Ultrasound is gaining traction as a neuromodulation method due to its ability to remotely and non-invasively modulate neuronal activity with millimeter precision. However, there is little consensus about optimal ultrasound parameters required to elicit neuromodulation and how specific parameters drive mechanisms that underlie ultrasound neuromodulation. We address these questions in this work by performing a study to determine effective ultrasound parameters in a transgenic mouse brain slice model that enables calcium imaging as a quantitative readout of neuronal activity for ultrasound neuromodulation. We report that (1) calcium signaling increases with the application of ultrasound; (2) the neuronal response rate to ultrasound is dependent on pulse repetition frequency (PRF); and (3) ultrasound can reversibly alter the inhibitory effects of tetrodotoxin (TTX) in pharmacological studies. This study offers mechanistic insight into the PRF dependence of ultrasound neuromodulation and the nature of ultrasound/ion channel interaction.

超声波作为一种神经调节方法越来越受到关注，因为它能够以毫米级精度远程、非侵入性地调节神经元活动。然而，关于引发神经调节所需的最佳超声参数以及特定参数如何驱动超声神经调节的机制，目前尚未达成共识。我们在这项工作中通过进行一项研究来解决这些问题，以确定转基因小鼠脑切片模型中的有效超声参数，该模型使钙成像能够作为超声神经调节的神经元活动的定量读数。我们报告说：（1）钙信号传导随着超声波的应用而增强；(2) 神经元对超声波的反应率取决于脉冲重复频率（PRF）；(3)在药理学研究中超声可以可逆地改变河鲀毒素(TTX)的抑制作用。这项研究提供了对超声神经调节的 PRF 依赖性以及超声/离子通道相互作用的性质的机制见解。