Temperature-dependent activation of neurons by continuous near-infrared laser.
Optical control of neuronal activity has a number of advantages over electrical methods and can be conveniently applied to intact individual neurons in vivo. In this study, we demonstrated an experimental approach in which a focused continuous near-infrared (CNI) laser beam was used to activate single rat hippocampal neurons by transiently elevating the local temperature. Reversible changes in the amplitude and kinetics of neuronal voltage-gated Na and K channel currents were recorded following irradiation with a single-mode 980 nm CNI-laser. Using single-channel recordings under controlled temperatures as a means of calibration, it was estimated that temperature at the neuron rose by 14 degrees C in 500 ms. Computer simulation confirmed that small temperature changes of about 5 degrees C were sufficient to produce significant changes in neuronal excitability. The method should be broadly applicable to studies of neuronal activity under physiological conditions, in particular studies of temperature-sensing neurons expressing thermoTRP channels.
Liang
Shanshan
S
Lab of Biomedical Optics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116023, People's Republic of China.
Yang
Fan
F
Zhou
Cheng
C
Wang
Yue
Y
Li
Shao
S
Sun
C K
CK
Puglisi
Jose Luis
JL
Bers
Donald
D
Sun
Changsen
C
Zheng
Jie
J
D000818:Animals; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D006361:Heating; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D007834:Lasers; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015222:Sodium Channels
D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D015222:Sodium Channels