OptoGenie: an open-source device for the optogenetic stimulation of cells

AbstractFear generalization and deficits in extinction learning are debilitating dimensions of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Most understanding of the neurobiology underlying these dimensions comes from studies of cortical and limbic brain regions. While thalamic and subthalamic regions have been implicated in modulating fear, the potential for incerto-thalamic pathways to suppress fear generalization and rescue deficits in extinction recall remains unexplored. We first used patch-clamp electrophysiology to examine functional connections between the subthalamic zona incerta and thalamic reuniens (RE). Optogenetic stimulation of GABAergic ZI → RE cell terminals in vitro induced inhibitory post-synaptic currents (IPSCs) in the RE. We then combined high-intensity discriminative auditory fear conditioning with cell-type-specific and projection-specific optogenetics in mice to assess functional roles of GABAergic ZI → RE cell projections in modulating fear generalization and extinction recall. In addition, we used a similar approach to test the possibility of fear generalization and extinction recall being modulated by a smaller subset of GABAergic ZI → RE cells, the A13 dopaminergic cell population. Optogenetic stimulation of GABAergic ZI → RE cell terminals attenuated fear generalization and enhanced extinction recall. In contrast, optogenetic stimulation of dopaminergic ZI → RE cell terminals had no effect on fear generalization but enhanced extinction recall in a dopamine receptor D1-dependent manner. Our findings shed new light on the neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of ZI-located cells that contribute to adaptive fear by increasing the precision and extinction of learned associations. In so doing, these data reveal novel neuroanatomical substrates that could be therapeutically targeted for treatment of PTSD.

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Involvement of MCH-oxytocin neural relay within the hypothalamus in murine nursing behavior

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-82773-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yoko Kato ◽

Harumi Katsumata ◽

Ayumu Inutsuka ◽

Akihiro Yamanaka ◽

Tatsushi Onaka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mammalian Species ◽

Virgin Female ◽

Essential Elements ◽

Hypothalamic Nucleus ◽

Male Mice ◽

Hypothalamic Area ◽

Functional Roles ◽

Genetic Ablation ◽

Optogenetic Stimulation ◽

Stimulation Of

AbstractMultiple sequential actions, performed during parental behaviors, are essential elements of reproduction in mammalian species. We showed that neurons expressing melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) are more active in rodents of both sexes when exhibiting parental nursing behavior. Genetic ablation of the LHA-MCH neurons impaired maternal nursing. The post-birth survival rate was lower in pups born to female mice with congenitally ablated MCH neurons under control of tet-off system, exhibiting reduced crouching behavior. Virgin female and male mice with ablated MCH neurons were less interested in pups and maternal care. Chemogenetic and optogenetic stimulation of LHA-MCH neurons induced parental nursing in virgin female and male mice. LHA-MCH GABAergic neurons project fibres to the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) neurons. Optogenetic stimulation of PVN induces nursing crouching behavior along with increasing plasma oxytocin levels. The hypothalamic MCH neural relays play important functional roles in parental nursing behavior in female and male mice.

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Direct optogenetic stimulation of smooth muscle cells to control gastric contractility

10.1055/s-0041-1733752 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

R Patejdl ◽

M Vogt ◽

B Schulz ◽

A Wagdi ◽

J Lebert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Muscle Cells ◽

Optogenetic Stimulation ◽

Stimulation Of

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Striatal dopamine mediates hallucination-like perception in mice

Science ◽

10.1126/science.abf4740 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 372 (6537) ◽

pp. eabf4740

Author(s):

K. Schmack ◽

M. Bosc ◽

T. Ott ◽

J. F. Sturgill ◽

A. Kepecs

Keyword(s):

Psychotic Disorders ◽

Neural Circuit ◽

Dopamine Neurons ◽

Striatal Dopamine ◽

Model Organisms ◽

High Confidence ◽

Optogenetic Stimulation ◽

The Brain ◽

Central Symptom ◽

Stimulation Of

Hallucinations, a central symptom of psychotic disorders, are attributed to excessive dopamine in the brain. However, the neural circuit mechanisms by which dopamine produces hallucinations remain elusive, largely because hallucinations have been challenging to study in model organisms. We developed a task to quantify hallucination-like perception in mice. Hallucination-like percepts, defined as high-confidence false detections, increased after hallucination-related manipulations in mice and correlated with self-reported hallucinations in humans. Hallucination-like percepts were preceded by elevated striatal dopamine levels, could be induced by optogenetic stimulation of mesostriatal dopamine neurons, and could be reversed by the antipsychotic drug haloperidol. These findings reveal a causal role for dopamine-dependent striatal circuits in hallucination-like perception and open new avenues to develop circuit-based treatments for psychotic disorders.

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Antidepressant Effect of Optogenetic Stimulation of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex

Journal of Neuroscience ◽

10.1523/jneurosci.1731-10.2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 30 (48) ◽

pp. 16082-16090 ◽

Cited By ~ 351

Author(s):

H. E. Covington ◽

M. K. Lobo ◽

I. Maze ◽

V. Vialou ◽

J. M. Hyman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Antidepressant Effect ◽

Optogenetic Stimulation ◽

Stimulation Of

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Ultrafast optogenetic stimulation of the auditory pathway by targeting‐optimized Chronos

The EMBO Journal ◽

10.15252/embj.201899649 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 37 (24) ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Daniel Keppeler ◽

Ricardo Martins Merino ◽

David Lopez de la Morena ◽

Burak Bali ◽

Antoine Tarquin Huet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Auditory Pathway ◽

Optogenetic Stimulation ◽

Stimulation Of

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Disruptions in effort-based decision-making following acute optogenetic stimulation of ventral tegmental area dopamine cells

Learning & Memory ◽

10.1101/lm.053082.120 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 104-108

Author(s):

Benjamin R. Fry ◽

Nathan T. Pence ◽

Andrew McLocklin ◽

Alexander W. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Ventral Tegmental Area ◽

Optogenetic Stimulation ◽

Ventral Tegmental ◽

Stimulation Of

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Open source timed pressure control hardware and software for delivery of air mediated distensions in animal models

10.1101/2021.03.15.435466 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Trishna Patel ◽

Jamie Hendren ◽

Nathan Lee ◽

Aaron D Mickle

Keyword(s):

Open Source ◽

Graphical User Interface ◽

Low Cost ◽

Pressure Control ◽

Solenoid Valve ◽

Relative Ease ◽

Bladder Distension ◽

Data Acquisition Software ◽

Number Of Cycles ◽

Stimulation Of

AbstractStudying the visceral sensory component of peripheral nervous systems can be challenging due to limited options for consistent and controlled stimulation. One method for mechanical stimulation of hollow organs, including colon and bladder, are controlled distensions mediated by compressed air. For example, distension of the bladder can be used as an assay for bladder nociception. Bladder distension causes a corresponding increase in abdominal electromyography, which increases with distension pressure and is attenuated with analgesics. However, the hardware used to control these distensions are primarily all one-off custom builds, without clear directions how to build your own. This has made it difficult for these methods to be fully utilized and replicated as not everyone has access, knowledge and resources required to build this controller. Here we show an open-source Arduino based system for controlling a solenoid valve to deliver timed pressure distensions in the experimental model. This device can be controlled by one of two methods through direct TTL pulses from the experimenters data acquisition software (ex. CED Spike2) or by a graphical user interface, where the user can set the time before, during, and after distension as well as the number of cycles. This systems low cost and relative ease to build will allow more groups to utilize timed pressure distensions in their experiments.Specifications table

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