Fig. 6
Optogenetic activation of PVA neurons induces cardioprotection. a Immunofluorescent images of hChR2(H134R)-EYFP-positive signals in PVA regions, brain section was co-stained with neuronal marker, NeuN (red signal) (scale bar = 20 μm). b Representative action potential recording of hChR2(H134R)-EYFP-positive neurons in PVA elicited by blue light stimulation (5 mW mm−2, 5 Hz, 10 ms pulse indicated by blue lines) (left panel). Inward currents elicited by blue light stimulation from hChR2(H134R)-EYFP-positive neurons (right panel). c Schematic of experimental design showing the timeline for single and repeated blue light stimulation and myocardial IR surgery. d Representative images of TTC staining in heart cross-sections. Quantification results of infarct size and AAR in cardiac sections from EYFP and ChR2 one stimulation (ChR2 1 stim.) and ChR2 three stimulations (ChR2 3 stim.) groups. Optogenetic stimulation of neurons in PVA for 10 min or 3 consecutive days prior to IR surgery protected heart from IR injury. *p < 0.05 vs. eYFP group. #p = 0.05. Error bars indicate SEM. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA (d)
