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Selectively Imaging Cranial Sensory Ganglion Neurons Using AAV-PHP.S
Andoni I Asencor1, Gennady Dvoryanchikov1, Vivien Makhoul1
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136.
Eneuro
|May 24, 2022
Summary
Adeno-associated virus PHP.S effectively targets peripheral sensory neurons in mice, enabling detailed mapping of their connections and functions. This advancement aids in understanding sensory neuron subtypes and their circuits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are crucial neuroscience tools but have limited use for peripheral sensory neurons due to targeting challenges.
- The AAV-PHP.S capsid shows enhanced tropism for peripheral neurons, offering a potential solution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elaborate on the utility of AAV-PHP.S for targeting peripheral sensory neurons.
- To demonstrate the effectiveness of AAV-PHP.S in mapping sensory neuron identity and connectivity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized AAV-PHP.S with GFP or mScarlet fluorescent proteins for viral tracing.
- Injected virus into mouse sensory ganglia (cranial nerves V, VII, IX, X).
- Employed light sheet microscopy and in vivo Ca2+ imaging for high-resolution visualization and functional analysis.
Main Results:
- AAV-PHP.S successfully targeted pseudounipolar neurons in mouse cranial nerve ganglia (V, VII, IX, X).
- High transduction rates (≈66% in geniculate ganglion) were observed, with reporter transport along central and peripheral axons.
- Demonstrated cell type-specific expression and characterized previously undocumented sensory functions of geniculate ganglion auricular neurons.
Conclusions:
- AAV-PHP.S is a powerful tool for anatomical and functional mapping of peripheral sensory neurons.
- Facilitates the study of diverse somatosensory and viscerosensory neuron subtypes defined by single-cell RNA sequencing.
- Enables high-resolution visualization of neural circuits and receptive fields.
