Optogenetic methods in the service of neuroscience and medicine

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Optogenetic methods in the service of neuroscience and medicine

Journal Title: BÓL - Year 2014, Vol 15, Issue 1

Abstract

Optogenetics is a novel approach in neuroscience studies that enables to demonstrate a relation between an activity of particular neuronal circuits and a behavior. The discussed method is based on recent findings in genetic engineering and optical techniques allowing the introduction of light-sensitive membrane ion channels into neurons. A pulse of light opens the channel resulting in an ion flow, change of membrane potential and consequently, activation or inhibition of certain neuron. The main advantage of optogenetics is its application in vivo, which allows to control the activity of individual neurons in real-time, even in freely-moving animals during complex behavioral tasks. Our goal was to describe experimental protocols using optogenetic tools along with their advantages and review experimental studies which use optogenetics to examine neuronal bases of addiction, depression, anxiety and Parkinson’s disease. The selection of papers was made b y Pubmed search by keywords: optogenetics, channelrhodopsin and halorhodopsin. The synthesis of results allowed to wirupoint to the role of optogenetics in demonstrating causative relation between particular behavioral phenomena (e.g. reward) and (i) activity (e.g. phasic but not tonic) of defined neural population (e.g. dopaminergic neurons of the lateral ventral tegmental area), (ii) their projections (e.g. fibers projecting to the lateral shell of nucleus accumbens), and (iii) inputs (e.g. from the laterodorsal tegmentum). In summary, the results of optogenetic studies have revealed the role of specific neural systems and the dynamic of their activity in the modulation of the behavior that can be seen both in norma l conditions and in psychiatric disorders.

Authors and Affiliations

Katarzyna Gralec, Natalia Kuś, Wojciech Solecki

Keywords

channelrhodopsin halorhodopsin addiction Depression Parkinson’s disease

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EP ID EP69157
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