Questo lavoro è stato supportato dal BRIANBOW Progetto Europeo (7PQ Giovani Esploratori, Gli autori desiderano ringraziare il Dr. Jacopo Tessadori per gli utili commenti sul manoscritto, e Silvia Chiappalone per il suo aiuto nel produrre la grafica utilizzata nel video.

La procedura è stata effettuata in conformità con le norme NIH per la cura e l&#39;uso di animali da laboratorio ed è stato approvato dall&#39;Università Cura e uso Comitato Tel-Aviv animali (numero di permesso - L-14-019). 1. Preparazione degli strumenti e PDMS <ol><li> Preparare il wafer (Table of Materials, o ordinare il wafer da un laboratorio di microfabbricazione), un bisturi, e un paio di pinzette - la sterilizzazione non è necessario. </li><li> Preparare la soluzione di poli-D-lisina (PDL) secondo le seguenti condizioni: 4 mg / ml in 0,1 M tampone borato, pH 8, e conservare a -20 ° C. </li><li> Preparare stencil PDMS secondo la seguente procedura: <ol><li> Preparare polidimetilsilossano (PDMS, elastomero siliconico) miscelando la base e il vulcanizzante con un rapporto di 10: 1, quindi agitare le sostanze 2 per circa 5 min. </li><li> Mettere in camera a vuoto due volte per 15 minuti ogni volta e verificare le bolle sono andati. </li><li> Quandoil PDMS è pronto, preparare rotazione coater: manopole azoto aperte per consentire l&#39;utilizzo del gas, posizionare il wafer di silicio (Figura 1A) sul filatore, e utilizzare il vuoto per evitare che si muova. </li><li> Versare PDMS su wafer e attivare il filatore per 1 min a 1000 rpm (crea circa 100 micron altezza). </li><li> Inserire wafer su una piastra calda a 100 ° C per 30 min. </li><li> Quando il PDMS è indurito, delineare i confini del stencil con PDMS, con pipetta Pasteur. Inserire wafer su una piastra calda a 100 ° C per 30 min. </li><li> Quando i confini PDMS hanno indurito, utilizzare un bisturi per tagliare gli stampini in base ai confini e staccare lo stencil di silicio dal wafer (PDMS un quadrato contenente un singolo modello). </li></ol></li></ol> 2. Petri Dish e copertura di slittamento Preparazione <ol><li> Preparare 23 millimetri scivola copertura di vetro quadrato e pulirli secondo il seguente ordine: <ol><li> Lavare con acqua distillata, 70% di etanolo e acetone. </li><html><li> Lavare con isopropanolo e asciugare velocemente con azoto. </li></ol></li><li> Posizionare fantasia PDMS stencil su coprioggetto, e premere delicatamente per verificare che siano saldamente attaccati alla superficie del vetro. Porre in camera a vuoto per 15 min. </li><li> Depositare 1 ml di PDL su stencil. Inserire il vetrino nella camera a vuoto per due volte per 20 minuti ogni volta, e lasciare PDL O / N a secco. </li><li> Preparare capsula di Petri per creare una rete di cellule di supporto: <ol><li> Coprire la superficie del piatto (3,5 cm) con 1 ml di PDL per 2 ore a RT. Rimuovere la goccia Pdl con una pipetta. </li><li> Lavare con acqua distillata e lasciare asciugare. Mettere una piccola goccia di grasso al silicone su ogni angolo del vetrino. </li></ol></li><li> Posizionare il vetrino al centro del piatto Petri (cioè, le PDMS devono essere rivolti verso l&#39;alto) e premere delicatamente per verificare l&#39;attaccamento. </li><li> Rimuovere delicatamente PDMS dal coprioggetto con una pinzetta. Per la sterilizzazione, esporre a illuminazione UV per 7 min. </li></ol>Le &quot;&gt; 3. Multi-Electrode Array (MEA) Preparazione <ol><li> Clean MEA in questo ordine (Table of Materials): <ol><li> Lavare con acqua sotto rubinetto e sonicare in un detergente enzimatico concentrato 3 volte. </li><li> Sonicare in acqua distillata per 3 volte. </li><li> Lavare con acqua distillata (in cappa, 1.000 punta microlitri) per 3 volte e posto sotto UV per 30 min. </li></ol></li><li> Sostenere la preparazione di rete: <ol><li> Preparare lo stampo rete di supporto progettato. <ol><li> Versare PDMS in una piastra 12 pozzetti (22 mm di diametro). </li><li> Quando il PDMS è indurito estrarre lo stampo ed utilizzando un bisturi, tagliare un foro nel mezzo per creare una forma ad anello. </li><li> Inserire uno stampo rete di supporto progettata sul centro del MEA (Figura 2A) e coprire il resto della superficie con PDL per 2 ore a temperatura ambiente. </li></ol></li><li> Rimuovere PDL con pipetta e lavare con acqua distillata. </li><li> Togliere lo stampo e lasciare asciugare (figura 2A). &lt;/ Li&gt; </ol></li><li> Allineare stencil al MEA nel seguente modo: <ol><li> Mettere stencil su designato micro manipolatore. Utilizzare un microscopio invertito per allineare con precisione struttura modellata agli elettrodi, e abbassare la matrice finché non viene posto sulla superficie MEA (Figura 2B). Nota: Il contatto con un MEA ben pulita fornisce adesione concorrenziali tra le PDMS e MEA stesso. </li><li> Sollevare il micromanipolatore e, se necessario, utilizzare una pinzetta per applicare una piccola quantità di pressione sopra i PDMS per evitare che il distacco dal MEA. </li><li> Premere delicatamente stencil sulla superficie MEA, e utilizzare il microscopio per verificare che sia saldamente collegato, e ben allineata. (Figura 2C-D). </li></ol></li><li> Inserire MEA in camera a vuoto per 15 min; mettere una goccia 1 ml di PDL su stencil. </li><li> Inserire nella camera a vuoto 2 volte per 20 minuti ciascuno. Lasciare asciugare PDL O / N in incubatrice. </li><li> Prima di placcatura, rimuovere le PDMS stencil da MEA e lavare con sterili wAter. Mettere sotto illuminazione UV per 7 min. </li></ol> 4. Dissection e Cultura <ol><li> Preparare le culture come descritto in Herzog et al. 2011 21. </li></ol> 5. placcatura <ol><li> Calcolare il numero di cellule necessarie per la placcatura, utilizzando un emocitometro (densità ottimale in base alle dimensioni del circuito come discusso nel risultato). <ol><li> Assicurarsi che la camera di conteggio (emocitometro) è pulito e mettere un vetrino su di esso (l&#39;uso di alcol per la pulizia). </li><li> Diluire 10 ml di sospensione di cellule in 190 microlitri di placcatura medio (diluizione 1:20). </li><li> Carico 10 microlitri di cellule diluite sul bordo della camera di conteggio e lentamente pipettare le cellule che permetta la camera di riempimento stesso. </li><li> Utilizzando un microscopio invertito, visualizza la griglia emocitometro. Determinare il numero di cellule nella camera mediante conteggio diretto (cellule sane dovrebbero essere rotondo). Contare le cellule all&#39;interno del grande piazzale without quelli che attraversano i bordi. </li><li> Calcolare la concentrazione di cellule: Numero di cellule / 1000 ml = cellule totali contate × fattore di diluizione × 10 4 (zona del emocitometro). Nota: Ad esempio, se il fattore di diluizione è 20 e le cellule totali contate erano 100: 100 × 20 × 10 4 = 0.1 x 10 7 cellule / 1.000 ml o 1 x 10 6/100 l. Per piastra 0,75 x 10 6 cellule, prendere 75 microlitri fuori delle cellule. </li></ol></li><li> Prendere il numero di cellule necessarie per la placcatura per singolo MEA o capsula di Petri, risospendere le cellule per prevenire l&#39;aggregazione, e li piastra al centro, sulla parte superiore della zona patternate (se necessario, è possibile diluire le cellule nel mezzo) . Per la MEA, una goccia 100 ml nel mezzo. Per vetrino, una goccia di 1000 ml in mezzo. </li><li> Incubare le cellule piastrate a 37 ° C per 40 min. Aggiungere mezzo placcatura alle cellule piastrate, fino a 1ml per MEA e 2 ml per vetrino. </li><li> Tenere a 37 ° C e, ogni 4 giorni, diluire con mezzo di crescita fresco arricchito con 0,5 Pen-Strep, 2% B-27 e 0,75% Glutamax. </li><li> Dal 6/7 DIV, dopo aver visto i collegamenti tra le isole, diluire media con 10 microlitri / ml FUDR (25 mg + 62,5 mg deossiuridina uridina in 12,5 ml MEM (Minimum Essential Media Aquila)) o qualsiasi altro agente anti-mitotico per evitare gliale crescita eccessiva. </li></ol>

<ol>
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Un protocollo di crescere reti neuronali modulari 2D in vitro composto da circuiti funzionalmente interconnessi è descritto. La procedura si basa su uno strato adesivo patterning cellulare. Patterning si ottiene con PDMS stencil riproduce la caratteristica negativa della architettura di rete desiderato. Stencil PDMS definiscono le aree in cui lo strato adesivo cellulare è depositato. Una volta che le cellule sono placcati, spontaneamente si riuniscono per le isole ricoperte e di auto-organizzarsi in circuiti ...

Evidenze sperimentali e teorici sostengono la possibilità che il cervello opera attraverso l&#39;attivazione coordinata di gruppi di cellule 1-5, che può essere considerato come unità funzionali dinamici che transientemente interagiscono tra loro, sagomatura e sottostanti diversi stati cerebrali. Modularità funzionale dipende anche e associato con l&#39;organizzazione modulare strutturale dei circuiti cerebrali 6,7. Come funzione e la struttura dei circuiti cerebrali reciprocamente forma l&#39;altro è ancora una delle principali questioni aperte nel campo delle neuroscienze. Per fornire una comprensione più approfondita di questa domanda, è importante identificare quadri sperimentali ottimali dove è possibile affrontare, almeno parzialmente, tali problemi. Dal controllo manipolazione delle dinamiche spazio-temporali delle reti neuronali in esperimenti in vivo è impegnativo, lo sviluppo di modelli in vitro reti neuronali è di notevole interesse per la loro facile accessibility, il monitoraggio, la manipolazione e modellazione 8,9. Negli ultimi anni, nel settore delle tecnologie in vitro sostenute da metodi di substrato patterning avanzati hanno permesso di indurre le reti neuronali per sviluppare una gamma di strutture modulari predefinite 3 e per studiare le proprietà funzionali delle reti con topologie imposti 10. In particolare, i metodi sono stati recentemente utilizzati per organizzare reti imponendo vincoli fisici 4,11. Infatti, per studiare il legame tra struttura e funzione nelle reti neuronali e per fornire una rappresentazione semplificata ma plausibile di interagire assiemi neuronali, sistemi in vitro dovrebbero fornire neuronali sottopopolazioni interconnessi. Omogenei colture neuronali ampiamente studiato 2D non impongono vincoli spaziali sul cablaggio emergenti auto-organizzato dei circuiti. Quindi un possibile approccio per modellare gruppi di cellule artificialmente interconnessi è di posizionare diverse popolazioni neuronali in battibeccoaree distinte buona resa. La distanza tra queste zone non impedisce i collegamenti assemblee interrelazioni. Questo approccio, pur garantendo un controllo notevole sopra complessità della rete, ha dimostrato di fornire un repertorio ricco di modelli di sincronizzazione 6,7,12. Al fine di facilitare una coltura riproducibile di gruppi neuronali modulari, un protocollo per assemblare l&#39;auto-organizzazione di reti in cluster neuronali collegati da assoni e dendriti è presentato e descritto. La struttura polimerica per il confinamento fisico di colture neuronali è stato creato da polydimtheylsiloxane (PDMS). PDMS è un elastomero ampiamente utilizzati per applicazioni biomediche grazie alla sua biocompatibilità, la trasparenza e la permeabilità ai gas 13. Il PDMS è preparato e escluso dalla SU8 micromachined 2075 14,15 strutture da-spin rivestimento a PDMS liquido su un &quot;maestro&quot; come descritto in precedenza in Jackman et al. 16 THa raggiunto modellato reti neuronali sono composti da moduli di diverse dimensioni interconnesse e che sono stati ottenuti con successo su entrambi i vetrini e Micro Electrode Array (MEA) 17-20. La densità delle connessioni tra i moduli può cambiare le caratteristiche della sincronizzazione di rete, da una rete completamente sincronizzato, tipica delle culture uniformi, a stati transitori di sincronizzazione tra i moduli.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>PDMS, Sylgard 184</td>
			<td>Dow Corning</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nalgene Vacuum Chamber</td>
			<td>Thermo</td>
			<td>5305-0609</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Poly-D-Lysine PDL</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P7886</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>silicone grease - SILICAID 1010</td>
			<td>&#160;aidchim Ltd</td>
			<td>H3375</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spin Coater</td>
			<td>Laurell - Technologies Corporation</td>
			<td>WS-650-23</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>12 well culture plate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>CLS3336</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5-Fluoro-2&#8217;-deoxyuridine</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>F0503</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Uridine</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>U3003</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>silicone grease - SILICAID 1010</td>
			<td>&#160;aidchim Ltd</td>
			<td>H3375</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MEA1060-Inv-BC</td>
			<td>Multi Channel Systems</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TC02</td>
			<td>Multi Channel Systems</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pen Strep</td>
			<td>Biological Industries Beit Haemek</td>
			<td>03-033-1c</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>B-27</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>17504044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>glutaMAX</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>35050-038</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MEM Minimum Essential Medium-Eagle</td>
			<td>Biological Industries Beit Haemek</td>
			<td>01-025-1B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micro Electrode Arrays 4Q</td>
			<td>Multi Channel Systems</td>
			<td>60-4QMEA1000iR-Ti-pr</td>
			<td>cleaning manual: http://www.multichannelsystems.com</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>silicon wafer</td>
			<td>microchem</td>
			<td>SU8-2075</td>
			<td>Preparation protocol: www.microchem.com</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

design, surface treatment, cellular plating, and culturing of modular neuronal networks composed of functionally inter-connected circuits

Il cervello opera attraverso l&#39;attivazione coordinata e la comunicazione dinamica di assiemi neuronali. Un importante questione aperta è come un vasto repertorio di motivi dinamici, che sono alla base funzioni cerebrali più diverse, può emergere da un&#39;organizzazione topologica fissa e modulare di circuiti cerebrali. Rispetto a studi in vivo di circuiti neuronali che presentano difficoltà intrinseche sperimentali, preparati in vitro offrono una possibilità molto più grande di manipolare e sondare le proprietà strutturali, dinamiche e chimiche dei sistemi neuronali sperimentali. Questo lavoro descrive un metodo sperimentale in vitro che permette crescente di reti modulari composti da spazialmente distinte, assemblee di neuroni funzionalmente interconnessi. Il protocollo consente il controllo bidimensionale (2D) architettura della rete neuronale a diversi livelli di complessità topologica. Un patterning rete desiderata può essererealizzato sia su vetrini regolari e substrato integrato array micro elettrodi. Strutture microlavorati sono impressi su un wafer di silicio e usati per creare matrici polimeriche biocompatibili, che incorporano le caratteristiche negative della architettura di rete desiderato. Le matrici sono disposte sui substrati di coltura durante la procedura di rivestimento con uno strato molecolare per promuovere l&#39;adesione cellulare. Dopo la rimozione delle matrici, i neuroni sono placcati e spontaneamente reindirizzato alle zone rivestite. Diminuendo la distanza inter-vano, è possibile ottenere circuiti neuronali o isolate o interconnessi. Per promuovere la sopravvivenza delle cellule, le cellule sono co-coltura con una rete neuronale supporto che si trova alla periferia del piatto di coltura. Registrazioni elettrofisiologiche e ottiche di attività delle reti modulari ottenuti rispettivamente mediante substrato integrato micro schiere di elettrodi e di imaging di calcio sono presentati. Mentre ogni modulo mostra SPONTsincronizzazioni globali aneous, il verificarsi di sincronizzazione tra moduli è regolata dalla densità di collegamento fra i circuiti.

Un SU8-2075 stampo su un wafer di silicio con uno spessore di circa caratteristica 100 micron è stato utilizzato per modellare i PDMS. Il modello era composta di quadrati di varie dimensioni, con una lunghezza laterale e distanza variabile tra 200 e 700 micron (Figura 1B). La dimensione della piazza stata scelta per adattarsi al campo di vista di un 10X (per isole con una lunghezza laterale &lt;800 micron) e un obiettivo 20X (per isole con una lunghezza laterale &lt;400 micron). Tre parametri, vale a d...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Design, Surface Treatment, Cellular Plating, and Culturing of Modular Neuronal Networks Composed of Functionally Inter-connected Circuits at JoVE.com

Design, Surface Treatment, Cellular Plating, and Culturing of Modular Neuronal Networks Composed of Functionally Inter-connected Circuits

Questo manoscritto descrive un protocollo di crescere in vitro reti modulari composti da spazialmente confinate, circuiti neuronali funzionalmente interconnessi. Una maschera polimerica viene usata per modello uno strato proteico per favorire l&#39;adesione cellulare su substrato di coltura. Neuroni placcato crescono su aree rivestite stabilire connessioni spontanee e che presentano attività elettrofisiologica.

Design, Trattamento delle superfici, Cellular placcatura, e Coltura di neuronali modulari reti composte di circuiti funzionalmente interconnessi

The brain operates through the coordinated activation and the dynamic communication of neuronal assemblies. A major open question is how a vast repertoire ...

design-surface-treatment-cellular-plating-culturing-modular-neuronal

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

8.4K Views.  Tel-Aviv University.  Questo manoscritto descrive un protocollo di crescere in vitro reti modulari composti da spazialmente confinate, circuiti neuronali funzionalmente interconnessi. Una maschera polimerica viene usata per modello uno strato proteico per favorire l'adesione cellulare su substrato di coltura. Neuroni placcato crescono su aree rivestite stabilire connessioni spontanee e che presentano attività elettrofisiologica. 

Video: Design, Surface Treatment, Cellular Plating, and Culturing of Modular Neuronal Networks Composed of Functionally Inter-connected Circuits

Mapping Inhibitory Neuronal Circuits by Laser Scanning Photostimulation

Inhibitory neurons are crucial to cortical function. They comprise about 20% of the entire cortical neuronal population and can be further subdivided into diverse subtypes based on their immunochemical, morphological, and physiological properties1-4. Although previous research has revealed much about intrinsic properties of individual types of inhibitory neurons, knowledge about their local circuit connections is still relatively limited3,5,6. Given that each individual neuron's function is shaped by its excitatory and inhibitory synaptic input within cortical circuits, we have been using laser scanning photostimulation (LSPS) to map local circuit connections to specific inhibitory cell types. Compared to conventional electrical stimulation or glutamate puff stimulation, LSPS has unique advantages allowing for extensive mapping and quantitative analysis of local functional inputs to individually recorded neurons3,7-9. Laser photostimulation via glutamate uncaging selectively activates neurons perisomatically, without activating axons of passage or distal dendrites, which ensures a sub-laminar mapping resolution. The sensitivity and efficiency of LSPS for mapping inputs from many stimulation sites over a large region are well suited for cortical circuit analysis.
Here we introduce the technique of LSPS combined with whole-cell patch clamping for local inhibitory circuit mapping. Targeted recordings of specific inhibitory cell types are facilitated by use of transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent proteins (GFP) in limited inhibitory neuron populations in the cortex3,10, which enables consistent sampling of the targeted cell types and unambiguous identification of the cell types recorded. As for LSPS mapping, we outline the system instrumentation, describe the experimental procedure and data acquisition, and present examples of circuit mapping in mouse primary somatosensory cortex. As illustrated in our experiments, caged glutamate is activated in a spatially restricted region of the brain slice by UV laser photolysis; simultaneous voltage-clamp recordings allow detection of photostimulation-evoked synaptic responses. Maps of either excitatory or inhibitory synaptic input to the targeted neuron are generated by scanning the laser beam to stimulate hundreds of potential presynaptic sites. Thus, LSPS enables the construction of detailed maps of synaptic inputs impinging onto specific types of inhibitory neurons through repeated experiments. Taken together, the photostimulation-based technique offers neuroscientists a powerful tool for determining the functional organization of local cortical circuits.

This paper introduces an approach of combining laser scanning photostimulation with whole cell recordings in transgenic mice expressing GFP in limited inhibitory neuron populations. The technique allows for extensive mapping and quantitative analysis of local synaptic circuits of specific inhibitory cortical neurons.

Mappatura dei circuiti neuronali inibitori da fotostimolazione scansione laser

Inhibitory neurons are crucial to cortical function. They comprise about 20% of the entire cortical neuronal population and can be further subdivided into ...

Ricerca

Neuroscienze

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.

Veloce micro-ionoforesi di glutammato e GABA: un utile strumento per indagare l&#39;integrazione Synaptic

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

A Procedure for Implanting Organized Arrays of Microwires for Single-unit Recordings in Awake, Behaving Animals

In vivo electrophysiological recordings in the awake, behaving animal provide a powerful method for understanding neural signaling at the single-cell level. The technique allows experimenters to examine temporally and regionally specific firing patterns in order to correlate recorded action potentials with ongoing behavior. Moreover, single-unit recordings can be combined with a plethora of other techniques in order to produce comprehensive explanations of neural function. In this article, we describe the anesthesia and preparation for microwire implantation. Subsequently, we enumerate the necessary equipment and surgical steps to accurately insert a microwire array into a target structure. Lastly, we briefly describe the equipment used to record from each individual electrode in the array. The fixed microwire arrays described are well-suited for chronic implantation and allow for longitudinal recordings of neural data in almost any behavioral preparation. We discuss tracing electrode tracks to triangulate microwire positions as well as ways to combine microwire implantation with immunohistochemical techniques in order to increase the anatomical specificity of recorded results.

Implanting organized arrays of microwires for use in single-unit electrophysiological recordings presents a number of technical challenges.&#160;Methods for performing this technique and the equipment necessary are described.&#160;Also, the beneficial use of organized microwire arrays to record from distinct neural subregions with high spatial selectivity is discussed.

Una procedura per l&#39;impianto Array organizzata di microfili per Recordings singola unità di Awake, Comportarsi Animali

In vivo electrophysiological recordings in the awake, behaving animal provide a powerful method for understanding neural signaling at the single-cell ...

Genetic Manipulation of Cerebellar Granule Neurons In Vitro and In Vivo to Study Neuronal Morphology and Migration

Developmental events in the brain including neuronal morphogenesis and migration are highly orchestrated processes. In vitro and in vivo analyses allow for an in-depth characterization to identify pathways involved in these events. Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) that are derived from the developing cerebellum are an ideal model system that allows for morphological analyses. Here, we describe a method of how to genetically manipulate CGNs and how to study axono- and dendritogenesis of individual neurons. With this method the effects of RNA interference, overexpression or small molecules can be compared to control neurons. In addition, the rodent cerebellar cortex is an easily accessible in vivo system owing to its predominant postnatal development. We also present an in vivo electroporation technique to genetically manipulate the developing cerebella and describe subsequent cerebellar analyses to assess neuronal morphology and migration.

Genetic Manipulation of Cerebellar Granule Neurons In Vitro and In Vivo to Study Neuronal Morphology and Migration

Neuronal morphogenesis and migration are crucial events underlying proper brain development. Here, we describe methods to genetically manipulate cultured cerebellar granule neurons and the developing cerebellum for the assessment of morphology and migratory characteristics of neurons.

Manipolazione genetica delle cerebellare granuli neuroni<em&gt; In Vitro</em&gt; E<em&gt; In Vivo</em&gt; Per studiare neuronale Morfologia e migrazione

Developmental events in the brain including neuronal morphogenesis and migration are highly orchestrated processes. In vitro and in vivo analyses allow ...

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Information coding in the Central Nervous System (CNS) remains unexplored. There is mounting evidence that, even at a very low level, the representation of a given stimulus might be dependent on context and history. If this is actually the case, bi-directional interactions between the brain (or if need be a reduced model of it) and sensory-motor system can shed a light on how encoding and decoding of information is performed. Here an experimental system is introduced and described in which the activity of a neuronal element (i.e., a network of neurons extracted from embryonic mammalian hippocampi) is given context and used to control the movement of an artificial agent, while environmental information is fed back to the culture as a sequence of electrical stimuli. This architecture allows a quick selection of diverse encoding, decoding, and learning algorithms to test different hypotheses on the computational properties of neuronal networks.

In this paper, an experimental framework to perform closed-loop experiments is presented, in which information processing (i.e., coding and decoding) and learning of neuronal assemblies are studied during the continuous interaction with a robotic body.

Closed-loop di esperimenti neuro-robotica a prova le proprietà computazionali di neuronali Networks

Information coding in the Central Nervous System (CNS) remains unexplored. There is mounting evidence that, even at a very low level, the representation ...

Rewiring Neuronal Circuits: A New Method for Fast Neurite Extension and Functional Neuronal Connection

Brain and spinal cord injury may lead to permanent disability and death because it is still not possible to regenerate neurons over long distances and accurately reconnect them with an appropriate target. Here a procedure is described to rapidly initiate, elongate, and precisely connect new functional neuronal circuits over long distances. The extension rates achieved reach over 1.2 mm/h, 30-60 times faster than the in vivo rates of the fastest growing axons from the peripheral nervous system (0.02 to 0.04 mm/h)28 and 10 times faster than previously reported for the same neuronal type at an earlier stage of development4. First, isolated populations of rat hippocampal neurons are grown for 2-3 weeks in microfluidic devices to precisely position the cells, enabling easy micromanipulation and experimental reproducibility. Next, beads coated with poly-D-lysine (PDL) are placed on neurites to form adhesive contacts and pipette micromanipulation is used to move the resulting bead-neurite complex. As the bead is moved, it pulls out a new neurite that can be extended over hundreds of micrometers and functionally connected to a target cell in less than 1 h. This process enables experimental reproducibility and ease of manipulation while bypassing slower chemical strategies to induce neurite growth. Preliminary measurements presented here demonstrate a neuronal growth rate far exceeding physiological ones. Combining these innovations allows for the precise establishment of neuronal networks in culture with an unprecedented degree of control. It is a novel method that opens the door to a plethora of information and insights into signal transmission and communication within the neuronal network as well as being a playground in which to explore the limits of neuronal growth. The potential applications and experiments are widespread with direct implications for therapies that aim to reconnect neuronal circuits after trauma or in neurodegenerative diseases.

This procedure describes how to rapidly initiate, extend and connect neurites organized in microfluidic chambers using poly-D-lysine-coated beads fixed to micropipettes that guide neurite elongation.

Circuiti neuronali riavvolgenti: un nuovo metodo per l&#39;estensione veloce del neurite e la connessione neuronale funzionale

Brain and spinal cord injury may lead to permanent disability and death because it is still not possible to regenerate neurons over long distances and ...

Determining Cell-surface Expression and Endocytic Rate of Proteins in Primary Astrocyte Cultures Using Biotinylation

Cell-surface proteins mediate a wide array of functions. In many cases, their activity is regulated by endocytic processes that modulate their levels at the plasma membrane. Here, we present detailed protocols for 2 methods that facilitate the study of such processes, both of which are based on the principle of the biotinylation of cell-surface proteins. The first is designed to allow for the semi-quantitative determination of the relative levels of a particular protein at the cell-surface. In it, the lysine residues of the plasma membrane proteins of cells are first labeled with a biotin moiety. Once the cells are lysed, these proteins may then be specifically precipitated via the use of agarose-immobilized streptavidin by exploiting the natural affinity of the latter for biotin. The proteins isolated in such a manner may then be analyzed via a standard western blotting approach. The second method provides a means of determining the endocytic rate of a particular cell-surface target over a period of time. Cell-surface proteins are first modified with a biotin derivative containing a cleavable disulfide bond. The cells are then shifted back to normal culture conditions, which causes the endocytic uptake of a proportion of biotinylated proteins. Next, the disulfide bonds of non-internalized biotin groups are reduced using the membrane-impermeable reducing agent glutathione. Via this approach, endocytosed proteins may thus be isolated and quantified with a high degree of specificity.

Two biotinylation-based methods, designed for determining the cell-surface expression and endocytic rate of proteins expressed at the plasma membrane, are presented in this report.

Determinazione dell&#39;espressione della superficie cellulare e della velocità endocitica delle proteine ​​nelle colture primarie di astrociti usando la biotinilazione

Cell-surface proteins mediate a wide array of functions. In many cases, their activity is regulated by endocytic processes that modulate their levels at ...

Chronic Transcranial Electrical Stimulation and Intracortical Recording in Rats

Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) is a powerful and relatively simple approach to diffusely influence brain activity either randomly or in a closed-loop event-triggered manner. Although many studies are focusing on the possible benefits and side-effects of TES in healthy and pathologic brains, there are still many fundamental open questions regarding the mechanism of action of the stimulation. Therefore, there is a clear need for a robust and reproducible method to test the acute and the chronic effects of TES in rodents. TES can be combined with regular behavioral, electrophysiological, and imaging techniques to investigate neuronal networks in vivo. The implantation of transcranial stimulation electrodes does not impose extra constraints on the experimental design while it offers a versatile, flexible tool to manipulate brain activity. Here we provide a detailed, step-by-step protocol to fabricate and implant transcranial stimulation electrodes to influence brain activity in a temporally constrained manner for months.

This detailed protocol describes transcranial stimulation electrode placement on the temporal bone in order to investigate the short- and long-term effects of transcranial electrical stimulation in freely moving rats.

Stimolazione elettrica transcranica cronica e registrazione intracorticale in ratti

Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) is a powerful and relatively simple approach to diffusely influence brain activity either randomly or in a ...

Optogenetic Entrainment of Hippocampal Theta Oscillations in Behaving Mice

Extensive data on relationships of neural network oscillations to behavior and organization of neuronal discharge across brain regions call for new tools to selectively manipulate brain rhythms. Here we describe an approach combining projection-specific optogenetics with extracellular electrophysiology for high-fidelity control of hippocampal theta oscillations (5-10 Hz) in behaving mice. The specificity of the optogenetic entrainment is achieved by targeting channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) to the GABAergic population of medial septal cells, crucially involved in the generation of hippocampal theta oscillations, and a local synchronized activation of a subset of inhibitory septal afferents in the hippocampus. The efficacy of the optogenetic rhythm control is verified by a simultaneous monitoring of the local field potential (LFP) across lamina of the CA1 area and/or of neuronal discharge. Using this readily implementable preparation we show efficacy of various optogenetic stimulation protocols for induction of theta oscillations and for the manipulation of their frequency and regularity. Finally, a combination of the theta rhythm control with projection-specific inhibition addresses the readout of particular aspects of the hippocampal synchronization by efferent regions.

We describe the use of optogenetics and electrophysiological recordings for selective manipulations of hippocampal theta oscillations (5-10 Hz) in behaving mice. The efficacy of the rhythm entrainment is monitored using local field potential. A combination of opto- and pharmacogenetic inhibition addresses the efferent readout of hippocampal synchronization.

Optogenetica trascinamenti di teta Hippocampal oscillazioni nel comportarsi topi

Extensive data on relationships of neural network oscillations to behavior and organization of neuronal discharge across brain regions call for new tools ...

Simultaneous Imaging of Microglial Dynamics and Neuronal Activity in Awake Mice

Since brain functions are under the continuous influence of the signals derived from peripheral tissues, it is critical to elucidate how glial cells in the brain sense various biological conditions in the periphery and transmit the signals to neurons. Microglia, immune cells in the brain, are involved in synaptic development and plasticity. Therefore, the contribution of microglia to neural circuit construction in response to the internal state of the body should be tested critically by intravital imaging of the relationship between microglial dynamics and neuronal activity.
Here, we describe a technique for the simultaneous imaging of microglial dynamics and neuronal activity in awake mice. Adeno-associated virus encoding R-CaMP, a gene-encoded calcium indicator of red fluorescence protein, was injected into layer 2/3 of the primary visual cortex in CX3CR1-EGFP transgenic mice expressing EGFP in microglia. After viral injection, a cranial window was installed onto the brain surface of the injected region. In vivo two-photon imaging in awake mice 4 weeks after the surgery demonstrated that neural activity and microglial dynamics could be recorded simultaneously at the sub-second temporal resolution. This technique can uncover the coordination between microglial dynamics and neuronal activity, with the former responding to peripheral immunological states and the latter encoding the internal brain states.

Here, we describe a protocol combining adeno-associated virus injection with cranial window implantation for simultaneous imaging of microglial dynamics and neuronal activity in awake mice.

Imaging simultaneo delle dinamiche microgliali e dell'attività neuronale in topi svegli

Since brain functions are under the continuous influence of the signals derived from peripheral tissues, it is critical to elucidate how glial cells in ...