Magnetothermal genetic deep brain stimulation of motor behaviors in awake, freely moving mice

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.27069
• Publication Date: 2017-08-15T12:00:26Z
• Authors: Rahul Munshi; Shahnaz M Qadri; Qian Zhang; Idoia Castellanos...; Pablo del Pino; Arnd Pralle
• Keywords: magnetogenetic; 0303 health sciences; Hot Temperature; Behavior, Animal; QH301-705.5; Science; Deep Brain Stimulation; magneto thermal; Q; R; Gene Expression; TRPV Cation Channels; TRPV1; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Magnetic Fields; Medicine; Animals; Nanoparticles; Biology (General); Nerve Net; Locomotion; neurostimulation; Neuroscience

Establishing how neurocircuit activation causes particular behaviors requires modulating the activity of specific neurons. Here, we demonstrate that magnetothermal genetic stimulation provides tetherless deep brain sufficient to evoke motor behavior in awake mice. The approach uses alternating magnetic fields heat superparamagnetic nanoparticles on neuronal membrane. Neurons, heat-sensitized by expressing TRPV1 are activated with field application. Magnetothermal cortex evoked ambulation, striatum caused rotation around body-axis, and near ridge between ventral dorsal freezing-of-gait. duration correlated tightly This genetically spatially targetable, repeatable temporarily precise deep-brain circuits without need for surgical implantation any device.