The authors would like to acknowledge contributions from the entire Gereau Lab for manuscript editing. This work is supported by NINDS funds 1F31NS078852 to DSB and NINDS fund NS42595 to RWG.

Tous les protocoles de souris étaient conformes aux Instituts nationaux de la Santé et des lignes directrices ont été approuvées par le Comité des études animales de l&#39;École de médecine de l&#39;Université de Washington (St. Louis, MO). 1. Préparation de la plaque d&#39;essais et boîtiers <ol><li> Nettoyer la surface du verre. </li><li> Fixez la sonde filament thermocouple de type T à la surface dans le milieu de la plaque de verre avec du ruban de laboratoire. </li><li> Placez les enclos des animaux sur la plaque de verre en une seule ligne le long du milieu de la plaque. </li><li> Enfilez la sonde de thermocouple dans l&#39;enceinte des animaux de centre et se brancher sur l&#39;enregistreur de données. Mettez l&#39;enregistreur de données sur tout en désactivant la fonction d&#39;arrêt automatique, et joindre l&#39;enregistreur de données à l&#39;ordinateur avec le câble fourni. <ol><li> Si l&#39;enregistrement de la température de la plaque lors de l&#39;expérience, ouvrez le logiciel de l&#39;enregistreur de données pour commencer l&#39;enregistrement des températures de la plaque. </li><li> Si nécessaire, ajuster le logiciel à nouveauCordon la température de la plaque une fois par seconde. </li><li> Commencez températures en utilisant le logiciel fourni avec l&#39;enregistreur de données thermique enregistrement. </li></ol></li><li> Séparer l&#39;enceinte avec des inserts noirs pour empêcher l&#39;interaction visuelle entre les souris. </li><li> Reflète la position sous le verre de telle sorte que la face inférieure des enceintes est visible à partir d&#39;une position assise confortable. </li></ol> 2. réchauffement / refroidissement de la plaque de verre <ol><li> Remplissez les boîtes en aluminium avec de l&#39;eau chauffée, de la glace mouillée, ou de la glace sèche et les positionner de façon appropriée sur la plaque de verre (paquets de papier d&#39;aluminium remplis de glace sèche peuvent également être utilisés pour refroidir le verre; Figure 1) 2. <ol><li> Pour les tests à 30 ° C, positionner les boîtes d&#39;aluminium d&#39;environ 0,25 &#39;&#39; loin des enclos des animaux (figure 2B) 2. <ol><li> Fixer un circulateur d&#39;eau chauffée des deux côtés de la plaque de verre. Réglez le thermostat à 45 - 60 ° C, et nouse pour remplir les boîtes en aluminium avec un flux régulier de l&#39;eau chaude (figure 1C) 2. </li><li> Placez les circulateurs de telle sorte que l&#39;eau chaude dans les boîtes en aluminium draine directement dans le réservoir du circulateur de chaque côté (figure 1C) 2. </li></ol></li><li> Pour les tests à température ambiante, laissez les cases vides (Figure 2) 2. </li><li> Pour les tests à 17 ° C, positionner les boîtes d&#39;environ 0,25 &#39;&#39; loin des enclos des animaux de chaque côté et remplir avec de la glace humide (Figure 2) 2. </li><li> Pour les tests à 12 ° C, positionner les boîtes environ 1,25 &#39;&#39; loin des enceintes de chaque côté et remplir avec de la glace sèche (Figure 2) 2. </li><li> Pour les tests à 5 ° C, positionner les boîtes d&#39;environ 0,25 &#39;&#39; loin des enceintes de chaque côté et remplir avec de la glace sèche (Figure 2) 2.<ol><li> Lorsque le refroidissement du verre avec de la glace sèche, assurez-vous que la ventilation est suffisante pour empêcher l&#39;accumulation de CO 2 dans la salle. </li></ol></li></ol></li><li> Attendre que le verre pour atteindre la plage de température souhaitée. </li><li> Ajouter les souris aux enceintes sur la plaque. NOTE: Un générateur de bruit blanc peut être utilisé pour diminuer les nuisances sonores. </li><li> Attendez que la souris se acclimater. NOTE: Dans notre installation cela prend environ 2,5 heures, mais cela peut varier considérablement en fonction de logement des animaux et les conditions de manutention. </li><li> Maintenir le verre à la plage de température souhaitée en se assurant que les boîtes sont toujours pleines d&#39;eau chauffée, de la glace mouillée, ou de la glace sèche. NOTE: Avec notre appareil, les boîtes doivent être rempli avec de la glace à peu près toutes les 90 min. REMARQUE: Pour le C 17 ° état, il est utile de vider plupart de l&#39;eau dans les boîtes en aluminium à travers les trous de drainage avant de le remplir avec de la glace. Ce sera de stabiliser la température mieux, et prdébordement de l&#39;événement NOTE: Le montant exact de la glace sèche varie de façon saisonnière, mais en général, en gardant les boîtes plus de ¼ complètes sur toute la longueur de la boîte va garder la température constante. </li></ol> 3. Test de la souris à des températures fixes <ol><li> En dehors de la salle de comportement, remplissez un seau à glace à moitié plein de glace sèche. </li><li> L&#39;utilisation d&#39;un marteau ou un maillet, écraser la glace sèche en une poudre fine. REMARQUE: Une surcharge du seau, il sera difficile d&#39;écraser complètement la glace sèche en poudre. </li><li> En utilisant une lame de rasoir ou des ciseaux, découpez le dessus une seringue de 3 ml. </li><li> En utilisant une aiguille 21 G, percez trois trous sur les côtés opposés de la seringue (total de six trous). NOTE: Ces trous vont diminuer la pression générée par sublimation tout en comprimant la glace sèche. La seringue de coupure peut être réutilisée pour de multiples expériences. </li><li> Prenez la seringue, la poudre de glace sèche, et un chronomètre portatif dans la salle de comportement. </li><li> Remplir la chambre à moitié plein de poudre de glace sèche de la seringue. Maintenez l&#39;extrémité de la seringue contre un objet plat de coupe, et de comprimer fermement la poudre en utilisant le piston. Faites attention; le piston de plastique peut tordre ou de casser de la pression. Si cela se produit, remplacer le piston d&#39;une nouvelle seringue. </li><li> Elargir la pointe de la pastille de glace carbonique comprimé delà du bord de la seringue. </li><li> souris d&#39;essai qui sont entièrement au repos. <ol><li> A 30 ° C, 23 ° C et 17 ° C, les souris d&#39;essai qui ont tous les quatre pattes sur la vitre et ne bouge pas, mais pas complètement endormie 19. </li><li> A 12 ° C et 5 ° C, les souris de test qui sont sur deux pattes ou quatre pattes et ne se déplaçant pas ou sauter. </li></ol></li><li> En utilisant les miroirs pour le ciblage, doucement mais appuyez fermement sur ​​le culot affleurant à plat contre la surface de verre sous la patte arrière de la souris (figure 1A) 2. Lancer la main-minuterie. </li><li> Arrêter le chronomètre et enlever le culot lorsque la souris se éloigne du verre refroidi. NOTE: Le mouvement de retrait peut être verticale ou horizontale. <ol><li> Si la souris se déplace très brièvement la patte, puis il revient à la surface de refroidissement, continuera jusqu&#39;à ce moment et en stimulant la souris fait un mouvement permanent de suite. NOTE: Notre laboratoire utilise un temps de relance maximum de 20 secondes pour les souris dans la majorité des cas. </li></ol></li><li> Répétez cette procédure de test jusqu&#39;à ce qu&#39;au moins trois valeurs sur chaque patte de chaque animal sont collectées. Des essais distincts essai pattes opposées sur la même souris par au moins 7 min et essais consécutifs séparés sur toute la patte unique d&#39;au moins 15 min. </li><li> Si nécessaire, utiliser différentes épaisseurs de verre pour générer différents taux de refroidissement (Figure 3) 1. REMARQUE: La vitesse de refroidissement est inversement corrélée à l&#39;épaisseur du verre. </li></ol> 4. Test de la souris Pendant froide adaptation NOTE: Ce est un autre protocole qui permet de tester le plat de verree refroidit, plutôt qu&#39;une fois la plaque se est stabilisée et les souris ont totalement adaptée à l&#39;environnement froid. <ol><li> Suivez les instructions figurant à la section 1 de mettre en place l&#39;appareil. </li><li> Suivez les instructions figurant à la section 3 de prendre les mesures de base à la température ambiante (figure 7A) 2. </li><li> Pré-refroidir les boîtes en aluminium avec de la glace sèche. </li><li> Une fois latences de retrait de base ont été mesurées, positionner les boîtes prérefroidis sur la plaque d&#39;environ 1,25 &#39;&#39; loin des enceintes de chaque côté (figure 7A, flèche étiqueté «glace sèche ajouté&quot;) 2. </li><li> Suivez les instructions figurant à la section 3 de prendre des mesures comme la plaque de verre refroidit, prendre des mesures aussi souvent que possible. </li></ol>

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The authors have nothing to disclose

The CPA can be used to assess cold sensitivity and cold adaptation in mice. It provides an affordable, efficient way to measure cold responses in unrestrained, acclimated animals at a wide variety of temperature ranges. It also provides an unambiguous behavioral response with an easily quantified and analyzed output variable. It has already been used to assess changes in cold sensitivity induced by inflammation1, neuropathic injury1, analgesics1, genetic knockouts20, and ge...

Mesure de la réactivité à froid chez les rongeurs est important pour améliorer la compréhension des mécanismes potentiels de sensibilité au froid chez les humains dans des conditions normales et pathologiques. The Cold plantaire Assay (CPA), développé à l&#39;origine il ya plusieurs années une, est conçu pour générer des réponses claires murins comportement reproductibles à un stimulus froid amené à RT. Améliorations plus récentes de cet essai ont permis la mesure reproductible de sensibilité au froid à une large gamme de températures 2. Les deux versions sont également conçus pour être relativement à haut débit, et peu coûteux à utiliser. A beaucoup de progrès ont été réalisés dans la compréhension des mécanismes de sensibilité au froid en utilisant d&#39;autres méthodes comportementales. Un procédé est le test de l&#39;évaporation de l&#39;acétone, ce qui implique tamponnant ou en pulvérisant de l&#39;acétone sur la patte de la souris et en mesurant la quantité de temps que la souris consacre effleurant la patte de 3,4. Malheureusement,les réponses à l&#39;acétone évaporation sont confondus par la sensation d&#39;humidité et l&#39;odeur de l&#39;acétone. En outre, le stimulus froid qui est appliquée dans le test d&#39;évaporation de l&#39;acétone peuvent varier en fonction de la quantité d&#39;acétone appliqué, et est difficile à quantifier. Enfin, les souris non lésés ont des réponses minimales au niveau de référence à l&#39;acétone, ce qui rend impossible la mesure de l&#39;analgésie en l&#39;absence d&#39;une hypersensibilité à la présente méthode. Un autre essai classique pour les réponses à froid est le test du Tail Flick, où la latence de retrait est mesuré après la queue est immergée dans 5,6 d&#39;eau froide. Alors que les réponses comportementales dans cet essai sont sans ambiguïté et l&#39;essai mesure les réponses à une température spécifique, les animaux doivent être retenus pendant les essais, qui peut altérer la réactivité à froid grâce à des mécanismes analgésiques induits par le stress bien décrits 7. Un autre outil couramment utilisé est le test de la plaque froide, qui mesure le comportementles réponses des souris après leur mise sur une plaque refroidie par effet Peltier 10/08. Bien que cet outil fournit des informations sur les réponses des animaux à des températures spécifiques, il a également été utilisé d&#39;une manière incompatible; différents groupes ont mesuré différents types de réponses, y compris nombre de sauts 8,11, la latence de la première réponse 8,11- 13, et le nombre de patte ascenseurs 11,13,14 avec des résultats très différents. Le dosage de la plaque froide est également relativement faible débit comme un seul animal peut être testée à la fois, et il nécessite un dispositif de Peltier coûteux et fragile. Le test de préférence de la température de 2 plaques est un dérivé communément utilisé pour le test de la plaque froide qui mesure la quantité relative de temps que les animaux passent sur ​​deux plaques reliées à des températures différentes 9,15- 17. Un autre test couramment utilisé est le même dosage de gradient thermique, où la quantité de temps que les souris passent en différentes zones de températurecomprise entre 5 ° C et 45 ° C sur une plaque longue métallique 16 est mesurée. Bien que ces tests permettent de comparer les températures, il est difficile de savoir si le comportement représente l&#39;aversion de la température ou à la préférence de température. Enfin, l&#39;analyse dynamique de plaque froide a été utilisé pour mesurer la souris répondent à l&#39;évolution des températures ambiantes 18. Cette méthode consiste à placer des souris sur un dispositif à effet Peltier et RT rampe vers le bas à 1 ° C tout en mesurant combien les souris sautent ou lèchent les pattes de la plaque à des températures différentes. Bien que cette façon teste les souris se adapter à un environnement de refroidissement, il ne fournit pas un moyen pour tester la souris réagissent à un stimulus froid dans le cadre d&#39;une température ambiante froide. En outre, il nécessite un équipement coûteux à réaliser et ne offre pas un moyen de souris se acclimater à l&#39;équipement de test avant de mesurer leur sensibilité au froid. Pour compléter ces essais, le CPA teste la ACCLIMATED réponses à un stimulus froid bien défini à une variété de gammes de température, ou pendant le processus d&#39;adaptation à des températures ambiantes froides. Il peut tester jusqu&#39;à 14 souris à la fois avec notre appareil actuel, avec le potentiel d&#39;être économiquement plus grande échelle pour les tests à haut débit.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1209">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:233px;">Name</td>
			<td style="width:320px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:303px;">Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">T-type thermocouple probe</td>
			<td>Physitemp</td>
			<td>IT-24p</td>
			<td>Used to measure the surface temperature of the glass (http://www.physitemp.com/products/probesandwire/)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glass plate</td>
			<td>Local glass company (in St. Louis, Stemmerich Inc)</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>We use pyrex glass (borosilicate float). Our lab generally uses 1/4&#39;&#39;, but 3/16&#39;&#39; and 1/8&#39;&#39; are also useful</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Thermal Data logger</td>
			<td>Extech</td>
			<td>EA15</td>
			<td>Thermologger to keep track of glass temperature (http://www.extech.com/instruments/product.asp?catid=64&#38;prodid=408)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">3mL Syringe</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td align="right">309657</td>
			<td>The top is cut off, and dry ice is compressed in the syringe to generate a cold probe</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Computer</td>
			<td>If using Extech logger, any Pcwill work</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Aluminum boxes</td>
			<td>Washington University in St. Louis machine shop</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>boxes are 3&#39; long, 4.5&#39;&#39; wide, and 3&#39;&#39; tall with a sealed lid.&#160; There is a 1/2&#39;&#39; hole drilled into one short side of each box, near the bottom. These holes are filled with rubber stopcocks when the boxes are filled with wet ice or hot water.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Heated water circulator</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Any water circulator model with a pump will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">21 gauge needle</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td align="right">305165</td>
			<td>The exact needle size is not important</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Hand timer</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Any hand timer will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Mirror</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Any flat mirror will work</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a simple and inexpensive method for determining cold sensitivity and adaptation in mice

Cold hypersensitivity is a serious clinical problem, affecting a broad subset of patients and causing significant decreases in quality of life. The cold plantar assay allows the objective and inexpensive assessment of cold sensitivity in mice, and can quantify both analgesia and hypersensitivity. Mice are acclimated on a glass plate, and a compressed dry ice pellet is held against the glass surface underneath the hindpaw. The latency to withdrawal from the cooling glass is used as a measure of cold sensitivity.
Cold sensation is also important for survival in regions with seasonal temperature shifts, and in order to maintain sensitivity animals must be able to adjust their thermal response thresholds to match the ambient temperature. The Cold Plantar Assay (CPA) also allows the study of adaptation to changes in ambient temperature by testing the cold sensitivity of mice at temperatures ranging from 30 &#176;C to 5 &#176;C. Mice are acclimated as described above, but the glass plate is cooled to the desired starting temperature using aluminum boxes (or aluminum foil packets) filled with hot water, wet ice, or dry ice. The temperature of the plate is measured at the center using a filament T-type thermocouple probe. Once the plate has reached the desired starting temperature, the animals are tested as described above.
This assay allows testing of mice at temperatures ranging from innocuous to noxious. The CPA yields unambiguous and consistent behavioral responses in uninjured mice and can be used to quantify both hypersensitivity and analgesia. This protocol describes how to use the CPA to measure cold hypersensitivity, analgesia, and adaptation in mice.

Les réponses comportementales induites chez des souris à partir de 30 ° C, 23 ° C, 17 ° C et 12 ° C sont très reproductible (figure 4A) 20. Afin de mesurer le stimulus froid étant généré sous la patte arrière, les souris ont été anesthésiés avec un kétamine / xylazine / acépromazine cocktails et leurs pattes ont été fixés sur le verre sur le dessus d&#39;un thermocouple de type T filament (figure 4B) 20. Le verre est refroidi ou réchauffé à ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice at JoVE.com

A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice

The Cold Plantar Assay (CPA) measures cold responsiveness between 30 &#176;C and 5 &#176;C, and can also measure cold adaptation. This protocol describes how to use the CPA to measure cold hypersensitivity, analgesia, and adaptation in mice.

Une méthode simple et peu coûteuse pour déterminer Sensibilité au froid et adaptation chez la souris

Cold hypersensitivity is a serious clinical problem, affecting a broad subset of patients and causing significant decreases in quality of life.  The cold ...

a-simple-inexpensive-method-for-determining-cold-sensitivity

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Neuroscience

14.6K vues.  Washington University in St. Louis. The Cold Plantar Assay (CPA) measures cold responsiveness between 30 °C and 5 °C, and can also measure cold adaptation. This protocol describes how to use the CPA to measure cold hypersensitivity, analgesia, and adaptation in mice.

Vidéo: A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice

The Vermicelli and Capellini Handling Tests: Simple quantitative measures of dexterous forepaw function in rats and mice

Previous characterizations of rodent eating behavior have revealed that they use coordinated forepaw movements to manipulate food pieces. We have extended upon this work to develop a simple quantitative measure of forepaw dexterity that is sensitive to lateralized impairments and age-dependent changes. Rodents learn skillful forepaw and digit movements to manage thin pasta pieces, which they eagerly consume. We have previously described methods for quantifying vermicelli handling in rats and showed that the measures are very sensitive to forelimb impairments resulting from unilateral ischemic lesions, middle cerebral artery occlusions and unilateral striatal dopamine depletion [Allred, R.P., Adkins, D.L., Woodlee, M.T., Husbands, L.C., Maldonado M.A., Kane, J.R., Schallert, T. &amp; Jones, T.A. The Vermicelli Handling Test: a simple quantitative measure of dexterous forepaw function in rats. J. Neurosci. Methods 170, 229-244 (2008)]. Here we present a more detailed protocol for this test in rats and compare it with a newly developed version for mice, the Capellini Handling Test. Rats and mice are videotaped while handling short lengths of uncooked vermicelli or capellini pasta, respectively, with a camera positioned to optimize the view of paw movements. Slow motion video playback allows for the identification of forepaw adjustments, defined as any distinct removal and replacement of the paw, or of any number of digits, on the pasta piece after eating commences. Forepaw adjustments per piece are averaged over trials per each testing session. Repeated testing permits sensitive quantitative analysis of changes in forepaw dexterity over time. Protocols for pre-testing habituation and handling practice, as well as procedures for characterizing atypical handling patterns, are described. Because rats and mice perform the pasta handling tests slightly differently, species-specific differences in administration and scoring of these tests are highlighted. All animal use was in accordance with protocols approved by the University of Texas at Austin Animal Care and Use Committee.

The Vermicelli and Capellini Handling Tests of forepaw dexterity take advantage of the natural inclination of rodents to manipulate food items using skillful forepaw and digit movements. Animals are videotaped while handling short strands of uncooked dry pasta. Slow motion video playback allows for the quantification of forepaw adjustments.

Les vermicelles et tests de manipulation Capellini: Simple mesures quantitatives de la fonction patte habile dans les rats et les souris

Previous characterizations of rodent eating behavior have revealed that they use coordinated forepaw movements to manipulate food pieces. We have extended ...

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Neurosciences

A Simple Way to Measure Ethanol Sensitivity in Flies

Low doses of ethanol cause flies to become hyperactive, while high doses are sedating. The sensitivity to ethanol-induced sedation of a given fly strain is correlated with that strain s ethanol preference, and therefore sedation is a highly relevant measure to study the genetics of alcohol responses and drinking. We demonstrate a simple way to expose flies to ethanol and measure its intoxicating effects. The assay we describe can determine acute sensitivity, as well as ethanol tolerance induced by repeat exposure. It does not require a technically involved setup, and can therefore be applied in any laboratory with basic fly culture tools.

A simple assay to measure the sedating effects of ethanol on Drosophila flies, based on the loss of righting reflex, is described.

Une façon simple de mesurer la sensibilité d&#39;éthanol dans les mouches

Low doses of ethanol cause flies to become hyperactive, while high doses are sedating. The sensitivity to ethanol-induced sedation of a given fly strain ...

A General Method for Evaluating Incubation of Sucrose Craving in Rats

For someone on a food-restricted diet, food craving in response to food-paired cues may serve as a key behavioral transition point between abstinence and relapse to food taking 1. Food craving conceptualized in this way is akin to drug craving in response to drug-paired cues. A rich literature has been developed around understanding the behavioral and neurobiological determinants of drug craving; we and others have been focusing recently on translating techniques from basic addiction research to better understand addiction-like behaviors related to food 2-4.
As done in previous studies of drug craving, we examine sucrose craving behavior by utilizing a rat model of relapse. In this model, rats self-administer either drug or food in sessions over several days. In a session, lever responding delivers the reward along with a tone+light stimulus. Craving behavior is then operationally defined as responding in a subsequent session where the reward is not available. Rats will reliably respond for the tone+light stimulus, likely due to its acquired conditioned reinforcing properties 5. This behavior is sometimes referred to as sucrose seeking or cue reactivity. In the present discussion we will use the term "sucrose craving" to subsume both of these constructs.
In the past decade, we have focused on how the length of time following reward self-administration influences reward craving. Interestingly, rats increase responding for the reward-paired cue over the course of several weeks of a period of forced-abstinence. This "incubation of craving" is observed in rats that have self-administered either food or drugs of abuse 4,6. This time-dependent increase in craving we have identified in the animal model may have great potential relevance to human drug and food addiction behaviors.
Here we present a protocol for assessing incubation of sucrose craving in rats. Variants of the procedure will be indicated where craving is assessed as responding for a discrete sucrose-paired cue following extinction of lever pressing within the sucrose self-administration context (Extinction without cues) or as responding for sucrose-paired cues in a general extinction context (Extinction with cues).

Responding for food or drug-paired cues increases over the course of a period of abstinence and this may relate to an increased susceptibility to relapse behaviors. Here we detail a procedure for evaluating this "incubation of craving" in rats that have self-administered sucrose.

Une méthode générale pour l&#39;évaluation d&#39;incubation du désir saccharose chez les rats

For someone on a food-restricted diet, food craving in response to food-paired cues may serve as a key behavioral transition point between abstinence and ...

A Molecular Readout of Long-term Olfactory Adaptation in C. elegans

During sustained stimulation most sensory neurons will adapt their response by decreasing their sensitivity to the signal. The adaptation response helps shape attention and also protects cells from over-stimulation. Adaptation within the olfactory circuit of C. elegans was first described by Colbert and Bargmann1,2. Here, the authors defined parameters of the olfactory adaptation paradigm, which they used to design a genetic screen to isolate mutants defective in their ability to adapt to volatile odors sensed by the Amphid Wing cells type C (AWC) sensory neurons. When wildtype C. elegans animals are exposed to an attractive AWC-sensed odor3 for 30 min they will adapt their responsiveness to the odor and will then ignore the adapting odor in a chemotaxis behavioral assay for ~1 hr. When wildtype C. elegans animals are exposed to an attractive AWC-sensed odor for ~1 hr they will then ignore the adapting odor in a chemotaxis behavioral assay for ~3 hr. These two phases of olfactory adaptation in C. elegans were described as short-term olfactory adaptation (induced after 30 min odor exposure), and long-term olfactory adaptation (induced after 60 min odor exposure). Later work from L'Etoile et al.,4 uncovered a Protein Kinase G (PKG) called EGL-4 that is required for both the short-term and long-term olfactory adaptation in AWC neurons. The EGL-4 protein contains a nuclear localization sequence that is necessary for long-term olfactory adaptation responses but dispensable for short-term olfactory adaptation responses in the AWC4. By tagging EGL-4 with a green fluorescent protein, it was possible to visualize the localization of EGL-4 in the AWC during prolonged odor exposure. Using this fully functional GFP-tagged EGL-4 (GFP::EGL-4) molecule we have been able to develop a molecular readout of long-term olfactory adaptation in the AWC5. Using this molecular readout of olfactory adaptation we have been able to perform both forward and reverse genetic screens to identify mutant animals that exhibit defective subcellular localization patterns of GFP::EGL-4 in the AWC6,7. Here we describe: 1) the construction of GFP::EGL-4 expressing animals; 2) the protocol for cultivation of animals for long-term odor-induced nuclear translocation assays; and 3) the scoring of the long-term odor-induced nuclear translocation event and recovery (re-sensitization) from the nuclear GFP::EGL-4 state.

A Molecular Readout of Long-term Olfactory Adaptation in C. elegans

Here we describe a molecular readout of long-term olfactory adaptation in Caenorhabditis elegans. The Protein Kinase G, EGL-4, is necessary for stable adaptation responses in the primary sensory neuron pair called AWC. During prolonged odor exposure EGL-4 translocates from the cytosol to nucleus of the AWC.

Un indicateur moléculaire de l&#39;adaptation à long terme olfactive dans<em&gt; C. elegans</em

During sustained stimulation most sensory neurons will adapt their response by decreasing their sensitivity to the signal. The adaptation response helps ...

Ex utero Electroporation and Whole Hemisphere Explants: A Simple Experimental Method for Studies of Early Cortical Development

Cortical development involves complex interactions between neurons and non-neuronal elements including precursor cells, blood vessels, meninges and associated extracellular matrix. Because they provide a suitable organotypic environment, cortical slice explants are often used to investigate those interactions that control neuronal differentiation and development. Although beneficial, the slice explant model can suffer from drawbacks including aberrant cellular lamination and migration. Here we report a whole cerebral hemisphere explant system for studies of early cortical development that is easier to prepare than cortical slices and shows consistent organotypic migration and lamination. In this model system, early lamination and migration patterns proceed normally for a period of two days in vitro, including the period of preplate splitting, during which prospective cortical layer six forms. We then developed an ex utero electroporation (EUEP) approach that achieves ~80% success in targeting GFP expression to neurons developing in the dorsal medial cortex.
The whole hemisphere explant model makes early cortical development accessible for electroporation, pharmacological intervention and live imaging approaches. This method avoids the survival surgery required of in utero electroporation (IUEP) approaches while improving both transfection and areal targeting consistency. This method will facilitate experimental studies of neuronal proliferation, migration and differentiation.

Ex utero Electroporation and Whole Hemisphere Explants: A Simple Experimental Method for Studies of Early Cortical Development

This protocol describes an improved explant procedure that involves ex utero electroporation, dissection and culture of entire cerebral hemispheres from the embryonic mouse. The preparation facilitates pharmacological studies and assays of gene function during early cortical development.

Ex utero électroporation et explants hémisphère: Une méthode simple expérimental pour les études du développement cortical précoce

Cortical development involves complex interactions between neurons and non-neuronal elements including precursor cells, blood vessels, meninges and ...

An Inexpensive, Scalable Behavioral Assay for Measuring Ethanol Sedation Sensitivity and Rapid Tolerance in Drosophila

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious health challenge. Despite a large hereditary component to AUD, few genes have been unambiguously implicated in their etiology. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a powerful model for exploring molecular-genetic mechanisms underlying alcohol-related behaviors and therefore holds great promise for identifying and understanding the function of genes that influence AUD. The use of the Drosophila model for these types of studies depends on the availability of assays that reliably measure behavioral responses to ethanol. This report describes an assay suitable for assessing ethanol sensitivity and rapid tolerance in flies. Ethanol sensitivity measured in this assay is influenced by the volume and concentration of ethanol used, a variety of previously reported genetic manipulations, and also the length of time the flies are housed without food immediately prior to testing. In contrast, ethanol sensitivity measured in this assay is not affected by the vigor of fly handling, sex of the flies, and supplementation of growth medium with antibiotics or live yeast. Three different methods for quantitating ethanol sensitivity are described, all leading to essentially indistinguishable ethanol sensitivity results. The scalable nature of this assay, combined with its overall simplicity to set-up and relatively low expense, make it suitable for small and large scale genetic analysis of ethanol sensitivity and rapid tolerance in Drosophila.

An Inexpensive, Scalable Behavioral Assay for Measuring Ethanol Sedation Sensitivity and Rapid Tolerance in Drosophila

Straightforward assays for measuring ethanol sensitivity and rapid tolerance in Drosophila facilitate the use of this model organism for investigating these important ethanol-related behaviors. Here, a relatively simple, scalable assay for measuring ethanol sensitivity and rapid tolerance in flies is described.

Un, test de comportement évolutives et économiques pour mesurer l&#39;éthanol sédation sensibilité et la tolérance rapide dans<em&gt; Drosophila</em

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious health challenge. Despite a large hereditary component to AUD, few genes have been unambiguously implicated in ...

A Method to Target and Isolate Airway-innervating Sensory Neurons in Mice

Somatosensory nerves transduce thermal, mechanical, chemical, and noxious stimuli caused by both endogenous and environmental agents. The cell bodies of these afferent neurons are located within the sensory ganglia. Sensory ganglia innervate a specific organ or portion of the body. For instance, the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are located in the vertebral column and extend processes throughout the body and limbs. The trigeminal ganglia are located in the skull and innervate the face, and upper airways. Vagal afferents of the nodose ganglia extend throughout the gut, heart, and lungs. The nodose neurons control a diverse array of functions such as: respiratory rate, airway irritation, and cough reflexes. Thus, to understand and manipulate their function, it is critical to identify and isolate airway specific neuronal sub-populations. In the mouse, the airways are exposed to a fluorescent tracer dye, Fast Blue, for retrograde tracing of airway-specific nodose neurons. The nodose ganglia are dissociated and fluorescence activated cell (FAC) sorting is used to collect dye positive cells. Next, high quality ribonucleic acid (RNA) is extracted from dye positive cells for next generation sequencing. Using this method airway specific neuronal gene expression is determined.

Organ specific sensory neurons are difficult to identify. Fast Blue tracing is used to identify nodose neurons innervating the airways for cell sorting. Sorted nodose neurons are used to extract high quality ribonucleic acid (RNA) for sequencing. Using this protocol, gene expression of airway specific neurons is determined.

Une méthode pour cibler et Isoler Airway-innervant neurones sensoriels chez la souris

Somatosensory nerves transduce thermal, mechanical, chemical, and noxious stimuli caused by both endogenous and environmental agents. The cell bodies of ...

A Simple One-step Dissection Protocol for Whole-mount Preparation of Adult Drosophila Brains

There is an increasing interest in using Drosophila to model human brain degenerative diseases, map neuronal circuitries in adult brains, and study the molecular and cellular basis of higher brain functions. A whole-mount preparation of adult brains with well-preserved morphology is critical for such whole brain-based studies, but can be technically challenging and time-consuming. This protocol describes an easy-to-learn, one-step dissection approach of an adult fly head in less than 10 s, while keeping the intact brain attached to the rest of the body to facilitate subsequent processing steps. The procedure helps remove most of the eye and tracheal tissues normally associated with the brain that can interfere with the later imaging step, and also places less demand on the quality of the dissecting forceps. Additionally, we describe a simple method that allows convenient flipping of the mounted brain samples on a coverslip, which is important for imaging both sides of the brains with similar signal intensity and quality. As an example of the protocol, we present an analysis of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in adult brains of WT (w1118) flies. The high efficacy of the dissection method makes it particularly useful for large-scale adult brain-based studies in Drosophila.

A Simple One-step Dissection Protocol for Whole-mount Preparation of Adult Drosophila Brains

The adult Drosophila brain is a valuable system for studying neuronal circuitry, higher brain functions, and complex disorders. An efficient method to dissect whole brain tissue from the small fly head will facilitate brain-based studies. Here we describe a simple, one-step dissection protocol of adult brains with well-preserved morphology.

Une seule étape simple protocole Dissection pour Whole-mount Préparation des adultes<em&gt; Drosophila</em&gt; Brains

There is an increasing interest in using Drosophila to model human brain degenerative diseases, map neuronal circuitries in adult brains, and study the ...

Novel Assay for Cold Nociception in Drosophila Larvae

How organisms sense and respond to noxious temperatures is still poorly understood. Further, the mechanisms underlying sensitization of the sensory machinery, such as in patients experiencing peripheral neuropathy or injury-induced sensitization, are not well characterized. The genetically tractable Drosophila model has been used to study the cells and genes required for noxious heat detection, which has yielded multiple conserved genes of interest. Little is known however about the cells and receptors important for noxious cold sensing. Although, Drosophila does not survive prolonged exposure to cold temperatures (&#8804;10 &#186;C), and will avoid cool, preferring warmer temperatures in behavioral preference assays, how they sense and possibly avoid noxious cold stimuli has only recently been investigated.
Here we describe and characterize the first noxious cold (&#8804;10 &#186;C) behavioral assay in Drosophila. Using this tool and assay, we show an investigator how to qualitatively and quantitatively assess cold nociceptive behaviors. This can be done under normal/healthy culture conditions, or presumably in the context of disease, injury or sensitization. Further, this assay can be applied to larvae selected for desired genotypes, which might impact thermosensation, pain, or nociceptive sensitization. Given that pain is a highly conserved process, using this assay to further study&#160;thermal nociception will likely glean important understanding of pain processes in other species, including vertebrates.

Novel Assay for Cold Nociception in Drosophila Larvae

Here we demonstrate a novel assay to study cold nociception in Drosophila larvae. This assay utilizes a custom-built Peltier probe capable of applying a focal noxious cold stimulus and results in quantifiable cold-specific behaviors. This technique will allow further cellular and molecular dissection of cold nociception.

Nouveau test pour froid dans nociception<em&gt; drosophile</em&gt; larves

How organisms sense and respond to noxious temperatures is still poorly understood. Further, the mechanisms underlying sensitization of the sensory ...

Culturing In Vivo-like Murine Astrocytes Using the Fast, Simple, and Inexpensive AWESAM Protocol

The AWESAM (a low-cost easy stellate astrocyte method) protocol entails a fast, simple, and inexpensive way to generate large quantities of in vivo-like mouse and rat astrocyte monocultures: Brain cells can be isolated from different brain regions, and after a week of cell culture, non-astrocytic cells are shaken off by placing the culture dishes on a shaker for 6 h in the incubator. The remaining astrocytes are then passaged into new plates with an astrocyte-specific medium (termed NB+H). NB+H contains low concentrations of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HBEGF), which is used in place of serum in medium. After growing in NB+H, AWESAM astrocytes have a stellate morphology and feature fine processes. Moreover, these astrocytes have more in vivo-like gene expression than astrocytes generated by previously published methods. Ca2+ imaging, vesicle dynamics, and other events close to the membrane can thus be studied in the fine astrocytic processes in vitro, e.g., using live cell confocal or TIRF microscopy. Notably, AWESAM astrocytes also exhibit spontaneous Ca2+ signaling similar to astrocytes in vivo.

Culturing In Vivo-like Murine Astrocytes Using the Fast, Simple, and Inexpensive AWESAM Protocol

The AWESAM protocol described here is optimal for culturing murine astrocytes in isolation from other brain cells in a fast, simple, and inexpensive manner. AWESAM astrocytes exhibit spontaneous Ca2+ signaling, morphology, and gene expression profiles similar to astrocytes in vivo.

Culture In Vivo-comme les Astrocytes Murine en utilisant le protocole AWESAM rapide, Simple et peu coûteux

The AWESAM (a low-cost easy stellate astrocyte method) protocol entails a fast, simple, and inexpensive way to generate large quantities of in vivo-like ...