In this webinar, Dr. Angel Moreno discusses how optogenetics can be used to modulate the cardiac autonomic system, with a special emphasis on experimental preparation, troubleshooting and data analysis and interpretation.

The autonomic system is the main regulator of cardiac function by providing control of heart rate and contractility via its sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. Understanding how autonomic dysfunction plays a role in cardiac arrhythmogenesis is an active area of research. However, measuring changes in cardiac performance resulting from the activation of specific cardiac nerves is extremely challenging. Therefore, optogenetic tools have enabled the selective activation of cardiac neurons expressing the light-gated cation channel channelrhodopsin (ChR2), promoting high spatio-temporal control of neurotransmitter release.

This presentation provides an overview of the cardiac autonomic system and how it could be modulated via optogenetic photostimulation in transgenic mice. A special emphasis will be given to experimental preparation, troubleshooting, and data analysis and interpretation.

Key Topics Include:

  • Understand the basics of optogenetic stimulation and cardiac autonomic tone
  • Identify the proper tools and equipment needed to perform a study
  • Recognize the potential problems when stimulating cardiac nerves via optogenetic activation and how to address them
  • How to interpret the data and not being mistaken by false-positives

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Resources

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Presenters

Post-doctoral Researcher
Modeling team
IHU-LIRYC

Dr. Moreno received his doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering from the George Washington University specializing in cardiac function. Currently, as a Post Doctoral Researcher at the IHU-LIRYC in France, Dr. Moreno is looking for new ways to painlessly restore normal cardiac rhythm after a sudden onset of a potentially dangerous arrhythmia.

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ADInstruments

Established in 1988, ADInstruments develops high performance digital data acquisition and analysis solutions for biomedical research and life science education.

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