scholarly journals Astrocytes in the mouse visual cortex reliably respond to visual stimulation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keita Sonoda ◽  
Teppei Matsui ◽  
Haruhiko Bito ◽  
Kenichi Ohki
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
List Type ◽  
Visual Responses ◽  
Two Photon ◽  
Dual Color ◽  
Cross Correlation Analysis ◽  
Mouse Visual Cortex

AbstractAstrocytes are known to contact with a great number of synapses and may integrate sensory inputs. In the ferret primary visual cortex, astrocytes respond to a visual stimulus with a delay of several seconds with respect to the surrounding neurons. However, in the mouse visual cortex, it remains unclear whether astrocytes respond to visual stimulations. In this study, using dual-color simultaneous in vivo two-photon Ca2+ imaging of neurons and astrocytes in the awake mouse visual cortex, we examined the visual responsiveness of astrocytes and their precise response timing relative to the surrounding neurons. Neurons reliably responded to visual stimulations, whereas astrocytes often showed neuromodulator-mediated global activities, which largely masked small periodic activities. Administration of the selective α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin substantially reduced such global astrocytic activities without affecting the neuronal visual responses. In the presence of prazosin, astrocytes showed weak but consistent visual responses mostly at their somata. Cross-correlation analysis estimated that the astrocytic visual responses were delayed by approximately 5 s relative to the surrounding neuronal responses. In conclusion, our research demonstrated that astrocytes in the primary visual cortex of awake mice responded to visual stimuli with a delay of several seconds relative to the surrounding neurons, which may indicate the existence of a common mechanism of neuron–astrocyte communication across species.HighlightsWe performed dual-color in vivo two-photon Ca2+ imaging of neurons and astrocytes.α1-adrenoblocker prazosin substantially reduced global astrocytic activities.Astrocytes showed weak but reliable visual responses in the awake mouse visual cortex.Astrocytic visual responses were delayed by 5 s relative to the neuronal ones.

scholarly journals Context-dependent signaling of coincident auditory and visual events in primary visual cortex

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Deneux ◽  
Alexandre Kempf ◽  
Brice Bathellier
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Calcium Imaging ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Visual Responses ◽  
Sound Sources ◽  
Two Photon ◽  
Visual Events ◽  
Visual Inputs ◽  
Sensory Modalities

AbstractDetecting rapid coincident changes across sensory modalities is essential to recognize sudden threats and events. Using two-photon calcium imaging in identified cell types in awake mice, we show that auditory cortex (AC) neurons projecting to primary visual cortex (V1) preferentially encode the abrupt onsets of sounds. In V1, a sub-population of layer 1 interneurons gates this selective cross-modal information by a suppression specific to the absence of visual inputs. However, when large auditory onsets coincide with visual stimuli, visual responses are strongly boosted in V1. Thus, a dynamic asymmetric circuit across AC and V1 specifically identifies visual events starting simultaneously to sudden sounds, potentially catalyzing localization of new sound sources in the visual field.

scholarly journals In Vivo Two-Photon Ca2+ Imaging Reveals Selective Reward Effects on Stimulus-Specific Assemblies in Mouse Visual Cortex

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (28) ◽  
pp. 11540-11555 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Goltstein ◽  
E. B. J. Coffey ◽  
P. R. Roelfsema ◽  
C. M. A. Pennartz
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Two Photon ◽  
Mouse Visual Cortex ◽  
Reward Effects

In vivo two-photon imaging analysis of development of direction and orientation selectivity in the mouse visual cortex

2011 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. e257
Author(s):  
Madoka Narushima ◽  
Nathalie L. Rochefort ◽  
Christine Grienberger ◽  
Nima Marandi ◽  
Arthur Konnerth
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Orientation Selectivity ◽  
Imaging Analysis ◽  
Two Photon ◽  
Photon Imaging ◽  
Two Photon Imaging ◽  
Mouse Visual Cortex

scholarly journals Activation of neuromodulatory axon projections in primary visual cortex during periods of locomotion and pupil dilation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rylan Scott Larsen ◽  
Emily Turschak ◽  
Tanya Daigle ◽  
Hongkui Zeng ◽  
Jun Zhuang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Pupil Dilation ◽  
Cortical Function ◽  
Forward Movement ◽  
Physiological Factor ◽  
Two Photon Microscopy ◽  
Two Photon ◽  
Subcortical Nuclei

Neuromodulators such as acetylcholine, noradrenaline (norepinephrine), and serotonin are released into the cortex by axons ascending from subcortical nuclei. These neuromodulators have been hypothesized to influence cortical function during behavioral periods such as arousal, locomotion, exploration, and attention. To determine when these neuromodulatory projections were active, we expressed the genetically-encoded calcium sensor GCaMP6 in neuromodulatory axons which project to the mouse primary visual cortex and performed two-photon microscopy to monitor their activity in vivo. We observed that the fluorescence of both cholinergic and noradrenergic axons increased during periods of pupil dilation, with the fluorescence of the axons rising less than one second before eye pupil dilation. We also observed increases in cholinergic and noradrenergic axon fluorescence periods of locomotion, which was accompanied by pupil dilation and nasal (forward) movement of both pupils. Locomotion was preceded by a rise in axonal fluorescence with a timing and amplitude that matched the subsequent pupil dilation, but axon fluorescence was more sustained than expected from the pupil dilation, suggesting that there is an additional physiological factor that affects cholinergic and noradrenergic axon activity in primary visual cortex during locomotion.

scholarly journals Distinct “driving” versus “modulatory” influences of different visual corticothalamic pathways

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan A. Kirchgessner ◽  
Alexis D. Franklin ◽  
Edward M. Callaway
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Superior Colliculus ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Cortical Layer ◽  
Single Neurons ◽  
Visual Responses ◽  
Thalamic Nuclei ◽  
Visual Thalamus

AbstractHigher-order (HO) thalamic nuclei interact extensively with the cerebral cortex and are innervated by excitatory corticothalamic (CT) populations in layers 5 and 6. While these distinct CT projections have long been thought to have different functional influences on the HO thalamus, this has never been directly tested. By optogenetically inactivating different CT populations in the primary visual cortex (V1) of awake mice, we demonstrate that layer 5, but not layer 6, CT projections drive visual responses in the HO visual pulvinar, even while both pathways provide retinotopic, baseline excitation to their thalamic targets. Inactivating the superior colliculus also suppressed visual responses in the pulvinar, demonstrating that cortical layer 5 and subcortical inputs both contribute to HO visual thalamic activity - even at the level of putative single neurons. Altogether, these results indicate a functional division of driver and modulator CT pathways from V1 to the visual thalamus in vivo.

scholarly journals Parallel holographic illumination enables sub-millisecond two-photon optogenetic activation in mouse visual cortex in vivo

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
I-Wen Chen ◽  
Emiliano Ronzitti ◽  
Brian R. Lee ◽  
Tanya L. Daigle ◽  
Hongkui Zeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Temporal Resolution ◽  
Optical Control ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Two Photon ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
All Optical ◽  
Mouse Visual Cortex

AbstractSelective control of action potential generation in individual cells from a neuronal ensemble is desirable for dissecting circuit mechanisms underlying perception and behavior. Here, by using two-photon (2P) temporally focused computer-generated holography (TF-CGH), we demonstrate optical manipulation of neuronal excitability at the supragranular layers of anesthetized mouse visual cortex. Utilizing amplified laser-pulses delivered via a localized holographic spot, our optical system achieves suprathreshold activation by exciting either of the three optogenetic actuators, ReaChR, CoChR or ChrimsonR, with brief illumination (≤ 10 ms) at moderate excitation power ((in average ≤ 0.2 mW/µm2 corresponding to ≤ 25 mW/cell). Using 2P-guided whole-cell or cell-attached recordings in positive neurons expressing respective opsin in vivo, we find that parallel illumination induces spikes of millisecond temporal resolution and sub-millisecond precision, which are preserved upon repetitive illuminations up to tens of Hz. Holographic stimulation thus enables temporally precise optogenetic activation independently of opsin’s channel kinetics. Furthermore, we demonstrate that parallel optogenetic activation can be combined with functional imaging for all-optical control of a neuronal sub-population that co-expresses the photosensitive opsin ReaChR and the calcium indicator GCaMP6s. Parallel optical control of neuronal activity with cellular resolution and millisecond temporal precision should be advantageous for investigating neuronal connections and further yielding causal links between connectivity, microcircuit dynamics, and brain functions.Significance statementRecent development of optogenetics allows probing the neuronal microcircuit with light by optically actuating genetically-encoded light-sensitive opsins expressed in the target cells. Here, we apply holographic light shaping and temporal focusing to simultaneously deliver axially-confined holographic patterns to opsin-positive cells situated in the living mouse cortex. Parallel illumination efficiently induces action potentials with high temporal resolution and precision for three opsins of different kinetics. We demonstrated all-optical experiments by extending the parallel optogenetic activation at low intensity to multiple neurons and concurrently monitoring their calcium dynamics. These results demonstrate fast and temporally precise in vivo control of a neuronal sub-population, opening new opportunities to reveal circuit mechanisms underlying brain functions.

scholarly journals Navigating the translational roadblock: Towards highly specific and effective all-optical interrogations of neural circuits

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Fu ◽  
Isabelle Arnoux ◽  
Jan Döring ◽  
Hirofumi Watari ◽  
Ignas Stasevicius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Calcium Imaging ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Detection Algorithm ◽  
Two Photon ◽  
All Optical ◽  
Laser Sources ◽  
Mouse Visual Cortex

AbstractTwo-photon (2-P) all-optical approaches combine in vivo 2-P calcium imaging and 2-P optogenetic modulations and have the potential to build a framework for network-based therapies, e.g. for rebalancing maladaptive activity patterns in preclinical models of neurological disorders. Here, our goal was to tailor these approaches for this purpose: Firstly, we combined in vivo juxtacellular recordings and GCaMP6f-based 2-P calcium imaging in layer II/III of mouse visual cortex to tune our detection algorithm towards a 100 % specific identification of AP-related calcium transients. False-positive-free detection was achieved at a sensitivity of approximately 73 %. To further increase specificity, secondly, we minimized photostimulation artifacts as a potential source for false-positives by using extended-wavelength-spectrum laser sources for optogenetic stimulation of the excitatory opsin C1V1. We achieved artifact-free all-optical experiments performing photostimulations at 1100 nm or higher and simultaneous calcium imaging at 920 nm in mouse visual cortex in vivo. Thirdly, we determined the spectral range for maximizing efficacy of optogenetic control by performing 2-P photostimulations of individual neurons with wavelengths up to 1300 nm. The rate of evoked transients in GCaMP6f/C1V1-co-expressing cortical neurons peaked already at 1100 nm. By refining spike detection and defining 1100 nm as the optimal wavelength for artifact-free and effective stimulations of C1V1 in GCaMP-based all-optical interrogations, we increased the translational value of these approaches, e.g. for the use in preclinical applications of network-based therapies.One Sentence SummaryWe maximize translational relevance of 2-P all-optical physiology by increasing specificity, minimizing artifacts and optimizing stimulation efficacy.

scholarly journals Traumatic brain injury to primary visual cortex produces long-lasting circuit dysfunction

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan C. Frankowski ◽  
Andrzej T. Foik ◽  
Alexa Tierno ◽  
Jiana R. Machhor ◽  
David C. Lyon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Orientation Tuning ◽  
V1 Neurons ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
Electrophysiological Recordings

AbstractPrimary sensory areas of the mammalian neocortex have a remarkable degree of plasticity, allowing neural circuits to adapt to dynamic environments. However, little is known about the effects of traumatic brain injury on visual circuit function. Here we used anatomy and in vivo electrophysiological recordings in adult mice to quantify neuron responses to visual stimuli two weeks and three months after mild controlled cortical impact injury to primary visual cortex (V1). We found that, although V1 remained largely intact in brain-injured mice, there was ~35% reduction in the number of neurons that affected inhibitory cells more broadly than excitatory neurons. V1 neurons showed dramatically reduced activity, impaired responses to visual stimuli and weaker size selectivity and orientation tuning in vivo. Our results show a single, mild contusion injury produces profound and long-lasting impairments in the way V1 neurons encode visual input. These findings provide initial insight into cortical circuit dysfunction following central visual system neurotrauma.

scholarly journals Motion/direction-sensitive thalamic neurons project extensively to the middle layers of primary visual cortex

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Zhuang ◽  
Yun Wang ◽  
Naveen D Ouellette ◽  
Emily Turschak ◽  
Rylan Larsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Middle Layer ◽  
Current View ◽  
Motion Direction ◽  
Thalamic Neurons ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Single Axon

The motion/direction-sensitive and location-sensitive neurons are two major functional types in mouse visual thalamus that project to the primary visual cortex (V1). It has been proposed that the motion/direction-sensitive neurons mainly target the superficial layers in V1, in contrast to the location-sensitive neurons which mainly target the middle layers. Here, by imaging calcium activities of motion/direction-sensitive and location-sensitive axons in V1, we find no evidence for these cell-type specific laminar biases at population level. Furthermore, using a novel approach to reconstruct single-axon structures with identified in vivo response types, we show that, at single-axon level, the motion/direction-sensitive axons have middle layer preferences and project more densely to the middle layers than the location-sensitive axons. Overall, our results demonstrate that Motion/direction-sensitive thalamic neurons project extensively to the middle layers of V1, challenging the current view of the thalamocortical organizations in the mouse visual system.

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