Name: transsynaptic tracing from peripheral targets with pseudorabies virus followed by cholera toxin and biotinylated dextran amines double labeling
Uploaded: 2015-09-14T17:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Transsynaptic Tracing from Peripheral Targets with Pseudorabies Virus Followed by Cholera Toxin and Biotinylated Dextran Amines Double Labeling at JoVE.com

We thank Dr. Toshio Terashima of Kobe University, Japan, for teaching the laryngeal surgery technique, and Dr. Lynn Enquist of Princeton University for supplying PRV-Bartha. Research was supported by NIH pioneer award DP1 OD000448 to Erich D. Jarvis and an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship award to Gustavo Arriaga. Figures from appropriately credited previous work are used under the PLoS ONE open access Creative Commons license (CC-BY) in accordance with the journal&#8217;s editorial policies.

NOTE: All animal procedures have been reviewed and approved by the Duke University Institutional Animal Care &#38; Use Committee.
1. Storing Pseudorabies Virus
<ol>
	<li>We obtain live virus (PRV152) from the laboratory of Dr. Lynn Enquist at Princeton University at a titer of 1 x 109 pfu/m. The protocol to generate the virus has been published2.</li>
	<li>Aliquot the virus at 20 &#181;l per tube inside a BSL-2 biosafety cabinet and store at -80 &#176;C under appropriat...

<ol>
	<li>Card, J. P., Enquist, L. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Transneuronal circuit analysis with pseudorabies viruses.Multiple values selected. Unit 1.5, 1.51-1.5.28 (2001).</li><li>Smith, B. N., Banfield, B. W., 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=Pseudorabies+virus+expressing+enhanced+green+fluorescent+protein:+a+tool+for+in+vitro+electrophysiological+analysis+of+transsynaptically+labeled+neurons+in+identified+central+nervous+system+circuits.">Pseudorabies virus expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein: a tool for in vitro electrophysiological analysis of transsynaptically labeled neurons in identified central nervous system circuits.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 97 (16), 9264-9269 (2000).</li><li>Aston Jones, G., Card, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Use+of+pseudorabies+virus+to+delineate+multisynaptic+circuits+in+brain+opportunities+and+limitations.">Use of pseudorabies virus to delineate multisynaptic circuits in brain opportunities and limitations.</a> Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 103 (1), 51-61 (2000).</li><li>Pomeranz, L. E., Reynolds, A. E., Hengartner, 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=Molecular+biology+of+pseudorabies+virus+impact+on+neurovirology+and+veterinary+medicine.">Molecular biology of pseudorabies virus impact on neurovirology and veterinary medicine.</a> Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. 69 (3), 462-500 (2005).</li><li>Brittle, E. E., Reynolds, A. E., Enquist, L. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Two+modes+of+pseudorabies+virus+neuroinvasion+and+lethality+in+mice.">Two modes of pseudorabies virus neuroinvasion and lethality in mice.</a> Journal of Virology. 78 (23), 12951-12963 (2004).</li><li>Reiner, A., Veenman, C. L., Medina, L., Jiao, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pathway+tracing+using+biotinylated+dextran+amines.">Pathway tracing using biotinylated dextran amines.</a> Journal of neuroscience. 103, 23-37 (2000).</li><li>Reiner, A., Honig, M. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuroanatomical+tract-tracing+3+(Chapter+10).">Neuroanatomical tract-tracing 3 (Chapter 10).</a> Dextran Amines Versatile Tools for Anterograde and Retrograde Studies of Nervous System Connectivity. 10, 304-335 (2006).</li><li>Veenman, C. L., Reiner, A., Honig, M. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biotinylated+dextran+amine+as+an+anterograde+tracer+for+single+and+double+labeling+studies.">Biotinylated dextran amine as an anterograde tracer for single and double labeling studies.</a> Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 41 (3), 239-254 (1992).</li><li>Rajakumar, N., Elisevich, K., Flumerfelt, B. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biotinylated+dextran+a+versatile+anterograde+and+retrograde+neuronal+tracer.">Biotinylated dextran a versatile anterograde and retrograde neuronal tracer.</a> Brain Research. 607 (1-2), 47-53 (1993).</li><li>Dederen, P. J. W. C., Gribnau, A. A. M., Curfs, M. H. J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Retrograde+neuronal+tracing+with+cholera+toxin+B+subunit:+comparison+of+three+different+visualization+methods.">Retrograde neuronal tracing with cholera toxin B subunit: comparison of three different visualization methods.</a> Histochemical Journal. 26 (11), 856-862 (1994).</li><li>Hattox, A. M., Priest, C. A., Keller, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+circuitry+involved+in+the+regulation+of+whisker+movements.">Functional circuitry involved in the regulation of whisker movements.</a> The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 442 (3), 266-276 (2002).</li><li>Bartha, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experimental+reduction+of+virulence+of+Aujeszkys+disease+virus.">Experimental reduction of virulence of Aujeszkys disease virus.</a> Magy Allatorv Lapja. 16, 42-45 (1961).</li><li>Kuypers, H., Ugolini, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Viruses+as+transneuronal+tracers.">Viruses as transneuronal tracers.</a> Trends in Neurosciences. 13 (2), 71-75 (1990).</li><li>Grinevich, V., Brecht, M., Osten, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Monosynaptic+pathway+from+rat+vibrissa+motor+cortex+to+facial+motor+neurons+revealed+by+lentivirus-based+axonal+tracing.">Monosynaptic pathway from rat vibrissa motor cortex to facial motor neurons revealed by lentivirus-based axonal tracing.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 25 (36), 8250-8258 (2005).</li><li>Miyashita, E., Keller, A., Asanuma, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Input+output+organization+of+the+rat+vibrissal+motor+cortex.">Input output organization of the rat vibrissal motor cortex.</a> Experimental Brain Research. 99 (2), 223-232 (1994).</li><li>Hsu, S. M., Soban, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Color+modification+of+diaminobenzidine+(DAB)+precipitation+by+metallic+ions+and+its+application+for+double+immunohistochemistry.">Color modification of diaminobenzidine (DAB) precipitation by metallic ions and its application for double immunohistochemistry.</a> Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 30 (10), 1079-1082 (1982).</li><li>Hsu, S. M., Raine, L., Fanger, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Use+of+avidin+biotin-peroxidase+complex+(ABC)+in+immunoperoxidase+techniques+a+comparison+between+ABC+and+unlabeled+antibody+(PAP)+procedures.">Use of avidin biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) in immunoperoxidase techniques a comparison between ABC and unlabeled antibody (PAP) procedures.</a> Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 29 (4), 577-580 (1981).</li><li>Wouterlood, F. G., Jorritsma Byham, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+anterograde+neuroanatomical+tracer+biotinylated+dextran+amine+comparison+with+the+tracer+Phaseolus+vulgaris+leucoagglutinin+in+preparations+for+electron+microscopy.">The anterograde neuroanatomical tracer biotinylated dextran amine comparison with the tracer Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin in preparations for electron microscopy.</a> Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 48 (1-2), 75-87 (1993).</li><li>Altschuler, S. M., Bao, X. M., Miselis, R. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dendritic+architecture+of+nucleus+ambiguus+motoneurons+projecting+to+the+upper+alimentary+tract+in+the+rat.">Dendritic architecture of nucleus ambiguus motoneurons projecting to the upper alimentary tract in the rat.</a> The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 309 (3), 402-414 (1991).</li><li>Arriaga, G., Zhou, E. P., Jarvis, E. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Of+mice+birds+and+men+the+mouse+ultrasonic+song+system+has+some+features+similar+to+humans+and+songlearning+birds.">Of mice birds and men the mouse ultrasonic song system has some features similar to humans and songlearning birds.</a> PLoS ONE. 7 (10), e46610 (2012).</li><li>Card, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Practical+considerations+for+the+use+of+pseudorabies+virus+in+transneuronal+studies+of+neural+circuitry.">Practical considerations for the use of pseudorabies virus in transneuronal studies of neural circuitry.</a> Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 22 (6), 685-694 (1998).</li><li>Zuckerman, F. A., Zsak, L., Mettenleiter, T. C., Ben Porat, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pseudorabies+virus+glycoprotein+gIII+is+a+major+target+antigen+for+murine+and+swine+virus-specific+cytotoxic+T+lymphocytes.">Pseudorabies virus glycoprotein gIII is a major target antigen for murine and swine virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes.</a> Journal of Virology. 64 (2), 802-812 (1990).</li><li>Card, J. P., Enquist, L. W., Moore, R. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuroinvasiveness+of+pseudorabies+virus+injected+intracerebrally+is+dependent+on+viral+concentration+and+terminal+field+density.">Neuroinvasiveness of pseudorabies virus injected intracerebrally is dependent on viral concentration and terminal field density.</a> The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 407 (3), 438-452 (1999).</li><li>Pickard, G. E., Smeraski, C. A., 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=Intravitreal+injection+of+the+attenuated+pseudorabies+virus+PRV+Bartha+results+in+infection+of+the+hamster+suprachiasmatic+nucleus+only+by+retrograde+transsynaptic+transport+via+autonomic+circuits.">Intravitreal injection of the attenuated pseudorabies virus PRV Bartha results in infection of the hamster suprachiasmatic nucleus only by retrograde transsynaptic transport via autonomic circuits.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 22 (7), 2701-2710 (2002).</li><li>Smith, G. A., Gross, S. P., Enquist, L. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Herpesviruses+use+bidirectional+fast+axonal+transport+to+spread+in+sensory+neurons.">Herpesviruses use bidirectional fast axonal transport to spread in sensory neurons.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 98 (6), 3466-3470 (2001).</li></ol>

There are a number of issues that must be taken into consideration when planning an experiment using PRV1524,21. Most importantly, pseudorabies virus is lethal. As mentioned previously, great apes, including humans are not susceptible to infection, but appropriate care must be exercised to protect other animals. Adult mice typically survive five to seven days after inoculation with the attenuated PRV152 strain. Therefore, PRV152 is not appropriate for experiments that require survival times longer than one wee...

Transsynaptic tracing&#160;has become a powerful tool used to analyze central efferents that regulate peripheral targets through multi-synaptic circuits. This approach has been most extensively used in the rodent brain by utilizing the swine pathogen pseudorabies virus (PRV), especially the attenuated strain PRV-Bartha first described in 196112. Here, we present a protocol for identifying the motor cortical representation of specific muscles or muscle groups using a recombinant pseudorabies virus strain (PRV152) expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) reporter gene2. The described method exploits the behavior of neurotropic viruses, which produce infectious progeny that cross synapses to infect other neurons within a functional circuit3,4,13. PRV152, which is isogenic with PRV-Bartha, only crosses synapses retrogradely through the hierarchical sequence of synaptic connections away from the infection site3,5. By precisely controlling the peripheral site of infection it is possible to limit the entry of the virus into the brain through a specific subset of motor neurons. As the virus sequentially infects chains of connected neurons, the resulting pattern of eGFP signal throughout the brain will then resolve the network of neurons that are connected to the initially infected cells.
An additional advantage of using virus for neural tracing is the amplification of the reporter protein (eGFP in this case) within infected cells. This signal amplification provides a level of sensitivity that allows detection of even sparse projections. For example, a sparse projection from vibrissa motor cortex to the facial motor neurons controlling the whiskers was found in rats using virally expressed green fluorescent protein14; previous studies failed to find this projection using classical tracers without reporter gene amplification11,15. Unfortunately, many viral tracing vectors, like the one used in the cited study, do not cross synapses, thereby limiting their use for tracing multi-synaptic circuits.
While presenting distinct advantages for identifying the network of cells participating in a motor circuit, the distributed nature of transsynaptic tracing with PRV-152 makes interpreting specific connections within the circuit difficult. Therefore, we present a simple method for validating specific connections within circuits identified using PRV-152 by double-labeling using biotinylated dextran amines (BDA) and cholera toxin subunit b (CTb). The combined use of BDA and CTb is a well-established approach for tracing connections between specific sets of neurons6-8,11. When used together, these two tracers can be visualized in the same section using a two-color DAB (3, 3&#39;-diaminobenzidine) procedure16. High molecular weight BDA (BDA10kDa) was selected for this protocol because it yields detailed labeling of neuronal processes6,7,9. Additional advantages of BDA10kDa include the following: it is preferentially transported in the anterograde direction6-8; it can be delivered by iontophoretic or pressure injection6-8; it can be visualized by a simple avidin-biotinylated HRP (ABC) procedure17; and it can be imaged by light or electron microscopy6,7,18. Immunochemical detection of CTb with peroxidase and DAB was chosen for retrograde labeling of motoneurons because it is effective at revealing cellular processes including distal dendrites10,19. We recently used this approach to identify the vocal motor pathway in mice and to reveal a sparse connection from primary motor cortex to the laryngeal motor neurons, which was previously assumed to be absent20.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Name of Reagent/Material</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NanoFil Microinjection System</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td>IO-Kit</td>
			<td>34 gauge option</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stereotaxic frame</td>
			<td>David Kopf Instruments</td>
			<td>Model 900</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nanoject II Auto-Nanoliter Injector</td>
			<td>Drummond Scientific Company</td>
			<td>3-000-204</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sliding microtome</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>SM2010 R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>[header]</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VetBond</td>
			<td>3M</td>
			<td>1469SB</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isofluorane (Forane)</td>
			<td>Baxter&#160;</td>
			<td>1001936060</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Betadine Swab Stick</td>
			<td>Cardinal Health</td>
			<td>2130-01</td>
			<td>200 count</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Permount Mounting Medium</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>SP15-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SuperFrost Plus slides</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12-550-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotinylated dextran amines</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>D-1956</td>
			<td>10,000 MW</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pseudorabies virus</td>
			<td>Laboratory of Dr. Lynn Enquist (Princeton University)</td>
			<td>PRV152</td>
			<td>Titer &#62; 1 x 107</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Cholera Toxin B Subunit (Goat)</td>
			<td>List Biological Laboratories</td>
			<td>703</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cholera Toxin B Subunit</td>
			<td>List Biological Laboratories</td>
			<td>103B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-eGFP</td>
			<td>Open Biosystems</td>
			<td>ABS4528</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3, 3&#39;-diaminobenzidine</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D5905</td>
			<td>10 mg tablets</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>E7023</td>
			<td>200 proof</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Formaldehyde</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>F8775</td>
			<td>Dilute to 4%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrogen peroxide</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>H3410</td>
			<td>30%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ketamine HCl &#38; Xylazine HCl</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>K4138</td>
			<td>80 mg/mL &#38; 6 mg/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nickel chloride</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>339350</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate buffer</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P3619</td>
			<td>1.0 M; pH 7.4</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate buffered saline</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P5493</td>
			<td>10X; pH 7.4</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Pentobarbital</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P3761</td>
			<td>50 mg/mL dose</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sucrose</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S9378</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tween 20</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P1379</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Xylenes</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>534056</td>
			<td>Histological grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VECTASTAIN Elite ABC Kit</td>
			<td>Vector Laboratories</td>
			<td>PK-6101 (rabbit); PK-6105 (goat)</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Optixcare opthalmic ointment</td>
			<td>Vet Depot</td>
			<td>1017992</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

transsynaptic tracing from peripheral targets with pseudorabies virus followed by cholera toxin and biotinylated dextran amines double labeling

Transsynaptic tracing has become a powerful tool used to analyze central efferents that regulate peripheral targets through multi-synaptic circuits. This approach has been most extensively used in the brain by utilizing the swine pathogen pseudorabies virus (PRV)1. PRV does not infect great apes, including humans, so it is most commonly used in studies on small mammals, especially rodents. The pseudorabies strain PRV152 expresses the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) reporter gene and only crosses functional synapses retrogradely through the hierarchical sequence of synaptic connections away from the infection site2,3. Other PRV strains have distinct microbiological properties and may be transported in both directions (PRV-Becker and PRV-Kaplan)4,5&#160;.&#160;This protocol will deal exclusively with PRV152. By delivering the virus at a peripheral site, such as muscle, it is possible to limit the entry of the virus into the brain through a specific set of neurons. The resulting pattern of eGFP signal throughout the brain then resolves the neurons that are connected to the initially infected cells. As the distributed nature of transsynaptic tracing with pseudorabies virus makes interpreting specific connections within an identified network difficult, we present a sensitive and reliable method employing biotinylated dextran amines (BDA) and cholera toxin subunit b (CTb) for confirming the connections between cells identified using PRV152. Immunochemical detection of BDA and CTb with peroxidase and DAB (3, 3&#39;-diaminobenzidine) was chosen because they are effective at revealing cellular processes including distal dendrites6-11.

Staining for eGFP should begin showing weak signal in primary motor neurons approximately 72 hr&#160;after injecting PRV152 into muscle. The replication and transsynaptic transport of virus are titer- and time-dependent4. Approximately 90 hr after injection, eGFP staining will reveal robust signal in 2nd order infected cells. Longer survival times will reveal 3rd and higher order cells but survival times are limited by the lethality of PRV at approximately 5 days after inoculation.
<p...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Transsynaptic Tracing from Peripheral Targets with Pseudorabies Virus Followed by Cholera Toxin and Biotinylated Dextran Amines Double Labeling at JoVE.com

Transsynaptic Tracing from Peripheral Targets with Pseudorabies Virus Followed by Cholera Toxin and Biotinylated Dextran Amines Double Labeling

Transsynaptic tracing has become a powerful tool for analyzing central efferents regulating peripheral targets through multi-synaptic circuits. Here we present a protocol that exploits the transsynaptic pseudorabies virus to identify and localize a functional brain circuit, followed by classical tract tracing techniques to validate specific connections in the circuit between identified groups of neurons.

Transsynaptic tracing has become a powerful tool used to analyze central efferents that regulate peripheral targets through multi-synaptic circuits. This ...

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Rapid Genotyping of Animals Followed by Establishing Primary Cultures of Brain Neurons

High-resolution analysis of the morphology and function of mammalian neurons often requires the genotyping of individual animals followed by the analysis ...

Conditional Genetic Transsynaptic Tracing in the Embryonic Mouse Brain

Anatomical path tracing is of pivotal importance to decipher the relationship between brain and behavior. Unraveling the formation of neural circuits ...

Immunohistochemistry and Multiple Labeling with Antibodies from the Same Host Species to Study Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Adult neurogenesis is a highly regulated, multi-stage process in which new neurons are generated from an activated neural stem cell via increasingly ...

Laser-guided Neuronal Tracing In Brain Explants

We present a technique which combines an in vitro tracer injection protocol, which uses a series of electrical and pressure pulses to increase dye uptake ...

Improving the Application of High Molecular Weight Biotinylated Dextran Amine for Thalamocortical Projection Tracing in the Rat

High molecular weight biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) has been used as a highly sensitive neuroanatomical tracer for many decades. Since the quality of ...

Live Imaging Followed by Single Cell Tracking to Monitor Cell Biology and the Lineage Progression of Multiple Neural Populations

Understanding the mechanisms that control critical biological events of neural cell populations, such as proliferation, differentiation, or cell fate ...