Figure 4: Optogenetic activation of contralateral PL excitatory neurons attenuates CFA-induced heat hyperalgesia and anxiety-like behaviours. | Nature Communications

Figure 4: Optogenetic activation of contralateral PL excitatory neurons attenuates CFA-induced heat hyperalgesia and anxiety-like behaviours.

From: Deactivation of excitatory neurons in the prelimbic cortex via Cdk5 promotes pain sensation and anxiety

Figure 4

(a) Schematic diagram of the experiment. One group animals were tested for EPM followed by paw withdrawal latency test. Another group animals were tested for OFT. (b) ChR2 expression in the PL excitatory neurons after viral injection. Strong staining is shown in the PL (Bregma 1.90 mm). (c, d) Multiple channel recordings of the firing rate of the contralateral PL excitatory neurons in the CFA mice infected with AAV-CaMKIIα-mCherry and AAV-CaMKIIα-ChR2-mCherry virus before, with and after 20 Hz, 6–9 mW 473-nm light photostimulation (n=10, 10 neurons, ***P<0.001, two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post tests). (e) Paw withdrawal latency in the CFA mice of AAV-CaMKIIα-mCherry or AAV-CaMKIIα-ChR2-mCherry virus injection with 473 nm blue light off-on-off stimulation (n=7, 6 animals, ***P<0.001, two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post tests). (f, g) Schematic and animal heat traces of the elevated plus maze with 3 min light-off, 3 min light-on and 3 min light-off (n=6, 6 animals, **P<0.01, two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post tests). (h, i) Schematic and animal heat traces of the open field test with 3 min light-off, 3 min light-on and 3 min light-off (n=11, 8 animals, *P<0.05, ***P<0.001, two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post tests). The data are presented as mean±s.e.m.

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