1A; Gradinaru et al., 2007). Because light propagates bidirectionally through optical fiber, the optical fiber for stimulating light delivery can also be used for fluorescence detection (LeChasseur et al., 2011). For high-throughput neural activity recording in vivo, the multi-channel version of optrode, which consists of single optical fiber and multi-channel electrodes, has recently been reported (Fig. 1B; Zhang Selleck BMN673 et al., 2009; Royer et al., 2010; Anikeeva et al., 2012). These types of probes enable us to control and record activity of multiple neurons. However, these probes are not suited for light stimulation

with high spatial resolution, because only one optical channel is equipped. To control multiple neural activity independently, multiple optical channels should be required. Brain-insertable microendoscope has been used to visualize deep brain regions (Jung et al., 2004; Vincent

et al., 2006). Optical probes used in these studies were made of a gradient refractive index lens or optical fiber bundles, and their outer diameters were typically 0.25–1 mm for minimally invasive insertion into the solid tissue. With these types of endoscopes, in vivo imaging of fluorescent-labeled cells and neuronal activity measurement with calcium-sensitive dyes were reported (Jung et al., 2004; Vincent et al., 2006). In principle, these microendoscopes can also be used for delivering stimulating light, but such application has not been reported so far. We report here a new method for controlling neural activity with high spatio-temporal resolution, which consists of optical see more fiber bundle-based endoscopes and metal microelectrodes (Fig. 1C). This probe enables targeted photostimulation with high

spatial resolution, while monitoring light-evoked neural activity. Using this optical fiber bundle-based endoscope, we first show that this new probe is useful for stimulating neurons with high resolution mafosfamide in living animals. We then show that photostimulation of the primary motor cortex of transgenic mice expressing ChR2 in layer 5 cortical neurons can evoke single-whisker movement, indicating spatially restricted activation of neurons in deep brain regions. DNA encoding ChR2-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP; a gift from K. Deisseroth), enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and tdTomato were subcloned into the pCAGGS expression vector (a gift from Jun-ichi Miyazaki, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan). Photostimulation and electrophysiological recording experiments were performed on ICR mice (20–32 g, aged 4–12 weeks) that were anesthetized by a ketamine and xylazine mixture (90 mg/kg ketamine, 5 mg/kg xylazine). For whisker movement experiments, Thy1-ChR2-EYFP transgenic mice [Jackson Laboratory strain B6.Cg-Tg(Thy1-COP4/EYFP)18Gfng/J; Arenkiel et al., 2007] were used (20–30 g, aged 6–12 weeks).