Optical cuff for optogenetic control of the peripheral nervous system

Frédéric Michoud,Loïc Sottas,Alban Latremoliere,Liam E Browne,Miyuki Sakuma,Clifford J Woolf,Stéphanie P Lacour,Grégoire Courtine,Léonie Asboth

doi:10.1088/1741-2552/aa9126

Abstract

Objective. Nerves in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) contain axons with specific motor, somatosensory and autonomic functions. Optogenetics offers an efficient approach to selectively activate axons within the nerve. However, the heterogeneous nature of nerves and their tortuous route through the body create a challenging environment to reliably implant a light delivery interface. Approach. Here, we propose an optical peripheral nerve interface—an optocuff—, so that optogenetic modulation of peripheral nerves become possible in freely behaving mice. Main results. Using this optocuff, we demonstrate orderly recruitment of motor units with epineural optical stimulation of genetically targeted sciatic nerve axons, both in anaesthetized and in awake, freely behaving animals. Behavioural experiments and histology show the optocuff does not damage the nerve thus is suitable for long-term experiments. Significance. These results suggest that the soft optocuff might be a straightforward and efficient tool to support more extensive study of the PNS using optogenetics.

Highlights

Optical neural stimulation is emerging as an exciting and more advantageous alternative to traditional electrical stimulation
The light-activated ion channel ChR2 was expressed in a broad class of sensory and motor neurons using a Crerecombinase transgenic approach (Campsall et al 2002); Cre-dependent ChR2-tdTomato mice were crossed with Thy1-Cre driver mice
The resultant Thy1-Cre::ChR2 mice were heterozygous for both transgenes and ChR2 was found in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and in sciatic nerve axons (figures 1(A) and (B))

Summary

Introduction

Optical neural stimulation is emerging as an exciting and more advantageous alternative to traditional electrical stimulation. The conductive nature of biological tissue leads to electrical. Current spread, limiting spatial resolution and preventing cellspecific activation (Fenno et al 2011, Warden et al 2014). Optogenetics has been used extensively to modulate neural activity in the central nervous system (Deisseroth 2015). In 2016, a human trial of optogenetics to treat retinitis pigmentosa, a

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Conclusion