Hong Sungcheol, Kim Woo Seok, Han Yong, Cherukuri Rahul, Jung Haemin, Campos Carlos, Wu Qi, Park Sung Il
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, US.
Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, US.
Bio Protoc. 2022 Mar 5;12(5):e4341. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.4341.
Optogenetics has the potential to transform the study of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), but the complex anatomy of the PNS poses unique challenges for the focused delivery of light to specific tissues. This protocol describes the fabrication of a wireless telemetry system for studying peripheral sensory pathways. Unlike existing wireless approaches, the low-power wireless telemetry offers organ specificity via a sandwiched pre-curved tether, and enables high-throughput analysis of behavioral experiments with a channel isolation strategy. We describe the technical procedures for the construction of these devices, the wireless power transmission (TX) system with antenna coils, and their implementation for experimental applications. In total, the timeline of the procedure, including device fabrication, implantation, and preparation to begin experimentation can be completed in ~2-4 weeks. Implementation of these devices allows for chronic (>1 month) wireless optogenetic manipulation of peripheral neural pathways in freely behaving animals navigating homecage environments (up to 8).
光遗传学有潜力改变对周围神经系统（PNS）的研究，但PNS复杂的解剖结构给将光精准传递到特定组织带来了独特挑战。本方案描述了一种用于研究外周感觉通路的无线遥测系统的制作方法。与现有的无线方法不同，这种低功耗无线遥测通过夹在中间的预弯曲系绳实现器官特异性，并通过通道隔离策略实现行为实验的高通量分析。我们描述了构建这些设备、带有天线线圈的无线电力传输（TX）系统及其在实验应用中的实施的技术程序。整个程序的时间表，包括设备制造、植入和开始实验的准备工作，大约可在2至4周内完成。这些设备的实施允许在自由活动于笼舍环境（最多8只）的动物中对外周神经通路进行长期（>1个月）的无线光遗传学操纵。
