Fig. 4: Optogenetic activation of the piriform cortex (PC) excitability neurons decrease learning and memory but not mood-related behavior.
A Experimental timeline for virus injection for investigating the behavioral impact of optogenetic activation. Blue light pulses at 30 Hz, 5 ms,10 mW. B, C Schematic of the sagittal section of the mouse brain shows ChR2 virus injection. D Representative recording of the action potential firing of CaMKIIα expressing neurons in response to 5, 20, 30, and 40 Hz light photostimulation. E Quantification of the time spent in the novel arm by light photostimulation (t22 = 2.886, p = 0.009; Unpaired student’s t-test). mCherry, injection with mCherry-expressing viral vector in mice, n = 12; ChR2, injection with ChR2-expressing viral vector in mice, n = 12. F Escape latency (F (1, 20) = 21.269, p < 0.001; Two-way repeated measures ANOVA) and the time spent in the target quadrant (z = −2.672, p = 0.008; Wilcoxon rank sum test). mCherry, n = 12; ChR2, n = 10. G Time in the open arms (t19 = −2.291, p = 0.034; Unpaired student’s t-test) and open arm entries (t19 = 0.288, p = 0.777; Unpaired student’s t-test) during the elevated plus maze. mCherry, n = 12; ChR2, n = 9. H The immobility time in the forced swimming test (z = −2.417, p = 0.016; Wilcoxon rank sum test) and I tail suspension test (t19 = 1.768, p = 0.093; Unpaired student’s t-test). mCherry, n = 12; ChR2, n = 9. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01.
