Nitric oxide is not responsible for initial sensory-induced neurovascular coupling response in the barrel cortex of lightly anaesthetised mice

Significance: Neurovascular coupling matches changes in neural activity to localized changes in cerebral blood flow. Although much is known about the role of excitatory neurons in neurovascular coupling, that of inhibitory interneurons is unresolved. Although neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-expressing interneurons are capable of eliciting vasodilation, the role of nitric oxide in neurovascular coupling is debated.Aim: We investigated the role of nitric oxide in hemodynamic responses evoked by nNOS-expressing interneurons and whisker stimulation in mouse sensory cortex.Approach: In lightly anesthetized mice expressing channelrhodopsin-2 in nNOS interneurons, 2D optical imaging spectroscopy was applied to measure stimulation-evoked cortical hemodynamic responses. To investigate the underlying vasodilatory pathways involved, the effects of pharmacological inhibitors of NOS and 20-HETE were assessed.Results: Hemodynamic responses evoked by nNOS-expressing interneur..., , , # Nitric oxide is not responsible for initial sensory-induced neurovascular coupling response in the barrel cortex of lightly anaesthetised mice

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.jdfn2z3d9](10.5061/dryad.jdfn2z3d9)

Llywelyn Lee, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

Clare Howarth, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

Jason Berwick, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

Data were collected primarily by LL at the University of Sheffield. Data types are processed hemodynamic and electrophysiology data derived from *in vivo *mouse experiments using 2D-optical imaging spectroscopy and multichannel recording electrodes, respectively. Please refer to the associated manuscript for full details on data curation, processing and analysis.

Hemodynamic data are presented as MATLAB files containing mat...,