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Quantitative analysis of the optogenetic excitability of CA1 neurons

Ruben Schoeters (UGent) , Thomas Tarnaud (UGent) , Laila Weyn (UGent) , Wout Joseph (UGent) , Robrecht Raedt (UGent) and Emmeric Tanghe (UGent)
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Abstract
IntroductionOptogenetics has emerged as a promising technique for modulating neuronal activity and holds potential for the treatment of neurological disorders such as temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However, clinical translation still faces many challenges. This in-silico study aims to enhance the understanding of optogenetic excitability in CA1 cells and to identify strategies for improving stimulation protocols.MethodsEmploying state-of-the-art computational models coupled with Monte Carlo simulated light propagation, the optogenetic excitability of four CA1 cells, two pyramidal and two interneurons, expressing ChR2(H134R) is investigated.Results and discussionThe results demonstrate that confining the opsin to specific neuronal membrane compartments significantly improves excitability. An improvement is also achieved by focusing the light beam on the most excitable cell region. Moreover, the perpendicular orientation of the optical fiber relative to the somato-dendritic axis yields superior results. Inter-cell variability is observed, highlighting the importance of considering neuron degeneracy when designing optogenetic tools. Opsin confinement to the basal dendrites of the pyramidal cells renders the neuron the most excitable. A global sensitivity analysis identified opsin location and expression level as having the greatest impact on simulation outcomes. The error reduction of simulation outcome due to coupling of neuron modeling with light propagation is shown. The results promote spatial confinement and increased opsin expression levels as important improvement strategies. On the other hand, uncertainties in these parameters limit precise determination of the irradiance thresholds. This study provides valuable insights on optogenetic excitability of CA1 cells useful for the development of improved optogenetic stimulation protocols for, for instance, TLE treatment.
Keywords
UNDERLYING OPTICAL STIMULATION, IN-VITRO, LIGHT, NEUROSTIMULATION, TRANSPORT, optogenetics, cornu ammonis, computational modeling, NEURON, tissue activation, sensitivity analysis

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MLA
Schoeters, Ruben, et al. “Quantitative Analysis of the Optogenetic Excitability of CA1 Neurons.” FRONTIERS IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE, vol. 17, 2023, doi:10.3389/fncom.2023.1229715.
APA
Schoeters, R., Tarnaud, T., Weyn, L., Joseph, W., Raedt, R., & Tanghe, E. (2023). Quantitative analysis of the optogenetic excitability of CA1 neurons. FRONTIERS IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE, 17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncom.2023.1229715
Chicago author-date
Schoeters, Ruben, Thomas Tarnaud, Laila Weyn, Wout Joseph, Robrecht Raedt, and Emmeric Tanghe. 2023. “Quantitative Analysis of the Optogenetic Excitability of CA1 Neurons.” FRONTIERS IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE 17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncom.2023.1229715.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Schoeters, Ruben, Thomas Tarnaud, Laila Weyn, Wout Joseph, Robrecht Raedt, and Emmeric Tanghe. 2023. “Quantitative Analysis of the Optogenetic Excitability of CA1 Neurons.” FRONTIERS IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE 17. doi:10.3389/fncom.2023.1229715.
Vancouver
1.
Schoeters R, Tarnaud T, Weyn L, Joseph W, Raedt R, Tanghe E. Quantitative analysis of the optogenetic excitability of CA1 neurons. FRONTIERS IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE. 2023;17.
IEEE
[1]
R. Schoeters, T. Tarnaud, L. Weyn, W. Joseph, R. Raedt, and E. Tanghe, “Quantitative analysis of the optogenetic excitability of CA1 neurons,” FRONTIERS IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE, vol. 17, 2023.
@article{01HNANJDCSYKMVZQDK5439XWQ2,
  abstract     = {{IntroductionOptogenetics has emerged as a promising technique for modulating neuronal activity and holds potential for the treatment of neurological disorders such as temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However, clinical translation still faces many challenges. This in-silico study aims to enhance the understanding of optogenetic excitability in CA1 cells and to identify strategies for improving stimulation protocols.MethodsEmploying state-of-the-art computational models coupled with Monte Carlo simulated light propagation, the optogenetic excitability of four CA1 cells, two pyramidal and two interneurons, expressing ChR2(H134R) is investigated.Results and discussionThe results demonstrate that confining the opsin to specific neuronal membrane compartments significantly improves excitability. An improvement is also achieved by focusing the light beam on the most excitable cell region. Moreover, the perpendicular orientation of the optical fiber relative to the somato-dendritic axis yields superior results. Inter-cell variability is observed, highlighting the importance of considering neuron degeneracy when designing optogenetic tools. Opsin confinement to the basal dendrites of the pyramidal cells renders the neuron the most excitable. A global sensitivity analysis identified opsin location and expression level as having the greatest impact on simulation outcomes. The error reduction of simulation outcome due to coupling of neuron modeling with light propagation is shown. The results promote spatial confinement and increased opsin expression levels as important improvement strategies. On the other hand, uncertainties in these parameters limit precise determination of the irradiance thresholds. This study provides valuable insights on optogenetic excitability of CA1 cells useful for the development of improved optogenetic stimulation protocols for, for instance, TLE treatment.}},
  articleno    = {{1229715}},
  author       = {{Schoeters, Ruben and Tarnaud, Thomas and Weyn, Laila and Joseph, Wout and Raedt, Robrecht and Tanghe, Emmeric}},
  issn         = {{1662-5188}},
  journal      = {{FRONTIERS IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE}},
  keywords     = {{UNDERLYING OPTICAL STIMULATION,IN-VITRO,LIGHT,NEUROSTIMULATION,TRANSPORT,optogenetics,cornu ammonis,computational modeling,NEURON,tissue activation,sensitivity analysis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{16}},
  title        = {{Quantitative analysis of the optogenetic excitability of CA1 neurons}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.3389/fncom.2023.1229715}},
  volume       = {{17}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}

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