Cell type–specific channelrhodopsin-2 transgenic mice for optogenetic dissection of neural circuitry function.

Nat Methods
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

Optogenetic methods have emerged as powerful tools for dissecting neural circuit connectivity, function and dysfunction. We used a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic strategy to express the H134R variant of channelrhodopsin-2, ChR2(H134R), under the control of cell type–specific promoter elements. We performed an extensive functional characterization of the newly established VGAT-ChR2(H134R)-EYFP, ChAT-ChR2(H134R)-EYFP, Tph2-ChR2(H134R)-EYFP and Pvalb(H134R)-ChR2-EYFP BAC transgenic mouse lines and demonstrate the utility of these lines for precisely controlling action-potential firing of GABAergic, cholinergic, serotonergic and parvalbumin-expressing neuron subsets using blue light. This resource of cell type–specific ChR2(H134R) mouse lines will facilitate the precise mapping of neuronal connectivity and the dissection of the neural basis of behavior.

Year of Publication
2011
Journal
Nat Methods
Volume
8
Issue
9
Pages
745-52
Date Published
2011 Sep
ISSN
1548-7105
PubMed ID
21985008
PubMed Central ID
PMC3191888
Links
Grant list
RC1 MH088434 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH060379 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
RC1 MH088434-01 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
F32MH084460 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
RC1-MH088434 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
F32 MH084460 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States