Optogenetics: Moving From the Lab into Hospitals?

The use of optogenetics has opened countless new doors for research in neuroscience, allowing researchers unparalleled control over single neurons within some of the most complex of tissues in different model organisms. The underlying principle of optogenetics is the introduction of light-sensitive ion channels into a living tissue that would not normally be activated by light. The result is that the tissue, typically a neuron, can be activated by the presence of light. Optogenetics yields both high spatial resolution, so tight control of an area can be studied, and high temporal resolution, meaning that the time course of the activation event can be studied (Fenno, Yizhar, & Deisseroth 390). In the last several years, however, scientists have sought out even greater applications for optogenetics in the medical field, and revolutionary work may just be on the horizon.

An article by Monya Baker entitled “Light opens up the larynx” for Nature reports on a recent study in which scientists were able to genetically modify the muscles of a mouse so that they would be sensitive to light. The researchers chose the larynx muscle because of otherwise fruitless efforts to find treatments for patients who have been paralyzed and have difficultly relaxing and contracting muscles in the throat, causing issues in breathing.

Rat with an embedded light probe for controlling light-sensitive
neurons. Taken from http://www.robotspacebrain.com/using-
optogenetics-fight-obesity/

“In principle, optogenetics could one day be used to treat a variety of movement disorders…in many diseases, the nerves degrade but the muscles remain viable,” states Julio Vergara, a researcher who works in physiology, in particular the contraction of muscles and how they are influenced by neuronal communication (Baker 10). In theory, individuals suffering from disease or trauma that damages the neurons in either voluntary or involuntary muscles may have a chance for regaining control of their muscles and their life.

            Although work on humans and incorporating optogenetics into the treatment of muscular disease is still years away, the possibilities are endless for the application of optogenetics into the medical world. Until then, work on rats and mice can still yield invaluable information on living tissue and the patterns of firing that result in behavior.

            At Loyola University Chicago, Neuroscience 300 Seminar invites a weekly speaker to give a talk on his or her current work in order to introduce students to a variety of different fields ranging from neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience, neurobiology, cellular neuroscience, affective neuroscience, etc. On September 1, 2015, Dr. Stephan Steidl of Loyola University Chicago’s Psychology Department discussed his work with optogenetics and how it has shaped his work with the dopamine system and the possible pathways that may contribute to cocaine dependency in the nucleus accumbens of rats. This kind of work utilizing the high resolving power of optigenetics is becoming more and more commonplace and as time goes on, can only create a stronger foundation off which eventual human-oriented technologies will be built upon. 

Works Cited

http://www.nature.com/news/light-opens-up-the-larynx-1.17662

Fenno, L., Yizhar, O., & Deisseroth, K. (2011).The Development and Application of Optogenetics. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 34: 389-412. Retrieved from 
https://luc.app.box.com/neuroscienceseminar/1/4284607235/35367156127/1

Image taken from: http://www.robotspacebrain.com/using-optogenetics-fight-obesity/