Picower Plastic Lunch Series with the Tsai Lab

Speaker: Mitch Murdock

Zoom Link (MIT Credentials Required): https://mit.zoom.us/j/97913514541

Talk Title:Gamma sensory stimulation attenuates amyloid burden in an Alzheimer’s mouse model via glymphatic clearance

Abstract: Our lab has previously shown that gamma stimulation induced via optogenetic or non-invasive sensory stimulation attenuates the burden of pathogenic Alzheimer’s proteins in mouse models of Alzheimer’s Disease. Here, we propose gamma stimulation clears brain metabolites in part via glymphatic transport. The glymphatic system is a highly organized paravascular fluid transport system whereby arterial pulsations pump cerebrospinal fluid into the brain. Water channels on astrocytic endfeet facilitate the exchange between cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid, leading to the clearance of brain metabolites which are then drained via meningeal lymphatic vessels. Using two-photon microscopy, we observed sensory gamma stimulation increased the influx of cerebrospinal fluid into the brain of 5XFAD mice. CSF influx was associated with increased arterial pulsatility and elevated efflux of interstitial fluid. Inhibiting glymphatic pathways attenuated gamma-mediated amyloid clearance. Our results suggest gamma stimulation activates vascular-mediated waste transport systems.​