PUBLICATION

Scattering of Sculpted Light in Intact Brain Tissue, with implications for Optogenetics

Authors
Favre-Bulle, I.A., Preece, D., Nieminen, T.A., Heap, L.A., Scott, E.K., Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H.
ID
ZDB-PUB-150626-10
Date
2015
Source
Scientific Reports   5: 11501 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Scott, Ethan
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Brain/physiology*
  • Brain/radiation effects
  • Cell Nucleus/chemistry
  • Cell Nucleus/radiation effects
  • Larva/physiology
  • Light*
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Optogenetics*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Zebrafish/growth & development
  • Zebrafish/physiology
PubMed
26108566 Full text @ Sci. Rep.
Abstract
Optogenetics uses light to control and observe the activity of neurons, often using a focused laser beam. As brain tissue is a scattering medium, beams are distorted and spread with propagation through neural tissue, and the beam's degradation has important implications in optogenetic experiments. To address this, we present an analysis of scattering and loss of intensity of focused laser beams at different depths within the brains of zebrafish larvae. Our experimental set-up uses a 488 nm laser and a spatial light modulator to focus a diffraction-limited spot of light within the brain. We use a combination of experimental measurements of back-scattered light in live larvae and computational modelling of the scattering to determine the spatial distribution of light. Modelling is performed using the Monte Carlo method, supported by generalised Lorenz-Mie theory in the single-scattering approximation. Scattering in areas rich in cell bodies is compared to that of regions of neuropil to identify the distinct and dramatic contributions that cell nuclei make to scattering. We demonstrate the feasibility of illuminating individual neurons, even in nucleus-rich areas, at depths beyond 100 μm using a spatial light modulator in combination with a standard laser and microscope optics.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping