Optogenetic inhibition after stroke

Overview

Ischemic stroke disrupts neural tissue and behavior, and recovery depends on interactions among neurons, glia, and vascular cells. This project asks whether targeted inhibition of striatal GABAergic neuronal activity can improve outcomes after ischemic brain injury. Optogenetic inhibition of GABAergic neurons upregulated bFGF expression by endothelial cells and promoted neurobehavioral recovery, possibly through astrocyte-mediated mechanisms, suggesting that modulating neuronal activity may help promote neurological recovery after ischemic stroke.