Fig. 5: Optogenetic inhibition of l/vlPAG SST⁺ neurons interrupts ongoing urination.

a Schematic for AAV-DIO-hGtACR1-mCherry injection into the l/vlPAG of SST-Cre mice (left) and two optical fibers implantation above the bilateral l/vlPAG four weeks after viral expression (right). b Each mouse was placed in a custom-made test chamber lined with filter paper after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of the diuretic furosemide. Spontaneous urination without light stimulation (light off) was recorded, followed by a urination event with 30-s optogenetic inhibition (light on). The light was delivered within 2 s of urination onset. In the subsequent session, each mouse was tested again. c Representative trials showing the urine spots deposited on the filter paper with or without optogenetic inhibition from a single mouse of hGtACR1 group or mCherry group. d Quantification of urine area on the filter paper of the light-off trial and the subsequent light-on trial. n = 8 mice for hGtACR1 group, n = 7 mice for mCherry group. Left, ***P < 0.001 (paired t test); right, P = 0.568 (paired t test). e Quantification of total urination duration of the light-off trial and subsequent light-on trial. n = 8 mice for hGtACR1 group, n = 7 mice for mCherry group. Left, *P = 0.012 (Wilcoxon signed-rank test); right, P = 0.281 (paired t test). f Summary of the latency of urination suspension following photostimulation of hGtACR1-expressing l/vlPAG SST⁺ neurons. n = 8 mice for hGtACR1 group. All data are presented as mean ± SEM.