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Kim JJ, Wyche IS, Olson W, Lu J, Bakir MS, Sober SJ, O'Connor DH. Myo-optogenetics: optogenetic stimulation and electrical recording in skeletal muscles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.21.600113. [PMID: 38979246 PMCID: PMC11230246 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.21.600113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Complex movements involve highly coordinated control of local muscle elements. Highly controlled perturbations of motor outputs can reveal insights into the neural control of movements. Here we introduce an optogenetic method, compatible with electromyography (EMG) recordings, to perturb muscles in transgenic mice. By expressing channelrhodopsin in muscle fibers, we achieved noninvasive, focal activation of orofacial muscles, enabling detailed examination of the mechanical properties of optogenetically evoked jaw muscle contractions. We demonstrated simultaneous EMG recording and optical stimulation, revealing the electrophysiological characteristics of optogenetically triggered muscle activity. Additionally, we applied optogenetic activation of muscles in physiologically and behaviorally relevant settings, mapping precise muscle actions and perturbing active behaviors. Our findings highlight the potential of muscle optogenetics to precisely manipulate muscle activity, offering a powerful tool for probing neuromuscular control systems and advancing our understanding of motor control.
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Bibineyshvili Y, Vajtay TJ, Salsabilian S, Fliss N, Suvarnakar A, Fang J, Teng S, Alder J, Najafizadeh L, Margolis DJ. Imaging the large-scale and cellular response to focal traumatic brain injury in mouse neocortex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.24.590835. [PMID: 38712183 PMCID: PMC11071467 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.24.590835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects neural function at the local injury site and also at distant, connected brain areas. However, the real-time neural dynamics in response to injury and subsequent effects on sensory processing and behavior are not fully resolved, especially across a range of spatial scales. We used in vivo calcium imaging in awake, head-restrained male and female mice to measure large-scale and cellular resolution neuronal activation, respectively, in response to a mild TBI induced by focal controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury of the motor cortex (M1). Widefield imaging revealed an immediate CCI-induced activation at the injury site, followed by a massive slow wave of calcium signal activation that traveled across the majority of the dorsal cortex within approximately 30 s. Correspondingly, two-photon calcium imaging in primary somatosensory cortex (S1) found strong activation of neuropil and neuronal populations during the CCI-induced traveling wave. A depression of calcium signals followed the wave, during which we observed atypical activity of a sparse population of S1 neurons. Longitudinal imaging in the hours and days after CCI revealed increases in the area of whisker-evoked sensory maps at early time points, in parallel to decreases in cortical functional connectivity and behavioral measures. Neural and behavioral changes mostly recovered over hours to days in our mild-TBI model, with a more lasting decrease in the number of active S1 neurons. Our results provide novel spatial and temporal views of neural adaptations that occur at cortical sites remote to a focal brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yelena Bibineyshvili
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway NJ, USA
| | - Thomas J Vajtay
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway NJ, USA
| | - Shiva Salsabilian
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Nicholas Fliss
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway NJ, USA
| | - Aastha Suvarnakar
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway NJ, USA
| | - Jennifer Fang
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway NJ, USA
| | - Shavonne Teng
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Janet Alder
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Laleh Najafizadeh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - David J Margolis
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway NJ, USA
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High throughput 3D gel-based neural organotypic model for cellular assays using fluorescence biosensors. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1236. [PMID: 36371462 PMCID: PMC9653447 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04177-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) organotypic models that capture native-like physiological features of tissues are being pursued as clinically predictive assays for therapeutics development. A range of these models are being developed to mimic brain morphology, physiology, and pathology of neurological diseases. Biofabrication of 3D gel-based cellular systems is emerging as a versatile technology to produce spatially and cell-type tailored, physiologically complex and native-like tissue models. Here we produce 3D fibrin gel-based functional neural co-culture models with human-iPSC differentiated dopaminergic or glutamatergic neurons and astrocytes. We further introduce genetically encoded fluorescence biosensors and optogenetics activation for real time functional measurements of intracellular calcium and levels of dopamine and glutamate neurotransmitters, in a high-throughput compatible plate format. We use pharmacological perturbations to demonstrate that the drug responses of 3D gel-based neural models are like those expected from in-vivo data, and in some cases, in contrast to those observed in the equivalent 2D neural models. Fibrin gel-based 3D co-culture models with human-iPSC differentiated dopaminergic or glutamatergic neurons and astrocytes are shown to be functional using biosensors and can be scaled up for high-throughput assays.
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Missey F, Botzanowski B, Migliaccio L, Acerbo E, Głowacki ED, Williamson A. Organic electrolytic photocapacitors for stimulation of the mouse somatosensory cortex. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 34749345 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac37a6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Objective.For decades electrical stimulation has been used in neuroscience to investigate brain networks and been deployed clinically as a mode of therapy. Classically, all methods of electrical stimulation require implanted electrodes to be connected in some manner to an apparatus which provides power for the stimulation itself.Approach. We show the use of novel organic electronic devices, specifically organic electrolytic photocapacitors (OEPCs), which can be activated when illuminated with deep-red wavelengths of light and correspondingly do not require connections with external wires or power supplies when implanted at various depthsin vivo. Main results. We stimulated cortical brain tissue of mice with devices implanted subcutaneously, as well as beneath both the skin and skull to demonstrate a wireless stimulation of the whisker motor cortex. Devices induced both a behavior response (whisker movement) and a sensory response in the corresponding sensory cortex. Additionally, we showed that coating OEPCs with a thin layer of a conducting polymer formulation (PEDOT:PSS) significantly increases their charge storage capacity, and can be used to further optimize the applied photoelectrical stimulation.Significance. Overall, this new technology can provide an on-demand electrical stimulation by simply using an OEPC and a deep-red wavelength illumination. Wires and interconnects to provide power to implanted neurostimulation electrodes are often problematic in freely-moving animal research and with implanted electrodes for long-term therapy in patients. Our wireless brain stimulation opens new perspectives for wireless electrical stimulation for applications in fundamental neurostimulation and in chronic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Missey
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS), INSERM, UMR_1106, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Boris Botzanowski
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS), INSERM, UMR_1106, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Ludovico Migliaccio
- Bioelectronics Materials and Devices Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Emma Acerbo
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS), INSERM, UMR_1106, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Eric Daniel Głowacki
- Bioelectronics Materials and Devices Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic.,Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Campus Norrköping, Linköping University, SE-60174 Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Adam Williamson
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS), INSERM, UMR_1106, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.,Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Campus Norrköping, Linköping University, SE-60174 Norrköping, Sweden.,Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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5
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Zhou Z, Liao L. Optogenetic Neuromodulation of the Urinary Bladder. Neuromodulation 2021; 24:1229-1236. [PMID: 34375470 DOI: 10.1111/ner.13516] [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: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Nerve stimulation and neuromodulation have become acceptable interventions for bladder dysfunction. However, electrical stimulation indiscriminately affects all types of cells and can lead to treatment failure and off-target effects. In recent years, advancement of knowledge of optogenetics provides a powerful tool to enable precise, minimally invasive neuromodulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this review, we introduce basic knowledge about optogenetics; discuss the progression of engineered opsins, gene-targeting methods, and light-delivery approaches; we also summarize the application of optogenetics in neuromodulation of the bladder and discuss the possible clinical translation in the future. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Optogenetics offers a powerful tool to investigate the neural circuit of bladder storage and voiding and provides a promising approach for manipulating neurons and muscles. It is possible to achieve coordinated modulation of the bladder and its sphincter through a "closed-loop" system. Optogenetics neuromodulation could also be applied in urinary bladder control in the clinic in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghan Zhou
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Department of Urology, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China.,University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Limin Liao
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Department of Urology, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China.,University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China.,School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Liu X, Bibineyshvili Y, Robles DA, Boreland AJ, Margolis DJ, Shreiber DI, Zahn JD. Fabrication of a Multilayer Implantable Cortical Microelectrode Probe to Improve Recording Potential. JOURNAL OF MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS : A JOINT IEEE AND ASME PUBLICATION ON MICROSTRUCTURES, MICROACTUATORS, MICROSENSORS, AND MICROSYSTEMS 2021; 30:569-581. [PMID: 34539168 PMCID: PMC8445332 DOI: 10.1109/jmems.2021.3092230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Intracortical neural probes are a key enabling technology for acquiring high fidelity neural signals within the cortex. They are viewed as a crucial component of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) in order to record electrical activities from neurons within the brain. Smaller, more flexible, polymer-based probes have been investigated for their potential to limit the acute and chronic neural tissue response. Conventional methods of patterning electrodes and connecting traces on a single supporting layer can limit the number of recording sites which can be defined, particularly when designing narrower probes. We present a novel strategy of increasing the number of recording sites without proportionally increasing the size of the probe by using a multilayer fabrication process to vertically layer recording traces on multiple Parylene support layers, allowing more recording traces to be defined on a smaller probe width. Using this approach, we are able to define 16 electrodes on 4 supporting layers (4 electrodes per layer), each with a 30 μm diameter recording window and 5 μm wide connecting trace defined by conventional LWUV lithography, on an 80 μm wide by 9 μm thick microprobe. Prior to in vitro and in vivo validation, the multilayer probes are electrically characterized via impedance spectroscopy and evaluating crosstalk between adjacent layers. Demonstration of acute in vitro recordings in a cerebral organoid model and in vivo recordings in a murine model indicate the probe's capability for single unit recordings. This work demonstrates the ability to fabricate smaller, more compliant neural probes without sacrificing electrode density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
| | - Yelena Bibineyshvili
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
| | - Denise A Robles
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
| | - Andrew J Boreland
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
| | - David J Margolis
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
| | - David I Shreiber
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
| | - Jeffrey D Zahn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
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Xu L, Zheng Y, Li X, Wang A, Huo D, Li Q, Wang S, Luo Z, Liu Y, Xu F, Wu X, Wu M, Zhou Y. Abnormal neocortex arealization and Sotos-like syndrome-associated behavior in Setd2 mutant mice. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/1/eaba1180. [PMID: 33523829 PMCID: PMC7775761 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba1180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Proper formation of area identities of the cerebral cortex is crucial for cognitive functions and social behaviors of the brain. It remains largely unknown whether epigenetic mechanisms, including histone methylation, regulate cortical arealization. Here, we removed SETD2, the methyltransferase for histone 3 lysine-36 trimethylation (H3K36me3), in the developing dorsal forebrain in mice and showed that Setd2 is required for proper cortical arealization and the formation of cortico-thalamo-cortical circuits. Moreover, Setd2 conditional knockout mice exhibit defects in social interaction, motor learning, and spatial memory, reminiscent of patients with the Sotos-like syndrome bearing SETD2 mutations. SETD2 maintains the expression of clustered protocadherin (cPcdh) genes in an H3K36me3 methyltransferase-dependent manner. Aberrant cortical arealization was recapitulated in cPcdh heterozygous mice. Together, our study emphasizes epigenetic mechanisms underlying cortical arealization and pathogenesis of the Sotos-like syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichao Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, and Medical Research Institute at School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yue Zheng
- College of Life Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, and Medical Research Institute at School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xuejing Li
- College of Life Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, and Medical Research Institute at School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Andi Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, and Medical Research Institute at School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Dawei Huo
- Department of Cell Biology, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, Qixiangtai Road 22, Tianjin 300070, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Laboratory of Neuro-Oncology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Qinglan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, and Medical Research Institute at School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Shikang Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, and Medical Research Institute at School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhiyuan Luo
- College of Life Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, and Medical Research Institute at School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ying Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, and Medical Research Institute at School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Fuqiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xudong Wu
- Department of Cell Biology, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, Qixiangtai Road 22, Tianjin 300070, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Laboratory of Neuro-Oncology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Min Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, and Medical Research Institute at School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Yan Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, and Medical Research Institute at School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
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Ganji E, Chan CS, Ward CW, Killian ML. Optogenetic activation of muscle contraction in vivo. Connect Tissue Res 2021; 62:15-23. [PMID: 32777957 PMCID: PMC7718400 DOI: 10.1080/03008207.2020.1798943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: Optogenetics is an emerging alternative to traditional electrical stimulation to initiate action potentials in activatable cells both ex vivo and in vivo. Optogenetics has been commonly used in mammalian neurons and more recently, it has been adapted for activation of cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the stimulation feasibility and sustain isometric muscle contraction and limit decay for an extended period of time (1s), using non-invasive transdermal light activation of skeletal muscle (triceps surae) in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used inducible Cre recombination to target expression of Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2(H134R)-EYFP) in skeletal muscle (Acta1-Cre) in mice. Fluorescent imaging confirmed that ChR2 expression is localized in skeletal muscle and does not have specific expression in sciatic nerve branch, therefore, allowing for non-nerve mediated optical stimulation of skeletal muscle. We induced muscle contraction using transdermal exposure to blue light and selected 10 Hz stimulation after controlled optimization experiments to sustain prolonged muscle contraction. RESULTS Increasing the stimulation frequency from 10 Hz to 40 Hz increased the muscle contraction decay during prolonged 1s stimulation, highlighting frequency dependency and importance of membrane repolarization for effective light activation. Finally, we showed that optimized pulsed optogenetic stimulation of 10 Hz resulted in comparable ankle torque and contractile functionality to that of electrical stimulation. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the feasibility and repeatability of non-invasive optogenetic stimulation of muscle in vivo and highlight optogenetic stimulation as a powerful tool for non-invasive in vivo direct activation of skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elahe Ganji
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109
| | - C. Savio Chan
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Christopher W. Ward
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Megan L. Killian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109
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Staiger JF, Petersen CCH. Neuronal Circuits in Barrel Cortex for Whisker Sensory Perception. Physiol Rev 2020; 101:353-415. [PMID: 32816652 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00019.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The array of whiskers on the snout provides rodents with tactile sensory information relating to the size, shape and texture of objects in their immediate environment. Rodents can use their whiskers to detect stimuli, distinguish textures, locate objects and navigate. Important aspects of whisker sensation are thought to result from neuronal computations in the whisker somatosensory cortex (wS1). Each whisker is individually represented in the somatotopic map of wS1 by an anatomical unit named a 'barrel' (hence also called barrel cortex). This allows precise investigation of sensory processing in the context of a well-defined map. Here, we first review the signaling pathways from the whiskers to wS1, and then discuss current understanding of the various types of excitatory and inhibitory neurons present within wS1. Different classes of cells can be defined according to anatomical, electrophysiological and molecular features. The synaptic connectivity of neurons within local wS1 microcircuits, as well as their long-range interactions and the impact of neuromodulators, are beginning to be understood. Recent technological progress has allowed cell-type-specific connectivity to be related to cell-type-specific activity during whisker-related behaviors. An important goal for future research is to obtain a causal and mechanistic understanding of how selected aspects of tactile sensory information are processed by specific types of neurons in the synaptically connected neuronal networks of wS1 and signaled to downstream brain areas, thus contributing to sensory-guided decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochen F Staiger
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Neuroanatomy, Göttingen, Germany; and Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Faculty of Life Sciences, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carl C H Petersen
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Neuroanatomy, Göttingen, Germany; and Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Faculty of Life Sciences, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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10
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Abstract
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is highly complicated and heterogenous. Conventional neuromodulatory approaches have revealed numerous essential biological functions of the PNS and provided excellent tools to treat a large variety of human diseases. Yet growing evidence indicated the importance of cell-type-specific neuromodulation in the PNS in not only biological research using animal models but also potential human therapies. Optogenetics is a recently developed neuromodulatory approach combining optics and genetics that can effectively stimulate or silence neuronal activity with high spatial and temporal precision. Here, I review research regarding optogenetic manipulations for cell-type-specific control of the PNS, highlighting the advantages and challenges of current optogenetic tools, and discuss their potential future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui B Chang
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
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11
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Kubota S, Sidikejiang W, Kudo M, Inoue KI, Umeda T, Takada M, Seki K. Optogenetic recruitment of spinal reflex pathways from large-diameter primary afferents in non-transgenic rats transduced with AAV9/Channelrhodopsin 2. J Physiol 2019; 597:5025-5040. [PMID: 31397900 PMCID: PMC6851594 DOI: 10.1113/jp278292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Key points We demonstrated optical activation of primary somatosensory afferents with high selectivity to fast‐conducting fibres by means of adeno‐associated virus 9 (AAV9)‐mediated gene transduction in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. AVV9 expressing green fluorescent protein showed high selectivity and transduction efficiency for fast‐conducting, large‐sized DRG neurons. Compared with conventional electrical stimulation, optically elicited volleys in primary afferents had higher sensitivity with stimulus amplitude, but lower sensitivity with stimulus frequency. Optically elicited dorsal root volleys activated postsynaptic neurons in the segmental spinal pathway. This proposed technique will help establish the causal relationships between somatosensory afferent inputs and neural responses in the CNS as well as behavioural outcomes in higher mammals where transgenic animals are not available.
Abstract Previously, fundamental structures and their mode of action in the spinal reflex circuit were determined by confirming their input–output relationship using electrophysiological techniques. In those experiments, the electrical stimulation of afferent fibres was used as a core element to identify different types of reflex pathways; however, a major disadvantage of this technique is its non‐selectivity. In this study, we investigated the selective activation of large‐diameter afferents by optogenetics combined with a virus vector transduction technique (injection via the sciatic nerve) in non‐transgenic male Jcl:Wistar rats. We found that green fluorescent protein gene transduction of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons with a preference for medium‐to‐large‐sized cells was achieved using the adeno‐associated virus 9 (AAV9) vector compared with the AAV6 vector (P = 0.021). Furthermore, the optical stimulation of Channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2)‐expressing DRG neurons (transduced by AAV9) produced compound action potentials in afferent nerves originating from fast‐conducting nerve fibres. We also confirmed that physiological responses to different stimulus amplitudes were comparable between optogenetic and electrophysiological activation. However, compared with electrically elicited responses, the optically elicited responses had lower sensitivity with stimulus frequency. Finally, we showed that afferent volleys evoked by optical stimulation were sufficient to activate postsynaptic neurons in the spinal reflex arc. These results provide new ways for understanding the role of sensory afferent input to the central nervous system regarding behavioural control, especially when genetically manipulated animals are not available, such as higher mammals including non‐human primates. We demonstrated optical activation of primary somatosensory afferents with high selectivity to fast‐conducting fibres by means of adeno‐associated virus 9 (AAV9)‐mediated gene transduction in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. AVV9 expressing green fluorescent protein showed high selectivity and transduction efficiency for fast‐conducting, large‐sized DRG neurons. Compared with conventional electrical stimulation, optically elicited volleys in primary afferents had higher sensitivity with stimulus amplitude, but lower sensitivity with stimulus frequency. Optically elicited dorsal root volleys activated postsynaptic neurons in the segmental spinal pathway. This proposed technique will help establish the causal relationships between somatosensory afferent inputs and neural responses in the CNS as well as behavioural outcomes in higher mammals where transgenic animals are not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Kubota
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.,Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wupuer Sidikejiang
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Moeko Kudo
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Inoue
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Department of Neuroscience, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan.,PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Umeda
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiko Takada
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Department of Neuroscience, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Seki
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
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12
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Vajtay TJ, Bandi A, Upadhyay A, Swerdel MR, Hart RP, Lee CR, Margolis DJ. Optogenetic and transcriptomic interrogation of enhanced muscle function in the paralyzed mouse whisker pad. J Neurophysiol 2019; 121:1491-1500. [PMID: 30785807 PMCID: PMC6485730 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00837.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The functional state of denervated muscle is a critical factor in the ability to restore movement after injury- or disease-related paralysis. Here we used peripheral optogenetic stimulation and transcriptome profiling in the mouse whisker system to investigate the time course of changes in neuromuscular function following complete unilateral facial nerve transection. While most skeletal muscles rapidly lose functionality after lower motor neuron denervation, optogenetic muscle stimulation of the paralyzed whisker pad revealed sustained increases in the sensitivity, velocity, and amplitude of whisker movements, and reduced fatigability, starting 48 h after denervation. RNA-seq analysis showed distinct regulation of multiple gene families in denervated whisker pad muscles compared with the atrophy-prone soleus, including prominent changes in ion channels and contractile fibers. Together, our results define the unique functional and transcriptomic landscape of denervated facial muscles and have general implications for restoring movement after neuromuscular injury or disease. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Optogenetic activation of muscle can be used to noninvasively induce movements and probe muscle function. We used this technique in mice to investigate changes in whisker movements following facial nerve transection. We found unexpectedly enhanced functional properties of whisker pad muscle following denervation, accompanied by unique transcriptomic changes. Our findings highlight the utility of the mouse whisker pad for investigating the restoration of movement after paralysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Vajtay
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Akhil Bandi
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Aman Upadhyay
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Mavis R Swerdel
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Ronald P Hart
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Christian R Lee
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - David J Margolis
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , Piscataway, New Jersey
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Wang W. Optogenetic manipulation of ENS - The brain in the gut. Life Sci 2017; 192:18-25. [PMID: 29155296 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics has emerged as an important tool in neuroscience, especially in central nervous system research. It allows for the study of the brain's highly complex network with high temporal and spatial resolution. The enteric nervous system (ENS), the brain in the gut, plays critical roles for life. Although advanced progress has been made, the neural circuits of the ENS remain only partly understood because the appropriate research tools are lacking. In this review, I highlight the potential application of optogenetics in ENS research. Firstly, I describe the development of optogenetics with focusing on its three main components. I discuss the applications in vitro and in vivo, and summarize current findings in the ENS research field obtained by optogenetics. Finally, the challenges for the application of optogenetics to the ENS research will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- School of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou 363000, China.
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Lee CR, Margolis DJ. Pupil Dynamics Reflect Behavioral Choice and Learning in a Go/NoGo Tactile Decision-Making Task in Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:200. [PMID: 27847470 PMCID: PMC5088187 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The eye’s pupil undergoes dynamic changes in diameter associated with cognitive effort, motor activity and emotional state, and can be used to index brain state across mammalian species. Recent studies in head-fixed mice have linked arousal-related pupil dynamics with global neural activity as well as the activity of specific neuronal populations. However, it has remained unclear how pupil dynamics in mice report trial-by-trial performance of behavioral tasks, and change on a longer time scale with learning. We measured pupil dynamics longitudinally as mice learned to perform a Go/NoGo tactile decision-making task. Mice learned to discriminate between two textures presented to the whiskers by licking in response to the Go texture (Hit trial) or withholding licking in response to the NoGo texture (Correct Reject trial, CR). Characteristic pupil dynamics were associated with behavioral choices: large-amplitude pupil dilation prior to and during licking accompanied Hit and False Alarm (FA) responses, while smaller amplitude dilation followed by constriction accompanied CR responses. With learning, the choice-dependent pupil dynamics became more pronounced, including larger amplitude dilations in both Hit and FA trials and earlier onset dilations in Hit and CR trials. A more pronounced constriction was also present in CR trials. Furthermore, pupil dynamics predicted behavioral choice increasingly with learning to greater than 80% accuracy. Our results indicate that pupil dynamics reflect behavioral choice and learning in head-fixed mice, and have implications for understanding decision- and learning-related neuronal activity in pupil-linked neural circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R Lee
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - David J Margolis
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Piscataway, NJ, USA
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