following this, our simulations suggest that midget and parasol RGCs have characteristic regional differences in excitation under preferred electrode sizes. Relatively central (2 mm) regions demonstrated higher number of excited RGCs but lower overall activated receptive field (RF) areas under the same stimulus amplitudes (two-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the activated RGC numbers per unit active RF area (number-RF ratio) were significantly higher in central than in peripheral regions, and higher in the midget than in the parasol population under all tested electrode sizes (two-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). Our simulations also suggested that smaller electrodes exhibit a higher range of controllable stimulation parameters to achieve pre-defined performance of RGC excitation. ..
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Song
- , Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Road, Shanghai Minhang District No. 800, Shanghai, 200240, CHINA
| | - Shirong Qiu
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Road, Shanghai Minhang District No. 800, Shanghai, 200240, CHINA
| | - Mohit N Shivdasani
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Lower Ground, Samuels Building (F25), Kensington, New South Wales, 2052, AUSTRALIA
| | - Feng Zhou
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Road, Shanghai Minhang District No. 800, Shanghai, 200240, CHINA
| | - Zhengyang Liu
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Road, Shanghai Minhang District No. 800, Shanghai, 200240, CHINA
| | - Saidong Ma
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Road, Shanghai Minhang District No. 800, Shanghai, 200240, CHINA
| | - Xinyu Chai
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, Shanghai, 200240, CHINA
| | - Yao Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200040, Shanghai, 200240, CHINA
| | - Xuan Cai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, Shanghai, 200233, CHINA
| | - Tianruo Guo
- the University of New South Wales, Lower Ground, Samuels Building (F25), Sydney, 2052, AUSTRALIA
| | - Liming Li
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Road, Shanghai Minhang District No. 800, Shanghai, 200240, CHINA
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Raghuram V, Werginz P, Fried SI, Timko BP. Morphological Factors that Underlie Neural Sensitivity to Stimulation in the Retina. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2021; 1:2100069. [PMID: 35399546 PMCID: PMC8993153 DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202100069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal prostheses are a promising therapeutic intervention for patients afflicted by outer retinal degenerative diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. While significant advances in the development of retinal implants have been made, the quality of vision elicited by these devices remains largely sub-optimal. The variability in the responses produced by retinal devices is most likely due to the differences between the natural cell type-specific signaling that occur in the healthy retina vs. the non-specific activation of multiple cell types arising from artificial stimulation. In order to replicate these natural signaling patterns, stimulation strategies must be capable of preferentially activating specific RGC types. To design more selective stimulation strategies, a better understanding of the morphological factors that underlie the sensitivity to prosthetic stimulation must be developed. This review will focus on the role that different anatomical components play in driving the direct activation of RGCs by extracellular stimulation. Briefly, it will (1) characterize the variability in morphological properties of α-RGCs, (2) detail the influence of morphology on the direct activation of RGCs by electric stimulation, and (3) describe some of the potential biophysical mechanisms that could explain differences in activation thresholds and electrically evoked responses between RGC types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vineeth Raghuram
- Boston VA Healthcare System, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02130, USA
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital - Harvard Medical School, 50 Blossom Street, Boston, MA, 02114
| | - Paul Werginz
- Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing, Vienna University of Technology, Wiedner Hauptstrasse 8-10, Vienna, Austria
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital - Harvard Medical School, 50 Blossom Street, Boston, MA, 02114
| | - Shelley I. Fried
- Boston VA Healthcare System, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02130, USA
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital - Harvard Medical School, 50 Blossom Street, Boston, MA, 02114
| | - Brian P. Timko
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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Risner ML, Pasini S, Chamling X, McGrady NR, Goldberg JL, Zack DJ, Calkins DJ. Intrinsic Morphologic and Physiologic Development of Human Derived Retinal Ganglion Cells In Vitro. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2021; 10:1. [PMID: 34383881 PMCID: PMC8362626 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.10.10.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Human retinal ganglion cells (hRGC) derived from human pluripotent stem cells are promising candidates to model, protect, and replace degenerating RGCs. Here, we examined intrinsic morphologic and physiologic development of hRGCs. Methods We used CRISPR-Cas9 to selectively express tdTomato under the RGC-specific promoter, BRN3B. Human pluripotent stem cells were chemically differentiated into hRGCs and cultured up to 7 weeks. We measured soma area, neurite complexity, synaptic protein, axon-related messenger RNA and protein, and voltage-dependent responses. Results Soma area, neurite complexity, and postsynaptic density protein 95 increased over time. Soma area and neurite complexity increased proportionally week to week, and this relationship was dynamic, strengthening between 2 and 3 weeks and diminishing by 4 weeks. Postsynaptic density 95 localization was dependent on culture duration. After 1 to 2 weeks, postsynaptic density 95 localized within somas but redistributed along neurites after 3 to 4 weeks. Axon initial segment scaffolding protein, Ankyrin G, expression also increased over time, and by 7 weeks, Ankyrin G often localized within putative axons. Voltage-gated inward currents progressively developed, but outward currents matured by 4 weeks. Current-induced spike generation increased over time but limited by depolarization block. Conclusions Human RGCs develop up to 7 weeks after culture. Thus, the state of hRGC maturation should be accounted for in designing models and treatments for optic neuropathies. Translational Relevance We characterized hRGC morphologic and physiologic development towards identifying key time points when hRGCs express mechanisms that may be harnessed to enhance the efficacy of neuroprotective and cell replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Risner
- Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Silvia Pasini
- Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Xitiz Chamling
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nolan R McGrady
- Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Goldberg
- Byers Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Donald J Zack
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David J Calkins
- Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Goethals S, Sierksma MC, Nicol X, Réaux-Le Goazigo A, Brette R. Electrical match between initial segment and somatodendritic compartment for action potential backpropagation in retinal ganglion cells. J Neurophysiol 2021; 126:28-46. [PMID: 34038184 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00005.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The action potential of most vertebrate neurons initiates in the axon initial segment (AIS) and is then transmitted to the soma where it is regenerated by somatodendritic sodium channels. For successful transmission, the AIS must produce a strong axial current, so as to depolarize the soma to the threshold for somatic regeneration. Theoretically, this axial current depends on AIS geometry and Na+ conductance density. We measured the axial current of mouse retinal ganglion cells using whole cell recordings with post hoc AIS labeling. We found that this current is large, implying high Na+ conductance density, and carries a charge that covaries with capacitance so as to depolarize the soma by ∼30 mV. Additionally, we observed that the axial current attenuates strongly with depolarization, consistent with sodium channel inactivation, but temporally broadens so as to preserve the transmitted charge. Thus, the AIS appears to be organized so as to reliably backpropagate the axonal action potential.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We measured the axial current produced at spike initiation by the axon initial segment of mouse retinal ganglion cells. We found that it is a large current, requiring high sodium channel conductance density, which covaries with cell capacitance so as to ensure a ∼30 mV depolarization. During sustained depolarization the current attenuated, but it broadened to preserve somatic depolarization. Thus, properties of the initial segment are adjusted to ensure backpropagation of the axonal action potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Goethals
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Martijn C Sierksma
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.,Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Xavier Nicol
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | | | - Romain Brette
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
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21
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Paknahad J, Loizos K, Yue L, Humayun MS, Lazzi G. Color and cellular selectivity of retinal ganglion cell subtypes through frequency modulation of electrical stimulation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5177. [PMID: 33664347 PMCID: PMC7933163 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84437-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Epiretinal prostheses aim at electrically stimulating the inner most surviving retinal cells-retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)-to restore partial sight to the blind. Recent tests in patients with epiretinal implants have revealed that electrical stimulation of the retina results in the percept of color of the elicited phosphenes, which depends on the frequency of stimulation. This paper presents computational results that are predictive of this finding and further support our understanding of the mechanisms of color encoding in electrical stimulation of retina, which could prove pivotal for the design of advanced retinal prosthetics that elicit both percept and color. This provides, for the first time, a directly applicable "amplitude-frequency" stimulation strategy to "encode color" in future retinal prosthetics through a predictive computational tool to selectively target small bistratified cells, which have been shown to contribute to "blue-yellow" color opponency in the retinal circuitry. The presented results are validated with experimental data reported in the literature and correlated with findings in blind patients with a retinal prosthetic implant collected by our group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Paknahad
- grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA ,grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853The Institute for Technology and Medical Systems (ITEMS), Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Kyle Loizos
- grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853The Institute for Technology and Medical Systems (ITEMS), Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Lan Yue
- grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Mark S. Humayun
- grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA ,grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853Departments of Ophthalmology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Gianluca Lazzi
- grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA ,grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853The Institute for Technology and Medical Systems (ITEMS), Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA ,grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853Departments of Ophthalmology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
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Hadjinicolaou AE, Werginz P, Lee JI, Fried SI. Differential Responses to High-Frequency Electrical Stimulation in Brisk-Transient and Delta Retinal Ganglion Cells. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2020:3529-3532. [PMID: 33018765 DOI: 10.1109/embc44109.2020.9175276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Retinal microprostheses strive to evoke a sense of vision in individuals blinded by outer retinal degenerative diseases, by electrically stimulating the surviving retina. It is widely suspected that a stimulation strategy that can selectively activate different retinal ganglion cell types will improve the quality of evoked phosphenes. Previous efforts towards this goal demonstrated the potential for selective ON and OFF brisk-transient cell activation using high-rate (2000 pulses per second, PPS) stimulation. Here, we build upon this earlier work by testing an additional rate of stimulation and additional cell populations. We find considerable variability in responses both within and across individual cell types, but show that the sensitivity of a ganglion cell to repetitive stimulation is highly correlated to its single-pulse threshold. Consistent with this, we found thresholds for both stimuli to be correlated to soma size, and thus likely mediated by the properties of the axon initial segment. The ultimate efficacy of high-rate stimulation will likely depend on several factors, chief among which are (a) the residual ganglion types, and (b) the stimulation frequency.
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Werginz P, Raghuram V, Fried SI. Tailoring of the axon initial segment shapes the conversion of synaptic inputs into spiking output in OFF-α T retinal ganglion cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/37/eabb6642. [PMID: 32917708 PMCID: PMC7486099 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb6642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Recently, mouse OFF-α transient (OFF-α T) retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were shown to display a gradient of light responses as a function of position along the dorsal-ventral axis; response differences were correlated to differences in the level of excitatory presynaptic input. Here, we show that postsynaptic differences between cells also make a strong contribution to response differences. Cells in the dorsal retina had longer axon initial segments (AISs)-the greater number of Nav1.6 channels in longer AISs directly mediates higher rates of spiking and helps avoid depolarization block that terminates spiking in ventral cells with shorter AISs. The pre- and postsynaptic specializations that shape the output of OFF-α T RGCs interact in different ways: In dorsal cells, strong inputs and the long AISs are both necessary to generate their strong, sustained spiking outputs, while in ventral cells, weak inputs or the short AISs are both sufficient to limit the spiking signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Werginz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing, Vienna University of Technology, 1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Vineeth Raghuram
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Boston VA Healthcare System, Rehabilitation, Research and Development, Boston, MA 02130, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Shelley I Fried
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
- Boston VA Healthcare System, Rehabilitation, Research and Development, Boston, MA 02130, USA
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Werginz P, Raghuram V, Fried SI. The relationship between morphological properties and thresholds to extracellular electric stimulation in α RGCs. J Neural Eng 2020; 17:045015. [PMID: 32736374 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/abab47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Retinal prostheses strive to restore vison to patients that are blind from retinal degeneration by electrically stimulating surviving retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The quality of elicited percepts remains limited however and it is desirable to develop improved stimulation strategies. Here, we examine how the anatomical and biophysical properties of RGCs influence activation thresholds, including the effects of variations found naturally. APPROACH Detailed reconstructions were made of a large number of mouse α RGCs and were used to create an array of model cells; the models were used to study the effects of individual anatomical features on activation threshold to electric stimulation. Stimulation was delivered epiretinally from a point-source or disk electrode and consisted of monophasic or biphasic rectangular pulses. MAIN RESULTS Modeling results show that the region of minimum threshold always is within the axon initial segment (AIS). The properties of this region as well as the absolute value of the minimum threshold are dependent on the length of the AIS as well as on the relative composition of sodium channels within the AIS. Other morphological features, including cell size, dendritic field size and the distance between the AIS and the soma had only a minimal influence on thresholds. Introducing even a small number of low-threshold Nav1.6 channels into the AIS was sufficient to lower minimum thresholds substantially although further increases in Nav1.6 had diminishing effects. The distance between the AIS and the electrode affects threshold levels while alignment of the electrode with the axon or dendritic parts of the RGC can result in lower thresholds, even if the distance to the cell remains the same. SIGNIFICANCE Intrinsic morphological features can influence activation thresholds with the AIS having the strongest influence. However, the combined influence remains limited and may not be large enough to allow for selective activation between different RGC types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Werginz
- Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria. Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America. Author to whom any correspondence should be addressed
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Muralidharan M, Guo T, Shivdasani MN, Tsai D, Fried S, Li L, Dokos S, Morley JW, Lovell NH. Neural activity of functionally different retinal ganglion cells can be robustly modulated by high-rate electrical pulse trains. J Neural Eng 2020; 17:045013. [DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ab9a97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Werginz P, Wang BY, Chen ZC, Palanker D. On optimal coupling of the 'electronic photoreceptors' into the degenerate retina. J Neural Eng 2020; 17:045008. [PMID: 32613948 PMCID: PMC10948023 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/aba0d2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Objective To restore sight in atrophic age-related macular degeneration, the lost photoreceptors can be replaced with electronic implants, which replicate their two major functions: (1) converting light into an electric signal, and (2) transferring visual information to the secondary neurons in the retinal neural network—the bipolar cells (BC). We study the selectivity of BC activation by subretinal implants and dynamics of their response to pulsatile waveforms in order to optimize the electrical stimulation scheme such that retinal signal processing with 'electronic photoreceptors' remains as close to natural as possible. Approach A multicompartmental model of a BC was implemented to simulate responses of the voltage-gated calcium channels and subsequent synaptic vesicle release under continuous and pulsatile stimuli. We compared the predicted response under various frequencies, pulse durations, and alternating gratings to the corresponding experimental measurements. In addition, electric field was computed for various electrode configurations in a 3-d finite element model to assess the stimulation selectivity via spatial confinement of the field. Main results The modeled BC-mediated retinal responses were, in general, in good agreement with previously published experimental results. Kinetics of the calcium pumps and of the neurotransmitter release in ribbon synapses, which underpin the BC's temporal filtering and rectifying functions, allow mimicking the natural BC response with high frequency pulsatile stimulation, thereby preserving features of the retinal signal processing, such as flicker fusion, adaptation to static stimuli and non-linear summation of subunits in receptive field. Selectivity of the BC stimulation while avoiding direct activation of the downstream neurons (amacrine and ganglion cells—RGCs) is improved with local return electrodes. Significance If the retinal neural network is preserved to a large extent in age-related macular degeneration, selective stimulation of BCs with proper spatial and temporal modulation of the extracellular electric field may retain many features of the natural retinal signal processing and hence allow highly functional restoration of sight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Werginz
- Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria. Author to whom any correspondence should be adressed
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Goethals S, Brette R. Theoretical relation between axon initial segment geometry and excitability. eLife 2020; 9:53432. [PMID: 32223890 PMCID: PMC7170651 DOI: 10.7554/elife.53432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In most vertebrate neurons, action potentials are triggered at the distal end of the axon initial segment (AIS). Both position and length of the AIS vary across and within neuron types, with activity, development and pathology. What is the impact of AIS geometry on excitability? Direct empirical assessment has proven difficult because of the many potential confounding factors. Here, we carried a principled theoretical analysis to answer this question. We provide a simple formula relating AIS geometry and sodium conductance density to the somatic voltage threshold. A distal shift of the AIS normally produces a (modest) increase in excitability, but we explain how this pattern can reverse if a hyperpolarizing current is present at the AIS, due to resistive coupling with the soma. This work provides a theoretical tool to assess the significance of structural AIS plasticity for electrical function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Goethals
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Romain Brette
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
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