Name: imaging dendritic spines of rat primary hippocampal neurons using structured illumination microscopy
Uploaded: 2014-05-04T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Imaging Dendritic Spines of Rat Primary Hippocampal Neurons using Structured Illumination Microscopy at JoVE.com

This work was financed by a VIDI grant number H64.09.016 from The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) to CPF. CPF is grateful to Dr. Silvina A. Fratantoni for her critical comments and corrections on the final manuscript. GMRDL/EMMM are supported by the Dutch Technology Foundation STW (project 12151 and 11350), which is part of the NWO, and which is partly funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. We thank the Catherine Kitts and Peter Drent of Nikon Instruments Europe BV for assistance and support. HX was supported by the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences (grant 11CDP10) and WT was supported by grant the Netherlands Organization for Scientific research (grant 820.02.006).

All experimental procedures involving animals were optimized to reduce animal suffering and were approved by the Commission for Animal Experimentation, University of Amsterdam, DEC protocol # DED204 and DED250.
1. Coverslip Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Cut down the coverslips to a size of 15 mm x 15 mm using a carbide or diamond scribe, so that they fit into the wells of a 12-well plate.</li>
	<li>While working in a fume hood, start coverslip coating by fully submerging coverslips in concentrated n...

<ol>
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In this article a working protocol to image dendritic spines from rat primary hippocampal neurons cultured in vitro using SIM is described. The primary hippocampal neuron culture method is an adaptation of the original method described by Kaech and Banker 18. The main differences are the use of Neurobasal/B27 culture medium, which eliminates the requirement of astroglial feeder cultures, and the addition of the mitotic inhibitor FUDR on day 3 which promotes neuronal survival while suppressing glial pr...

A dendritic spine is a small protrusion of the neuron membrane. This characteristic structure is specialized to typically receive input from a single synapse and represents the physical contact area between two neurons. Most functionally mature dendritic spines consist of a globular tip, termed head, and a thin neck that connects the head to the dendritic shaft. However, spines are not static and actively move and change their morphology continuously even in the adult brain 2. Within a 2 week period of time, rat primary hippocampal neuron cultures derived from late embryonic or early postnatal time develop complex dendritic arbors with numerous membrane protrusions that evolve from early filipodia to spine-like structures 3. Based on this dynamic behavior and other characteristics, dendritic spines are thought to provide an anatomical substrate for memory storage and synaptic transmission 4,5.
Given the critical role that dendritic spine size and shape have in synaptic function, it is important to measure their dimensions accurately. Spines vary from around 200 to 2,000 nanometers in length and can be readily identified by confocal laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy. However, spine dimensions other than length are usually below the conventional optical systems' resolution, theoretically fixed by diffraction around 200 nanometers 6. These resolving powers are insufficient for imaging finer details, such as the width of spine necks and heads. Much work has been dedicated to solve this problem and many relatively new super-resolution microscopy techniques have provided substantial progress. In particular, it is possible to achieve resolution beyond the classical limit without discarding any emission light by using laterally structured illumination microscopy (SIM) in a wide-field, non-confocal microscope 7-10. Using this technique in combination with non-linear microscopy techniques, it is theoretically possible to improve the lateral resolution of the optical microscope by an unlimited factor 11. However, in most experimental circumstances, SIM allows to surpass the resolution limit by a factor of two 1. Other super-resolution optical microscopy techniques such as Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy 12 and photo-activation localization microscopy (PALM) 12 have been applied to imaging of dendritic spines. Localization-based methods such as PALM require very large numbers of raw images to achieve super-resolution and are therefore limited in speed. On the other hand, STED can achieve high imaging speed, although at relatively low photon counts and small fields of view, which may not be the case for SIM 13.
In this article the aim is to provide a working protocol to image dendritic spines from rat primary hippocampal neurons cultured in vitro using SIM. The protocol consists of two distinguishable phases: an initial one consisting of establishment, development, transfection and immunohistochemistry of rat primary hippocampal neuron cultures and a late phase dedicated to sample imaging.

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			<td>Fine forceps</td>
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			<td>Big forceps</td>
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			<td>Fine scissor</td>
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			<td>Big scissor</td>
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			<td>Blunt spatula</td>
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			<td>Dissecting microscope with illumination</td>
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			<td>Light microscope</td>
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			<td>37 &#176;C water bath</td>
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			<td>Laminar flow cell culture hood</td>
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			<td>High-temperature dry-oven</td>
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			<td>Bunsen burner</td>
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			<td>Cell culture incubator (5% CO2, 37 &#176;C)</td>
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			<td>Microcentrifuge</td>
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			<td>Orbital shaker</td>
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			<td>Nikon structured illumination microscope setup consisting of:</td>
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			<td>Nikon Eclipse Ti research inverted microscope with Perfect Focus System</td>
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			<td>Nikon CFI Apo TIRF 100x oil objective lens (N.A. 1.49)</td>
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			<td>4 Coherent Sapphire Lasers (458, 488, 514 and 561 nm exitation wavelength)</td>
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			<td>SIM Illuminator</td>
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			<td>Nikon Stage Controller</td>
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			<td>MCL Nano-Drive piezo controller</td>
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			<td>Nikon Intensilight C-HGFIE mercury lamp</td>
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			<td>SIM Microscope Enclosure temperature control</td>
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			<td>Andor EM-CCD Camera iXon DU897</td>
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			<td>PC with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Edition</td>
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			<td>Nikon&#8217;s NiS Elements 6.14 SIM software package</td>
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			<td>Nikon type A immersion oil</td>
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imaging dendritic spines of rat primary hippocampal neurons using structured illumination microscopy

Dendritic spines are protrusions emerging from the dendrite of a neuron and represent the primary postsynaptic targets of excitatory inputs in the brain. Technological advances have identified these structures as key elements in neuron connectivity and synaptic plasticity. The quantitative analysis of spine morphology using light microscopy remains an essential problem due to technical limitations associated with light's intrinsic refraction limit. Dendritic spines can be readily identified by confocal laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy. However, measuring subtle changes in the shape and size of spines is difficult because spine dimensions other than length are usually smaller than conventional optical resolution fixed by light microscopy's theoretical resolution limit of 200 nm.
Several recently developed super resolution techniques have been used to image cellular structures smaller than the 200 nm, including dendritic spines. These techniques are based on classical far-field operations and therefore allow the use of existing sample preparation methods and to image beyond the surface of a specimen. Described here is a working protocol to apply super resolution structured illumination microscopy (SIM) to the imaging of dendritic spines in primary hippocampal neuron cultures. Possible applications of SIM overlap with those of confocal microscopy. However, the two techniques present different applicability. SIM offers higher effective lateral resolution, while confocal microscopy, due to the usage of a physical pinhole, achieves resolution improvement at the expense of removal of out of focus light. In this protocol, primary neurons are cultured on glass coverslips using a standard protocol, transfected with DNA plasmids encoding fluorescent proteins and imaged using SIM. The whole protocol described herein takes approximately 2 weeks, because dendritic spines are imaged after 16-17 days in vitro, when dendritic development is optimal. After completion of the protocol, dendritic spines can be reconstructed in 3D from series of SIM image stacks using specialized software.

Described here is a standardized working protocol for imaging dendritic spines from rat primary hippocampal neurons in vitro using SIM. The protocol workflow and its crucial steps are shown in Figure 1. Overall, the protocol takes approximately 2 weeks of experimental work separated in a first phase of sample preparation, including culture, development and transfection of rat primary hippocampal neurons and immunohistochemistry, and second phase of sample imaging using SIM. The rat primary hippo...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Imaging Dendritic Spines of Rat Primary Hippocampal Neurons using Structured Illumination Microscopy at JoVE.com

Imaging Dendritic Spines of Rat Primary Hippocampal Neurons using Structured Illumination Microscopy

This article describes a working protocol to image dendritic spines from hippocampal neurons in vitro using Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM). Super-resolution microscopy using SIM provides image resolution significantly beyond the light diffraction limit in all three spatial dimensions, allowing the imaging of individual dendritic spines with improved detail.

Dendritic spines are protrusions emerging from the dendrite of a neuron and represent the primary postsynaptic targets of excitatory inputs in the brain. ...

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Neuroscience

Nucleofection and Primary Culture of Embryonic Mouse Hippocampal and Cortical Neurons

Hippocampal and cortical neurons have been used extensively to study central nervous system (CNS) neuronal polarization, axon/dendrite outgrowth, and synapse formation and function. An advantage of culturing these neurons is that they readily polarize, forming distinctive axons and dendrites, on a two dimensional substrate at very low densities. This property has made them extremely useful for determining many aspects of neuronal development. Furthermore, by providing glial conditioning for these neurons they will continue to develop, forming functional synaptic connections and surviving for several months in culture. In this protocol we outline a technique to dissect, culture and transfect embryonic mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons. Transfection is accomplished by electroporating DNA into the neurons before plating via nucleofection. This protocol has the advantage of expressing fluorescently-tagged fusion proteins early in development (~4-8hrs after plating) to study the dynamics and function of proteins during polarization, axon outgrowth and branching. We have also discovered that this single transfection before plating maintains fluorescently-tagged fusion protein expression at levels appropriate for imaging throughout the lifetime of the neuron (&gt; 2 months in culture). Thus, this methodology is useful for studying protein localization and function throughout CNS development with little or no disruption of neuronal function.

This protocol outlines the steps required to dissect, transfect via electroporation and culture mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons. Short-term cultures may be used for studies of axon outgrowth and guidance, while long-term cultures can be used for studies of synaptogenesis and dendritic spine analysis.

Hippocampal and cortical neurons have been used extensively to study central nervous system (CNS) neuronal polarization, axon/dendrite outgrowth, and ...

Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) of Fluorescence Tagged Proteins in Dendritic Spines of Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

FRAP has been used to quantify the mobility of GFP-tagged proteins. Using a strong excitation laser, the fluorescence of a GFP-tagged protein is bleached in the region of interest. The fluorescence of the region recovers when the unbleached GFP-tagged protein from outside of the region diffuses into the region of interest. The mobility of the protein is then analyzed by measuring the fluorescence recovery rate. This technique could be used to characterize protein mobility and turnover rate.
In this study, we express the (enhanced green fluorescent protein) EGFP vector in cultured hippocampal neurons. Using the Zeiss 710 confocal microscope, we photobleach the fluorescence signal of the GFP protein in a single spine, and then take time lapse images to record the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Finally, we estimate the percentage of mobile and immobile fractions of the GFP in spines, by analyzing the imaging data using ImageJ and Graphpad softwares.
This FRAP protocol shows how to perform a basic FRAP experiment as well as how to analyze the data.

Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching FRAP of Fluorescence Tagged Proteins in Dendritic Spines of Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

FRAP has been used to quantify the mobility of Green Fluorescence Protein (GFP)-tagged proteins in cultured cells. We examined the mobile/immobile fractions of the GFP by analyzing the fluorescence recovery percentage after photobleaching. In this study, FRAP was performed at spines of hippocampal neurons.

FRAP has been used to quantify the mobility of GFP-tagged proteins. Using a strong excitation laser, the fluorescence of a GFP-tagged protein is bleached ...

Bilaminar Co-culture of Primary Rat Cortical Neurons and Glia

This video will guide you through the process of culturing rat cortical neurons in the presence of a glial feeder layer, a system known as a bilaminar or co-culture model. This system is suitable for a variety of experimental needs requiring either a glass or plastic growth substrate and can also be used for culture of other types of neurons.
Rat cortical neurons obtained from the late embryonic stage (E17) are plated on glass coverslips or tissue culture dishes facing a feeder layer of glia grown on dishes or plastic coverslips (known as Thermanox), respectively. The choice between the two configurations depends on the specific experimental technique used, which may require, or not, that neurons are grown on glass (e.g. calcium imaging versus Western blot). The glial feeder layer, an astroglia-enriched secondary culture of mixed glia, is separately prepared from the cortices of newborn rat pups (P2-4) prior to the neuronal dissection.
A major advantage of this culture system as compared to a culture of neurons only is the support of neuronal growth, survival, and differentiation provided by trophic factors secreted from the glial feeder layer, which more accurately resembles the brain environment in vivo. Furthermore, the co-culture can be used to study neuronal-glial interactions1.
At the same time, glia contamination in the neuronal layer is prevented by different means (low density culture, addition of mitotic inhibitors, lack of serum and use of optimized culture medium) leading to a virtually pure neuronal layer, comparable to other established methods1-3. Neurons can be easily separated from the glial layer at any time during culture and used for different experimental applications ranging from electrophysiology4, cellular and molecular biology5-8, biochemistry5, imaging and microscopy4,6,7,9,10. The primary neurons extend axons and dendrites to form functional synapses11, a process which is not observed in neuronal cell lines, although some cell lines do extend processes.
A detailed protocol of culturing rat hippocampal neurons using this co-culture system has been described previously4,12,13. Here we detail a modified protocol suited for cortical neurons. As approximately 20x106 cells are recovered from each rat embryo, this method is particularly useful for experiments requiring large numbers of neurons (but not concerned about a highly homogenous neuronal population). The preparation of neurons and glia needs to be planned in a time-specific manner. We will provide the step-by-step protocol for culturing rat cortical neurons as well as culturing glial cells to support the neurons.

Here we provide a protocol for culturing rat cortical neurons in the presence of a glial feeder layer. The cultured neurons establish polarity and create synapses, and can be separated from the glia for use in various applications, such as electrophysiology, calcium imaging, cell survival assays, immunocytochemistry, and RNA/DNA/protein isolation.

This video will guide you through the process of culturing rat cortical neurons in the presence of a glial feeder layer, a system known as a bilaminar or ...

Voltage-sensitive Dye Recording from Axons, Dendrites and Dendritic Spines of Individual Neurons in Brain Slices

Understanding the biophysical properties and functional organization of single neurons and how they process information is fundamental for understanding how the brain works. The primary function of any nerve cell is to process electrical signals, usually from multiple sources. Electrical properties of neuronal processes are extraordinarily complex, dynamic, and, in the general case, impossible to predict in the absence of detailed measurements. To obtain such a measurement one would, ideally, like to be able to monitor, at multiple sites, subthreshold events as they travel from the sites of origin on neuronal processes and summate at particular locations to influence action potential initiation. This goal has not been achieved in any neuron due to technical limitations of measurements that employ electrodes. To overcome this drawback, it is highly desirable to complement the patch-electrode approach with imaging techniques that permit extensive parallel recordings from all parts of a neuron. Here, we describe such a technique - optical recording of membrane potential transients with organic voltage-sensitive dyes (Vm-imaging) - characterized by sub-millisecond and sub-micrometer resolution. Our method is based on pioneering work on voltage-sensitive molecular probes 2. Many aspects of the initial technology have been continuously improved over several decades 3, 5, 11. Additionally, previous work documented two essential characteristics of Vm-imaging. Firstly, fluorescence signals are linearly proportional to membrane potential over the entire physiological range (-100 mV to +100 mV; 10, 14, 16). Secondly, loading neurons with the voltage-sensitive dye used here (JPW 3028) does not have detectable pharmacological effects. The recorded broadening of the spike during dye loading is completely reversible 4, 7. Additionally, experimental evidence shows that it is possible to obtain a significant number (up to hundreds) of recordings prior to any detectable phototoxic effects 4, 6, 12, 13. At present, we take advantage of the superb brightness and stability of a laser light source at near-optimal wavelength to maximize the sensitivity of the Vm-imaging technique. The current sensitivity permits multiple site optical recordings of Vm transients from all parts of a neuron, including axons and axon collaterals, terminal dendritic branches, and individual dendritic spines. The acquired information on signal interactions can be analyzed quantitatively as well as directly visualized in the form of a movie.

An imaging technique for monitoring of membrane potential changes with sub-micrometer spatial and sub-millisecond temporal resolution is described. The technique, based on laser excitation of voltage-sensitive dyes, allows measurements of signals in axons and axon collaterals, terminal dendritic branches, and individual dendritic spines.

Understanding the biophysical properties and functional organization of single neurons and how they process information is fundamental for understanding ...

Calcium Phosphate Transfection of Primary Hippocampal Neurons

Calcium phosphate precipitation is a convenient and economical method for transfection of cultured cells. With optimization, it is possible to use this method on hard-to-transfect cells like primary neurons. Here we describe our detailed protocol for calcium phosphate transfection of hippocampal neurons cocultured with astroglial cells.

Calcium phosphate precipitation is a convenient and economical method for transfection of cultured cells. With optimization, it is possible to use this ...

Two-Photon in vivo Imaging of Dendritic Spines in the Mouse Cortex Using a Thinned-skull Preparation

In the mammalian cortex, neurons form extremely complicated networks and exchange information at synapses. Changes in synaptic strength, as well as addition/removal of synapses, occur in an experience-dependent manner, providing the structural foundation of neuronal plasticity. As postsynaptic components of the most excitatory synapses in the cortex, dendritic spines are considered to be a good proxy of synapses. Taking advantages of mouse genetics and fluorescent labeling techniques, individual neurons and their synaptic structures can be labeled in the intact brain. Here we introduce a transcranial imaging protocol using two-photon laser scanning microscopy to follow fluorescently labeled postsynaptic dendritic spines over time in vivo. This protocol utilizes a thinned-skull preparation, which keeps the skull intact and avoids inflammatory effects caused by exposure of the meninges and the cortex. Therefore, images can be acquired immediately after surgery is performed. The experimental procedure can be performed repetitively over various time intervals ranging from hours to years. The application of this preparation can also be expanded to investigate different cortical regions and layers, as well as other cell types, under physiological and pathological conditions.

Two-Photon in vivo Imaging of Dendritic Spines in the Mouse Cortex Using a Thinned-skull Preparation

Time-lapse imaging in the living animal provides valuable information on structural reorganization in the intact brain. Here, we introduce a thinned-skull preparation that allows transcranial imaging of fluorescently labeled synaptic structures in the living mouse cortex by two-photon microscopy.

In the mammalian cortex, neurons form extremely complicated networks and exchange information at synapses. Changes in synaptic strength, as well as ...

Generation of Neurospheres from Mixed Primary Hippocampal and Cortical Neurons Isolated from E14-E16 Sprague Dawley Rat Embryo

Primary neuron culture is an essential technique in the field of neuroscience. To gain deeper mechanistic insights into the brain, it is essential to have a robust in vitro model that can be exploited for various neurobiology studies. Though primary neuron cultures (i.e., long-term hippocampal cultures) have provided scientists with models, it does not yet represent the complexity of brain network completely. In the wake of these limitations, a new model has emerged using neurospheres, which bears a closer resemblance to the brain tissue. The present protocol describes the plating of high and low densities of mixed cortical and hippocampal neurons isolated from the embryo of embryonic day 14-16 Sprague Dawley rats. This allows for the generation of neurospheres and long-term primary neuron culture as two independent platforms to conduct further studies. This process is extremely simple and cost-effective, as it minimizes several steps and reagents previously deemed essential for neuron culture. This is a robust protocol with minimal requirements that can be performed with achievable results and further used for a diversity of studies related to neuroscience.

Presented here is a protocol for the spontaneous generation of neurospheres enriched in neural progenitor cells from high density plated neurons. During the same experiment, when neurons are plated at a lower density, the protocol also results in prolonged primary rat neuron cultures.

Primary neuron culture is an essential technique in the field of neuroscience. To gain deeper mechanistic insights into the brain, it is essential to have ...

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

Computational modeling of diffusion and reaction of chemical species in a three-dimensional (3D) geometry is a fundamental method to understand the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in dendritic spines. In this protocol, the detailed 3D structure of the dendrites and dendritic spines is modeled with meshes on the software Blender with CellBlender. The synaptic and extrasynaptic regions are defined on the mesh. Next, the synaptic receptor and synaptic anchor molecules are defined with their diffusion constants. Finally, the chemical reactions between synaptic receptors and synaptic anchors are included and the computational model is solved numerically with the software MCell. This method describes the spatiotemporal path of every single molecule in a 3D geometrical structure. Thus, it is very useful to study the trafficking of synaptic receptors in and out of the dendritic spines during the occurrence of synaptic plasticity. A limitation of this method is that the high number of molecules slows the speed of the simulations. Modeling of dendritic spines with this method allows the study of homosynaptic potentiation and depression within single spines and heterosynaptic plasticity between neighbor dendritic spines.

The protocol develops a three-dimensional (3D) model of a dendritic segment with dendritic spines for modeling synaptic plasticity. The constructed mesh can be used for computational modeling of AMPA receptor trafficking in the long-term synaptic plasticity using the software program Blender with CellBlender and MCell.

Computational modeling of diffusion and reaction of chemical species in a three-dimensional (3D) geometry is a fundamental method to understand the ...

Imaging Dendritic Spines in Caenorhabditis elegans

Dendritic spines are specialized sites of synaptic innervation modulated by activity and serve as substrates for learning and memory. Recently, dendritic spines have been described for DD GABAergic neurons as the input sites from presynaptic cholinergic neurons in the motor circuit of Caenorhabditis elegans. This synaptic circuit can now serve as a powerful new in vivo model of spine morphogenesis and function that exploits the facile genetics and ready accessibility of C. elegans to live-cell imaging. 
This protocol describes experimental strategies for assessing DD spine structure and function. In this approach, a super-resolution imaging strategy is used to visualize the intricate shapes of actin-rich dendritic spines. To evaluate the DD spine function, the light-activated opsin, Chrimson, stimulates the presynaptic cholinergic neurons, and the calcium indicator, GCaMP, reports the evoked calcium transients in postsynaptic DD spines. Together, these methods comprise powerful approaches for identifying genetic determinants of dendritic spines in C. elegans that could also direct spine morphogenesis and function in the brain.

Imaging Dendritic Spines in Caenorhabditis elegans

Dendritic spines are important cellular features of the nervous system. Here live imaging methods are described for assessing the structure and function of dendritic spines in C. elegans.&#160;These approaches support the development of mutant screens for genes that define dendritic spine shape or function.

Dendritic spines are specialized sites of synaptic innervation modulated by activity and serve as substrates for learning and memory. Recently, dendritic ...

Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBEM) for the Study of Dendritic Spines

Three-dimensional electron microscopy (3D EM) gives a possibility to analyze morphological parameters of dendritic spines with nanoscale resolution. In addition, some features of dendritic spines, such as volume of the spine and post-synaptic density (PSD) (representing post-synaptic part of the synapse), presence of presynaptic terminal, and smooth endoplasmic reticulum or atypical form of PSD (e.g., multi-innervated spines), can be observed only with 3D EM. By employing serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBEM) it is possible to obtain 3D EM data easier and in a more reproducible manner than when performing traditional serial sectioning. Here we show how to prepare mouse hippocampal samples for SBEM analysis and how this protocol can be combined with immunofluorescence study of dendritic spines. Mild fixation perfusion allows us to perform immunofluorescence studies with light microscopy on one half of the brain, while the other half was prepared for SBEM. This approach reduces the number of animals to be used for the study.

Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy SBEM for the Study of Dendritic Spines

Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBEM) is applied to image and analyze dendritic spines in the murine hippocampus.

Three-dimensional electron microscopy (3D EM) gives a possibility to analyze morphological parameters of dendritic spines with nanoscale resolution. In ...