Selective and Quickly Reversible Inactivation of Mammalian Neurons In Vivo Using the Drosophila Allatostatin Receptor

摘要: Genetic strategies for perturbing activity of selected neurons hold great promise understanding circuitry and behavior. Several such exist, but there has been no direct demonstration reversible inactivation mammalian in vivo. We previously reported quickly vitro using expression the Drosophila allatostatin receptor (AlstR). Here, adeno-associated viral vectors are used to express AlstR vivo cortical thalamic rats, ferrets, monkeys. Application receptor's ligand, (AL), leads a dramatic reduction neural activity, including responses visual optimized stimuli. Additionally, AL eliminates spinal cords transgenic mice conditionally expressing AlstR. This occurs selectively AlstR-expressing neurons. Inactivation can be reversed within minutes upon washout ligand is repeatable, demonstrating that AlstR/AL system effective selective, quick, silencing