Optogenetic Induction of Colonic Motility in Mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Strategies are needed to increase gastrointestinal transit without systemic pharmacologic agents. We investigated whether optogenetics, focal application of light to control enteric nervous system excitability, could be used to evoke propagating contractions and increase colonic transit in mice.

Methods

We generated transgenic mice with Cre-mediated expression of light-sensitive channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) in calretinin neurons (CAL-ChR2 Cre+ mice); Cre- littermates served as controls. Colonic myenteric neurons were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, patch-clamp, and calcium imaging studies. Motility was assessed by mechanical, electrophysiological, and video recording in vitro and by fecal output in vivo.

Results

In isolated colons, focal light stimula

SUBMITTER: Hibberd TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6715392 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature