Multiplexing viral approaches to the study of the neuronal circuits

Oscar M T Chadney; Stefan Blankvoort; Joachim S Grimstvedt; Annika Utz; Clifford G Kentros

doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109142

Multiplexing viral approaches to the study of the neuronal circuits

J Neurosci Methods. 2021 Jun 1:357:109142. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109142. Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Authors

Oscar M T Chadney¹, Stefan Blankvoort², Joachim S Grimstvedt², Annika Utz², Clifford G Kentros³

Affiliations

¹ Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: oscar.m.t.chadney@ntnu.no.
² Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.
³ Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: clifford.kentros@ntnu.no.

PMID: 33753126
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109142

Abstract

Neural circuits are composed of multitudes of elaborately interconnected cell types. Understanding neural circuit function requires not only cell-specific knowledge of connectivity, but the ability to record and manipulate distinct cell types independently. Recent advances in viral vectors promise the requisite specificity to perform true "circuit-breaking" experiments. However, such new avenues of multiplexed, cell-specific investigation raise new technical issues: one must ensure that both the viral vectors and their transgene payloads do not overlap with each other in both an anatomical and a functional sense. This review describes benefits and issues regarding the use of viral vectors to analyse the function of neural circuits and provides a resource for the design and implementation of such multiplexing experiments.

Keywords: Fluorophore; Genetically encoded calcium sensor; Neuronal tract tracing; Opsin; Optogenetics; Viral vector.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Genetic Vectors
Neurons*
Optogenetics*
Transgenes