In vivo optical detection of electrically synchronous, spontaneous neuronal exercise utilizing ASAP4.4-Kv voltage imaging in intact DRG neurons. Credit score: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61774-2
A brand new research by UT Well being San Antonio and Stanford College scientists brings us nearer to understanding how the physique detects completely different sensations reminiscent of ache, itch and contact.
When an individual feels ache or one other exterior stimulation, major sensory neurons translate the message into electrical impulses to inform the physique the way to reply. Whereas scientists knew this occurred, they didn’t totally perceive how completely different sensations are distinguished – till now.
For the primary time, scientists at The College of Texas Well being Science Middle at San Antonio (UT Well being San Antonio) and Stanford have developed an in vivo imaging system that exhibits in actual time how neurons activate to point completely different sensations. Their findings had been revealed within the July 2025 concern of Nature Communications.
The work is a serious advance in understanding how the nervous system processes sensations and opens new doorways for creating remedies for ache and sensory problems.
Major sensory neurons are liable for somatosensation – the method of turning stimuli reminiscent of contact, stress, ache, itch and proprioception (the physique’s consciousness of itself in house) into indicators for the mind. However regardless of many years of analysis, the mechanisms by which these neurons distinguish between sorts of sensation have remained a thriller.
Consultant in vivo optical ASAP4.4-Kv recording of a L5 DRG neuron from SN-CCI mouse in response to 300g press utilized to hindpaw. Every body takes 0.91 ms, 1.1 kHz pace. Observe that the film decision grew to become diminished by conversion from Zen blue (Zeiss) software program to film format AVI file. Credit score: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61774-2
“We know that when there is a stimulus, like an injury, we have an instant, simultaneous sensation of pain. But we don’t know how we sense that as pain, versus touch, so easily,” stated research co-author and principal investigator Yu Shin Kim, Ph.D., affiliate professor within the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical procedure on the Faculty of Dentistry at UT Well being San Antonio. “That basic mechanism has been a major question in our neuroscience field.”
The breakthrough got here from a genetically encoded voltage sensor known as ASAP4.4-Kv, developed by the group. This “positively tuned” sensor will increase fluorescence when neurons depolarize, which permits researchers to see how neurons talk in actual time in mouse fashions. The imaging system makes use of a sensor that lights up when a neuron is lively. By viewing this underneath a robust microscope, scientists can see precisely which neurons are firing and the way they reply to completely different sensations.
“For the first time, we can see the electrical signals from these neurons and how they correspond to different types of sensation,” Kim stated.
The approach additionally confirmed a long-standing speculation that after irritation or nerve harm, neighboring sensory neurons start to speak electrically.
Consultant noxious warmth (50℃)-induced dynamic voltage imaging of a L5 DRG neuron from SN-CCI mouse. Every body takes 0.91 ms, 1.1 kHz pace. Credit score: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61774-2
“We proved and obtained the data that after inflammation or injury, these neurons communicate electrically. They can signal extremely quickly so that each neuron communicates its activity to another,” Kim stated. “This was only a theory before, but we are the first to visualize and confirm it.”
This imaging approach has many benefits over conventional electrophysiological recordings, that are time-intensive and invasive. The brand new technique permits researchers to watch sensory neuron subtypes and observe their exercise constantly.
Purposes for this expertise span research of power ache, irritation, itch, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ache, migraine and different somatosensory situations.
“Previously, there was no tool or technique for us to perform some of these studies, and now we have one,” Kim stated.
Extra data:
Yan Zhang et al, Imaging sensory transmission and neuronal plasticity in major sensory neurons with a positively tuned voltage indicator, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61774-2
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College of Texas Well being Science Middle at San Antonio
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