NANOELECTROPULSE-INDUCED CHANGES IN CELL EXCITABILITY: A NEW APPROACH FOR NEUROMODULATION
Abstract
to develop a new modality to electrically stimulate adrenal chromaffin cells, nanosecond duration electric pulses (NEPs) that have the potential for remote delivery via antennas. Adrenal chromaffin cells secrete two main factors into the circulation that mediate the “fight or flight” response, the catecholamines adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine). The goal of this project is provide basic information that can be translated into a deployable product, namely a soldier worn wearable antenna system that can be remotely operated to stimulate catecholamine release as a way to enhance warfighter performance “on the fly” in times of extreme need. Research to date has shown that a single 5 ns pulse stimulates isolated adrenal chromaffin cells to release catecholamines by the same calcium-dependent mechanism that occurs in vivo. In this application, Specific Objective 1 will investigate the biophysical mechanisms by which NEPs modulate the electrical properties of the plasma membrane of single chromaffin cells, using patch clamp electrophysiology to measure membrane ionic currents and voltage. Specific Objective 2 will determine the effectiveness of NEPs to stimulate chromaffin cells within the much more complex adrenal gland tissue. State of the art approaches such as amperometry to quantify catecholamine release in real-time and genetic engineering for detection of specific biomarkers in adrenal tissue will be used to tackle this objective. Specific Objective 3 will optimize approaches for assessing effects of NEPs in the adrenal gland of intact animals, including electric field magnitude and distribution. The significance of the proposed research is that it will extrapolate fundamental information.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2021
- Source ID
- FA95502010061
Entities
People
- Gale Craviso
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Nevada System of Higher Education
- United States Air Force