hSyn-hChR2(H134R)-YFP AAV (Serotype Retrograde)

With the development of cell-specific promoters and enhancers, AAV vectors can target specific cell types within complex brain circuits, allowing researchers to dissect neural circuits with unprecedented precision. The extraordinary specificity of AAV vectors allows researchers to target different cell types and neural circuits with great precision. This precision has revolutionized our understanding of brain function by allowing manipulation at the cellular and circuit levels, providing new insights into neural connectivity and behavioral correlates. AAV-mediated optogenetic and chemogenetic tools allow precise manipulation of neuronal activity, facilitating the exploration of neural circuit dynamics and behavior under healthy and pathological conditions. These genetic strategies involve delivering light-activated ion channels called opsins for optogenetics or ligand-gated G-coupled ion channels called designer receptors activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) for chemogenetics. In optogenetic applications, expression of channelrhodopsins (ChRs) or halorhodopsins (HRs) allows access to cells via light stimulation, thereby activating or inhibiting neuronal activity within the target cell. In contrast, in chemogenetics, expression of engineered Gq- or Gi-coupled human muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (hM3Dq or hM4Di) can be activated or inhibited by administration of specific drugs (clozapine N-oxide, CNO).