Name: electrophoretic delivery of &#x3b3;-aminobutyric acid (gaba) into epileptic focus prevents seizures in mice
Uploaded: 2019-05-16T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Electrophoretic Delivery of Î³-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice at JoVE.com

C.M.P. acknowledges funding from a Whitaker International Scholar grant administered by the Institute for International Education. A.K. was sponsored by the Marie Curie IEF (No. 625372). A.W. acknowledges funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union&#8217;s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 716867). A.W. additionally acknowledges the Excellence Initiative of Aix-Marseille University - A*MIDEX, a French &#8220;Investissements d&#8217;Avenir&#8221; programme. The authors acknowledge Dr. Ilke Uguz, Dr. Sahika Inal, Dr. Vincenzo Curto, Dr. Mary Donahue, Dr. Marc Ferro, and Zs&#243;fia Magl&#243;czky for their participation in fruitful discussions.

All experimental procedures were performed according to the ethical guidelines of the Institut de Neurosciences des Syst&#232;mes and approved by the local Ethical Committees and Veterinary Offices.
NOTE: Seventeen adult male OF1 mice were used for the experiments. Mice were entrained to a 12 h light/dark cycle with food and water available ad libitum.
1. Anesthesia
<ol>
	<li>Inject intraperitoneally a mixture of ketamine and xylazine (10...

<ol>
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By developing a new experimental protocol in an acute mouse model of epilepsy, SLEs could be successfully controlled with the help of a &#181;FIP implanted in the epileptic focus. Thanks to its capability to deliver GABA with temporal and spatial precision, 4AP-induced SLEs were controlled at the onset of the seizures. Treatment of epilepsy is theoretically possible if the control of the neural network discharges is achieved at the place of the seizure start. The presented protocol proved this possible if the localizatio...

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder: about 1% of the population suffers from epilepsy, and about one-third of the affected have recurrent seizures. In most cases, seizures can be controlled with medication. However, drug treatment needs to be set for every patient individually, where proper dosing can take years to find1,2. Additionally, most of the medication has serious side effects that reduce the quality of life3,4,5,6,7. Finally, in 30% of the cases patients are resistant to medication, and in case of a constant single seizure generator locus, only resective neurosurgery can attenuate the occurrence of seizures8. Therefore, a major initiative in modern epilepsy research is to discover new strategies which can prevent recurrent seizures in patients at risk, while reducing the necessity of strong drug therapies and invasive resective surgeries.
Epileptic seizures occur when there is an imbalance within excitatory and inhibitory circuits either throughout the brain (generalized epilepsy) or in a localized part of the brain (focal epilepsy), such that neurons discharge in an abnormal fashion9,10,11. Antiepileptic drugs can act in two different ways in seizure prevention: either decreasing excitation or enhancing inhibition12. Specifically, they can either modify the electrical activity of neuronal cells by affecting ion channels in the cell membrane13 or act on chemical transmission between neurons by affecting the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA or the excitatory glutamate in the synapses14,15. For some medications, the mode of action is unknown18. Also, drug treatments have a continuous effect on patients and cannot adapt to the prevalence dynamics of seizures. Ideally, drugs with specific mechanisms of action would act on the underlying epileptic processes. An optimal treatment would not touch the brain interictally but would act immediately when a seizure starts developing. In contrast to that, in all cases of epilepsy, medication now means a systematic treatment, affecting the whole brain and the whole body of the patient9.
Epileptic seizures can appear many years after the initial insult such as brain trauma. The period between the initial insult and the occurrence of the first spontaneous seizures is characterized by considerable molecular and cellular reorganizations, including neuronal death with the disappearance of neuronal network connections and axonal sprouting/neosynaptogenesis with the appearance of new connections19,20,21. Once seizures become recurrent, their frequency and severity tend to increase, involving more brain regions. It is important to distinguish the sites of seizure onset (epileptogenic regions) from propagation networks, as the rules of seizure genesis and propagation may differ. Research performed on human tissue and experimental models of epilepsy have provided important data regarding the reorganization of circuits and their ability to generate seizures20,21,22,23. However, it is difficult to determine if these reorganizations are adaptive responses or whether they are causally related to epileptogenesis or seizure genesis and propagation12.
Therefore, localizing the epileptic focus and applying antiepileptic drugs locally are one of the main challenges in contemporary epilepsy research. Several experiments using animal models of epilepsy and some clinical studies aimed to find the onset of the seizure events and define the underlying mechanisms in the brain24,25,26,27. To this end, we developed a new experimental protocol using the 4AP-induced epilepsy model28,29,30,31 in an acute mouse preparation, which allows the precise insertion of three devices into the given area of the hippocampus, where network activity in vivo is manipulated in a highly localized manner. Localized 4AP injection by a glass micropipette helps to induce epileptic SLEs in a localized spot in the hippocampus, while with the help of the novel polymer-based &#181;FIP probe the control of the seizure activity is achieved simultaneously by recording the neuronal electrical activity with the device&#8217;s recording sites. Hippocampal local field activity is also monitored with a multichannel silicon probe in a layer-specific manner in the cortex and in the hippocampus simultaneously.
The recently invented &#181;FIP probes work by using an applied electric field to push charged drugs stored in a microfluidic channel across an ion exchange membrane (IEM) and out to the surrounding tissue (Figure 1). The IEM selectively transports only one type of ion (cation or anion) and, thus, works to limit both passive diffusion in the &#8220;off&#8221; state and&#160; transport of oppositely charged species from the surrounding tissue into the device. The electric field is created on demand by applying a small voltage (&#60;1 V) between the source electrode which is internal to the microfluidic channel and a target electrode which is external to the device (in this case, the head screw on the animal model). The rate of drug delivery is proportional to the applied voltage and the measured current between the source and target electrodes. The precise tunability of drug delivery is one of the primary advantages of the &#181;FIP. Another critical advantage, compared to fluidic or pressure-based drug delivery systems, is that in the &#181;FIP there is only a negligible pressure increase at the drug delivery outlet as drugs are delivered across the IEM without their carrier solution.
There is a small amount of passive leaking of GABA when the &#181;FIP is &#8220;off&#8221;, but this was found not to effect SLEs. The &#181;FIP are custom-made following conventional microfabrication methods that we reported previously31.
Since one way of preventing recurrent seizures is the blockade of network discharges at the very beginning or even before the first seizure event, the presented method for delivering the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA into the epileptic focus has great therapeutic potential for seizure control in patients with focal epilepsy. Since GABA is an endogenous substrate, it leaves intrinsic neuronal properties unchanged in physiological concentrations. The local application of low levels of GABA will only affect cells naturally responsive to inhibition, and will only cause similar effects to physiological inhibition, contrary to deep brain stimulation (DBS), which has unspecific actions by stimulating all cells of the neuronal network in its environment, causing a mixed response involving both excitation and inhibition. In conclusion, the proposed method provides a more specific approach to seizure control than DBS.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr >
			<td >4AP</td>
			<td >Sigma</td>
			<td >275875</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Alexa Fluor 488</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab15007</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Amplifier</td>
			<td>Neuralynx, Montana, USA</td>
			<td >Digital Lynx 4SX</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Amplifier</td>
			<td >Ampliplex</td>
			<td >KJE-1001</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Atlas Stereotaxique&#160;</td>
			<td>Allen Atlas</td>
			<td>978-0470054086</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Borosilica glass pipette</td>
			<td >Sutter</td>
			<td >BF120-69-15</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Brain Matrix</td>
			<td >WPI&#160;</td>
			<td >RBMA-200C</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Bone trimmer</td>
			<td >FST</td>
			<td >16109-14</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Confocal microscope</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td>LSM 510</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Connector</td>
			<td>INSTECH</td>
			<td>SC20/15</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Coton tige</td>
			<td>Monoprix</td>
			<td>EMD 6107OD</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Cover slip</td>
			<td >Menzel-Glass</td>
			<td >15747592</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >DiI Stain&#160;</td>
			<td >Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td >D282</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >DMSO</td>
			<td >Sigma</td>
			<td >11412-11</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Drill</td>
			<td>FOREDOM</td>
			<td>K1070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Forceps</td>
			<td >F.S.T.</td>
			<td >11412-11</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >GABA</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A2129</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >GFAP Monoclonal Antibody</td>
			<td>Thermofisher</td>
			<td>53-9892-80</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >GOPS</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>440167-100M</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Hamilton seringe&#160;</td>
			<td>Hamilton&#160;</td>
			<td>80330</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Headscrew</td>
			<td>Component Supply</td>
			<td>TX00-2FH</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Heating pad&#160;</td>
			<td>Harvard apparatus</td>
			<td>341446</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Injection Pump</td>
			<td>WPI&#160;</td>
			<td>UMP3-3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Keithley</td>
			<td >Tektoronix</td>
			<td >216A</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Ketamine</td>
			<td>Renaudin</td>
			<td>5787419</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Magnetic holder</td>
			<td>Narishige</td>
			<td>GJ-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Mice</td>
			<td>Charles River</td>
			<td>612</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Motoric manipulator</td>
			<td>Scientifica, UK</td>
			<td >IVM</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Na2HPO4</td>
			<td >Sigma</td>
			<td >255793</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >NaH2PO4</td>
			<td >Sigma</td>
			<td >7558807</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >NeuroTrace DiI&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermofisher</td>
			<td>N22880</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Paper towel</td>
			<td>KIMBERLY CLARK</td>
			<td>7552000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >PB</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P4417</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >PEDOT:PSS</td>
			<td>CLEVIOS</td>
			<td>81076212</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >PFA</td>
			<td>Acros Organic</td>
			<td>30525-89-4</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Rectal temperature probe</td>
			<td>Harvard apparatus</td>
			<td>521591</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Ropivacaine&#160;</td>
			<td>KABI</td>
			<td>1260216</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Saline</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>7982</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Scalpel</td>
			<td>F.S.T</td>
			<td>AUST R195806</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Seringue&#160;</td>
			<td>BD Medical</td>
			<td>324826</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Serrefine clamp</td>
			<td>F.S.T</td>
			<td>18050-28</td>
			<td>4 is recommended</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Silicon probe</td>
			<td>NeuroNexus, Michigan, USA</td>
			<td>A2x16-10mm-50-500-177 or A1x16-5mm-150-703</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Stereotoxic frame</td>
			<td>Stoelting</td>
			<td>51733U</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Superfrost Slide</td>
			<td >ThermoScientific</td>
			<td >J38000AMNZ</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Tubing</td>
			<td >INSTECH</td>
			<td >LS20</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Vaseline&#160;</td>
			<td>Laboratoire Gilbert</td>
			<td>3518646126611</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Vectashield DAPI</td>
			<td>Vector Laboratories, California, USA</td>
			<td>H-1200-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Vibratome, Leica VT1200S</td>
			<td>Leica Microsystems</td>
			<td>1491200S001</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Xylazine&#160;</td>
			<td>Bayer</td>
			<td>4007221032311</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

electrophoretic delivery of &#x3b3;-aminobutyric acid (gaba) into epileptic focus prevents seizures in mice

Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders which affects millions of people worldwide. Although treatment with medication is helpful in 70% of the cases, serious side effects affect the quality of life of patients. Moreover, a high percentage of epileptic patients are drug resistant; in their case, neurosurgery or neurostimulation are necessary. Therefore, the major goal of epilepsy research is to discover new therapies which are either capable of curing epilepsy without side effects or preventing recurrent seizures in drug-resistant patients. Neuroengineering provides new approaches by using novel strategies and technologies to find better solutions to cure epileptic patients at risk.
As a demonstration of a novel experimental protocol in an acute mouse model of epilepsy, a direct in situ electrophoretic drug delivery system is used. Namely, a neural probe incorporating a microfluidic ion pump (&#181;FIP) for on-demand drug delivery and simultaneous recording of local neural activity is implanted and demonstrated to be capable of controlling 4-aminopyridine-induced (4AP-induced) seizure-like event (SLE) activity. The &#947;-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration is kept in the physiological range by the precise control of GABA delivery to reach an antiepileptic effect in the seizure focus but not to cause overinhibition-induced rebound bursts. The method allows both the detection of pathological activity and intervention to stop seizures by delivering inhibitory neurotransmitters directly to the epileptic focus with precise spatiotemporal control.
As a result of the developments to the experimental method, SLEs can be induced in a highly localized manner that allows seizure control by the precisely tuned GABA delivery at the seizure onset.

Using the procedure presented here with a 4AP epilepsy model in anesthetized mice, control of epileptic seizures can be achieved in the epileptic focus. The precise localization of the implants (Figure 2) helped to record hippocampal local field potentials (LFPs, Figure 4), to induce small hippocampal seizures and to deliver GABA at the seizure onset. The localization of the implants was verified after each experiment by post hoc...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Electrophoretic Delivery of Î³-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice at JoVE.com

Electrophoretic Delivery of &amp;#947;-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

The challenge of epilepsy research is to develop novel treatments for patients where classical therapy is inadequate. Using a new protocol&#8212;with the help of an implantable drug delivery system&#8212;we are able to control seizures in anesthetized mice by the electrophoretic delivery of GABA into the epileptic focus.

Electrophoretic Delivery of &#x3B3;-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders which affects millions of people worldwide. Although treatment with medication is helpful in 70% of the ...

Our protocol takes advantage of the local administration of the naturally occurring inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA using a very novel device, which could propose a new solution in the treatment of epileptic seizures. The microaerophilic ion pump allows us to have very precise control over exactly when and where we're delivering drugs. Precisely threaded electrophoretic delivery could be modified to target other neurological diseases.Another benefit of this drug delivery technique is that there's a very negligible pressure increase at the drug delivery outlet because there's no fluid that's actually being delivered. Rather, it's just the drug molecules themselves. Since close localization of the probes will pose the greatest issue, it's very advisible to test their alignment angles and positioning with dummy probes in the stereotaxic frame.Begin by fixing the head of an anesthetized mouse in a stereotaxic frame and using a 30 gauge needle to inject a local analgesic subcutaneously at the planned incision site. After five minutes, use a scalpel to make a midline incision in the skull. And use fine forceps to gently retract the skin.Clamp the skin with bulldog Serofine clamps. And clean the exposed skull surface of fascia. Using a dental drill with a fine, round 0.4 millimeter drill bit, drill a hole in the skull above the cerebellum until the dura is visible.Place the ground screw into the hole and use a precision screwdriver to turn the screw until it reaches the top of the cerebellum. Using the stereotaxic frame, measure the stereotaxic coordinates for the desired brain region and use the drill set at a fast speed to thin an approximately one to two millimeter diameter area of the skull, about the target region, until a thin, well-polished transparent bone membrane remains. Then, use a custom-made hooked-tip needle to remove the dura and add a drop of saline into the resulting hole.For multi-channel silicon probe insertion, place the probe on the stereotaxic arm attached to a magnetic holder and place the arm next to the stereotaxic frame. Set the stereotaxic arms in a slight 20-degree anterior-posterior angle to leave ample space for the positioning of the other two implants. And connect the probe to the head stage and the ground screw.Use the micron-precise stereotaxic arm to slowly lower the silicon probe into the hippocampus and initiate the recording software to record the electric neuronal signals while moving the multi-channel silicon probe from the top of the cortex until the targeted dorsoventral position is reached. Then, simultaneously record the local field potential signal from the layers of the cortex and the hippocampus during the penetration on the computer screen and use the ripple activity in the pyramidal layer of the hippocampal formation in the recorded local field potential as a marker of the target zone. For filling of the microfluidic ion pump, connect the tubes to the inlet of the pump and fill the probe with 0.05 molar GABA solution.Remove the tubes, and close the inlet with paraffin film wrapping and ensure that the microfluidic ion pump is attached securely to the holder. Take care when mounting the holder to the micromanipulator arm before connecting electrical leads to the source measurement unit. With the stereotaxic arm at a 20-degree medio-lateral angle, lower the pump slowly with axial movements as close to the probe as possible without letting the pump bend, until the pump reaches the dorsoventral coordinate negative 1200 micrometers from the cortical surface.In preparation for the seizure induction, remove the metal needle hub of a 10-microliter syringe and fix a borosilicate micropipette onto the syringe tip. Place the hub over the micropipette tip and position the syringe at a 20-degree lateral-medial angle. Use an automated microinjection pump to load 500 to 1000 nanoliters of 50 millimolar full aminopyridine in artificial cerebrospinal fluid into the syringe and lower the glass micropipette to the dorsoventral coordinate position.Inject 250 nanoliters of the solution into the brain and initiate the recording in the software. Then, watch the screen and wait for the first interictal spike to appear before applying one volt between the source and the target for 100 seconds on and one second off for 30 cycles to deliver the GABA solution. The precise localization of the implants helps in recording the hippocampal local field potentials, inducing the small hippocampal seizures, and delivering GABA at the seizure onset.Further, the localization of the implants can be verified after each experiment by post hoc histology. Here, an example of when seizure-like events could be stopped with the delivery of GABA by the novel neuronal probe, incorporating the microfluidic probe is shown. When four aminopyridine was injected into a larger area or onto the top of the cortex, the epileptic seizures became generalized, so the delivered GABA was not able to modify the extent of the epileptic seizures.Notably, the delivery of sodium ions did not have a significant effect on the four aminopyridine-induced activity. So this protocol can be useful for any stereotaxic surgery that involves implanting multiple fragile probes. With the help of the microfluidic ion pump, other species in charged molecules could be introduced to treat not only epilepsy, but other neurological diseases.Electrophoretic delivery in tissue interfacing presents a new approach in general of delivering species into any soft tissue. Take special care when applying the 4AP, since it's a toxin and induces epilepsy.

electrophoretic-delivery-aminobutyric-acid-gaba-into-epileptic-focus

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

GABA-activated Single-channel and Tonic Currents in Rat Brain Slices

The GABAA channels are present in all neurons and are located both at synapses and outside of synapses where they generate phasic and tonic currents, respectively 4,5,6,7 The GABAA channel is a pentameric GABA-gated chloride channel. The channel subunits are grouped into 8 families (&alpha;1-6, &beta;1-3, &gamma;1-3, &delta;, &#949;, &theta;, &pi; and &rho;). Two alphas, two betas and one 3rd subunit form the functional channel 8. By combining studies of sub-type specific GABA-activated single-channel molecules with studies including all populations of GABAA channels in the neuron it becomes possible to understand the basic mechanism of neuronal inhibition and how it is modulated by pharmacological agents.
We use the patch-clamp technique 9,10 to study the functional properties of the GABAA channels in alive neurons in hippocampal brain slices and record the single-channel and whole-cell currents. We further examine how the channels are affected by different GABA concentrations, other drugs and intra and extracellular factors. For detailed theoretical and practical description of the patch-clamp method please see The Single-Channel Recordings edited by B Sakman and E Neher 10.

We use the patch-clamp technique to measure GABA-activated single-channel currents (GABAA channels, GABAA receptors) and the synaptic and tonic currents they generate in neurons. Activation of the channels decreases neuronal excitability in health and disease 1,2,3,4.

The GABAA channels are present in all neurons and are located both at synapses and outside of synapses where they generate phasic and tonic currents, ...

Efficient Gene Delivery into Multiple CNS Territories Using In Utero Electroporation

The ability to manipulate gene expression is the cornerstone of modern day experimental embryology, leading to the elucidation of multiple developmental pathways. Several powerful and well established transgenic technologies are available to manipulate gene expression levels in mouse, allowing for the generation of both loss- and gain-of-function models. However, the generation of mouse transgenics is both costly and time consuming. Alternative methods of gene manipulation have therefore been widely sought. In utero electroporation is a method of gene delivery into live mouse embryos1,2 that we have successfully adapted3,4. It is largely based on the success of in ovo electroporation technologies that are commonly used in chick5. Briefly, DNA is injected into the open ventricles of the developing brain and the application of an electrical current causes the formation of transient pores in cell membranes, allowing for the uptake of DNA into the cell. In our hands, embryos can be efficiently electroporated as early as embryonic day (E) 11.5, while the targeting of younger embryos would require an ultrasound-guided microinjection protocol, as previously described6. Conversely, E15.5 is the latest stage we can easily electroporate, due to the onset of parietal and frontal bone differentiation, which hampers microinjection into the brain. In contrast, the retina is accessible through the end of embryogenesis. Embryos can be collected at any time point throughout the embryonic or early postnatal period. Injection of a reporter construct facilitates the identification of transfected cells.
To date, in utero electroporation has been most widely used for the analysis of neocortical development1,2,3,4. More recent studies have targeted the embryonic retina7,8,9 and thalamus10,11,12. Here, we present a modified in utero electroporation protocol that can be easily adapted to target different domains of the embryonic CNS. We provide evidence that by using this technique, we can target the embryonic telencephalon, diencephalon and retina. Representative results are presented, first showing the use of this technique to introduce DNA expression constructs into the lateral ventricles, allowing us to monitor progenitor maturation, differentiation and migration in the embryonic telencephalon. We also show that this technique can be used to target DNA to the diencephalic territories surrounding the 3rd ventricle, allowing the migratory routes of differentiating neurons into diencephalic nuclei to be monitored. Finally, we show that the use of micromanipulators allows us to accurately introduce DNA constructs into small target areas, including the subretinal space, allowing us to analyse the effects of manipulating gene expression on retinal development.

Efficient Gene Delivery into Multiple CNS Territories Using In Utero Electroporation

In utero electroporation allows for rapid gene delivery in a spatially- and temporally-controlled manner in the developing central nervous system (CNS). Here we describe a highly adaptable in utero electroporation protocol that can be used to deliver expression constructs into multiple embryonic CNS domains, including the telencephalon, diencephalon and retina.

The ability to manipulate gene expression is the cornerstone of modern day experimental embryology, leading to the elucidation of multiple developmental ...

Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear

Fear is maladaptive when it persists long after circumstances have become safe. It is therefore crucial to develop an approach that persistently prevents the return of fear. Pavlovian fear-conditioning paradigms are commonly employed to create a controlled, novel fear association in the laboratory. After pairing an innocuous stimulus (conditioned stimulus, CS) with an aversive outcome (unconditioned stimulus, US) we can elicit a fear response (conditioned response, or CR) by presenting just the stimulus alone1,2 . Once fear is acquired, it can be diminished using extinction training, whereby the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the aversive outcome until fear is no longer expressed3. This inhibitory learning creates a new, safe representation for the CS, which competes for expression with the original fear memory4. Although extinction is effective at inhibiting fear, it is not permanent. Fear can spontaneously recover with the passage of time. Exposure to stress or returning to the context of initial learning can also cause fear to resurface3,4.
Our protocol addresses the transient nature of extinction by targeting the reconsolidation window to modify emotional memory in a more permanent manner. Ample evidence suggests that reactivating a consolidated memory returns it to a labile state, during which the memory is again susceptible to interference5-9. This window of opportunity appears to open shortly after reactivation and close approximately 6hrs later5,11,16, although this may vary depending on the strength and age of the memory15. By allowing new information to incorporate into the original memory trace, this memory may be updated as it reconsolidates10,11. Studies involving non-human animals have successfully blocked the expression of fear memory by introducing pharmacological manipulations within the reconsolidation window, however, most agents used are either toxic to humans or show equivocal effects when used in human studies12-14. Our protocol addresses these challenges by offering an effective, yet non-invasive, behavioral manipulation that is safe for humans.
By prompting fear memory retrieval prior to extinction, we essentially trigger the reconsolidation process, allowing new safety information (i.e., extinction) to be incorporated while the fear memory is still susceptible to interference. A recent study employing this behavioral manipulation in rats has successfully blocked fear memory using these temporal parameters11. Additional studies in humans have demonstrated that introducing new information after the retrieval of previously consolidated motor16, episodic17, or declarative18 memories leads to interference with the original memory trace14. We outline below a novel protocol used to block fear recovery in humans.

Conditioned fear can be diminished through an inhibitory process called extinction, but can resurface under conditions such as the passage of time or exposure to stress. Our protocol presents a novel way of preventing fear recovery by introducing extinction during the reconsolidation window (the re-storage phase of a reactivated memory).

Fear is maladaptive when it persists long after circumstances have become safe. It is therefore crucial to develop an approach that persistently prevents ...

Direct Intraventricular Delivery of Drugs to the Rodent Central Nervous System

Due to an inability to cross the blood brain barrier, certain drugs need to be directly delivered into the central nervous system (CNS). Our lab focuses specifically on antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), though the techniques shown in the video here can also be used to deliver a plethora of other drugs to the CNS. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have the capability to knockdown sequence-specific targets 1 as well as shift isoform ratios of specific genes 2. To achieve widespread gene knockdown or splicing in the CNS of mice, the ASOs can be delivered into the brain using two separate routes of administration, both of which we demonstrate in the video.
The first uses Alzet osmotic pumps, connected to a catheter that is surgically implanted into the lateral ventricle. This allows the ASOs to be continuously infused into the CNS for a designated period of time. The second involves a single bolus injection of a high concentration of ASO into the right lateral ventricle. Both methods use the mouse cerebral ventricular system to deliver the ASO to the entire brain and spinal cord, though depending on the needs of the study, one method may be preferred over the other.

We describe a method to target drugs to the central nervous system by either implanting a catheter or performing a bolus injection into the right lateral ventricle in mice. We focus specifically on the delivery of antisense oligonucleotides. This technique is readily adaptable to other drugs and to rats.

Due to an inability to cross the blood brain barrier, certain drugs need to be directly delivered into the central nervous system (CNS). Our lab focuses ...

Fast Micro-iontophoresis of Glutamate and GABA: A Useful Tool to Investigate Synaptic Integration

One of the fundamental interests in neuroscience is to understand the integration of excitatory and inhibitory inputs along the very complex structure of the dendritic tree, which eventually leads to neuronal output of action potentials at the axon. The influence of diverse spatial and temporal parameters of specific synaptic input on neuronal output is currently under investigation, e.g. the distance-dependent attenuation of dendritic inputs, the location-dependent interaction of spatially segregated inputs, the influence of GABAergig inhibition on excitatory integration, linear and non-linear integration modes, and many more.
With fast micro-iontophoresis of glutamate and GABA it is possible to precisely investigate the spatial and temporal integration of glutamatergic excitation and GABAergic inhibition. Critical technical requirements are either a triggered fluorescent lamp, light-emitting diode (LED), or a two-photon scanning microscope to visualize dendritic branches without introducing significant photo-damage of the tissue. Furthermore, it is very important to have a micro-iontophoresis amplifier that allows for fast capacitance compensation of high resistance pipettes. Another crucial point is that no transmitter is involuntarily released by the pipette during the experiment.
Once established, this technique will give reliable and reproducible signals with a high neurotransmitter and location specificity. Compared to glutamate and GABA uncaging, fast iontophoresis allows using both transmitters at the same time but at very distant locations without limitation to the field of view. There are also advantages compared to focal electrical stimulation of axons: with micro-iontophoresis the location of the input site is definitely known and it is sure that only the neurotransmitter of interest is released. However it has to be considered that with micro-iontophoresis only the postsynapse is activated and presynaptic aspects of neurotransmitter release are not resolved. In this article we demonstrate how to set up micro-iontophoresis in brain slice experiments.

In this article we introduce fast micro-iontophoresis of neurotransmitters as a technique to investigate integration of postsynaptic signals with high spatial and temporal precision.

One of the fundamental interests in neuroscience is to understand the integration of excitatory and inhibitory inputs along the very complex structure of ...

Lineage-reprogramming of Pericyte-derived Cells of the Adult Human Brain into Induced Neurons

Direct lineage-reprogramming of non-neuronal cells into induced neurons (iNs) may provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying neurogenesis and enable new strategies for in vitro modeling or repairing the diseased brain. Identifying brain-resident non-neuronal cell types amenable to direct conversion into iNs might allow for launching such an approach in situ, i.e. within the damaged brain tissue. Here we describe a protocol developed in the attempt of identifying cells derived from the adult human brain that fulfill this premise. This protocol involves: (1) the culturing of human cells from the cerebral cortex obtained from adult human brain biopsies; (2) the in vitro expansion (approximately requiring 2-4 weeks) and characterization of the culture by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry; (3) the enrichment by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) using anti-PDGF receptor-&#946; and anti-CD146 antibodies; (4) the retrovirus-mediated transduction with the neurogenic transcription factors sox2 and ascl1; (5) and finally the characterization of the resultant pericyte-derived induced neurons (PdiNs) by immunocytochemistry (14 days to 8 weeks following retroviral transduction). At this stage, iNs can be probed for their electrical properties by patch-clamp recording. This protocol provides a highly reproducible procedure for the in vitro lineage conversion of brain-resident pericytes into functional human iNs.

Targeting brain-resident cells for direct lineage-reprogramming offers new perspectives for brain repair. Here we describe a protocol of how to prepare cultures enriched for brain-resident pericytes from the adult human cerebral cortex and convert these into induced neurons by retrovirus-mediated expression of the transcription factors Sox2 and Ascl1.

Direct lineage-reprogramming of non-neuronal cells into induced neurons (iNs) may provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying neurogenesis ...

Mouse Microsurgery Infusion Technique for Targeted Substance Delivery into the CNS via the Internal Carotid Artery

Animal models of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and, consequently, blood-brain barrier disruption diseases, require the delivery of exogenous substances into the brain. These exogenous substances may induce injurious impact or constitute therapeutic strategy. The most common delivery methods of exogenous substances into the brain are based on systemic deliveries, such as subcutaneous or intravenous routes. Although commonly used, these approaches have several limitations, including low delivery efficacy into the brain. In contrast, surgical methods that locally deliver substances into the CNS are more specific and prevent the uptake of the exogenous substances by other organs. Several surgical methods for CNS delivery are available; however, they tend to be very traumatic. Here, we describe a mouse infusion microsurgery technique, which effectively delivers substances into the brain via the internal carotid artery, with minimal trauma and no interference with normal CNS functionality.

Mouse Microsurgery Infusion Technique for Targeted Substance Delivery into the CNS via the Internal Carotid Artery

The present protocol describes a mouse microsurgery infusion technique, which effectively delivers substances directly into the brain via the internal carotid artery.

Animal models of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and, consequently, blood-brain barrier disruption diseases, require the delivery of exogenous ...

Subpial Adeno-associated Virus 9 (AAV9) Vector Delivery in Adult Mice

The successful development of a subpial adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) vector delivery technique in adult rats and pigs has been reported on previously. Using subpially-placed polyethylene catheters (PE-10 or PE-5) for AAV9 delivery, potent transgene expression through the spinal parenchyma (white and gray matter) in subpially-injected spinal segments has been demonstrated. Because of the wide range of transgenic mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases, there is a strong desire for the development of a potent central nervous system (CNS)-targeted vector delivery technique in adult mice. Accordingly, the present study describes the development of a spinal subpial vector delivery device and technique to permit safe and effective spinal AAV9 delivery in adult C57BL/6J mice. In spinally immobilized and anesthetized mice, the pia mater (cervical 1 and lumbar 1-2 spinal segmental level) was incised with a sharp 34 G needle using an XYZ manipulator. A second XYZ manipulator was then used to advance a blunt 36G needle into the lumbar and/or cervical subpial space. The AAV9 vector (3-5 &#181;L; 1.2 x 1013 genome copies (gc)) encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) was then injected subpially. After injections, neurological function (motor and sensory) was assessed periodically, and animals were perfusion-fixed 14 days after AAV9 delivery with 4% paraformaldehyde. Analysis of horizontal or transverse spinal cord sections showed transgene expression throughout the entire spinal cord, in both gray and white matter. In addition, intense retrogradely-mediated GFP expression was seen in the descending motor axons and neurons in the motor cortex, nucleus ruber, and formatio reticularis. No neurological dysfunction was noted in any animals. These data show that the subpial vector delivery technique can successfully be used in adult mice, without causing procedure-related spinal cord injury, and is associated with highly potent transgene expression throughout the spinal neuraxis.

Subpial Adeno-associated Virus 9 AAV9 Vector Delivery in Adult Mice

The goal of the present study was to develop and validate the potency and safety of spinal adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-mediated gene delivery by using a novel subpial gene delivery technique in adult mice.

The successful development of a subpial adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) vector delivery technique in adult rats and pigs has been reported on previously. ...

Whole-cell Currents Induced by Puff Application of GABA in Brain Slices

Pharmacological administration is commonly used when conducting whole-cell patch-clamp recording in brain slices. One of the best methods of drug application during electrophysiological recording is the puff technique, which can be used to study the effect of pharmacological reagents on neuronal activities in brain slices. The greatest advantage of puff application is that the drug concentration around the recording site increases rapidly, thus preventing desensitization of membrane receptors. Successful use of puff application involves careful attention to the following elements: the concentration of the drug, the parameters of the puff micropipette, the distance between the tip of a puff micropipette and the neuron recorded, and the duration and pressure driving the puff (pounds per square inch, psi). This article describes a step-by-step procedure for recording whole-cell currents induced by puffing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) onto a neuron of a prefrontal cortical slice. Notably, the same procedure can be applied with minor modifications to other brain areas such as the hippocampus and the striatum, and to different preparations, such as cell cultures.

We describe the puff technique, by which pharmacological reagents can be administered during whole-cell patch-clamp recording, and highlight various aspects of the features that are crucial for its success.

Pharmacological administration is commonly used when conducting whole-cell patch-clamp recording in brain slices. One of the best methods of drug ...

Quantitative Cell Biology of Neurodegeneration in Drosophila Through Unbiased Analysis of Fluorescently Tagged Proteins Using ImageJ

With the rising prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, it is increasingly important to understand the underlying pathophysiology that leads to neuronal dysfunction and loss. Fluorescence-based imaging tools and technologies enable unprecedented analysis of subcellular neurobiological processes, yet there is still a need for unbiased, reproducible, and accessible approaches for extracting quantifiable data from imaging studies. We have developed a simple and adaptable workflow to extract quantitative data from fluorescence-based imaging studies using Drosophila models of neurodegeneration. Specifically, we describe an easy-to-follow, semi-automated approach using Fiji/ImageJ to analyze two cellular processes: first, we quantify protein aggregate content and profile in the Drosophila optic lobe using fluorescent-tagged mutant huntingtin proteins; and second, we assess autophagy-lysosome flux in the Drosophila visual system with ratiometric-based quantification of a tandem fluorescent reporter of autophagy. Importantly, the protocol outlined here includes a semi-automated segmentation step to ensure all fluorescent structures are analyzed to minimize selection bias and to increase resolution of subtle comparisons. This approach can be extended for the analysis of other cell biological structures and processes implicated in neurodegeneration, such as proteinaceous puncta (stress granules and synaptic complexes), as well as membrane-bound compartments (mitochondria and membrane trafficking vesicles). This method provides a standardized, yet adaptable reference point for image analysis and quantification, and could facilitate reliability and reproducibility across the field, and ultimately enhance mechanistic understanding of neurodegeneration.

Quantitative Cell Biology of Neurodegeneration in Drosophila Through Unbiased Analysis of Fluorescently Tagged Proteins Using ImageJ

We have developed a simple and adaptable workflow to extract quantitative data from fluorescence-imaging-based cell biological studies of protein aggregation and autophagic flux in the central nervous system of Drosophila models of neurodegeneration.

With the rising prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, it is increasingly important to understand the underlying pathophysiology that leads to neuronal ...