Probing interneuronal cell communication via optogenetic stimulation

This study uses an all-optical approach to probe interneuronal communication between spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) and of other functional units, in this case cortex (CNs) hippocampus (HNs), for the first time. We combined a channelrhodopsin variant (CheRiff) with red genetically encoded calcium indicator (jRCaMP1a), enabling simultaneous optical stimulation recording from spatially separated small neuronal populations. Stimulation SGNs was possible both optogenetic manipulated HNs CNs, respectively. Furthermore, dependency on pulse duration stimulating light regard evoked response also observed. Our results pave way enable innovative technologies based “biohybrid” systems utilizing interaction different biological (eg, neural) systems. can improved treatment neurological sensorineural disorders such as hearing loss.