Optogenetics and Neuromodulation Research Core

• Dual-arm stereotaxes (Koph Instruments) and surgical tools for fiber implantation
• Multiple light sources including lasers (473 nm, 630 nm), LEDs (465, 525, 550, 620, and 630 nm), and LED arrays (465 nm, for cell culture)
• Light meters (ThorLabs)
• Pattern generators including Radiant (Plexon), PulsePal (Open Ephys), and Arduino
• Intensity Drivers (ThorLabs)
• Patch cables including a variety of connections (SMA-FC, FC-FC, FC-LC, LC-LC) and numerical apertures (0.22, 0.39, 0.50, 0.66 NA)
• Various bare optical fibers, ceramic ferrules, and fiber cutting/polishing/inspection/assembly tools
• Optical and electrical commutators
• Wireless optogenetic options (Plexon, Neurolux)
• Form2 resin-based 3D printer (Form Labs)
• 8 adaptable behavior testing units with ANY-maze video tracking software (Stoelting Co.)

• Access to a wide variety of optogenetic equipment and supplies
• Optogenetic equipment set-up and integration with other technical approaches
• Assist with development/fabrication of custom-made equipment and light delivery devices
• Grant development and experiment planning
• Technical protocol assistance and development
• Assistance with technical troubleshooting
• Pilot testing for grant submissions: includes assistance with fiber-making, stereotaxic surgery, and behavioral testing
• Regulatory Assistance (SPA/MTA, IACUC, IBC, etc.)
• 3D printing

• Optic fiber fabrication
• DIY equipment fabrication and set-up
• Stereotaxic surgery: viral infusion, optical fiber implantation
• Other surgery: jugular vein catheterization, intracranial/peripheral cannula/device implantation
• Histology: Perfusions, Microtomb Brain Slicing, Slice Mounting, Slide Visualization with Epifluorescent Microscope
• Behavior: Optogenetic approaches for behavioral testing including self-stimulation, real time and conditioned place preference assays, open field, novel object recognition, Y/T-maze, elevated plus maze, social interaction, and gait analysis. 

Additional training can be provided through the University of Minnesota Behavioral Core

MnDRIVE Optogenetics Core Supported Manuscripts

• Lind EB, Sweis BM, Asp AA, Esguerra M, Silvis KA, Redish AD, Thomas MJ (2023) A quadruple dissociation of reward-related behaviour in mice across excitatory inputs to the nucleus accumbens shell. Commun Biol 6(1): 119.
• Brander DD, Retzlaff CL, Kocharian A, Stieve BJ, Mashal MA, Mermelstein PG, Rothwell PE (2022) Neuroligin-3 in dopaminergic circuits promotes behavioural and neurobiological adaptations to chronic morphine exposure. Addict Biol 28(1): e13247
• Lefevre EM, Pisansky MT, Toddes C, Baruffaldi F, Pravetoni M, Tian L, Kono TJY, Rothwell PE (2020) Interruption of continuous opioid exposure exacerbates drug-evoked adaptations in the mesolimbic dopamine system. Neuropsychopharmacology 45(11): 1781-1792.
• Lines J, Martin ED, Kofuji P, Aguilar J, Araque A (2020) Astrocyte modulate sensory-evoked neuronal network activity. Nat Commun 11: 3689.
• Corkrum M, Covelo A, Lines J, Bellocchio L, Pisansky M, Loke K, Quintana R, Rothwell PE, Lujan R, Marsicano G, Martin ED, Thomas MJ, Kofuji P, Araque AA (2020) Dopamine-evoked synaptic regulation in the nucleus accumbens requires astrocyte activity. Neuron 105(6): 1036-1047. 
• Durkee CA, Covelo A, Lines J, Kofuji P, Aguilar J, Araque A (2019) Gi/o protein-coupled receptors inhibit neurons but activate astrocytes and stimulate gliotransmission. Glia 67(6): 1076 - 1093. 
• Lyons C, Razzoli M, Larson E, Svedberg D, Frontini A, Vulchanova L, Sanders M, Thomas M, Bartolomucci A (2019) Optogenetic-induced sympathetic neuromodulation of brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. FASEB J 34(2):2765-2773. 
  • *Epub ahead of print of this manuscript in early December 2019 led to its ranking as one of the top 10% most downloaded manuscripts for this journal between January 2018 – December 2019 
• Pisansky MT, Lefevre EM, Retzlaff CL, Trieu BH, Leipold DW, Rothwell PE (2019) Nucleus accumbens fast-spiking interneurons constrain impulsive action. Biol Psychiatry 86(11): 836-847. 
• Benneyworth MA*, Hearing MC*, Asp AJ, Ingebretson AE, Schmidt CE, Silvis KA, Larson EB, Ebner SR, Thomas MJ (2019) Synaptic depotentiation and mGluR5 activity in the nucleus accumbens drive cocaine-primed reinstatement of place preference. J Neurosci 39(24): 4785-4796.
• Sweis BM, Larson EB, Redish AD, Thomas MJ (2018) Altering the gain of infralimbic to accumbens shell circuit alters economically dissociable decision-making algorithms. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 115(27): E6347-E6355. 
• Martin-Fernandez M, Robin JS, Zhao LM, Martin ED, Aguilar J, Benneyworth MA, Marsicano G, Araque A (2017) Synapse-specific astrocyte gating of amygdala-related behavior. Nat Neurosci 20(11): 1540-1548. 
• Uhelski ML, Bruce DJ, Seguela P, Wilcox FL (2017) In vivo optogenetic activation of Nav1.8 cutaneous nociceptors and their responses to natural stimuli. J Neurophysiol 117(6): 2218-2223. 
• Hearing MC, Jedynak J, Ebner SR, Ingebretson A, Asp AJ, Fischer RA, Schmidt C, Larson EB, Thomas MJ (2016) Reversal of morphine-induced cell-type specific synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens shell blocks reinstatement. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1133:757-62.