2013 Volume 64 Pages 7-11
Delivery of channelrhodopsin-2 and halorhodopsin to the cell membrane and activation by specific wavelengths of light (peak absorbance of about 460 nm and 570 nm) result in neuronal depolarization and hyperpolarization, respectively. In this study, adeno-associated viral vectors with either channelrhodopsin-2 fused with GFP (ChR2-GFP) or halorhodopsin fused with mCherry (HaloR-mCherry), capable of expressing light sensitive cation channels or chloride pumps, respectively, were delivered into the dorsal cochlear nucleus. Channelrhodopsin-2 and halorhodopsin can be expressed in all layers of the dorsal cochlear nucleus using our method of delivery. Using light with a wavelength compatible with channelrhodopsin-2 activation, responses are evoked and recorded from the dorsal cochlear nucleus neurons. However, the responses were dependent upon the light intensity with little depolarization observed with lower intensity light.
