Simultaneous Optogenetic Stimulation of Individual Pharyngeal Neurons and Monitoring of Feeding Behavior in Intact C. elegans

Methods Mol Biol. 2015:1327:105-19. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2842-2_9.

Abstract

Optogenetic approaches have proven powerful for examining the role of neural circuits in generating behaviors, especially in systems where electrophysiological manipulation is not possible. Here we describe a method for optogenetically manipulating single pharyngeal neurons in intact C. elegans while monitoring pharyngeal behavior. This approach provides bidirectional and dynamic control of pharyngeal neural activity simultaneously with a behavioral readout and has allowed us to test hypotheses about the roles of individual pharyngeal neurons in regulating feeding behavior.

Keywords: C. elegans; Feeding behavior; In vivo optogenetics; Optogenetics; Pharynx; Small circuits.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Optogenetics*