Long-range inhibitory neurons mediate cortical neurovascular coupling

Ruff, C. F.; Juarez Anaya, F.; Dienel, S. J.; Rakymzhan, A.; Altamirano-Espinoza, A.; Couey, J.; Watson, A. M.; Fish, K. N.; Hooks, B. M.; Rubio, M. E.; Su, A.; Ross, S. E.; Vazquez, A. L.

doi:10.1101/2022.10.11.511811

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.10.11.511811

Long-range inhibitory neurons mediate cortical neurovascular coupling

Ruff, C. F.·Juarez Anaya, F.·Dienel, S. J.·Rakymzhan, A.·Altamirano-Espinoza, A.·Couey, J.·Watson, A. M.·Fish, K. N.·Hooks, B. M.·Rubio, M. E.·Su, A.·Ross, S. E.·Vazquez, A. L.

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Abstract

Neuronal activity evokes a vascular response that is essential to sustain brain function. We show that neurovascular coupling (NVC) is mediated by long-range projecting GABAergic neurons that express Tacr1. Whisker stimulation elicited Tacr1 neuron activity in the barrel cortex through feed-forward excitatory pathways. Optogenetic activation of Tacr1 neurons elicited vasodilation, whereas inhibition significantly reduced whisker-evoked hemodynamic responses. Moreover, vasodilation was preceded by capillary pericyte activity, demonstrating a mechanism for NVC.

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Ruff, C. F., Juarez Anaya, F., Dienel, S. J., Rakymzhan, A., Altamirano-Espinoza, A., Couey, J., Watson, A. M., Fish, K. N., Hooks, B. M., Rubio, M. E., Su, A., Ross, S. E., Vazquez, A. L.. 2022-10-14. Long-range inhibitory neurons mediate cortical neurovascular coupling. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.10.11.511811

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