Direct dorsal root ganglia (DRG) injection in mice for analysis of adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene transfer to peripheral somatosensory neurons

Delivering optogenetic genes to the peripheral sensory nervous system provides an efficient approach to study and treat neurological disorders and offers the potential to reintroduce sensory feedback to prostheses users and those who have incurred other neuropathies. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors are a common method of gene delivery due to efficiency of gene transfer and minimal toxicity. AAVs are capable of being designed to target specific tissues, with transduction efficacy determined through the combination of serotype and genetic promoter selection, as well as location of vector administration. The dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) are collections of cell bodies of sensory neurons which project from the periphery to the central nervous system (CNS). The anatomical make-up of DRGs make them an ideal injection location to target the somatosensory neurons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).