A low-cost microfluidic platform coupled with light emitting diode for optogenetic analysis of neuronal response in C. elegans
A low-cost microfluidic platform coupled with light emitting diode for optogenetic analysis of neuronal response in C. elegans
复制标题
一种低成本微流体平台与发光二极管相结合，用于线虫神经元反应的光遗传学分析
DOI：
10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121646
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发表时间：
2021-02-01
期刊：
影响因子：
6.1
通讯作者：
Liu, Bi-Feng
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Ge, Anle;Hu, Liang;Liu, Bi-Feng
光遗传学方法广泛用于解剖特定神经回路中的神经元功能和连接性，这有助于了解动物如何处理信息并产生行为。线虫秀丽隐杆线虫具有简单但完整的神经系统，使其成为研究神经回路动态信号的有吸引力的模型。然而，神经回路的体内分析通常依赖于复杂且昂贵的光学设备，以允许光遗传学刺激神经元，同时记录其在这种自由移动的动物中的活动。因此，在本文中，我们报道了一种基于光纤照明和功能成像的便携式光流控平台，用于蠕虫光遗传学操作。 LED 激光笔发出的光束穿过 3D 打印的光纤通道，用于激活用光敏蛋白 ChR-2 特异性表达的神经元。成像光路与刺激光垂直，可以精确激活神经元并同时测量细胞信号。通过使用这种易于组装的装置，可以同时进行特定神经元的光刺激和其他神经元的动态钙反应的检测。因此，所开发的微流控平台为进一步的神经回路研究提供了一种简单、快速和低成本的策略。
Optogenetic method is widely used for dissecting the neuronal function and connectivity in a specific neural circuit, which can help understanding how the animal process information and generate behavior. The nematode C. elegans has a simple but complete nervous system, making it an attractive model to study the dynamics signals of neural circuits. However, in vivo analysis on neural circuits usually rely on the complex and expensive optical equipment to allow optogenetic stimulating the neuron while recording its activities in such a freely moving animal. Hence, in this paper we reported a portable optofluidic platform that works based on optical fiber illumination and functional imaging for worm optogenetic manipulation. A light beam from LED laser pen crossing the 3D-printed optical fiber channel is used to activate the neurons specific-expressed with light sensitive proteins ChR-2. The imaging light path is perpendicular to the stimulation light, which allows activating neuron precisely and measuring cellular signals simultaneously. By using such an easy-to-assemble device, optical stimulation of the specific neurons and detection of dynamic calcium responses of other neurons could be proceeded simultaneously. Thus, the developed microfluidic platform puts forward a simple, rapid and low-cost strategy for further neural circuits studies.