Trans-segmental imaging in the spinal cord of behaving mice.

Shekhtmeyster, Pavel; Duarte, Daniela; Carey, Erin M; Ngo, Alexander; Gao, Grace; Olmstead, Jack A; Nelson, Nicholas A; Nimmerjahn, Axel · Nat Biotechnol · 2023

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Spinal cord circuits play crucial roles in transmitting pain, but the underlying activity patterns within and across spinal segments in behaving mice have remained elusive. We developed a wearable widefield macroscope with a 7.9-mm<sup>2</sup> field of view, ~3- to 4-μm lateral resolution, 2.7-mm working distance and <10-g overall weight and show that highly localized painful mechanical stimuli evoke widespread, coordinated astrocyte excitation across multiple spinal segments.

Medical subject headings