Selective inhibition of small-diameter axons using infrared light

Novel clinical treatments to target peripheral nerves are being developed which primarily use electrical current. Recently, infrared (IR) light was shown to inhibit peripheral nerves with high spatial and temporal specificity. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate that IR can selectively and reve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2017-06, Vol.7 (1), p.3275-8, Article 3275
Main Authors: Lothet, Emilie H., Shaw, Kendrick M., Lu, Hui, Zhuo, Junqi, Wang, Yves T., Gu, Shi, Stolz, Donna B., Jansen, E. Duco, Horn, Charles C., Chiel, Hillel J., Jenkins, Michael W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
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639/624
Animals
Aplysia
Axon guidance
Axons - physiology
Axons - radiation effects
Electrophysiological Phenomena - radiation effects
Humanities and Social Sciences
Hypertension
Infrared Rays - adverse effects
Male
Medical treatment
Mollusks
multidisciplinary
Nausea
Nervous system
Neurons - physiology
Neurons - radiation effects
Pain
Peripheral nerves
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Sensory neurons
Shellfish
Synaptic Transmission - radiation effects
Vagus Nerve
Vomiting
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Summary:Novel clinical treatments to target peripheral nerves are being developed which primarily use electrical current. Recently, infrared (IR) light was shown to inhibit peripheral nerves with high spatial and temporal specificity. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate that IR can selectively and reversibly inhibit small-diameter axons at lower radiant exposures than large-diameter axons. We provide a mathematical rationale, and then demonstrate it experimentally in individual axons of identified neurons in the marine mollusk Aplysia californica , and in axons within the vagus nerve of a mammal, the musk shrew Suncus murinus . The ability to selectively, rapidly, and reversibly control small-diameter sensory fibers may have many applications, both for the analysis of physiology, and for treating diseases of the peripheral nervous system, such as chronic nausea, vomiting, pain, and hypertension. Moreover, the mathematical analysis of how IR affects the nerve could apply to other techniques for controlling peripheral nerve signaling.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-03374-9