* These authors contributed equally
The protocol includes transducer manufacturing, parameters reporting, surgical procedure, and signal recording for the entire operational workflow of concurrent focused ultrasound neuromodulation and fiber photometry recording in free-moving mice.
Focused ultrasound neuromodulation (FUN) represents a promising approach for non-invasive perturbation of neuronal circuits at deep brain regions. It is compatible with most of the existing modalities for monitoring brain functions in vivo. Integration with brain function recording modalities not only enables us to address orders and disorders of specific brain functions with closed-loop feedback but also provides us with mechanistic insights about FUN itself. Here, we provide a modified, simple, dependable, and robust protocol for the simultaneous application of FUN and fiber photometry GCaMP6s fluorescence recording in free-moving mice. This involves the fabrication of a well-sized single transducer and its temporary placement on the mice, along with the secure fixation of a fiber optical implant to facilitate the smooth passage of the transducer. The combination of FUN and fiber photometry provides for the optical recording of neural circuitry responses upon FUN in real-time in deep brain regions. To demonstrate the efficiency of this protocol, Thy1-GCaMP6s mice were used as an example to record the neuroactivity in the anterior thalamic nucleus during FUN while the mice are freely moving. We believe that this protocol can promote the widespread use of FUN in both the neuroscience field and the biomedical ultrasound field.
Focused ultrasound neuromodulation (FUN) has emerged as a promising and versatile neuromodulation tool, enabling the exploration of brain function and organization with great potential1. FUN is able to deliver acoustic energy noninvasively to any position within the brain tissue with pinpoint precision2. Its ability to transiently and reversibly modulate neuroactivity in deep brain structure, with high spatiotemporal specificity, in a safe and noninvasive manner, presents an appealing attribute that complements existing clinical neuromodulation technique3. Demonstration of effective FUN has been confirmed in both human subjects4,5,6 and in various animal models, encompassing small7,8,9,10 and large species11,12,13,14,15,16,17.
By observing the effect of FUN on specific neural types through neuroactivity monitoring during FUN, we can delve into the mechanism behind this process18,19. Fiber photometry based on genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) has become widely utilized in the past decade as a versatile method for tracking cell-type-specific population activity in vivo20,21,22,23,24. Hence, the simultaneous application of FUN and fiber photometry can significantly enrich our comprehensive understanding of FUN. Nevertheless, the use of bulky single transducers necessitates fixation to a frame, while animals need to undergo anesthesia and be immobilized in a stereotaxic frame7,19,25,26. This approach may not be suitable for certain types of experiments related to perception, cognition, and behavior evaluation. It is crucial to establish a protocol that facilitates the amalgamation of FUN and fiber photometry without impeding the mice's mobilization7.
In this study, we present a refined protocol used in our previous studies to seamlessly and gracefully complement the method for crafting a single transducer and its temporary fixation on to the mice, as well as the secure fixation of a fiber optical implant to facilitate the smooth passage of the transducer7,19,26. It allows researchers to record the neuroactivity modulated by ultrasound in unrestrained mice. We opted for a smoother envelope, such as a sinusoidal envelope, to reduce the auditory confound27. This protocol's feasibility is confirmed through the simultaneous recording of neuroactivity in the anterior thalamic nucleus of free-moving mice during FUN. It demonstrates that the transducer's energy is sufficient to achieve neuromodulation, and the fixation methods for the fiber optical implant and the transducer can ensure their stability.
All procedures and animal handling complied with NSFC ethics guidelines and approved protocol requirements of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology.
1. Transducer preparation
2. Reporting parameters for FUN
3. Preparing the animal for surgery
4. Surgical procedure
5. Stimulation and signal recording
The acoustic pressure distribution in the free acoustic field on the XY plane and XZ plane located 3.4 mm away from the transducer surface, corresponding to the position of the mouse's anterior thalamic nucleus, is shown in Figure 2B,C. These measurements were acquired through hydrophone scanning in the XY domain and XZ domain. The acoustic pressure distribution in the transcranial acoustic field on the XY plane and XZ plane located 3.4 mm away from the transducer surface is shown in Figure 2D,E. The free acoustic pressure measured is 730 kPa, and the transcranial acoustic pressure measured is 580 kPa for 500 kHz center frequency. The thickness of the skull measured is about 0.2 mm, on average. We assume that the dispersion relationship is approximately linear, so the skull has an attenuation coefficient of 19.98 dB/cmMHz. The lightweight transducer, weighing around 1.66 g, allows the mouse to move easily, facilitating the observation of the response behavior of the mouse under FUN and the motion trail.
The optical fiber signals were recorded under FUN (Figure 4B,D), with the envelope being square and sinusoidal, respectively. Five male mice were used in the experiment. The square lasted for 300 ms, while the continuous sinusoidal lasted for 471 ms, which can ensure the total energy is the same in two different FUNs (Figure 4A,C). An enhancement in optical fiber signal indicates an increase in neural activity. The neural response is rapid under the FUN, suggesting that the transducer has sufficient energy and excellent focusing capabilities.
Figure 1: Production process of the transducer. This involves, in turn, connecting a piezoelectric sheet to a wire and then packaging it. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 2: Ultrasound field measurement setup and characterization for ultrasonic transducer. (A) The setup for ultrasound field measurement includes a hydrophone, motor system, control software, signal generator, and oscilloscope. (B, D) Schematic diagram of ultrasonic transducer measurements in free and transcranial acoustic fields and the results of transverse and longitudinal sound field measurements. (C, E) Diagram of the transverse sound field at the transducer focal position, with the red line indicating the sound field at the -3 dB position. (F, G) Waveform diagram of the output measured by the hydrophone for the transducer. The area within the red dashed box and the area within the blue dashed box represent the periods before the waveform reaches a stable amplitude and the ringing period of the transducer at the end, respectively. The area within the orange dashed box represents the stable part of the waveform, which is used for calculating the pressure amplitude, noted as p. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 3: Calculation software and ultrasound parameter. (A) A homemade ultrasound parameter calculation interface. MI, Isppa, and Ispta were calculated. The interface could be obtained from https://github.com/HQArrayLab/Ultrasound_Parameter_Caculation. (B) Schematics of ultrasound pressure waveforms. A sinusoidal Pulse Envelope and a rectangular Pulse Envelope are used. The period (T) represents the duration of a single cycle of the operating frequency. A pulse, known as a single continuous sonication, lasts for a specified duration called the pulse duration (PD). Typically, pulses are repeated in a sequence known as a pulse train. The time interval between two consecutive pulses in a pulse train is referred to as the pulse repetition interval (PRI), calculated as the reciprocal of the pulse repetition frequency (PRF). The entire sequence of pulses, known as the pulse train, has a specific duration known as the pulse train duration. The interval time means the duration of a single trial. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 4: Signal of fiber photometry during FUN. (A, C) Ultrasound parameters enveloped by square (B) and sinusoidal (D). (B, D) The fiber photometry signal respectively during FUN of (A) and (C). The green shadow is the duration of FUN. The solid line is the mean, and the shades of blue and red are the mean and standard deviation of recorded signals. Five male mice were used in the experiment. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
This approach combines FUN with optical photometry recording, enabling the investigation of mouse brain function and in vivo FUN mechanism. The complete operational process, from transducer fabrication to surgical procedures, is outlined, allowing researchers to independently perform FUN from outside the field.
One crucial aspect of the protocol is ensuring that the optical implant is smoothly inserted into the transducer, the dental cement across the skull is thin enough for ultrasound penetration into the brain, the optical implant is securely connected to the skull to prevent dislodging during the experiment, and the energy output of the transducer is sufficient for effective neuromodulation. The thickness of dental cement surrounding the implant should be equal to or less than the diameter of the transducer hole. Therefore, it is advisable to use the same polypropylene pipe for both the transducer fabrication process and surgery. Since polypropylene pipe does not adhere to dental cement, it is selected to mold the dental cement around the implant, with a side cut, to facilitate easy removal of the polypropylene pipe.
Electrophysiological recording and optical photometry recording are commonly utilized technologies for monitoring brain activity in vivo, offering high temporal-spatial resolution. However, electrophysiological recording captures the firing activity signal from neurons attached to the electrodes directly. The ultrasound waves could directly vibrate the electrodes, inducing unnecessary confounding effects. Fortunately, the fiber photometry technology, which is less invasive, captures the activity of neurons beneath it, which could reduce the confounding effect of ultrasound vibration on the implant7,19,26. As a result, the technology of simultaneous focused ultrasound neuromodulation and fiber photometry recording in free-moving mice allows for the study of in vivo mechanisms of ultrasonic neuromodulation and enables the observation of the mice's behavioral responses without the interference of anesthesia.
However, fiber photometry's spatial resolution is restricted as it is unable to monitor the activity of subcellular and microcircuits24. Moreover, it provides an indirect representation of neuronal activity since it does not directly record the electrical signals produced by neuronal activity.
This work is supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32371151), Guangdong High Level Innovation Research Institute(2021B0909050004), the Hong Kong Research Grants Council Collaborative Research Fund (C5053-22GF), General Research Fund (15224323 and 15104520), Hong Kong Innovation Technology Fund (MHP/014/19), internal funding from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (G-SACD and 1-CDJM), and the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province- Joint Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Robotics (2022-KF-22-03). The authors would like to thank the facility and technical support from the University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) and University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience (UBSN) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
1ml disposable syringe | DOUBLE-DOVE | 1ml | Injection needles |
26-gauge needle | Jin mao | JM-J02 | Preparation needles |
70% ethanol | Dong de alcohol | 0.7 | Disinfect |
alcohol | Dong de alcohol | 0.75 | Clean the transducer surface |
Bayonet Nut Connector | Risym | 75-5 | The other end of the connecting wire is connected to the ultrasonic excitation device |
copper ring | Guowei Metal Materials | Outer diameter, wall thickness, height (8mm, 0.2mm, 8mm) | The outer protective case of the transducer |
disposable syringe | DOUBLE-DOVE | 1ml | The inhalation of epoxy resin allows precise small amounts to be injected into the copper pipe |
double-sided tape | 3M | 3M55236 | It is used to fix the transducer and the wire to ensure that the epoxy silver glue does not move before drying |
electronic soldering iron | Victor | 868A+ | The soldered wires are connected to the BNC |
epoxy resin glue | Kraft | K 9741 | Seal the rear of the transducer |
epoxy silver paste | Vonroll | CB-052 | The wire is attached to the positive and negative poles of the piezoelectric ceramic sheet and the resistance is kept low |
fader | JOQO | YP-7021 | Remove the head hair of the mouse |
gas anesthesia machine | RWD | R500 | It is used for anesthesia in mice |
glass sheet | Square glass | 80mm*80mm | A temporary operating surface for placing piezoelectric ceramics and wires can be used to coat the surface of the glass plate with double-sided tape |
ketamine/xylazine | Shutai/shengxin | Zoletil 50/2ml*10 | Anesthetize the mouse |
medical coupling agent | Bestman | 120g | The couplant acts as a medium to conduct the ultrasound signal |
mouse | Bai shi tong | GCaMp6 | Test subject |
ophthalmic ointment | Yun Zhi | 0.5% x 2.5 g x1 | Moistens the eye area to prevent blindness |
 piezoelectric plate | Jiaming Electronics Factory | Diameter, pore, thickness (7mm, 3mm, 3.56mm) | The electrical energy is emitted in the form of ultrasound |
polypropylene pipe | Baihao Pipe Factory | Outer diameter, inner diameter, length (3mm, 2mm, 500mm) | Prevent the epoxy resin from plugging the holes and leaving the holes |
povidone-iodine | lefeke | 500ml | Disinfect |
signal record of fiber | Thinker Tech Nanjing Biotech | Three-color single-channel fiber optic recording system | Record fiber photometry signals |
stereotaxic frame | RWD | 68805 | Fix the head of the mouse and localize the brain region |
sterile saline | Shijiazhuang si yao | 500ML,4.5g | As a solvent, dissolves the drug |
stimulation of ultrasound | Deep Brain Technology | DB-USNM | Provides stable input to the transducer |
weighing machine | Qin bo shi | 1718 | Weigh the mouse |
wire | Jinpeng Cable Factory | 0.3mm2 | Voltage is supplied to the transducer |
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