The authors thank Marin Manuel and Olivia Goldman-Szwajkajzer for their help in taking the photographs. The authors also thank Arjun Masukar and Tobias Bock for proofreading the manuscript. Financial supports were provided by the Agence Nationale pour la Recherche (HYPER-MND, ANR-2010-BLAN-1429-01), the NIH-NINDS (R01NS077863), the Thierry Latran Foundation (OHEX Project), the French association for myopathy (grant number 16026) and Target ALS are gratefully acknowledged. Felix Leroy was the recipient of a &#34;Contrat Doctoral&#34; from the Ecole Normale Sup&#233;rieure, Cachan.

&#160;The experiments were performed in accordance with European directives (86/609/CEE and 2010-63-UE) and French legislation, and&#160;were approved by the Paris Descartes University ethics committee.
1. Spinal Cord Slice Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Prepare the following solutions daily or one day in advance. If kept overnight, bubble with 95% O2 and 5% CO2 and keep refrigerated in tightly closed bottles.
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare Low Na + artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF): 3 mM KCl, 1 mM NaH2PO4, 230 mM sucrose, 26 mM NaHCO3, 0.8 mM CaCl2, 8 mM MgCl2, 25 mM glucose, 0.4 mM ascorbic acid, 1 mM Na-kynurenate, 2 mM Na-pyruvate. Bubble with 95% O2 and 5% CO2 (pH 7.4). Since Na-kynurenate is often hard to dissolve, make sure to purchase the one listed in the materials table.</li>
		<li>Prepare K-gluconate solution: 130 mM K-gluconate, 15 mM KCl, 0.05 mM EGTA, 20 mM HEPES, 25 mM glucose, 1 mM Na-kynurenate, 2 mM Na-pyruvate, adjusted to pH 7.4 with KOH.</li>
		<li>Prepare ACSF: 130 mM NaCl, 2.5 mM KCl, 2 mM CaCl2, 1 mM MgCl2, 1 mM NaH2PO4, 26 mM NaHCO3, 25 mM glucose, 0.4 mM ascorbic acid, 2 mM Na-pyruvate. Bubble with 95% O2 and 5% CO2 (pH 7.4).</li>
		<li>Prior to the beginning of the dissection, dissolve 2% agar in 80 ml of the K-gluconate solution, and keep warm at 60 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Intracardiac perfusion
	<ol>
		<li>Perform this preparation on female and male mice, ranging in age&#160;from P2 to P11.</li>
		<li>Anesthetize the mouse with an intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 ml of 25 mM pentobarbital sodium (50 mg/kg).</li>
		<li>Using needles or tape, immobilize the mouse on its back on a large petri dish filled with silicon. Use a dissecting microscope for the rest of the dissection.</li>
		<li>Holding the tip of the sternum, lift the chest and cut the diaphragm using fine scissors. Then open the chest on both sides by cutting through the ribs to expose the heart.</li>
		<li>Cut the right atrium before puncturing the left ventricle with a 27G needle.</li>
		<li>Perfuse with ice-cold low Na+ ACSF. After 30 sec, low Na+ ACSF should be seen flowing out of the atrium. Low amounts of sodium prevent the cells from spiking and reduce cellular death during dissection.</li>
		<li>Keep holding the needle in the heart under the dissecting microscope until the liver turns yellow when the blood is drained.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Spinal cord dissection
	<ol>
		<li>Decapitate the animal and put it on its stomach.</li>
		<li>Quickly remove the skin of the back (Figure 1A1). Make two cuts through the shoulders and going down the chest cage (Figure 1A2). Then cut the cord as low as possible in the caudal section in order to isolate the vertebral column with the beginning of the ribs from the lower part of the animal. Flip the animal again and remove the viscera still attached to the ribs.</li>
		<li>Transfer the vertebral column to another, smaller silicon-filled petri dish and use 4 insect pins to hold it dorsal side up (Figure 1A).</li>
		<li>Continuously perfuse the animal with carbogen-bubbled ACSF (at about 4 &#176;C) while performing a laminectomy of the dorsal side, and exposing the spinal cord from the rostral end (Figure 1B). To do so, insert the tip of fine scissors between the bone and the spinal cord and cut the bone little by little from the rostral end, making sure to stay away from the white matter. Alternate on each side while using tweezers to keep away the band of bone already cut&#160;(Figure 1B1).</li>
		<li>Using the smallest available spring scissors and tweezers, lift the dura and cut on both sides while holding the loose part of the dura in order to avoid damaging the spinal cord with the scissors. Cut along the rostro-caudal axis. 
		NOTE: The dura is a semi transparent continuous membrane; at this age the pia mater is too fragile and will come apart during the dissection and slicing (Figure 1B2).</li>
		<li>Once the dura is removed use a blunt glass or plastic tip to gently push the cord on the left side of the groove formed by the half-cut spinal column, and cut the ventral and dorsal roots on the right side, starting from the rostral side, furthest&#160;from where they enter the cord (a few mm at least, Figure 1B2).</li>
		<li>Repeat the operation on the left side, always going from rostral to caudal. If left-handed, start from the left side and then move to the right side.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Embedding in agar
	<ol>
		<li>Slip the cord out of the vertebral column. Use a smaller insect pin to pin down the cord with the dorsal surface up and delicately remove any piece of membrane still attached to it (Figure 1C1).</li>
		<li>Once cleaned, trim both ends (Figure 1C2). Insert a bended insect pin in the anterior part of the cord to manipulate the cord and note its orientation (arrow in Figure 1C2). Then transfer the spinal cord to an ice-cold K-gluconate solution.&#160; 
		NOTE: This solution mimics the intracellular composition of the CSF and will&#160;prevent the cells from dying of osmotic shock once the&#160;motoneurons will be cut26.</li>
		<li>Once the spinal cord is within the intra-cellular solution, take the beaker with the agar out of the dry bath and cool it down on a mixture of ice and water.</li>
		<li>Keep stirring while measuring the temperature. When the temperature reaches 38 &#176;C immerse the spinal cord, holding it by the insect pin and place it rostral side down. Make sure the spinal cord is as straight as possible, away from the walls, caudal part slightly upward (Figure 1D1).</li>
		<li>Leave the beaker in the mixture of ice and water to allow the agar to solidify as quickly as possible. Make sure it stays in place and that the cord is as straight as possible (Figure 1D1).</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Slicing
	<ol>
		<li>After solidification, cut the agar block containing the spinal cord in such a way that the base of the block is at a 35&#176; angle with the lumbar part of the cord (arrow in Figure 1D2). The dorsal surface should be facing away from the base (Figure 1D2). 
		NOTE: This is a critical step in the procedure, for maintaining the continuity of the motoneuron pools to the ventral roots from which they exit.</li>
		<li>Glue the block into the chamber of the vibratome using cyanoacrylate glue. Immerse it in K-gluconate solution and add slushed frozen K-gluconate solution to maintain the bath chilled (below 2 &#176;C).</li>
		<li>Cut 350 - 400 &#181;m thick slices of the lumbar region (identifiable by its curvature and larger diameter). In its proper orientation (see 1.4.1.), use the blade to cut from the dorsal to the ventral surface and make slices continuously more rostral. Typically, there are 4-5 suitable slices with ventral roots extending 2 mm or more. Use the following parameters: 10&#176; angle, 70 Hz vibration frequency&#160;and 10 mm/min speed of slicing.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Incubation
	<ol>
		<li>Transfer the slices to ACSF at 34 &#176;C. After approximately 30 min, cool the slices down to RT&#160;and begin the recording session.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/54525/54525fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1.&#160;Dissection 
A1: Removal of the skin of the back to expose the dorsal column. A2: Cutting of the shoulders and ribs to free the dorsal column. B1: Vertebral column pinned onto the silicon-filled petri dish (dorsal side up, caudal side left). B2: Same with the spinal cord exposed and dissected. C1: Spinal cord isolated (rostral side left). C2: Spinal cord ready to be embedded (ventral side up, rostral side left). Note the smaller insect pin on the rostral side. D1: Spinal cord in the agar beaker (rostral side dow, ventral side facing the bottom). D2: Cut agar block with the embedded spinal cord. Note the 35&#176; angle the spinal cord forms with the base of the block and the lumbar enlargement (Arrow). Scale bars 1 cm. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/54525/54525fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
2. Placing the Slice into the Chamber
NOTE: Ventral roots are of variable size.
<ol>
	<li>Prepare a box of various pipettes with tip diameters ranging from 40 to 170 &#181;m in advance. To prepare suction pipettes, prepare many pipettes with a long taper. Using a diamond knife, make a cut at different positions. Then under a dissecting microscope, break it by hitting the tip with tweezers.</li>
	<li>Remove the chamber from the recording microscope and place it under a dissecting microscope.</li>
	<li>Select a slice that contains a ventral root of sufficient length (2 mm or more) to be mounted on a suction stimulation electrode. Select the proper orientation of the slice with the ventral roots upward (Figure 2A) and delicately cut the agar around the ventral roots while leaving the rest of the agar around the slice (Figure 2B). 
	NOTE: Because the agar is firmer than the slice, this will allow the threads of the slice&#39;s anchor to rest on the agar rather than on the slice and thus the anchor will not damage the tissue. Make sure the threads of the slice&#39;s anchor are above the motoneuron pool (shown in red in Figure 2C).</li>
	<li>Mount the chamber back onto the microscope and continuously perfuse the recording chamber with ACSF at a rate of 1 - 2 ml/min, at RT. Using a glass pipette filled with ACSF and connected to a syringe, suck one of the ventral root (arrow in Figure 2C). In order to achieve good stimulation of the ventral root, the pipette tip needs to be tight around the ventral root. One pole should be in the stimulating electrode and the other one in the bath (or connected to the patch-clamping electrode reference).</li>
	<li>Achieve patch-clamp recording of the desired cell-type and record the effect of the ventral root stimulation as described previsouly10.
	<ol>
		<li>Here, use an amplifier for data acquisition. Filter whole-cell recordings at 3 kHz. Digitize at 10 kHz. Compensate bridge resistance in current-clamp mode.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
<img alt="Figure 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/54525/54525fig2.jpg" /> 
Figure 2. Ventral Root Preparation 
A: Lumbar spinal cord slice embedded in agar with the ventral root facing up. B: Lumbar spinal cord slice with the ventral roots freed from the agar. C: Lumbar spinal cord slice with a stimulating electrode tightly placed around the ventral roots (arrow). Note the location of the Renshaw cells expressing red fluorescence in the chrna2-Cre mouse28 crossed with the mouse reporter R26Tom 17. Scale bars 1 mm. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/54525/54525fig2large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

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L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experimental+study+of+the+spinothalamic+and+related+tracts.">Experimental study of the spinothalamic and related tracts.</a> Acta Psychiatr Neurol Scand. 26 (3-4), 371-396 (1951).</li><li>Sengul, G., Fu, Y., Yu, Y., Paxinos, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spinal+cord+projections+to+the+cerebellum+in+the+mouse.">Spinal cord projections to the cerebellum in the mouse.</a> Brain Struct Funct. 220 (5), 2997-3009 (2015).</li><li>Russier, M., Carlier, E., Ankri, N., Fronzaroli, L., Debanne, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A-,+T-,+and+H-type+currents+shape+intrinsic+firing+of+developing+rat+abducens+motoneurons.">A-, T-, and H-type currents shape intrinsic firing of developing rat abducens motoneurons.</a> J Physiol. 549 (Pt 1), 21-36 (2003).</li><li>Dourado, M., Sargent, P. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Properties+of+nicotinic+receptors+underlying+Renshaw+cell+excitation+by+alpha-motor+neurons+in+neonatal+rat+spinal+cord).">Properties of nicotinic receptors underlying Renshaw cell excitation by alpha-motor neurons in neonatal rat spinal cord).</a> J Neurophysiol. 87 (6), 3117-3125 (2002).</li><li>Mitra, P., Brownstone, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+in+vitro+spinal+cord+slice+preparation+for+recording+from+lumbar+motoneurons+of+the+adult+mouse.">An in vitro spinal cord slice preparation for recording from lumbar motoneurons of the adult mouse.</a> J Neurophysiol. 107 (2), 728-741 (2012).</li><li>Rothman, 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=The+neurotoxicity+of+excitatory+amino+acids+is+produced+by+passive+chloride+influx.">The neurotoxicity of excitatory amino acids is produced by passive chloride influx.</a> J Neurosci. 5 (6), 1483-1489 (1985).</li><li>Olney, J. W., Price, M. T., Samson, L., Labruyere, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+specific+ions+in+glutamate+neurotoxicity.">The role of specific ions in glutamate neurotoxicity.</a> Neurosci Lett. 65 (1), 65-71 (1986).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Oblique slicing of the spinal cord is important since it allows for unilateral stimulation of motoneuron pools and Renshaw cells at a single vertebral segment in a reliable, comprehensive&#160;and specific way. Furthermore, it allows for a quick, elegant&#160;and non-ambiguous identification of recorded motoneurons. Next, we will highlight&#160;the advantages of this&#160;technique compared to other slice preparation methods, and then we will stress out&#160;the most common pitfalls to avoid while performing this procedu...

Historically, motoneuron recordings using sharp-electrode were conducted in vivo on large animals such as&#160;cats or rats1 or on an isolated whole spinal cord in&#160;mice2. The emergence of the patch-clamp recording technique during the 1980s, called for direct access to the motoneuron somas as sealing needed to be achieved under visual guidance. Thus, spinal cord slice preparation has been readily achieved since the early 1990s3. However, early slice preparation often did not allow for the stimulation of the ventral roots. To the best of our knowledge, only two studies have reported successful stimulation of the ventral roots in transverse slices, and none was obtained from mice4,5.
In this article we present a technique to achieve viable spinal cord slices of neonatal mice (P2 - P11) in which the motoneuron&#160;pool&#160;retains its&#160;ventral root departing&#160;axons. Ventral root stimulation triggers antidromic action potential back into the somas of the motoneuron&#160;pool&#160;exiting from the same ventral root. It also excites the motoneuron collateral targets,&#160;other motoneurons6-10 and the Renshaw cells11-13. Since only motoneurons&#160;send their axons down the ventral roots, we use the recording of antidromic action potentials as a simple and definitive way to physiologicaly identify motoneurons10.
In addition to using potentially non-inclusive or misleading electrophysiological and morphological&#160;criterions to confirm the motoneuron&#160;identity, recent studies on spinal cord motoneurons also relied on tedious and&#160;time-consuming post&#160;hoc stainings16. Such identification is usually performed only on a sample of the recorded cells. Other identification strategies rely&#160;on mouse lines in which the motoneurons express endogenous fluorescence17-19. However, using genetically encoded markers may be difficult at a young age when marker expression is still variable or if the study already requires using a transgenic mouse line. Alternatively, antidromic action potential recordings can be performed routinely on all mice from the onset of cell recording. Experimenters working on intact spinal cord preparations in the cat, rat and mouse, have reliably used such identification techniques since the 1950&#39;s1,2,20,21. In optimal conditions, we were able to elicit antidromic action potentials from virtually all of the recorded motoneurons.
Furthermore, ventral root stimulation can be used to reliably excite other motoneurons22,23&#160;or their targets. the&#160;Renshaw cells10,24,25. We present here applications of the ventral root stimulation in the form of antidromic action potential recordings from motoneuron somas, as well as excitation of Renshaw cells.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Na-kynurenate</td><td>ABCAM</td><td>ab120256</td><td>dissolves better then other brands</td></tr><tr><td>KCl</td><td>Sigma</td><td>P3911</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>NaH&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;PO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>P5655</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>sucrose&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>S9378</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>NaHCO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>S6014</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>CaCl&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>G Biosciences</td><td>R040</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>MgCl&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Quality Biological</td><td>351-033-721</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>glucose&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>G5767</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>ascorbic acid&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>A5960</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Na-pyruvate&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>P2250</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>K-gluconate&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>P1847</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>EGTA&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>E3889</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HEPES&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>H4034</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>NaCl</td><td>Sigma</td><td>S9888</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Agar</td><td>Sigma</td><td>A9799</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>QX-314</td><td>Alomone</td><td>Q150</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mg-ATP</td><td>Sigma</td><td>A9187</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>CsOH</td><td>Sigma</td><td>232041</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Na-GTP</td><td>Sigma</td><td>51120</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>gluconic acid</td><td>Sigma</td><td>G1951</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cesium hydroxide solution</td><td>Sigma</td><td>232041</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>KOH</td><td>Sigma</td><td>P5958</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vannas Spring Scissors - 2.5mm&amp;nbsp;</td><td>FST</td><td>15000-08</td><td>only use for cutting the dura, might get damaged if cutting bones</td></tr><tr><td>Stimulator</td><td>A-M Systems</td><td>Isolated Pulse Stimulator Model 2100</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vibratome</td><td>Campden</td><td>Vibrating Microtome 7000 - Model 7000smz-2</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

the preparation of oblique spinal cord slices for ventral root stimulation

Electrophysiological recordings from spinal cord slices have proven to be a valuable technique to investigate a wide range of questions, from cellular to network properties. We show how to prepare viable oblique slices of the spinal cord of young mice (P2 - P11). In this preparation, the motoneurons retain&#160;their axons coming out from the ventral roots of the&#160;spinal cord. Stimulation of these axons elicits back-propagating action potentials invading the motoneuron&#160;somas and exciting the motoneuron&#160;collaterals within the spinal cord. Recording of antidromic action potentials is an immediate, definitive and elegant way to characterize motoneuron identity, which surpasses&#160;other identification methods. Furthermore, stimulating the motoneuron collaterals is a simple and reliable way to excite the collateral targets of the motoneurons within the spinal cord, such as other motoneurons or Renshaw cells. In this protocol, we present antidromic recordings from the motoneuron somas as well as Renshaw cell excitation, resulting from ventral root stimulation.

Confirmation of Motoneuron Identity Using Antidromic Action Potentials
Cell targeting
Motoneurons are found in the ventral horn (visible in red in Figure 2C). Start from the bundle of axons forming the ventral root and go up until the bundle disperses fully and one starts seeing large cells (long soma axis, above&#160;20...

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The Preparation of Oblique Spinal Cord Slices for Ventral Root Stimulation

We show how to prepare oblique slices of the spinal cord in young mice. This preparation allows for the stimulation of the ventral roots.

Electrophysiological recordings from spinal cord slices have proven to be a valuable technique to investigate a wide range of questions, from cellular to ...

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Neuroscience

9.5K Views.  Centre de Neurophysique, Physiologie et Pathologie, Université Paris Descartes. We show how to prepare oblique slices of the spinal cord in young mice. This preparation allows for the stimulation of the ventral roots.

Video: The Preparation of Oblique Spinal Cord Slices for Ventral Root Stimulation

Dissection and Culture of Commissural Neurons from Embryonic Spinal Cord

Commissural neurons have been widely used to investigate the mechanisms underlying axon guidance during embryonic spinal cord development. The cell bodies of these neurons are located in the dorsal spinal cord and their axons follow stereotyped trajectories during embryonic development. Commissural axons initially project ventrally towards the floorplate. After crossing the midline, these axons turn anteriorly and project towards the brain. Each of these steps is regulated by the action of several guidance cues. Cultures highly enriched in commissural neurons are ideally suited for many experiments addressing the mechanisms of axon pathfinding, including turning assays, immunochemistry and biochemistry. Here, we describe a method to dissect and culture commissural neurons from E13 rat dorsal spinal cord. First, the spinal cord is isolated and dorsal strips are dissected out. The dorsal tissue is then dissociated into a cell suspension by trypsinization and mechanical disruption. Neurons are plated onto poly-L-lysine-coated glass coverslips or tissue-culture dishes. After 30 hours in vitro, most neurons have extended an axon. The purity of the culture (Yam et al. 2009), typically over 90%, can be assessed by immunolabeling with the commissural neuron markers DCC, LH2 and TAG1 (Helms and Johnson, 1998). This neuronal preparation is a useful tool for in vitro studies of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of commissural axon growth and guidance during spinal cord development.

This video demonstrates a method to dissect and culture commissural neurons from E13 rat dorsal spinal cord. Dissociated commissural neurons are useful to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of axon growth and guidance.

Commissural neurons have been widely used to investigate the mechanisms underlying axon guidance during embryonic spinal cord development. The cell bodies ...

Spinal Cord Electrophysiology

The neonatal mouse spinal cord is a model for studying the development of neural circuitries and locomotor movement. We demonstrate the spinal cord dissection and preparation of recording bath artificial cerebrospinal fluid used for locomotor studies. Once dissected, the spinal cord ventral nerve roots can be attached to a recording electrode to record the electrophysiologic signals of the central pattern generating circuitry within the lumbar cord.

A demonstration of the isolation of neonatal mouse spinal cord for electrophysiologic studies.

The neonatal mouse spinal cord is a model for studying the development of neural circuitries and locomotor movement. We demonstrate the spinal cord ...

Biology

Acute Dissociation of Lamprey Reticulospinal Axons to Enable Recording from the Release Face Membrane of Individual Functional Presynaptic Terminals

Synaptic transmission is an extremely rapid process. Action potential driven influx of Ca2+&#160;into the presynaptic terminal, through voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) located in the release face membrane, is the trigger for vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release. Crucial to the rapidity of synaptic transmission is the spatial and temporal synchrony between the arrival of the action potential, VGCCs and the neurotransmitter release machinery. The ability to directly record Ca2+&#160;currents from the release face membrane of individual presynaptic terminals is imperative for a precise understanding of the relationship between presynaptic Ca2+&#160;and neurotransmitter release. Access to the presynaptic release face membrane for electrophysiological recording is not available in most preparations and presynaptic Ca2+&#160;entry has been characterized using imaging techniques and macroscopic current measurements &#8211; techniques that do not have sufficient temporal resolution to visualize Ca2+ entry. The characterization of VGCCs directly at single presynaptic terminals has not been possible in central synapses and has thus far been successfully achieved only in the calyx-type synapse of the chick ciliary ganglion and in rat calyces. We have successfully addressed this problem in the giant reticulospinal synapse of the lamprey spinal cord by developing an acutely dissociated preparation of the spinal cord that yields isolated reticulospinal axons with functional presynaptic terminals devoid of postsynaptic structures. We can fluorescently label and identify individual presynaptic terminals and target them for recording. Using this preparation, we have characterized VGCCs directly at the release face of individual presynaptic terminals using immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology approaches. Ca2+ currents have been recorded directly at the release face membrane of individual presynaptic terminals, the first such recording to be carried out at central synapses.

Recording Ca2+ currents at the presynaptic release face membrane is key to a precise understanding of Ca2+ entry and neurotransmitter release. We present an acute dissociation of the lamprey spinal cord that yields functional isolated reticulospinal axons, permitting recording directly from the release face membrane of individual presynaptic terminals.

Synaptic transmission is an extremely rapid process. Action potential driven influx of Ca2+&#160;into the presynaptic terminal, through voltage-gated ...

Intramuscular Injections Along the Motor End Plates: A Minimally Invasive Approach to Shuttle Tracers Directly into Motor Neurons

Diseases affecting the integrity of spinal cord motor neurons are amongst the most debilitating neurological conditions. Over the last decades, the development of several animal models of these neuromuscular disorders has provided the scientific community with different therapeutic scenarios aimed at delaying or reversing the progression of these conditions. By taking advantage of the retrograde machinery of neurons, one of these approaches has been to target skeletal muscles in order to shuttle therapeutic genes into corresponding spinal cord motor neurons. Although once promising, the success of such gene delivery approach has been hampered by the sub-optimal number of transduced motor neurons it has so far shown to yield. Motor end plates (MEPs) are highly specialized regions on the skeletal musculature that are in direct synaptic contact to the spinal cord &#945; motor neurons. In this regard, it is important to note that, so far, the efforts to retrogradely transfer genes into motor neurons were made without reference to the location of the MEP region in the targeted muscles. Here, we describe a simple protocol 1) to reveal the exact location of the MEPs on the surface of skeletal muscles and 2) to use this information to guide the intramuscular delivery and subsequent optimal retrograde transport of retrograde tracers into motor neurons. We hope to utilize the results from these tracing experiments in further studies into investigating retrograde transport of therapeutic genes to spinal cord motor neurons through the targeting of MEPs.

The efficacy of intramuscular uptake and retrograde transport of molecules to corresponding motor neurons depends on the location of the injection sites with respect to the motor end plates (MEPs). Here, we describe how to locate MEPs on skeletal muscles to optimise retrograde transport of tracers into motor neurons.

Diseases affecting the integrity of spinal cord motor neurons are amongst the most debilitating neurological conditions. Over the last decades, the ...

Zebrafish In Situ Spinal Cord Preparation for Electrophysiological Recordings from Spinal Sensory and Motor Neurons

Zebrafish, first introduced as a developmental model, have gained popularity in many other fields. The ease of rearing large numbers of rapidly developing organisms, combined with the embryonic optical clarity, served as initial compelling attributes of this model. Over the past two decades, the success of this model has been further propelled by its amenability to large-scale mutagenesis screens and by the ease of transgenesis. More recently, gene-editing approaches have extended the power of the model.
For neurodevelopmental studies, the zebrafish embryo and larva provide a model to which multiple methods can be applied. Here, we focus on methods that allow the study of an essential property of neurons, electrical excitability. Our preparation for the electrophysiological study of zebrafish spinal neurons involves the use of veterinarian suture glue to secure the preparation to a recording chamber. Alternative methods for recording from zebrafish embryos and larvae involve the attachment of the preparation to the chamber using a fine tungsten pin1,2,3,4,5. A tungsten pin is most often used to mount the preparation in a lateral orientation, although it has been used to mount larvae dorsal-side up4. The suture glue has been used to mount embryos and larvae in both orientations. Using the glue, a minimal dissection can be performed, allowing access to spinal neurons without the use of an enzymatic treatment, thereby avoiding any resultant damage. However, for larvae, it is necessary to apply a brief enzyme treatment to remove the muscle tissue surrounding the spinal cord. The methods described here have been used to study the intrinsic electrical properties of motor neurons, interneurons, and sensory neurons at several developmental stages6,7,8,9.

Zebrafish In Situ Spinal Cord Preparation for Electrophysiological Recordings from Spinal Sensory and Motor Neurons

This manuscript describes methods for electrophysiological recordings from spinal neurons of zebrafish embryos and larvae. The preparation maintains neurons in situ and often involves minimum dissection. These methods allow for the electrophysiological study of a variety of spinal neurons, from the initial electrical excitability acquisition through the early larval stages.

Zebrafish, first introduced as a developmental model, have gained popularity in many other fields. The ease of rearing large numbers of rapidly developing ...

Preparation of Acute Spinal Cord Slices for Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recording in Substantia Gelatinosa Neurons

Recent whole-cell patch-clamp studies from substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons have provided a large body of information about the spinal mechanisms underlying sensory transmission, nociceptive regulation, and chronic pain or itch development. Implementations of electrophysiological recordings together with morphological studies based on the utility of acute spinal cord slices have further improved our understanding of neuronal properties and the composition of local circuitry in SG. Here, we present a detailed and practical guide for the preparation of spinal cord slices and show representative whole-cell recording and morphological results. This protocol permits ideal neuronal preservation and can mimic in vivo conditions to a certain extent. In summary, the ability to obtain an in vitro preparation of spinal cord slices enables stable current- and voltage-clamp recordings and could thus facilitate detailed investigations into the intrinsic membrane properties, local circuitry and neuronal structure using diverse experimental approaches.

Here, we describe the essential steps for whole-cell patch-clamp recordings made from substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons in the in vitro spinal cord slice. This method allows the intrinsic membrane properties, synaptic transmission and morphological characterization of SG neurons to be studied.

Recent whole-cell patch-clamp studies from substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons have provided a large body of information about the spinal mechanisms ...

Preparation of Rhythmically-active In Vitro Neonatal Rodent Brainstem-spinal Cord and Thin Slice

Mammalian inspiratory rhythm is generated from a neuronal network in a region of the medulla called the preB&#246;tzinger complex (pBC), which produces a signal driving the rhythmic contraction of inspiratory muscles. Rhythmic neural activity generated in the pBC and carried to other neuronal pools to drive the musculature of breathing may be studied using various approaches, including en bloc nerve recordings and transverse slice recordings. However, previously published methods have not extensively described the brainstem-spinal cord dissection process in a transparent and reproducible manner for future studies. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of a method used to reproducibly cut rhythmically-active brainstem slices containing the necessary and sufficient neuronal circuitry for generating and transmitting inspiratory drive. This work builds upon previous brainstem-spinal cord electrophysiology protocols to enhance the likelihood of reliably obtaining viable and rhythmically-active slices for recording neuronal output from the pBC, hypoglossal premotor neurons (XII pMN), and hypoglossal motor neurons (XII MN). The work presented expands upon previous published methods by providing detailed, step-by-step illustrations of the dissection, from whole rat pup, to in vitro slice containing the XII rootlets.

This protocol both visually communicates the brainstem-spinal cord preparation and clarifies the preparation of brainstem transverse slices in a comprehensive step-by-step manner. It was designed to increase reproducibility and enhance the likelihood of obtaining viable, long lasting, rhythmically-active slices for recording neural output from the respiratory regions of the brainstem.

Mammalian inspiratory rhythm is generated from a neuronal network in a region of the medulla called the preB&#246;tzinger complex (pBC), which produces a ...

In Vitro Wedge Slice Preparation for Mimicking In Vivo Neuronal Circuit Connectivity

In vitro slice electrophysiology techniques measure single-cell activity with precise electrical and temporal resolution. Brain slices must be relatively thin to properly visualize and access neurons for patch-clamping or imaging, and in vitro examination of brain circuitry is limited to only what is physically present in the acute slice. To maintain the benefits of in vitro slice experimentation while preserving a larger portion of presynaptic nuclei, we developed a novel slice preparation. This &#8220;wedge slice&#8221; was designed for patch-clamp electrophysiology recordings to characterize the diverse monaural, sound-driven inputs to medial olivocochlear (MOC) neurons in the brainstem. These neurons receive their primary afferent excitatory and inhibitory inputs from neurons activated by stimuli in the contralateral ear and corresponding cochlear nucleus (CN). An asymmetrical brain slice was designed which is thickest in the rostro-caudal domain at the lateral edge of one hemisphere and then thins towards the lateral edge of the opposite hemisphere. This slice contains, on the thick side, the auditory nerve root conveying information about auditory stimuli to the brain, the intrinsic CN circuitry, and both the disynaptic excitatory and trisynaptic inhibitory afferent pathways that converge on contralateral MOC neurons. Recording is performed from MOC neurons on the thin side of the slice, where they are visualized using DIC optics for typical patch-clamp experiments. Direct stimulation of the auditory nerve is performed as it enters the auditory brainstem, allowing for intrinsic CN circuit activity and synaptic plasticity to occur at synapses upstream of MOC neurons. With this technique, one can mimic in vivo circuit activation as closely as possible within the slice. This wedge slice preparation is applicable to other brain circuits where circuit analyses would benefit from preservation of upstream connectivity and long-range inputs, in combination with the technical advantages of in vitro slice physiology.

Integration of diverse synaptic inputs to neurons is best measured in a preparation that preserves all pre-synaptic nuclei for natural timing and circuit plasticity, but brain slices typically sever many connections. We developed a modified brain slice to mimic in vivo circuit activity while maintaining in vitro experimentation capability.

In vitro slice electrophysiology techniques measure single-cell activity with precise electrical and temporal resolution. Brain slices must be relatively ...

Recording Network Activity in Spinal Nociceptive Circuits Using Microelectrode Arrays

The roles and connectivity of specific types of neurons within the spinal cord dorsal horn (DH) are being delineated at a rapid rate to provide an increasingly detailed view of the circuits underpinning spinal pain processing. However, the effects of these connections for broader network activity in the DH remain less well understood because most studies focus on the activity of single neurons and small microcircuits. Alternatively, the use of microelectrode arrays (MEAs), which can monitor electrical activity across many cells, provides high spatial and temporal resolution of neural activity. Here, the use of MEAs with mouse spinal cord slices to study DH activity induced by chemically stimulating DH circuits with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) is described. The resulting rhythmic activity is restricted to the superficial DH, stable over time, blocked by tetrodotoxin, and can be investigated in different slice orientations. Together, this preparation provides a platform to investigate DH circuit activity in tissue from na&#239;ve animals, animal models of chronic pain, and mice with genetically altered nociceptive function. Furthermore, MEA recordings in 4-AP-stimulated spinal cord slices can be used as a rapid screening tool to assess the capacity of novel antinociceptive compounds to disrupt activity in the spinal cord DH.

The combined use of microelectrode array technology and 4-aminopyridine-induced chemical stimulation for investigating network-level nociceptive activity in the spinal cord dorsal horn is outlined.

The roles and connectivity of specific types of neurons within the spinal cord dorsal horn (DH) are being delineated at a rapid rate to provide an ...

Understanding Motor Neuron Responses to Spinal Cord Stimulation

The Ex vivo Preparation of Spinal Cord Slice for the Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Recording in Motor Neurons During Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can effectively restore locomotor function after spinal cord injury (SCI). Because the motor neurons are the final unit to execute sensorimotor behaviors, directly studying the electrical responses of motor neurons with SCS can help us understand the underlying logic of spinal motor modulation. To simultaneously record diverse stimulus characteristics and cellular responses, a patch-clamp is a good method to study the electrophysiological characteristics at a single-cell scale. However, there are still some complex difficulties in achieving this goal, including maintaining cell viability, quickly separating the spinal cord from the bony structure, and using the SCS to successfully induce action potentials. Here, we present a detailed protocol using patch-clamp to study the electrical responses of motor neurons to SCS with high spatiotemporal resolution, which can help researcher improve their skills in separating the spinal cord and maintaining the cell viability at the same time to smoothly study the electrical mechanism of SCS on motor neuron and avoid unnecessary trial and mistake.

Author Spotlight: Advancing Spinal Cord Stimulation - Exploring the Cellular Responses of Motor Neurons Through Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology 

This protocol describes a method using a patch-clamp to study the electrical responses of motor neurons to spinal cord stimulation (SCS) with high spatiotemporal resolution, which can help researchers improve their skills in separating the spinal cord and maintaining cell viability simultaneously.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can effectively restore locomotor function after spinal cord injury (SCI). Because the motor neurons are the final unit to ...

The Preparation of Oblique Spinal Cord Slices for Ventral Root Stimulation

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