Targeted Neurostimulation in Mouse Brains with Non-invasive Ultrasound
Zhihai Qiu, Shashwati Kala, Jinghui Guo, Quanxiang Xian, Jiejun Zhu, Ting Zhu, Xuandi Hou, Kin Fung Wong, Minyi Yang, Haoru Wang, Lei Sun
Abstract
influx and neuron activation in vitro and at evoking electromyogram (EMG) responses in vivo in targeted cells expressing MscL-G22S. Neurons in the cerebral cortex or dorsomedial striatum of mice are made to express MscL-G22S and stimulated ultrasonically. We find significant upregulation of c-Fos in neuron nuclei only in the regions expressing MscL-G22S compared with the non-MscL controls, as well as in various other regions in the same brain. Thus, we detail an effective approach for activating specific regions and cell types in intact mouse brains by sensitizing them to ultrasound using a mechanosensitive ion channel.