Name: quantitative cell biology of neurodegeneration in drosophila through unbiased analysis of fluorescently tagged proteins using imagej
Uploaded: 2018-08-03T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantitative Cell Biology of Neurodegeneration in Drosophila Through Unbiased Analysis of Fluorescently Tagged Proteins Using ImageJ at JoVE.com

This work is supported by the Sheila and David Fuente Neuropathic Pain Research Program Graduate Fellowship (to J.M.B.), the Lois Pope LIFE Fellows Program (to C.L., Y.Z., and J.M.B.), the Snyder-Robinson Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship (to C.L.), the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation (to C.L.), contracts, grants from National Institutes of Health (NIH) HHSN268201300038C, R21GM119018, and R56NS095893 (to R.G.Z.), and by Taishan Scholar Project (Shandong Province, People&#39;s Republic of China) (to R.G.Z.).

1. Considerations and Preparations for Designing the Image Analysis Experiment
<ol>
	<li>Predetermine suitable anatomical, cellular, or subcellular markers to serve as landmarks for standardizing a region of interest (ROI) across different samples, for example 4&#39;,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), membrane markers, localized fluorescent protein, etc.</li>
	<li>Select a fluorescent marker that can delimit discrete puncta beyond background levels for the structure of interest. 
	NOTE: This protocol is o...

<ol>
	<li>Erkkinen, M. G., Kim, M. -. O., Geschwind, M. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Clinical+Neurology+and+Epidemiology+of+the+Major+Neurodegenerative+Diseases.">Clinical Neurology and Epidemiology of the Major Neurodegenerative Diseases.</a> Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology. , a033118 (2017).</li><li>Schindelin, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fiji:+an+open-source+platform+for+biological-image+analysis.">Fiji: an open-source platform for biological-image analysis.</a> Nature methods. 9 (7), 676-682 (2012).</li><li>Schneider, C. A., Rasband, W. S., Eliceiri, K. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=NIH+Image+to+ImageJ:+25+years+of+image+analysis.">NIH Image to ImageJ: 25 years of image analysis.</a> Nature methods. 9 (7), 671 (2012).</li><li>Mauvezin, C., Ayala, C., Braden, C. R., Kim, J., Neufeld, T. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assays+to+monitor+autophagy+in+Drosophila.">Assays to monitor autophagy in Drosophila.</a> Methods. 68 (1), 134-139 (2014).</li><li>Weiss, K. R., Kimura, Y., Lee, W. -. C. M., Littleton, J. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Huntingtin+aggregation+kinetics+and+their+pathological+role+in+a+Drosophila+Huntington's+disease+model.">Huntingtin aggregation kinetics and their pathological role in a Drosophila Huntington's disease model.</a> Genetics. 190 (2), 581-600 (2012).</li><li>Babcock, D. T., Ganetzky, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transcellular+spreading+of+huntingtin+aggregates+in+the+Drosophila+brain.">Transcellular spreading of huntingtin aggregates in the Drosophila brain.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112 (39), E5427-E5433 (2015).</li><li>DeVorkin, L., Gorski, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Monitoring+autophagy+in+Drosophila+using+fluorescent+reporters+in+the+UAS-GAL4+system.">Monitoring autophagy in Drosophila using fluorescent reporters in the UAS-GAL4 system.</a> Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. 2014 (9), (2014).</li><li>Williamson, W. R., Hiesinger, P. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preparation+of+developing+and+adult+Drosophila+brains+and+retinae+for+live+imaging.">Preparation of developing and adult Drosophila brains and retinae for live imaging.</a> Journal of visualized experiments: JoVE. (37), (2010).</li><li>Sweeney, S. T., Hidalgo, A., de Belle, J. S., Keshishian, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dissection+of+adult+Drosophila+brains.">Dissection of adult Drosophila brains.</a> Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. (12), (2011).</li><li>Fox, C. H., Johnson, F. B., Whiting, J., Roller, P. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Formaldehyde+fixation.">Formaldehyde fixation.</a> Journal of Histochemistry &amp; Cytochemistry. 33 (8), 845-853 (1985).</li><li>Lee, T., Luo, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mosaic+analysis+with+a+repressible+cell+marker+(MARCM)+for+Drosophila+neural+development.">Mosaic analysis with a repressible cell marker (MARCM) for Drosophila neural development.</a> Trends in neurosciences. 24 (5), 251-254 (2001).</li><li>Fischbach, K. -. F., Dittrich, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+optic+lobe+of+Drosophila+melanogaster.+I.+A+Golgi+analysis+of+wild-type+structure.">The optic lobe of Drosophila melanogaster. I. A Golgi analysis of wild-type structure.</a> Cell and tissue research. 258 (3), 441-475 (1989).</li><li>Ruan, K., Zhu, Y., Li, C., Brazill, J. M., Zhai, R. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Alternative+splicing+of+Drosophila+Nmnat+functions+as+a+switch+to+enhance+neuroprotection+under+stress.">Alternative splicing of Drosophila Nmnat functions as a switch to enhance neuroprotection under stress.</a> Nature Communications. 6, 10057 (2015).</li><li>Zhai, R. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=NAD+synthase+NMNAT+acts+as+a+chaperone+to+protect+against+neurodegeneration.">NAD synthase NMNAT acts as a chaperone to protect against neurodegeneration.</a> Nature. 452 (7189), 887 (2008).</li><li>Li, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spermine+synthase+deficiency+causes+lysosomal+dysfunction+and+oxidative+stress+in+models+of+Snyder-Robinson+syndrome.">Spermine synthase deficiency causes lysosomal dysfunction and oxidative stress in models of Snyder-Robinson syndrome.</a> Nat Commun. 8 (1), 1257 (2017).</li><li>Prokop, A., Meinertzhagen, I. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+and+structure+of+synaptic+contacts+in+Drosophila.">Development and structure of synaptic contacts in Drosophila.</a> Semin Cell Dev Biol. 17 (1), 20-30 (2006).</li><li>Maday, S., Holzbaur, E. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Autophagosome+biogenesis+in+primary+neurons+follows+an+ordered+and+spatially+regulated+pathway.">Autophagosome biogenesis in primary neurons follows an ordered and spatially regulated pathway.</a> Dev Cell. 30 (1), 71-85 (2014).</li><li>Mizushima, N., Yamamoto, A., Matsui, M., Yoshimori, T., Ohsumi, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+analysis+of+autophagy+in+response+to+nutrient+starvation+using+transgenic+mice+expressing+a+fluorescent+autophagosome+marker.">In vivo analysis of autophagy in response to nutrient starvation using transgenic mice expressing a fluorescent autophagosome marker.</a> Molecular biology of the cell. 15 (3), 1101-1111 (2004).</li><li>Lee, S., Sato, Y., Nixon, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primary+lysosomal+dysfunction+causes+cargo-specific+deficits+of+axonal+transport+leading+to+Alzheimer-like+neuritic+dystrophy.">Primary lysosomal dysfunction causes cargo-specific deficits of axonal transport leading to Alzheimer-like neuritic dystrophy.</a> Autophagy. 7 (12), 1562-1563 (2011).</li><li>Vincent, L., Soille, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Watersheds+in+digital+spaces:+an+efficient+algorithm+based+on+immersion+simulations.">Watersheds in digital spaces: an efficient algorithm based on immersion simulations.</a> IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis &amp; Machine Intelligence. (6), 583-598 (1991).</li><li>Najman, L., Schmitt, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Geodesic+saliency+of+watershed+contours+and+hierarchical+segmentation.">Geodesic saliency of watershed contours and hierarchical segmentation.</a> IEEE Transactions on pattern analysis and machine intelligence. 18 (12), 1163-1173 (1996).</li><li>Shiber, A., Breuer, W., Ravid, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Flow+cytometric+quantification+and+characterization+of+intracellular+protein+aggregates+in+yeast.">Flow cytometric quantification and characterization of intracellular protein aggregates in yeast.</a> Prion. 8 (3), 276-284 (2014).</li><li>Mizushima, N., Yoshimori, T., Levine, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Methods+in+mammalian+autophagy+research.">Methods in mammalian autophagy research.</a> Cell. 140 (3), 313-326 (2010).</li></ol>

The protocol outlined here can be used to robustly and reproducibly quantitate cell biological processes visualized by fluorescence-based imaging. Biological context and technical limitations need to be carefully considered to guide the experimental design. Fluorescent markers of subcellular structures of interest, whether immunohistochemical, dye-based, or genetically expressed, need to be distinguishable above background by morphology and intensity. The UAS/GAL4 system is widely used to drive targeted gene exp...

Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people each year and the incidence is increasing with an aging population1. While each neurodegenerative disease has a unique etiology, aggregation of misfolded proteins and breakdown of the proteostasis network are common pathological hallmarks of many of these diseases. Elucidating how disruption of these fundamental and interrelated processes goes awry to contribute to neuronal dysfunction and cell death is critical for understanding neurodegenerative diseases as well as guiding therapeutic interventions. Fluorescence-based imaging allows for investigation of these complex and dynamic processes in neurons and has greatly contributed to our understanding of neuronal cell biology. Analysis of fluorescently tagged proteins is challenging, particularly when experiments are carried out in vivo, due to highly compact tissues, diverse cell types, and morphological heterogeneity. Manually assisted quantification is affordable and straightforward, but is often time-consuming and subject to human bias. Therefore, there is a need for unbiased, reproducible, and accessible approaches for extracting quantifiable data from imaging studies.
We have outlined a simple and adaptable workflow using Fiji/ImageJ, a powerful and freely accessible image processing software2,3, to extract quantitative data from fluorescence imaging studies in experimental models of neurodegeneration using Drosophila. By following this protocol to quantify protein aggregation and autophagic flux &#8212; two cell biological features that are highly relevant to neurodegenerative disease pathology &#8212; we demonstrated the sensitivity and reproducibility of this approach. Analysis of fluorescently tagged mutant huntingtin (Htt) proteins in the Drosophila optic lobe revealed the number, size, and intensity of protein aggregates. We visualized a tandem fluorescent reporter of autophagic flux within the Drosophila visual system, which displays different emission signals depending on the compartmental environment4. Ratiometric-based analysis of the tandem reporter allowed for a quantitative and comprehensive view of autophagy-lysosome flux from autophagosome formation, maturation, and transport to degradation in the lysosome, and additionally highlighted vulnerable compartments disrupted in neurodegenerative conditions. Importantly, in both analyses we implemented semi-automated thresholding and segmentation steps in our protocol to minimize unconscious bias, increase sampling power, and provide a standard to facilitate comparisons between similar studies. The straightforward workflow is intended to make powerful Fiji/ImageJ plugins (developed by computer scientists based on mathematic algorithms) more accessible to neurobiologists and the life sciences community at large.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1102">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="38">
			<td height="38" style="height:38px;width:347px;">SYLGARD(R) 184 Silicone Elastomer Kit</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Dow Corning Corporation</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">PF184250</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Dissection dish</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="38">
			<td height="38" style="height:38px;width:347px;">Falcon 35 mm Not TC-Treated Easy-Grip Style Bacteriological Petri Dish</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">351008</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Dissection dish</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">Dumont #5 Forceps</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">11251-20</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Dissection tool</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">Sodium Chloride</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">S3014</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">PBS solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">Sodium Phosphate Dibasic&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">S5136</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">PBS solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">Potassium Phosphate Monobasic</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">P5655</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">PBS solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">Triton&#160;X-100</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">T9284</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Washing and antibody incubaton solution.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">37% Formaldehyde</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">10790-710</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Fixation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">Disposable Microcentrifuge Tubes (0.5mL, blue)</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">89000-022</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Fixation, washing, and antibody incubaton.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">Plain and Frosted Micro Slides (25&#215;75mm)</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">48312-004</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Slides for confocal imaging</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">Micro Cover Glasses, rectangular (22&#215;40mm)</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">48393-172</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Slides for confocal imaging</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">Rubber Cement</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Slime</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">1051-A</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Mounting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="38">
			<td height="38" style="height:38px;width:347px;">VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Medium</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Vector Laboratories, Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">H-1000</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Mounting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">Scotch Magic 810 Invisible Tape (19mm&#215;25.4m)</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">3M Company</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">810</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Mounting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="38">
			<td height="38" style="height:38px;width:347px;">Normal Goat Serum</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">PCN5000</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Antibody incubaton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="76">
			<td height="76" style="height:76px;width:347px;">DAPI (4&#39;,6-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole, Dihydrochloride)&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">D1306</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Nucleic acid staining. Dissolve in deionized water to make a 5 mg/mL stock solution and store at -80&#176;C. Dilute to a working concentration of 10-20 &#956;g/mL in PBTx.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="38">
			<td height="38" style="height:38px;width:347px;">3.5X-90X Stereo Zoom Inspection Industrial Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">AmScope</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">SM-1BNZ</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">Dissection scope. Equipped with 6W LED Dual Gooseneck Illuminator</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">ImageJ/Fiji</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">NIH</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">v1.51u</td>
			<td style="width:349px;">With SCF_MPI_CBG plugins (version 1.1.2)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:347px;">FV1000-IX81 Confocal-laser Scanning Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:243px;"></td>
			<td style="width:349px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Recombinant Construct</td>
			<td>Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center</td>
			<td style="width:243px;">BL37749</td>
			<td style="width:349px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

quantitative cell biology of neurodegeneration in drosophila through unbiased analysis of fluorescently tagged proteins using imagej

With the rising prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, it is increasingly important to understand the underlying pathophysiology that leads to neuronal dysfunction and loss. Fluorescence-based imaging tools and technologies enable unprecedented analysis of subcellular neurobiological processes, yet there is still a need for unbiased, reproducible, and accessible approaches for extracting quantifiable data from imaging studies. We have developed a simple and adaptable workflow to extract quantitative data from fluorescence-based imaging studies using Drosophila models of neurodegeneration. Specifically, we describe an easy-to-follow, semi-automated approach using Fiji/ImageJ to analyze two cellular processes: first, we quantify protein aggregate content and profile in the Drosophila optic lobe using fluorescent-tagged mutant huntingtin proteins; and second, we assess autophagy-lysosome flux in the Drosophila visual system with ratiometric-based quantification of a tandem fluorescent reporter of autophagy. Importantly, the protocol outlined here includes a semi-automated segmentation step to ensure all fluorescent structures are analyzed to minimize selection bias and to increase resolution of subtle comparisons. This approach can be extended for the analysis of other cell biological structures and processes implicated in neurodegeneration, such as proteinaceous puncta (stress granules and synaptic complexes), as well as membrane-bound compartments (mitochondria and membrane trafficking vesicles). This method provides a standardized, yet adaptable reference point for image analysis and quantification, and could facilitate reliability and reproducibility across the field, and ultimately enhance mechanistic understanding of neurodegeneration.

Quantification of the number, area, and intensity of fluorescently tagged mutant Htt aggregates in the Drosophila optic lobe
To investigate misfolded protein aggregation in the central nervous system of a Drosophila model of Huntington&#39;s disease, RFP-tagged mutant human Htt with a non-pathological (UAS-RFP-hHttQ15) or pathological expansion (UAS-RFP-hHttQ138) and membrane GFP (UAS-mCD8::G...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantitative Cell Biology of Neurodegeneration in Drosophila Through Unbiased Analysis of Fluorescently Tagged Proteins Using ImageJ at JoVE.com

Quantitative Cell Biology of Neurodegeneration in Drosophila Through Unbiased Analysis of Fluorescently Tagged Proteins Using ImageJ

We have developed a simple and adaptable workflow to extract quantitative data from fluorescence-imaging-based cell biological studies of protein aggregation and autophagic flux in the central nervous system of Drosophila models of neurodegeneration.

Quantitative Cell Biology of Neurodegeneration in Drosophila Through Unbiased Analysis of Fluorescently Tagged Proteins Using ImageJ

With the rising prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, it is increasingly important to understand the underlying pathophysiology that leads to neuronal ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Assaying Locomotor, Learning, and Memory Deficits in Drosophila Models of Neurodegeneration

Assaying Locomotor, Learning, and Memory Deficits in Drosophila Models of Neurodegeneration

Advances in genetic methods have enabled the study of genes involved in human neurodegenerative diseases using Drosophila as a model system1. Most of ...

Quantitative Analysis of Synaptic Vesicle Pool Replenishment in Cultured Cerebellar Granule Neurons using FM Dyes

After neurotransmitter release in central nerve terminals, SVs are rapidly retrieved by endocytosis.  Retrieved SVs are then refilled with ...

Spectral Confocal Imaging of Fluorescently tagged Nicotinic Receptors in Knock-in Mice with Chronic Nicotine Administration

Ligand-gated ion channels in the central nervous system (CNS) are implicated in numerous conditions with serious medical and social consequences.  For ...

Quantitative Analysis of Climbing Defects in a Drosophila Model of Neurodegenerative Disorders

Locomotive defects resulting from neurodegenerative disorders can be a late onset symptom of disease, following years of subclinical degeneration, and ...

In Vivo Gene Transfer to Schwann Cells in the Rodent Sciatic Nerve by Electroporation

In Vivo Gene Transfer to Schwann Cells in the Rodent Sciatic Nerve by Electroporation

The formation of the myelin sheath by Schwann cells (SCs) is essential for rapid conduction of nerve impulses along axons in the peripheral nervous ...

Mass Histology to Quantify Neurodegeneration in Drosophila

Mass Histology to Quantify Neurodegeneration in Drosophila

Progressive neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD) or Parkinson&#39;s disease (PD) are an increasing threat to human health ...

Using Linear Agarose Channels to Study Drosophila Larval Crawling Behavior

Using Linear Agarose Channels to Study Drosophila Larval Crawling Behavior

Drosophila larval crawling is emerging as a powerful model to study neural control of sensorimotor behavior. However, larval crawling behavior on flat ...

Quantitative Analysis of Neuronal Dendritic Arborization Complexity in Drosophila

Quantitative Analysis of Neuronal Dendritic Arborization Complexity in Drosophila

Dendrites are the branched projections of a neuron, and dendritic morphology reflects synaptic organization during the development of the nervous system. ...

An Unbiased Approach of Sampling TEM Sections in Neuroscience

Investigations of the ultrastructural features of neurons and their synapses are only possible with electron microscopy. Especially for comparative ...

Light-Induced Molecular Adsorption of Proteins Using the PRIMO System for Micro-Patterning to Study Cell Responses to Extracellular Matrix Proteins

Cells sense a variety of extracellular cues, including the composition and geometry of the extracellular matrix, which is synthesized and remodeled by the ...