Neurotransmitter Imaging
Overview
- Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers within the nervous system that communicate signals between neurons and other cells.
- Neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and glutamate are crucial components of all neurological and behavioural processes.
- Understanding changes in neurotranmission allow scientists to expand our understanding of the brain in healthy and disease states.
- Neurotransmitter sensors provide a novel, real time proxy of fluctuating neurotransmitter concentrations via changes in fluorescent signal. These fluctuations can be recorded and connected with behavioural, psychological, and neural changes.
- The OASIS Implant is a platform that allows neuroscientists to examine neurotransmission using a variety of optical neurotransmitter sensors.
- Notable neurotransmitter sensors include GRAB sensors for DA, 5HT, ACH, GABA, Glut, as well as dLight (dopamine sensor), oxLight (orexin sensor), and many more.
- The OASIS Implant provides an excellent solution for neurotransmitter imaging, allowing flexibility in the number of brain regions and sensors recorded while preserving naturalistic behaviour via lightweight fibermounts. Moreover, with targeted optogenetic capabilities the OASIS Implant opens the door to circuit manipulation as well as observation.
Key System Requirements
- Wavelength specific imaging of neurotransmitter sensors such as GRAB DA and GRAB 5-HT
- Strong signal to noise ratio; ability to record minute fluctuations in fluorescence
- Ability to switch between fiber photometry-based imaging and cellular resolution imaging
- Versatility and reconfigurability of light sources and filter sets
- Synchronization with third party hardware and software in order to provide a cohesive experimental platform
