Near-infrared light stimulation therapy in olfactory bulb photothrombosis

Abstract

The olfactory bulb (OB), prominently located at both the beginning and end of the olfactory nerve route, is the only sensory organ that possesses traits of both the peripheral and central nervous systems. By blocking the blood supply to OB layers using photothrombosis with a 532 nm green laser and Rose Bengal dye, we developed and examined mouse stroke models to better understand the effects of ischemia injury in the OB, which may be connected to the COVID-associated loss of olfactory function. An 808 nm laser was used to deliver daily near-infrared light treatment to the injured OB where clot development was present. By imaging the brain tissues in vivo at the cellular level with a two-photon microscope with low phototoxicity and high resolution, we aimed to demonstrate recovery of the blood vessel in the damaged vasculature through this non-invasive technique called photobiomodulation (PBM). We specifically looked at the hypothesis that PBM therapy can repair ischemic injury to the OB blood vessels by having restoring effect.