Name: electrophysiological methods for recording synaptic potentials from the nmj of drosophila larvae
Uploaded: 2009-02-06T00:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Electrophysiological Methods for Recording Synaptic Potentials from the NMJ of Drosophila Larvae at JoVE.com

Before starting prepare:
<ul>
	<li>Wandering yhird instar Drosophila larvae</li>
	<li>HL3.1 (Modified hemolymph-like) solution</li>
	<li>Sylgard (transparent silicone rubber) dissection plates prepared in small (35 x 10 mm) plastic petri dishes using methods described by Brent and McCabe (2008)3.</li>
	<li>Cut dissection pins short</li>
	<li>Stimulating electrode pipettes</li>
	<li>Sharp recording pipettes</li>
</ul>
HL3 Solution:
<ol>
	<li>During dissections and electrophysiologica...

<ol>
	<li>Atwood, H. L., Govind, C. K., Wu, C. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+ultrastructure+of+synaptic+terminals+on+ventral+longitudinal+abdominal+muscles+in+Drosophila+larvae.">Differential ultrastructure of synaptic terminals on ventral longitudinal abdominal muscles in Drosophila larvae.</a> J. Neurobiol. 24 (8), 1008-1024 (1993).</li><li>Feng, Y., Ueda, A., Wu, C. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+modified+minimal+hemolymph-like+solution,+HL3.1,+for+physiological+recordings+at+the+neuromuscular+junctions+of+normal+and+mutant+Drosophila+larvae.">A modified minimal hemolymph-like solution, HL3.1, for physiological recordings at the neuromuscular junctions of normal and mutant Drosophila larvae.</a> J Neurogenet. 18 (2), 377-402 (2004).</li><li>Estes, P. S., Roos, J., van der Bliek, A., Kelly, R. B., Krishnan, K. S., Ramaswami, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Traffic+of+dynamin+within+individual+Drosophila+synaptic+boutons+relative+to+compartment-specific+markers.">Traffic of dynamin within individual Drosophila synaptic boutons relative to compartment-specific markers.</a> J Neurosci. 16, 5443-5456 (1996).</li><li>Brent, J. R., Werner, K. M., McCabe, B. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protocol+for+dissection+of+Drosophila+larvae.">Protocol for dissection of Drosophila larvae.</a> J Vis Exp. , (2008).</li><li>Jan, L. Y., Jan, Y. N. <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+the+larval+neuromuscular+junction+in+Drosophila+melanogaster.">Properties of the larval neuromuscular junction in Drosophila melanogaster.</a> J Physiol (Lond). 262, 189-214 (1976).</li><li>Katz, L. C., Shatz, C. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synaptic+activity+and+the+construction+of+cortical+circuits.">Synaptic activity and the construction of cortical circuits.</a> Science. 274, 1133-1138 (1996).</li></ol>

The methods described here provide a relatively quick and broad way to detect changes in synaptic function at the NMJ. The ability to perform electrophysiological recordings using intact animals in vivo, and perform genetic or pharmacological manipulations, make Drosophila an ideal animal model for investigating the physiological and genetic aspects of neurotransmission.
Since muscle cells are very large, some might prefer to add an additional step to this protocol for two electrode voltage cl...

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		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>Small Petri dishes (35 x 10 mm)</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Becton Dickinson</td>
<td>1008</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>SYLGARD 182 Silicone Elastomer Kit</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Dow Corning Corporation</td>
<td>3097366-1004</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Dissecting microscope</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Carl Zeiss</td>
<td>475002-9902</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Light for microscope</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Schott</td>
<td>KLI500</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Dissection pins</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>26002-10</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>pClamp 9 software</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Axon CNS, Molecular Devices</td>
<td>PCLAMP 9 STANDARD</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Dissection scissors: 3mm Vannas Spring Scissors</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>15000-0</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Dumont SS Forceps</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>11200-33</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Dumont #5 Forceps</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>11252-20</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Thin-walled borosilicate glass capillaries, with filament (1.0 mm, 4 in)</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>World Precision Instruments, Inc.</td>
<td>TW100F-4</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Borosilicate glass capillaries, with filament (1.2 mm, 4 in)</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>World Precision Instruments, Inc.</td>
<td>1B120F-4</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Sutter P-2000 Laser Based Micropipette Puller </td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sutter Instruments</td>
<td>Model P-2000</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Pipette polisher</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Narishiga</td>
<td>MF-83</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Axon HS-2A head stage</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Axon CNS, Molecular Devices</td>
<td>Model HS-2A</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Micromanipulators</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sutter Instruments</td>
<td>MP-85</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Axoclamp 2B amplifier</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Axon CNS, Molecular Devices</td>
<td>AXOCLAMP 2B</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Clampex Software</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Axon CNS, Molecular Devices</td>
<td>v 8.2.0.235</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Mini analysis software. v 6.0.3</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Synaptosoft</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Brownlee Precision Amplifier</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Brownlee</td>
<td>Model 410</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>NaCl</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Baker</td>
<td>4058-01</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>KCl</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>p-9333 </td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>NaHCO3</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>s6297-1kg</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Trelahose</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>TO167</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Sucrose</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>bp220-212 </td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>HEPES</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>h-3375</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>MgCl-6H2O</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>m2670-1kg </td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>CaCl2</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>c79-500</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Master-8 Pulse Generator</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>A.M.P.I</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Vibration table for electrophysiology set up</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Technical manufacturing corporation</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Faraday Cage</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>		</tbody>
		</table>
		</div>

electrophysiological methods for recording synaptic potentials from the nmj of drosophila larvae

In this video, we describe the electrophysiological methods for recording synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of Drosophila larva. The larval neuromuscular system is a model synapse for the study of synaptic physiology and neurotransmission, and is a valuable research tool that has defined genetics and is accessible to experimental manipulation. Larvae can be dissected to expose the body wall musculature, central nervous system, and peripheral nerves. The muscles of Drosophila and their innervation pattern are well characterized and muscles are easy to access for intracellular recording. Individual muscles can be identified by their location and orientation within the 8 abdominal segments, each with 30 muscles arranged in a pattern that is repeated in segments A2 - A7. Dissected drosophila larvae are thin and individual muscles and bundles of motor neuron axons can be visualized by transillumination1. Transgenic constructs can be used to label target cells for visual identification or for manipulating gene products in specific tissues. In larvae, excitatory junction potentials (EJP&#8217;s) are generated in response to vesicular release of glutamate from the motoneurons at the synapse. In dissected larvae, the EJP can be recorded in the muscle with an intracellular electrode. Action potentials can be artificially evoked in motor neurons that have been cut posterior to the ventral ganglion, drawn into a glass pipette by gentle suction and stimulated with an electrode. These motor neurons have distinct firing thresholds when stimulated, and when they fire simultaneously, they generate a response in the muscle. Signals transmitted across the NMJ synapse can be recorded in the muscles that the motor neurons innervate. The EJP&#8217;s and minature excitatory junction potentials (mEJP&#8217;s) are seen as changes in membrane potential. Electrophysiological responses are recorded at room temperature in modified minimal hemolymph-like solution2 (HL3) that contains 5 mM Mg2+ and 1.5 mM Ca2+. Changes in the amplitude of evoked EJP&#8217;s can indicate differences in synaptic function and structure. Digitized recordings are analyzed for EJP amplitude, mEJP frequency and amplitude, and quantal content.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Electrophysiological Methods for Recording Synaptic Potentials from the NMJ of Drosophila Larvae at JoVE.com

Electrophysiological Methods for Recording Synaptic Potentials from the NMJ of Drosophila Larvae

Here we describe electrophysiological methods for measuring synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction of Drosophila larva. Evoked release is initiated artificially by stimulating the motor neuron axons, and transmission through the NMJ can be measured by the postsynaptic response evoked in the muscle.

In this video, we describe the electrophysiological methods for recording synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of Drosophila larva. ...

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