Name: recording light-evoked postsynaptic responses in neurons in dark-adapted, mouse retinal slice preparations using patch clamp techniques
Uploaded: 2015-02-11T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Recording Light-evoked Postsynaptic Responses in Neurons in Dark-adapted, Mouse Retinal Slice Preparations Using Patch Clamp Techniques at JoVE.com

This work was supported by NIH R01 EY020533, WSU Startup Fund, and RPB grants.

Ethics Statement: Procedures involving animal subjects were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at Wayne State University.
1. Preparation of Experimental Solution
<ol>
	<li>Prepare the dissecting solution 1 day to 1 week before the actual experiment. Use a HEPES buffer solution for retinal dissection because of its strong buffering ability at lower temperatures16. Mix all chemicals as follows (in mM): 115 NaCl, 2.5 KCl, 2.5 CaCl2, 1.0 MgC...

<ol>
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Good recordings can only be achieved with good retinal preparations and well-designed patch clamp setups. Although all the steps described above are important, the discussion highlights some critical steps both for the dissection and recordings. 
For dissection, two things are especially important: cooling and oxygenation. After enucleating the eye, quickly remove the front part of the eye in a dissecting chamber with oxygen-bubbled, cooled dissecting solution, and pour cold solution into the ...

The retina is one of the unique parts of the nervous system. As an accessible part of the brain, its synaptic architecture has been well characterized. In addition, the functions of this neural network can be examined with a physiological stimulus: light. If the retinal tissue is isolated in a dark room with appropriate procedures, neurons in the tissue will respond to light. This preparation has been used to study visual signal processing and elucidate various synaptic mechanisms and neural network functions, as well as disease mechanisms. 
Light responses in retinal neurons have been recorded for decades. Early studies used sharp electrodes to make intracellular recordings from mudpuppy retinal neurons1. In the 1980s, the patch clamp technique was invented2, and soon became a popular method among vision researchers3,4. Single cell recordings from lower vertebrates, including mudpuppy and fish retinal neurons, were popular methods that contributed to the elucidation of visual signal processing mechanisms5,6. 
After genetic mutation techniques were developed, the mouse retina became a more popular model for vision researchers7-9. The mammalian retina is more attractive than that of lower vertebrates because it is evolutionarily closer to the human retina, and there is an opportunity to use disease models. However, mouse retinal cells are small and fragile10, and making retinal preparations and conducting patch clamp recordings in a dark room is challenging. As technology has improved, diverse approaches have become available to study visual signaling mechanisms such as imaging studies11 and the electroretinogram (ERG)12. Nevertheless, single cell recording with the patch clamp method is still important because it is highly temporally and spatially sensitive compared to other methods. Therefore, we have continuously conducted patch clamp recordings and improved our methods to investigate visual signal processing in mouse retinal slice preparations13-15.
In this video tutorial, the protocols are presented with important tips. Good recordings can only be achieved with good preparation. Practicing animal dissection and building a sturdy patch clamp rig will enable most researchers to achieve successful recordings.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="886">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:323px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">mice (28-60 days old, male)</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Jackson laboratory</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">C57BL/6J strain</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ames&#39; medium powder</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">A1420</td>
			<td>excellent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Stereo microscope</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Nikon</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">SMZ745</td>
			<td>excellent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">dissecting tool_forceps</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Dumont</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">#4, #5, #55</td>
			<td>excellent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">dissecting tool_scissors</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Roboz</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">RS-5605</td>
			<td>excellent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">dissecting tool_surgery knife</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Surgistar</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">7514</td>
			<td>excellent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">razor blade (for chopper)</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">EMS</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">71970</td>
			<td>excellent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">chopper</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">handmade</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">infrared viewer</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Night Owl Optics</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">NOBG1</td>
			<td>It shows bright view.&#160; Focusing small objects is an issue.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="27">
			<td height="27" style="height:27px;width:216px;">infrared pocket scopes</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">B.E. Meyers</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">OWL Gen 3 NV pocketscope</td>
			<td>excellent view</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">puller</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Sutter</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">P-1000</td>
			<td>excellent.&#160; Make consistent size pipettes.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">dark box</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Pelican</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">dark box</td>
			<td>excellent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="67">
			<td height="67" style="height:67px;width:216px;">patch clamp system</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Scientifica</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">slice scope 2000</td>
			<td style="width:323px;">Excellent setup.&#160; Most key components are included in one package.&#160; Micromanipulators are excellent.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">amplifier</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Molecular Devices</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">multiclamp 700B</td>
			<td>Excellent and easy control.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">acquiring software</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Molecular Devices</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">pClamp software</td>
			<td>Excellent and easy control.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="28">
			<td height="28" style="height:28px;width:216px;">light source (LED)</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Cool LED</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">pE-2 4 channel system</td>
			<td>Excellent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">CCD camera</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Q-imaging</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">Retiga 2000</td>
			<td>Excellent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Faraday cage</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">handmade</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

recording light-evoked postsynaptic responses in neurons in dark-adapted, mouse retinal slice preparations using patch clamp techniques

The retina is the gateway to the visual system. To understand visual signal processing mechanisms, we investigate retinal neural network functions. Retinal neurons in the network comprise of numerous subtypes. More than 10 subtypes of bipolar cells, ganglion cells, and amacrine cells have been identified by morphological studies. Multiple subtypes of retinal neurons are thought to encode distinct features of visual signaling, such as motion and color, and form multiple neural pathways. However, the functional roles of each neuron in visual signal processing are not fully understood. The patch clamp method is useful to address this fundamental question. Here, a protocol to record light-evoked synaptic responses in mouse retinal neurons using patch clamp recordings in dark-adapted conditions is provided. The mouse eyes are dark-adapted O/N, and retinal slice preparations are dissected in a dark room using infrared illumination and viewers. Infrared light does not activate mouse photoreceptors and thus preserves their light responsiveness. Patch clamp is used to record light-evoked responses in retinal neurons. A fluorescent dye is injected during recordings to characterize neuronal morphological subtypes. This procedure enables us to determine the physiological functions of each neuron in the mouse retina.

A representative slice preparation is shown in Figure 1. The slice preparation is in a straight position, showing photoreceptors to ganglion cells in a flat surface, and no detachment from the filter paper. If a slice is tilted, only part of the preparation is in focus, which makes it difficult to identify an appropriate cell for patch clamping. For recordings, it is important to select a good soma, which usually has a shiny surface, an even round shape, and no visible dark plaques. After the whole cell ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Recording Light-evoked Postsynaptic Responses in Neurons in Dark-adapted, Mouse Retinal Slice Preparations Using Patch Clamp Techniques at JoVE.com

Recording Light-evoked Postsynaptic Responses in Neurons in Dark-adapted, Mouse Retinal Slice Preparations Using Patch Clamp Techniques

We will demonstrate how to prepare retinal slices from the mouse eye and record light responses in retinal neurons. The entire procedure is conducted in dark-adapted conditions.

The retina is the gateway to the visual system. To understand visual signal processing mechanisms, we investigate retinal neural network functions. ...

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