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Shining light on neural circuits in mice
Embargo
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London: Monday 17 August 2015 16:00 (BST)
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New York: Monday 17 August 2015 11:00 (EDT)
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Tokyo: Tuesday 18 August 2015 00:00 (JST)
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Sydney: Tuesday 18 August 2015 01:00 (AEST)
A wireless, implantable and fully internal device for optogenetic (light-mediated) manipulations of
mouse neural circuits is reported in a study published online this week in Nature Methods. The
tool is made of readily available materials and was used to modulate walking behavior, pain
perception and gene expression through the light-induced activation of different neural circuits.
Optogenetics allows the precise stimulation of specific cell types (usually neurons) that have
been genetically sensitized to light. When studying the function of neural circuits in freely
behaving animals using optogenetics, it is important that the light delivery device does not restrict
these behaviors. Similarly, optogenetic access to neurons in the extremities requires small, lightweight light sources.
Ada Poon and colleagues developed implantable light sources that weigh 20-50 mg and are
therefore significantly smaller and lighter than previously described devices. They can be
implanted into the mouse brain or close to target neurons in the animal’s leg or spinal cord.
These devices are powered wirelessly and use a blue LED to generate sufficient light intensity to
stimulate cells that have been genetically engineered to respond to light and induce neural
activity in desired neural populations.
Due to their small size, these devices should open up new avenues in behavioral neuroscience
as they allow for long-term manipulations of neural activity. In addition, neural circuits that have
previously not been accessible to optogenetic approaches because the light-delivery devices
were too bulky may now become amenable.
Article and author details
1. Wirelessly powered, fully internal optogenetics for brain, spinal
and peripheral circuits in mice
Corresponding Author
Ada Poon
Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
Email: [email protected], Tel: +1 650 575 1022
DOI
10.1038/nmeth.3536
Online paper*
http://nature.com/articles/doi:10.1038/nmeth.3536
* Please link to the article in online versions of your report (the URL will go live after the embargo ends).
Image 1
Caption: A wirelessly powered and controlled device, implanted under the skin of a mouse's hind paw, glows
blue, while the mouse is free to walk around among other mice.
Credit: Austin Yee
Image 2
Caption: The wireless light-emitting implants, the smallest about the size of a peppercorn, are small enough
to fit entirely under the skin to control peripheral nerve terminals, the spinal cord, or the brain.
Credit: Austin Yee
Image 3
Caption: The resonant cavity contains electromagnetic radiation until a mouse (or anything with high water
content) is placed on the hexagonal surface, allowing energy to escape into the mouse, but nowhere else. In
this way, the cavity efficiently delivers wireless power by auto-tracking the mouse.
Credit: Austin Yee