Simultaneous mesoscopic and two-photon imaging of neuronal activity in cortical circuits

Nat Methods. 2020 Jan;17(1):107-113. doi: 10.1038/s41592-019-0625-2. Epub 2019 Nov 4.

Abstract

Spontaneous and sensory-evoked activity propagates across varying spatial scales in the mammalian cortex, but technical challenges have limited conceptual links between the function of local neuronal circuits and brain-wide network dynamics. We present a method for simultaneous cellular-resolution two-photon calcium imaging of a local microcircuit and mesoscopic widefield calcium imaging of the entire cortical mantle in awake mice. Our multi-scale approach involves a microscope with an orthogonal axis design where the mesoscopic objective is oriented above the brain and the two-photon objective is oriented horizontally, with imaging performed through a microprism. We also introduce a viral transduction method for robust and widespread gene delivery in the mouse brain. These approaches allow us to identify the behavioral state-dependent functional connectivity of pyramidal neurons and vasoactive intestinal peptide-expressing interneurons with long-range cortical networks. Our imaging system provides a powerful strategy for investigating cortical architecture across a wide range of spatial scales.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Brain / cytology
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology*
  • Interneurons / cytology
  • Interneurons / physiology
  • Mice
  • Nerve Net / physiology*
  • Neuroimaging / methods*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Photons*
  • Pyramidal Cells / cytology
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / metabolism

Substances

  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
  • Calcium