Name: bs3 chemical crosslinking assay: evaluating the effect of chronic stress on cell surface gabaa receptor presentation in the rodent brain
Uploaded: 2023-05-26T12:15:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about BS3 Chemical Crosslinking Assay: Evaluating the Effect of Chronic Stress on Cell Surface GABAA Receptor Presentation in the Rodent Brain at JoVE.com

The authors thank the CAMH animal facility staff for caring for the animals over the study duration. This work was supported by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR Project Grant #470458 to T.T.), the Discovery Fund from the CAMH (to T.P.), the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD award #25637 to E.S.), and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute (to E.S.). E.S. is the founder of Damona Pharmaceuticals, a biopharma dedicated to bringing novel GABAergic compounds to the clinic.

All the animal work in this protocol was completed in accordance with the Ontario Animals for Research Act (RSO 1990, Chapter A.22) and the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and was approved by the Institutional Animal Care Committee.
1. Preparation of animals
<ol>
	<li>Determine the animal numbers to be used in the experiments, and divide them into appropriate groups or experimental cohorts. See the discussion section for a discussion of the group size, sex, and statis...

<ol>
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Although the impact of chronic psychosocial stress on behaviors (i.e., emotionality and cognitive deficits) and molecular changes (i.e., reduced expression of GABAergic genes and accompanying deficits in GABAergic neurotransmission) are well-documented10, the mechanisms underlying such deficits need further investigation. In particular, given the recent study showing that chronic stress significantly affects the neuronal proteome through overload on the ER functions and, thus, elevated ER stress<s...

Neurotransmitter receptors are localized either at the neuronal plasma membrane surface or intracellularly on the endomembranes (e.g., the endosome, the endoplasmic reticulum [ER], or the trans-Golgi apparatus) and dynamically shuttle between these two compartments depending on intrinsic physiological states in neurons or in response to extrinsic neural network activities1,2. Since newly secreted neurotransmitters elicit their physiological functions primarily through the surface-localized pool of receptors, the surface receptor levels for a given neurotransmitter are one of the critical determinants of its signaling capacity within the neural circuit3. 
Several methods are available to monitor surface receptor levels in cultured neurons, including the surface biotinylation assay4, the immunofluorescence assay with a specific antibody in non-permeabilized conditions5, or the use of a receptor transgene genetically fused with a pH-sensitive fluorescent optical indicator (e.g., pHluorin)6. By contrast, these approaches are either limited or impractical when assessing surface receptor levels in vivo. For example, the surface biotinylation procedure may not be practical for processing large quantities and sample numbers of in vivo brain tissues due to its relatively high price and the subsequent steps necessary for purifying the biotinylated proteins on avidin-conjugated beads. For neurons embedded in three-dimensional brain architecture, low antibody accessibility or difficulties in microscope-based quantification may pose a significant limitation for assessing the surface receptor levels in vivo. To visualize the distribution of neurotransmitter receptors in intact brains, non-invasive methods, such as positron emission tomography, could be used to measure receptor occupancy and estimate the surface receptor levels7. However, this approach critically relies on the availability of specific radio ligands, expensive equipment, and special expertise, making it less accessible for routine use by most researchers.
Here, we describe a simple, versatile method for measuring surface receptor levels in experimental animal brains ex vivo using a water-soluble, membrane-impermeable chemical crosslinker, bis(sulfosuccinimidyl)suberate (BS3)8,9. BS3 targets primary amines in the side chain of lysine residues and can covalently crosslink proteins in close vicinity to each other. When brain slices are freshly prepared from a region of interest and incubated in a buffer containing BS3, the cell surface receptors are crosslinked with neighboring proteins and, thus, transform into higher-molecular weight species, whereas the intracellular endomembrane-associated receptors remain unmodified. Therefore, the surface and intracellular receptor pools can be separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and quantitated by western blot using antibodies specific to the receptor to be studied. 
Unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) is a well-established experimental paradigm for inducing chronic psychosocial stress in rodents10. UCMS elicits anxiety-/depressive-like behavioral phenotypes and cognitive deficits via the modulation of an array of neurotransmitter systems, including GABA and its receptors10,11. In particular, the &#945;5 subunit-containing GABAA receptor (&#945;5-GABAAR) is implicated in the regulation of memory and cognitive functions12,13, suggesting the possible involvement of altered functions of this subunit in UCMS-induced cognitive deficits. In this protocol, we used the BS3 crosslinking assay to quantitate levels of surface-expressed &#945;5-GABAAR in the prefrontal cortex of mice exposed to UCMS as compared with non-stressed control mice.

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			<td>0.5 M EDTA, pH 8.0</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>15575020</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1 M HEPES</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15630080</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10x TBS</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>1706435</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2.5 M (45%, w/v) Glucose</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>G8769</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2-mercaptoethanol</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M3148</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4x SDS sample buffer (Laemmli)</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>1610747</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bis(sulfosuccinimidyl)suberate (BS3)</td>
			<td>Pierce</td>
			<td>A39266</td>
			<td>No-Weigh Format; 10 x 2 mg</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Brain matrix</td>
			<td>Ted Pella</td>
			<td>15003</td>
			<td>For mouse, 30 g adult, coronal, 1 mm</td>
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		<tr>
			<td>Calcium chloride (CaCl2)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C4901</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
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			<td>Curved probe</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>10088-15</td>
			<td>Gross Anatomy Probe; angled 45</td>
		</tr>
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			<td>Deionized water</td>
			<td>milli-Q</td>
			<td>EQ 7000</td>
			<td>Ultrapure water [resistivity 18.2 M&#937;&#183;cm @ 25 &#176;C; total organic carbon (TOC) &#8804; 5 ppb]&#160;</td>
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			<td>Dithiothreitol (DTT)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>10197777001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Filter paper (3MM)</td>
			<td>Whatman</td>
			<td>3030-917</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
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			<td>Forceps (large)</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11152-10</td>
			<td>Extra Fine Graefe Forceps</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Forceps (small)</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11251-10</td>
			<td>Dumont #5 Forceps</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GABA-A R alpha 5 antibody</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>PA5-31163</td>
			<td>Polyclonal Rabbit IgG; detect erroneous signal upon chemical crosslinking</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GABA-A R alpha 5 C-terminus antibody</td>
			<td>R&#38;D Systems</td>
			<td>PPS027</td>
			<td>Polyclonal Rabbit IgG; cross-reacts with mouse and rat</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycine</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>W328707</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG (H+L)</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>1721019</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium chloride (MgCl2&#183;6H2O)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M2670</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nonidet-P40, substitute (NP-40)</td>
			<td>SantaCruz</td>
			<td>68412-54-4</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium chloride (KCl)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P9541</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Protease inhibitor cocktail</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P8340</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PVDF membrane</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>1620177</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scissors (large)</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>14007-14</td>
			<td>Surgical Scissors - Serrated</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scissors (small)</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>14060-09</td>
			<td>Fine Scissors - Sharp</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium chloride (NaCl)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S9888</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sonicator (Qsonica Sonicator Q55)&#160;</td>
			<td>Qsonica</td>
			<td>15338284</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Table-top refregerated centrifuge</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>5425R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue punch (ID 1 mm)</td>
			<td>Ted Pella</td>
			<td>15110-10</td>
			<td>Miltex Biopsy Punch with Plunger, ID 1.0 mm, OD 1.27 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trans-Blot Turbo 5x Transfer buffer</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>10026938</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tube rotator (LabRoller)</td>
			<td>Labnet</td>
			<td>H5000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
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bs3 chemical crosslinking assay: evaluating the effect of chronic stress on cell surface gabaa receptor presentation in the rodent brain

Anxiety is a state of emotion that variably affects animal behaviors, including cognitive functions. Behavioral signs of anxiety are observed across the animal kingdom and can be recognized as either adaptive or maladaptive responses to a wide range of stress modalities. Rodents provide a proven experimental model for translational studies addressing the integrative mechanisms of anxiety at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels. In particular, the chronic psychosocial stress paradigm elicits maladaptive responses mimicking anxiety-/depressive-like behavioral phenotypes that are analogous between humans and rodents. While previous studies show significant effects of chronic stress on neurotransmitter contents in the brain, the effect of stress on neurotransmitter receptor levels is understudied. In this article, we present an experimental method to quantitate the neuronal surface levels of neurotransmitter receptors in mice under chronic stress, especially focusing on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, which are implicated in the regulation of emotion and cognition. Using the membrane-impermeable irreversible chemical crosslinker, bissulfosuccinimidyl suberate (BS3), we show that chronic stress significantly downregulates the surface availability of GABAA receptors in the prefrontal cortex. The neuronal surface levels of GABAA receptors are the rate-limiting process for GABA neurotransmission and could, therefore, be used as a molecular marker or a proxy of the degree of anxiety-/depressive-like phenotypes in experimental animal models. This crosslinking approach is applicable to a variety of receptor systems for neurotransmitters or neuromodulators expressed in any brain region and is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying emotion and cognition.

To demonstrate the feasibility of the BS3 crosslinking assay for evaluating the surface &#945;5-GABAAR levels in the mouse PFC, we ran 10 &#181;g each of BS3-crosslinked and non-crosslinked protein samples on SDS-PAGE and analyzed the proteins by western blot using an anti-&#945;5-GABAAR antibody (rabbit polyclonal) (Figure 7). The non-crosslinked protein samples gave the total amount of &#945;5-GABAAR at ~55 kDa, while the BS3-crosslinked protein samples gav...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about BS3 Chemical Crosslinking Assay: Evaluating the Effect of Chronic Stress on Cell Surface GABAA Receptor Presentation in the Rodent Brain at JoVE.com

BS3 Chemical Crosslinking Assay: Evaluating the Effect of Chronic Stress on Cell Surface GABAA Receptor Presentation in the Rodent Brain

The BS3 chemical crosslinking assay reveals reduced cell surface GABAA receptor expression in mouse brains under chronic psychosocial stress conditions.

BS3 Chemical Crosslinking Assay: Evaluating the Effect of Chronic Stress on Cell Surface GABAA Receptor Presentation in the Rodent Brain

Anxiety is a state of emotion that variably affects animal behaviors, including cognitive functions. Behavioral signs of anxiety are observed across the ...

The chemical crosslinking assay using BS3 as a crosslinker will help in determining the neurotransmitter receptor cell surface level, which is a critical determinant of the efficacy of neuro transmission. This assay is particularly useful for brain region specific evaluation of receptor dynamics in response to various psychotropic agents or psychogenic stress modalities in animal models. To begin, rapidly remove the brain from the skull of the euthanized C57BL/6J mouse.Submerge it in a Petri dish containing ice-cold PBS for 10 to 15 seconds. Place the chilled brain into the brain matrix on ice facing the ventral side up. To cut the brain coronally, insert the first razor blade through the border between the olfactory bulb and the olfactory peduncle.Using three to four additional razor blades, serially cut the anterior part of the brain coronally at one millimeter intervals. Hold the inserted razor blades together to lift the coronal slices off the brain matrix, leaving the posterior part behind. Using forceps, separate the razor blades from one another and place them on the flat, chilled surface with the brain slice facing up.To sample the prefrontal cortex, choose the second and third slices posterior to the first slice containing the olfactory peduncle. Using a tissue punch or forceps, remove the desired region. Put the tissue on the chilled razor blade and evenly divide it into two pieces.Use the fine tip of forceps to mince each tissue into pieces on the razor blade with multiple vertical motions. Spike the pre-chilled labeled tube containing artificial cerebrospinal fluid with 30 microliters of BS3 solution or vehicle solution E.Then immediately transfer the minced tissues into the desired tube. To sample the hippocampus, remove the posterior part of the brain from the matrix and place it on moistened filter paper on a chilled flat surface with the dorsal side facing up.With a curved probe and forceps approaching from the dorsal side, dissect the hippocampus from both hemispheres, then mince the tissue and transfer it into appropriate spiked tubes as previously demonstrated. For crosslinking reaction, invert the tube containing tissue and solution to break the tissue chunks into small pieces. Incubate the samples on the tube rotator at 4 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes to 2 hours and record the start time of the BS3 incubation for each tube.Then quench the reaction with 78 microliters of one molar glycine. Incubate further for 10 minutes at 4 degrees Celsius with constant rotation and record the start and end time for quenching. In the western blot analysis after BS3 crosslinking, the non-crosslinked protein showed the total amount of alpha5-subunit of GABA-A receptor at approximately 55 kilodaltons.However, the BS3 crosslinked protein showed endomembrane-associated alpha5-subunit of GABA-A receptor migrating at approximately 55 kilodaltons, along with higher molecular weight protein species representing protein complexes covalently crosslinked to alpha5-subunit of GABA-A receptor. Moreover, a significant and progressive reduction in surface alpha5-subunit of GABA-A receptor levels was observed in the prefrontal cortex at three weeks and five weeks of UCMS as compared with the no-stress control mice. The receptors are known to shuttle between the plasma membrane surface and internal membrane at ambient temperature.So performing tissue dissection at a low temperature is important. By utilizing crosslinking assay, it was revealed that psychosocial stress can significantly modulate surface levels of GABA receptors which partly serves as a molecular basis for anxiety, behavior, or cognitive deficits.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Simultaneous fMRI and Electrophysiology in the Rodent Brain

To examine the neural basis of the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal, we have developed a rodent model in which functional MRI data and in vivo intracortical recording can be performed simultaneously. The combination of MRI and electrical recording is technically challenging because the electrodes used for recording distort the MRI images and the MRI acquisition induces noise in the electrical recording. To minimize the mutual interference of the two modalities, glass microelectrodes were used rather than metal and a noise removal algorithm was implemented for the electrophysiology data. In our studies, two microelectrodes were separately implanted in bilateral primary somatosensory cortices (SI) of the rat and fixed in place. One coronal slice covering the electrode tips was selected for functional MRI. Electrode shafts and fixation positions were not included in the image slice to avoid imaging artifacts. The removed scalp was replaced with toothpaste to reduce susceptibility mismatch and prevent Gibbs ringing artifacts in the images. The artifact structure induced in the electrical recordings by the rapidly-switching magnetic fields during image acquisition was characterized by averaging all cycles of scans for each run. The noise structure during imaging was then subtracted from original recordings. The denoised time courses were then used for further analysis in combination with the fMRI data. As an example, the simultaneous acquisition was used to determine the relationship between spontaneous fMRI BOLD signals and band-limited intracortical electrical activity. Simultaneous fMRI and electrophysiological recording in the rodent will provide a platform for many exciting applications in neuroscience in addition to elucidating the relationship between the fMRI BOLD signal and neuronal activity.

We have developed a method for simultaneous functional magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological recording in the rodent brain, providing a platform for the investigation of the relationship between neural activity and the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) MRI signal.

To examine the neural basis of the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal, we have developed a rodent model in ...

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Emotions can impact cognition by exerting both enhancing (e.g., better memory for emotional events) and impairing (e.g., increased emotional distractibility) effects (reviewed in 1). Complementing our recent protocol 2 describing a method that allows investigation of the neural correlates of the memory-enhancing effect of emotion (see also 1, 3-5), here we present a protocol that allows investigation of the neural correlates of the detrimental impact of emotion on cognition. The main feature of this method is that it allows identification of reciprocal modulations between activity in a ventral neural system, involved in 'hot' emotion processing (HotEmo system), and a dorsal system, involved in higher-level 'cold' cognitive/executive processing (ColdEx system), which are linked to cognitive performance and to individual variations in behavior (reviewed in 1). Since its initial introduction 6, this design has proven particularly versatile and influential in the elucidation of various aspects concerning the neural correlates of the detrimental impact of emotional distraction on cognition, with a focus on working memory (WM), and of coping with such distraction 7,11, in both healthy 8-11 and clinical participants 12-14.

We present a protocol that allows investigation of the neural mechanisms mediating the detrimental impact of emotion on cognition, using functional magnetic resonance imaging. This protocol can be used with both healthy and clinical participants.

Emotions can impact cognition by exerting both enhancing (e.g., better memory for emotional events) and impairing (e.g., increased emotional ...

Vibrodissociation of Neurons from Rodent Brain Slices to Study Synaptic Transmission and Image Presynaptic Terminals

Mechanical dissociation of neurons from the central nervous system has the advantage that presynaptic boutons remain attached to the isolated neuron of interest. This allows for examination of synaptic transmission under conditions where the extracellular and postsynaptic intracellular environments can be well controlled. A vibration-based technique without the use of proteases, known as vibrodissociation, is the most popular technique for mechanical isolation. A micropipette, with the tip fire-polished to the shape of a small ball, is placed into a brain slice made from a P1-P21 rodent. The micropipette is vibrated parallel to the slice surface and lowered through the slice thickness resulting in the liberation of isolated neurons. The isolated neurons are ready for study within a few minutes of vibrodissociation. This technique has advantages over the use of primary neuronal cultures, brain slices and enzymatically isolated neurons including: rapid production of viable, relatively mature neurons suitable for electrophysiological and imaging studies; superior control of the extracellular environment free from the influence of neighboring cells; suitability for well-controlled pharmacological experiments using rapid drug application and total cell superfusion; and improved space-clamp in whole-cell recordings relative to neurons in slice or cell culture preparations. This preparation can be used to examine synaptic physiology, pharmacology, modulation and plasticity. Real-time imaging of both pre- and postsynaptic elements in the living cells and boutons is also possible using vibrodissociated neurons. Characterization of the molecular constituents of pre- and postsynaptic elements can also be achieved with immunological and imaging-based approaches.

This report demonstrates a technique for mechanical isolation of individual viable neurons retaining attached presynaptic boutons. Vibrodissociated neurons have the advantages of rapid production, excellent pharmacological control and improved space-clamp without influence from neighboring cells. This method can be used for imaging of synaptic elements and patch-clamp recording.

Mechanical dissociation of neurons from the central nervous system has the advantage that presynaptic boutons remain attached to the isolated neuron of ...

Modeling Neural Immune Signaling of Episodic and Chronic Migraine Using Spreading Depression In Vitro

Migraine and its transformation to chronic migraine are healthcare burdens in need of improved treatment options. We seek to define how neural immune signaling modulates the susceptibility to migraine, modeled in vitro using spreading depression (SD), as a means to develop novel therapeutic targets for episodic and chronic migraine. SD is the likely cause of migraine aura and migraine pain. It is a paroxysmal loss of neuronal function triggered by initially increased neuronal activity, which slowly propagates within susceptible brain regions. Normal brain function is exquisitely sensitive to, and relies on, coincident low-level immune signaling. Thus, neural immune signaling likely affects electrical activity of SD, and therefore migraine. Pain perception studies of SD in whole animals are fraught with difficulties, but whole animals are well suited to examine systems biology aspects of migraine since SD activates trigeminal nociceptive pathways. However, whole animal studies alone cannot be used to decipher the cellular and neural circuit mechanisms of SD. Instead, in vitro preparations where environmental conditions can be controlled are necessary. Here, it is important to recognize limitations of acute slices and distinct advantages of hippocampal slice cultures. Acute brain slices cannot reveal subtle changes in immune signaling since preparing the slices alone triggers: pro-inflammatory changes that last days, epileptiform behavior due to high levels of oxygen tension needed to vitalize the slices, and irreversible cell injury at anoxic slice centers. 
In contrast, we examine immune signaling in mature hippocampal slice cultures since the cultures closely parallel their in vivo counterpart with mature trisynaptic function; show quiescent astrocytes, microglia, and cytokine levels; and SD is easily induced in an unanesthetized preparation. Furthermore, the slices are long-lived and SD can be induced on consecutive days without injury, making this preparation the sole means to-date capable of modeling the neuroimmune consequences of chronic SD, and thus perhaps chronic migraine. We use electrophysiological techniques and non-invasive imaging to measure neuronal cell and circuit functions coincident with SD. Neural immune gene expression variables are measured with qPCR screening, qPCR arrays, and, importantly, use of cDNA preamplification for detection of ultra-low level targets such as interferon-gamma using whole, regional, or specific cell enhanced (via laser dissection microscopy) sampling. Cytokine cascade signaling is further assessed with multiplexed phosphoprotein related targets with gene expression and phosphoprotein changes confirmed via cell-specific immunostaining. Pharmacological and siRNA strategies are used to mimic and modulate SD immune signaling.

Modeling Neural Immune Signaling of Episodic and Chronic Migraine Using Spreading Depression In Vitro

Migraine and its transformation to chronic migraine are immense healthcare burdens in need of improved treatment options. We seek to define how neural immune signaling modulates the susceptibility to migraine, modeled in vitro using spreading depression in hippocampal slice cultures, as a means to develop novel therapeutic targets.

Migraine and its transformation to chronic migraine are healthcare burdens in need of improved treatment options.  We seek to define how neural immune ...

Whole Mount Immunolabeling of Olfactory Receptor Neurons in the Drosophila Antenna

Odorant molecules bind to their target receptors in a precise and coordinated manner. Each receptor recognizes a specific signal and relays this information to the brain. As such, determining how olfactory information is transferred to the brain, modifying both perception and behavior, merits investigation. Interestingly, there is emerging evidence that cellular transduction and transcriptional factors are involved in the diversification of olfactory receptor neuron. Here we provide a robust whole mount immunological labeling method to assay in vivo olfactory receptor neuron organization. Using this method, we identified all olfactory receptor neurons with anti-ELAV antibody, a known pan-neural marker and Or49a-mCD8::GFP, an olfactory receptor neuron specifically expressed in Nba neuron using anti-GFP antibody.

Whole Mount Immunolabeling of Olfactory Receptor Neurons in the Drosophila Antenna

Herein we describe the process of whole mount immunostaining of Drosophila antennae, which enables us to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the diversification of olfactory receptor neurons (ORN)s.

Odorant molecules bind to their target receptors in a precise and coordinated manner. Each receptor recognizes a specific signal and relays this ...

Stereotaxic Infusion of Oligomeric Amyloid-beta into the Mouse Hippocampus

Alzheimer&#8217;s disease is a neurodegenerative disease affecting the aging population. A key neuropathological feature of the disease is the over-production of amyloid-beta and the deposition of amyloid-beta plaques in brain regions of the afflicted individuals. Throughout the years scientists have generated numerous Alzheimer&#8217;s disease mouse models that attempt to replicate the amyloid-beta pathology. Unfortunately, the mouse models only selectively mimic the disease features. Neuronal death, a prominent effect in the brains of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease patients, is noticeably lacking in these mice. Hence, we and others have employed a method of directly infusing soluble oligomeric species of amyloid-beta - forms of amyloid-beta that have been proven to be most toxic to neurons - stereotaxically into the brain. In this report we utilize male C57BL/6J mice to document this surgical technique of increasing amyloid-beta levels in a select brain region. The infusion target is the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus because this brain structure, along with the basal forebrain that is connected by the cholinergic circuit, represents one of the areas of degeneration in the disease. The results of elevating amyloid-beta in the dentate gyrus via stereotaxic infusion reveal increases in neuron loss in the dentate gyrus within 1 week, while there is a concomitant increase in cell death and cholinergic neuron loss in the vertical limb of the diagonal band of Broca of the basal forebrain. These effects are observed up to 2 weeks. Our data suggests that the current amyloid-beta infusion model provides an alternative mouse model to address region specific neuron death in a short-term basis. The advantage of this model is that amyloid-beta can be elevated in a spatial and temporal manner.

Here, we present a protocol for direct stereotaxic brain infusion of amyloid-beta. This methodology provides an alternative in vivo mouse model to address the short-term effects of amyloid-beta on brain neurons.

Alzheimer&#8217;s disease is a neurodegenerative disease affecting the aging population. A key neuropathological feature of the disease is the ...

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 system. SC-selective genetic manipulation in living animals is a powerful technique for studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms of SC myelination and demyelination in vivo. While knockout/knockin and transgenic mice are powerful tools for studying SC biology, these methods are costly and time consuming. Viral vector-mediated transgene introduction into the sciatic nerve is a simpler and less laborious method. However, viral methods have limitations, such as toxicity, transgene size constraints, and infectivity restricted to certain developmental stages. Here, we describe a new method that allows selective transfection of myelinating SCs in the rodent sciatic nerve using electroporation. By applying electric pulses to the sciatic nerve at the site of plasmid DNA injection, genes of interest can be easily silenced or overexpressed in SCs in both neonatal and more mature animals. Furthermore, this in vivo electroporation method allows for highly efficient simultaneous expression of multiple transgenes. Our novel technique should enable researchers to efficiently manipulate SC gene expression, and facilitate studies on SC development and function.

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

Here, we present an in vivo technique for gene transfer to Schwann cells (SCs) in the rodent sciatic nerve. This simple technique is useful for investigating signaling mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of myelinating SCs.

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

Personalized Needles for Microinjections in the Rodent Brain

Microinjections have been used for a long time for the delivery of drugs or toxins within specific brain areas and, more recently, they have been used to deliver gene or cell therapy products. Unfortunately, current microinjection techniques use steel or glass needles that are suboptimal for multiple reasons: in particular, steel needles may cause tissue damage, and glass needles may bend when lowered deeply into the brain, missing the target region. In this article, we describe a protocol to prepare and use quartz needles that combine a number of useful features. These needles do not produce detectable tissue damage and, being very rigid, ensure reliable delivery in the desired brain region even when using deep coordinates. Moreover, it is possible to personalize the design of the needle by making multiple holes of the desired diameter. Multiple holes facilitate the injection of large amounts of solution within a larger area, whereas large holes facilitate the injection of cells. In addition, these quartz needles can be cleaned and re-used, such that the procedure becomes cost-effective.

We describe here a protocol for microinjection in the rodent brain that uses quartz needles. These needles do not produce detectable tissue damage and ensure reliable delivery even in deep regions. Moreover, they can be adapted to research needs by personalized designs and can be re-used.

Microinjections have been used for a long time for the delivery of drugs or toxins within specific brain areas and, more recently, they have been used to ...

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

In the brain, synapses are specialized junctions between neurons, determining the strength and spread of neuronal signaling. The number of synapses is tightly regulated during development and neuronal maturation. Importantly, deficits in synapse number can lead to cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, the evaluation of synapse number is an integral part of neurobiology. However, as synapses are small and highly compact in the intact brain, the assessment of absolute number is challenging. This protocol describes a method to easily identify and evaluate synapses in hippocampal rodent slices using immunofluorescence microscopy. It includes a three-step procedure to evaluate synapses in high-quality confocal microscopy images by analyzing the co-localization of pre- and postsynaptic proteins in hippocampal slices. It also explains how the analysis is performed and gives representative examples from both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. This protocol provides a solid foundation for the analysis of synapses and can be applied to any research investigating the structure and function of the brain.

A protocol for accurately identifying and analyzing synapses in hippocampal slices using immunofluorescence is outlined in this article.

In the brain, synapses are specialized junctions between neurons, determining the strength and spread of neuronal signaling. The number of synapses is ...

Monitoring the Effect of Osmotic Stress on Secretory Vesicles and Exocytosis

Amperometry recording of cells subjected to osmotic shock show that secretory cells respond to this physical stress by reducing the exocytosis activity and the amount of neurotransmitter released from vesicles in single exocytosis events. It has been suggested that the reduction in neurotransmitters expelled is due to alterations in membrane biophysical properties when cells shrink in response to osmotic stress and with assumptions made that secretory vesicles in the cell cytoplasm are not affected by extracellular osmotic stress. Amperometry recording of exocytosis monitors what is released from cells the moment a vesicle fuses with the plasma membrane, but does not provide information on the vesicle content before the vesicle fusion is triggered. Therefore, by combining amperometry recording with other complementary analytical methods that are capable of characterizing the secretory vesicles before exocytosis at cells is triggered offers a broader overview for examining how secretory vesicles and the exocytosis process are affected by osmotic shock. We here describe how complementing amperometry recording with intracellular electrochemical cytometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging can be used to characterize alterations in secretory vesicles size and neurotransmitter content at chromaffin cells in relation to exocytosis activity before and after exposure to osmotic stress. By linking the quantitative information gained from experiments using all three analytical methods, conclusions were previously made that secretory vesicles respond to extracellular osmotic stress by shrinking in size and reducing the vesicle quantal size to maintain a constant vesicle neurotransmitter concentration. Hence, this gives some clarification regarding why vesicles, in response to osmotic stress, reduce the amount neurotransmitters released during exocytosis release. The amperometric recordings here indicate this is a reversible process and that vesicle after osmotic shock are refilled with neurotransmitters when placed cells are reverted into an isotonic environment.

Osmotic stress affects exocytosis and the amount of neurotransmitter released during this process. We demonstrate how combining electrochemical methods together with transmission electron microscopy can be used to study the effect of extracellular osmotic pressure on exocytosis activity, vesicle quantal size, and the amount of neurotransmitter released during exocytosis.

Amperometry recording of cells subjected to osmotic shock show that secretory cells respond to this physical stress by reducing the exocytosis activity ...