Single-cell Microinjection for Cell Communication AnalysisAnael Viana Pinto Alberto *1, André G. Bonavita *1, Antonio A. Fidalgo-Neto 1, Filipe Berçot 1, Luiz A. Alves 1
1Institute Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratory of Cellular Communication, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation
We describe here how to perform a single-cell microinjection of Lucifer Yellow to visualize cellular communication via gap-junctions in living cells, and provide some useful tips. We expect that this paper will help everyone to evaluate the degree of cellular coupling due to functional gap junctions. Everything described here could be, in principle, adapted to other fluorescent dyes with molecular weight below 1,000 Daltons.