Name: prolonged incubation of acute neuronal tissue for electrophysiology and calcium-imaging
Uploaded: 2017-02-15T15:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 10 min 30 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Prolonged Incubation of Acute Neuronal Tissue for Electrophysiology and Calcium-imaging at JoVE.com

We thank Colin Symons and James Wright for technical assistance. This work was supported by seed funding grant (WSU) to Y.B. and the innovation office at Western Sydney University. M.C. is supported by ARC fellowship (DECRA).

The protocol below describes the preparation of C57BL/6 and C3H/He (retinally degenerate) mouse neuronal tissue, but similar techniques can be applied to other species. All animals were healthy and handled with standard conditions of temperature, humidity, 12 h light/dark cycle, free access to food and water, and without any intended stress stimuli. All experiments were approved and performed in accordance with Western Sydney University Animal Care and Ethics committee and according to the animal use and care guidelines (Animal Research Authority #A9452, #A10396 and #A8967).
1. Brain Slice Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Anesthetize the animal by inhalation of isoflurane (5%) and decapitate using a rodent guillotine. Remove the brain quickly, as described previously9 and place it into ice-cold physiological solution (aCSF) containing (in mM): 125 NaCl, 2.5 KCl, 1 MgCl2, 1.25 NaH2PO4, 2 CaCl2, 25 NaHCO3, 25 dextrose, and saturated with carbogen (95% O2/5% CO2 mixture; 310 mOsm; pH 7.4).</li>
	<li>Cut brain slices, in the region of interest, 300 &#181;m thick with a vibrating microtome.</li>
	<li>Transfer slices to a custom built incubation system that closely monitors and controls pH levels (pH 7.2 - 7.4), carbogen flow, and temperature as previously described10,11.</li>
	<li>Set initial chamber temperature to 35 &#176;C for 15 - 30 min, and then slowly reduce to 15 - 16 &#176;C as shown in Figure 1C. Then incubate slices in the incubation system until needed, either for electrophysiology or imaging. 
	NOTE: If slices are to be used for calcium-imaging, follow steps below before cooling tissue below RT.</li>
</ol>
2. Retinal Wholemount Preparation and Inner Limiting Membrane Removal
<ol>
	<li>Prepare retinal wholemounts under either normal laboratory lighting conditions or dim red/infra-red light.</li>
	<li>Euthanize animal by cervical dislocation and immediately enucleate eyes. Make a small cut along the ora serrata, and place in either Ames media, or aCSF containing (mM): 125 NaCl, 25 NaHCO3, 3 KCl, 2 CaCl2, 1 MgCl2, 10 glucose, 0.5 L-glutamine, and saturate with carbogen (95% O2/5% CO2 mixture; ~300 mOsm; pH 7.4), at RT.</li>
	<li>Immediately remove the cornea, lens and vitreous by cutting along the ora serrata with small scissors and removing the lens and vitreous with forceps. Place tissue in the incubation system at RT. 
	NOTE: Retinal tissue can be maintained in the eye-cup, after slow temperature reduction to 15 - 16 &#176;C, for &#62;24 h in the incubation system until needed.</li>
	<li>To remove the ILM, transfer the eye-cup containing the retina to a small glass jar containing 30 U/mL papain, 1 mM L-cystine, 0.5 mM EDTA and 0.005% DNase in Earl&#39;s-Balanced&#160;Salt Solution (BSS) at 37 &#176;C for 20 min. Apply 95% O2/5% CO2 to the solution through the lid but do not bubble. If using tissue from young animals (&#60;6 weeks), dilute the solution to half-strength.
	<ol>
		<li>Stop enzymatic digestion, by placing the tissue in an ovomucoid (10 mg/mL) and BSA (10 mg/mL) solution for 10 min in Earl&#39;s BSS. Wash tissue thoroughly with aCSF before transfer to the incubation system and reduce temperature to 15 - 16 &#176;C.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Maintain retinal tissue in the eye-cup until needed. For transfer to the microscope, isolate the retina from the eye-cup and cut into 4 pieces with a razorblade. If the entire retina is required, make four small cuts in the periphery of the retina to allow it to lie flat. 
	NOTE: For imaging experiments, load with calcium-dyes before transfer to the incubation system, see below.</li>
</ol>
3. Maintaining Tissue in the Incubator
<ol>
	<li>Place tissue in the main chamber containing probes for pH and temperature measurements (Figure&#160;1A, B).</li>
	<li>Circulate aCSF through a second chamber (UVC chamber, built as previously described12) isolated from the main chamber and exposed to 1.1 W UVC light (254 nm, 5W/2P sterilizer UV lamp) in order to eradiate bacteria floating in the solution (Figure 1A). Control UVC light timing via a programmable timer using a random feature that turns ON at times varying between 15 and 26 min every 15 - 30 min to avoid excessive heating of the aCSF.</li>
	<li>Set the flow rate in the UVC chamber to 12 mL/min as previously reported12. Cover the UVC chamber with aluminum foil to prevent UVC illumination outside the chamber, which can damage neuronal tissue. 
	NOTE: For dark-adapted retinal tissue, apply a custom-made cover to the main chamber to exclude light.</li>
	<li>Use a peristaltic pump to circulate the solution (aCSF) through the two chambers and a Peltier thermoelectric cold plate cooler to either cool or heat the main chamber to the desired temperatures in the range of 0 - 50 &#176;C. For optimal tissue incubation, use 15 - 16 &#176;C for long-term viability.</li>
</ol>
4. Calcium Dye Loading
<ol>
	<li>Select calcium dyes based on the preference of the individual researcher. Here we use Fura-2AM, Fluo-8AM or Fluo-4AM. However, this method can be applied to other dyes as well: dissolve calcium dyes in DMSO to a 1 mM solution and 1% block copolymers (e.g., pluronic acid-127) to a final volume of 50 &#181;L and sonicate for 10 min.</li>
	<li>Add solution to aCSF to a final concentration of 10 &#181;M, 0.01% block copolymers for brain slices, and 20 &#181;M (retina), 0.02% block copolymers for the retina. In retinae (papain treated) and brain slices from young animals, load to the bath for 45 min at 37 &#176;C (Fura-2 AM) or at RT (Fluo-4 AM; Fluo-8 AM).
	<ol>
		<li>For adult animals, (&#62;12 weeks) pipette the dyes (50 &#181;L) directly onto the brain slices, and maintain for 75 min to allow better penetration of the dye into the deep layers.</li>
		<li>To ensure adequate oxygenation of the submerged slice during dye incubation, prepare a glass loading chamber with a closed lid (circular jar of diameter 2.5 cm, 3.5 cm height) with calcium dyes diluted in 2.5 mL of aCSF. Oxygenate continuously with 95% O2/5% CO2. Do not bubble.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Following dye loading, wash the tissue with aCSF and transfer to the incubation system, slowly reduce the temperature to 15 - 16 &#176;C until experimental use.</li>
</ol>
5. Electrophysiological Recordings and Imaging
<ol>
	<li>Place tissue in a submerged recording chamber under a microscope, and perfuse with oxygenated aCSF at a flow rate of 4 - 5 mL/min either at RT (~22 &#176;C) or physiological temperature (~35 &#176;C). Hold the tissue in place by using a custom made &#39;&#39;harp&#39;&#39;, made of nylon or gold threads stretched and glued across a U-shaped piece of gold or platinum wire.</li>
	<li>For electrophysiology:
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare recording pipettes from 1.5 mm (1.19 mm ID) borosilicate glass using a micropipette puller to achieve a final resistance of 5-6 M&#937;.</li>
		<li>Fill the pipette with 3 - 4 &#181;L of internal solution as previously described13 and visualize cells under infrared Differential Interference Contrast (IR-DIC) using a CCD camera. The intracellular solution should be carefully tailored to each experiment to achieve experimental outcomes.</li>
		<li>Position pipette, while maintaining positive pressure applied through a suction port on the pipette holder, on the membrane of a cell using a micromanipulator. Since the ILM has been removed from the retina, no prior membrane scraping is required. Once the pipette is on the cell, apply gentle negative pressure to the pipette to achieve a gigaohm seal. Then rupture the cell membrane with a brief amount of negative pressure.</li>
		<li>Make whole-cell current- or voltage-clamp recordings using standard techniques as appropriate.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Calcium-imaging:
	<ol>
		<li>For ratiometric imaging of Fura-2, use an ultra-high speed wavelength switcher to provide excitation wavelengths of 340 nm and 380 nm. Pass emitted light from individual cells through an emission filter of 510 &#177;20 nm, and capture with a high sensitivity, high-speed digital camera.</li>
		<li>For a single excitation wavelength of Fluo-4, filter excitation light through a 460 - 490 nm band pass filter and emitted light through a 515 - 550 nm band pass filter. For the fastest and most sensitive recording use a high speed digital camera such. Acquire images as required.</li>
		<li>Measure alterations in fluorescence as a function of time either at a single wavelength (Fluo-4) or using the wavelength ratio method (Fura-2), as previously described8,14.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

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Yossi Buskila and Paul Breen declare that they are co-owners of PAYO Scientific Pty Ltd, a company specialized in building incubation systems for acute neural tissue. All other authors report no financial interests or potential conflicts of interest related to the current study.

This article describes an incubation method to extend the viability of acute neuronal tissue for imaging and electrophysiological experiments, thereby reducing the animal numbers needed to complete experimental goals. Two main processes govern the deterioration of neuronal tissue over time: i) increased bacteria levels, and the accompanying increase in bacterial endotoxin released, and ii) excitotoxicity which follows the traumatic slicing procedure10. As acute neuronal tissue is environmentally d...

Electrophysiology and functional imaging (calcium, voltage sensitive dyes) are two of the most commonly used experimental techniques in neuroscience. Brain slice preparations and retinal wholemount, which will be examined here, provide a means of examining electrophysiological properties and synaptic connectivity without contamination from anesthetics or muscle relaxants. Brain slices and retinal wholemount maintain their structural integrity, unlike cultures or cell homogenates, allowing the study of specific circuits and brain networks1. Recordings from isolated tissue have advantages over in vivo recordings as movements associated with the heartbeat and respiration are eliminated. Moreover, direct visualization allows specific classes of cells to be targeted, and local application of pharmacological tools 2,3.
Patch-clamp recordings and calcium dye-loading in retinal wholemount is complicated by the existence of the Inner Limiting Membrane (ILM), which covers the Retinal Ganglion Cell (RGC) layer and prevents direct access to the cells. Typically, this membrane is scraped away with a glass pipette to allow direct application of a patch pipette and formation of a gigaohm seal on a single cell. In addition, bath-applied calcium&#160;dyes do not cross the ILM and must either be injected beneath this membrane4, retrogradely transported following injection at the optic nerve5 or electroporated through the tissue6. Furthermore, when utilizing a rodent model of retinitis pigmentosa, the rd/rd mouse, the ILM is thicker and more impenetrable. Here, we use a technique to remove the ILM with enzymatic digestion7, to allow both ubiquitous calcium&#160;dye-loading, and direct access to retinal ganglion cells for patch-clamp recordings8.
Successful recordings from either brain slices or retinal wholemount depend on dissection and incubation of viable neuronal tissue. Typically, tissue is extracted on the morning of the experiment and incubated in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) until it is used for recordings. Usually, tissue remains viable for 6 - 8 h, with significant degradation following this time window. However, both brain slices and wholemount retinae preparations usually produce more tissue than can be recorded from within this short time period. Consequently, tissue is often discarded at the end of the day and the dissection is completed again on subsequent days. This means another animal is utilized and ~2 h of setup and dissection/staining repeated. The following protocol describes a method for extending the life of neuronal tissue for more than 24 h, meaning fewer animals are utilized, and more experimental time is available. Tissue viability was assessed through recording electrophysiological properties and calcium dynamics, and these properties were indistinguishable between &#60;4 h and &#62;24 h postdissection.
These results indicate that not only are single cell properties intact and functional after prolonged incubation, but network activity, as assessed by calcium-imaging and electrophysiological recordings, is unchanged &#62;24 h postdissection. Moreover, we show that calcium dyes can remain in cells for prolonged periods without causing any detrimental effects. Application of this protocol demonstrates that the functional activity of neurons in acute neuronal tissue can be maintained for long periods, once the external environment is highly regulated. Moreover, as tissue viability varies greatly between laboratories due to different incubation protocols, this method establishes a gold standard for the ideal parameters that should be applied to reduce variability in the health of acute neuronal tissue.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Sodium Chloride</td><td>Sigma Aldrich VETEC</td><td>V800372</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Potassium chloride</td><td>Sigma Aldrich</td><td>P9333</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>N-Methyl-D-glucamine</td><td>Sigma Aldrich</td><td>M2004&amp;nbsp;</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>D-glucose</td><td>Sigma Aldrich</td><td>G5767</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sodium bicarbonate</td><td>Sigma Aldrich</td><td>S6014</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sodium phosphate monobasic</td><td>Sigma Aldrich</td><td>S2554</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Magnesium chloride</td><td>Sigma Aldrich</td><td>M9272&amp;nbsp;</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Calcium chloride&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma Aldrich</td><td>223506</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Papain Dissociation System</td><td>Worthington&amp;nbsp;</td><td>LK003150</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dimethyl sulfoxide anhydrous</td><td>Sigma Aldrich</td><td>276855</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Pluronic F-127 Low UV absorbance*</td><td>Life technologies</td><td>P-6867</td><td>20% solution in DMSO&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Fura-2 AM&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Anaspec</td><td>84017</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fluo-4 AM&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Life Technologies</td><td>F23917</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fluo-8 AM</td><td>Abcam</td><td>Ab142773</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vibrating blade microtome&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Leica Biosystem</td><td>VT1200 S</td><td>Equiped with Leica&amp;rsquo;s Vibrocheck&amp;trade; measurement device&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Antivibration table</td><td>Kinetic Systems Vibraplane&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Vibraplane 9100/9200&amp;nbsp;</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fixed Stage Upright Microscope</td><td>Olympus</td><td>BX51WI&amp;nbsp;</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Microscope Objective</td><td>Olympus</td><td>XLUMPlanFLN 20x/1.00w</td><td>20X&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Microscope Objective</td><td>Olympus</td><td>LUMPlanFLN 60x/1.00w</td><td>60X</td></tr><tr><td>CCD Camera</td><td>Andor</td><td>Ixon +</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>High speed wavelength switcher</td><td>Sutter instrument</td><td>Lambda DG-4&amp;nbsp;</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Patch clamp amplifier</td><td>Molecular Devices</td><td>MultiClamp 700B</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Data acquisition system</td><td>Molecular Devices</td><td>Digidata 1440A</td><td>Axon Digidata&amp;reg; System</td></tr><tr><td>Borosilicate glass capillaries</td><td>Sutter Instrument Co</td><td>BF150-86-10</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Microelectrode puller</td><td>Sutter Instrument Co</td><td>P-97</td><td>Flaming/Brown type micropipette puller</td></tr><tr><td>Recording/perfusion chamber</td><td>Warner Instruments</td><td>RC-40LP</td><td>Low Profile Open Bath Chambers</td></tr><tr><td>Software</td><td>Molecular Devices</td><td>pClamp 10.2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Andor iQ Live Cell Imaging Software</td><td>Andor</td><td>Andor iQ3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Braincubator</td><td>Payo Scientific</td><td>BR26021976</td><td>www.braincubator.com.au</td></tr><tr><td>Peltier-Thermoelectric Cold Plate Cooler</td><td>TE Technology</td><td>CP-121</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Temperature Controller</td><td>TE Technology</td><td>TC-36-25 RS232</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

prolonged incubation of acute neuronal tissue for electrophysiology and calcium-imaging

Acute neuronal tissue preparations, brain slices and retinal wholemount, can usually only be maintained for 6 - 8 h following dissection. This limits the experimental time, and increases the number of animals that are utilized per study. This limitation specifically impacts protocols such as calcium imaging that require prolonged pre-incubation with bath-applied dyes. Exponential bacterial growth within 3 - 4 h after slicing is tightly correlated with a decrease in tissue health. This study describes a method for&#160;limiting the proliferation of bacteria in acute preparations to maintain viable neuronal tissue for prolonged periods of time (&#62;24 h) without the need for antibiotics, sterile procedures, or tissue culture media containing growth factors. By cycling the extracellular fluid through UV irradiation and keeping the tissue in a custom holding chamber at 15 - 16 &#176;C, the tissue shows no difference in electrophysiological properties, or calcium signaling through intracellular calcium dyes at &#62;24 h postdissection. These methods will not only extend experimental time for those using acute neuronal tissue, but will reduce the number of animals required to complete experimental goals, and will set a gold standard for acute neuronal tissue incubation.

Tight regulation of the bacterial load and temperature of the aCSF during incubation is essential to maintain neuronal tissue viability. This can be optimized through irradiation with UVC light and maintaining the temperature of the aCSF at 15 - 16 &#176;C (Figure 1). Furthermore, the aCSF parameters stamp (APS; Figure 1C) provides the experimenter with a record of the environmental conditions (pH and temp.), thus offering a gold standard for parameters w...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Prolonged Incubation of Acute Neuronal Tissue for Electrophysiology and Calcium-imaging at JoVE.com

Prolonged Incubation of Acute Neuronal Tissue for Electrophysiology and Calcium-imaging

Once removed from the body, neuronal tissue is greatly affected by environmental conditions, leading to eventual degradation of the tissue after 6 - 8 h. Using a unique incubation method, which closely monitors and regulates the extracellular environment of the tissue, tissue viability can be significantly extended for &#62;24 h.

Acute neuronal tissue preparations, brain slices and retinal wholemount, can usually only be maintained for 6 - 8 h following dissection. This limits the ...

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11.9K Views.  Western Sydney University. Once removed from the body, neuronal tissue is greatly affected by environmental conditions, leading to eventual degradation of the tissue after 6 - 8 h. Using a unique incubation method, which closely monitors and regulates the extracellular environment of the tissue, tissue viability can be significantly extended for >24 h.

Video: Prolonged Incubation of Acute Neuronal Tissue for Electrophysiology and Calcium-imaging

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 ...

Simultaneous Electrophysiological Recording and Calcium Imaging of Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Neurons

Simultaneous electrophysiological and fluorescent imaging recording methods were used to study the role of changes of membrane potential or current in regulating the intracellular calcium concentration. Changing environmental conditions, such as the light-dark cycle, can modify neuronal and neural network activity and the expression of a family of circadian clock genes within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the location of the master circadian clock in the mammalian brain. Excitatory synaptic transmission leads to an increase in the postsynaptic Ca2+ concentration that is believed to activate the signaling pathways that shifts the rhythmic expression of circadian clock genes. Hypothalamic slices containing the SCN were patch clamped using microelectrodes filled with an internal solution containing the calcium indicator bis-fura-2. After a seal was formed between the microelectrode and the SCN neuronal membrane, the membrane was ruptured using gentle suction and the calcium probe diffused into the neuron filling both the soma and dendrites. Quantitative ratiometric measurements of the intracellular calcium concentration were recorded simultaneously with membrane potential or current. Using these methods it is possible to study the role of changes of the intracellular calcium concentration produced by synaptic activity and action potential firing of individual neurons. In this presentation we demonstrate the methods to simultaneously record electrophysiological activity along with intracellular calcium from individual SCN neurons maintained in brain slices.

Procedures are described to perform simultaneous recordings of membrane potential or current and changes of intracellular calcium concentration. Suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons are filled with the calcium indicator bis-fura-2 using a patch clamp electrode in the whole cell patch clamp configuration.

Simultaneous electrophysiological and fluorescent imaging recording methods were used to study the role of changes of membrane potential or current in ...

Multi-photon Intracellular Sodium Imaging Combined with UV-mediated Focal Uncaging of Glutamate in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons

Multi-photon fluorescence microscopy has enabled the analysis of morphological and physiological parameters of brain cells in the intact tissue with high spatial and temporal resolution. Combined with electrophysiology, it is widely used to study activity-related calcium signals in small subcellular compartments such as dendrites and dendritic spines. In addition to calcium transients, synaptic activity also induces postsynaptic sodium signals, the properties of which are only marginally understood. Here, we describe a method for combined whole-cell patch-clamp and multi-photon sodium imaging in cellular micro domains of central neurons. Furthermore, we introduce a modified procedure for ultra-violet (UV)-light-induced uncaging of glutamate, which allows reliable and focal activation of glutamate receptors in the tissue. To this end, whole-cell recordings were performed on Cornu Ammonis subdivision 1 (CA1) pyramidal neurons in acute tissue slices of the mouse hippocampus. Neurons were filled with the sodium-sensitive fluorescent dye SBFI through the patch-pipette, and multi-photon excitation of SBFI enabled the visualization of dendrites and adjacent spines. To establish UV-induced focal uncaging, several parameters including light intensity, volume affected by the UV uncaging beam, positioning of the beam as well as concentration of the caged compound were tested and optimized. Our results show that local perfusion with caged glutamate (MNI-Glutamate) and its focal UV-uncaging result in inward currents and sodium transients in dendrites and spines. Time course and amplitude of both inward currents and sodium signals correlate with the duration of the uncaging pulse. Furthermore, our results show that intracellular sodium signals are blocked in the presence of blockers for ionotropic glutamate receptors, demonstrating that they are mediated by sodium influx though this pathway. In summary, our method provides a reliable tool for the investigation of intracellular sodium signals induced by focal receptor activation in intact brain tissue.

We describe the combination of focal UV-induced photo-activation of neuro-active compounds with whole-cell patch-clamp and multi-photon imaging of intracellular sodium transients in dendrites and spines of hippocampal neurons in acute tissue slices of the mouse brain.

Multi-photon fluorescence microscopy has enabled the analysis of morphological and physiological parameters of brain cells in the intact tissue with high ...

Investigation of Synaptic Tagging/Capture and Cross-capture using Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rodents

Synaptic tagging and capture (STC) and cross-tagging are two important mechanisms at cellular level that explain how synapse-specificity and associativity is achieved in neurons within a specific time frame. These long-term plasticity-related processes are the leading candidate models to study the basis of memory formation and persistence at the cellular level. Both STC and cross-tagging involve two serial processes: (1) setting of the synaptic tag as triggered by a specific pattern of stimulation, and (2) synaptic capture, whereby the synaptic tag interacts with newly synthesized plasticity-related proteins (PRPs). Much of the understanding about the concepts of STC and cross-tagging arises from the studies done in CA1 region of the hippocampus and because of the technical complexity many of the laboratories are still unable to study these processes. Experimental conditions for the preparation of hippocampal slices and the recording of stable late-LTP/LTD are extremely important to study synaptic tagging/cross-tagging. This video article describes the experimental procedures to study long-term plasticity processes such as STC and cross-tagging in the CA1 pyramidal neurons using stable, long-term field-potential recordings from acute hippocampal slices of rats.

This video article describes experimental procedures to study long-term plasticity and its associative processes such as synaptic tagging, capture and cross-tagging in the CA1 pyramidal neurons using acute hippocampal slices from rodents.

Synaptic tagging and capture (STC) and cross-tagging are two important mechanisms at cellular level that explain how synapse-specificity and associativity ...

Time-dependent Increase in the Network Response to the Stimulation of Neuronal Cell Cultures on Micro-electrode Arrays

Micro-electrode arrays (MEAs) can be used to investigate drug toxicity, design paradigms for next-generation personalized medicine, and study network dynamics in neuronal cultures. In contrast with more traditional methods, such as patch-clamping, which can only record activity from a single cell, MEAs can record simultaneously from multiple sites in a network, without requiring the arduous task of placing each electrode individually. Moreover, numerous control and stimulation configurations can be easily applied within the same experimental setup, allowing for a broad range of dynamics to be explored. One of the key dynamics of interest in these in vitro studies has been the extent to which cultured networks display properties indicative of learning. Mouse neuronal cells cultured on MEAs display an increase in response following training induced by electrical stimulation. This protocol demonstrates how to culture neuronal cells on MEAs; successfully record from over 95% of the plated dishes; establish a protocol to train the networks to respond to patterns of stimulation; and sort, plot, and interpret the results from such experiments. The use of a proprietary system for stimulating and recording neuronal cultures is demonstrated. Software packages are also used to sort neuronal units. A custom-designed graphical user interface is used to visualize post-stimulus time histograms, inter-burst intervals, and burst duration, as well as to compare the cellular response to stimulation before and after a training protocol. Finally, representative results and future directions of this research effort are discussed.

Mouse neuronal cells cultured on multi-electrode arrays display an increase in response following electrical stimulation. This protocol demonstrates how to culture neurons, how to record activity, and how to establish a protocol to train the networks to respond to patterns of stimulation.

Micro-electrode arrays (MEAs) can be used to investigate drug toxicity, design paradigms for next-generation personalized medicine, and study network ...

Two-photon Imaging of Microglial Processes' Attraction Toward ATP or Serotonin in Acute Brain Slices

Microglial cells are resident innate immune cells of the brain that constantly scan their environment with their long processes and, upon disruption of homeostasis, undergo rapid morphological changes. For example, a laser lesion induces in a few minutes an oriented growth of microglial processes, also called &#34;directional motility&#34;, toward the site of injury. A similar effect can be obtained by delivering locally ATP or serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]). In this article, we describe a protocol to induce a directional growth of microglial processes toward a local application of ATP or 5-HT in acute brain slices of young and adult mice and to image this attraction over time by multiphoton microscopy. A simple method of quantification with free and open-source image analysis software is proposed. A challenge that still characterizes acute brain slices is the limited time, decreasing with age, during which the cells remain in a physiological state. This protocol, thus, highlights some technical improvements (medium, air-liquid interface chamber, imaging chamber with a double perfusion) aimed at optimizing the viability of microglial cells over several hours, especially in slices from adult mice.

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, respond quickly with morphological changes to modifications of their environment. This protocol describes how to use two-photon microscopy to study the attraction of microglial processes toward serotonin or ATP in acute brain slices of mice.

Microglial cells are resident innate immune cells of the brain that constantly scan their environment with their long processes and, upon disruption of ...

Assessment of Long-term Depression Induction in Adult Cerebellar Slices

Synaptic plasticity provides a mechanism for learning and memory. For cerebellar motor learning, long-term depression (LTD) of synaptic transmissions from parallel fibers (PF) to Purkinje cells (PC) is considered the basis for motor learning, and deficiencies of both LTD and motor learning are observed in various gene-manipulated animals. Common motor learning sets, such as adaptation of the optokinetic reflex (OKR), the vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR), and rotarod test were used for evaluation of motor learning ability. However, results obtained from the GluA2-carboxy terminus modified knock-in mice demonstrated normal adaptation of the VOR and the OKR, despite lacking PF-LTD. In that report, induction of LTD was only attempted using one type of stimulation protocol at room temperature. Thus, conditions to induce cerebellar LTD were explored in the same knock-in mutants using various protocols at near physiological temperature. Finally, we found stimulation protocols, by which LTD could be induced in these gene-manipulated mice. In this study, a set of protocols are proposed to evaluate LTD-induction, which will more accurately allow examination of the causal relationship between LTD and motor learning. In conclusion, experimental conditions are crucial when evaluating LTD in gene-manipulated mice.

In some gene-manipulated animals, using a single protocol may fail to induce LTD in cerebellar Purkinje cells, and there may be a discrepancy between LTD and motor learning. Multiple protocols are necessary to assess LTD-induction in gene-manipulated animals. Standard protocols are shown.

Synaptic plasticity provides a mechanism for learning and memory. For cerebellar motor learning, long-term depression (LTD) of synaptic transmissions from ...

Measuring Neural Activity in a Mouse Brain Slice after Prolonged Incubation

Source: Cameron, M. A., et al., <a href="https://app.jove.com/v/55396">Prolonged Incubation of Acute Neuronal Tissue for Electrophysiology and Calcium-imaging.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (120), (2017)
This video demonstrates a technique for measuring neuronal activity in mouse brain slices using calcium imaging and electrophysiological recordings. By perfusing the tissue with potassium ions and recording intracellular calcium changes through high-speed digital imaging, this method reveals real-time neuronal responses.

All procedures involving animal samples have been reviewed and approved by the appropriate animal ethical review committee.
1. Calcium Dye Loading

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JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments

Neurophysiology

Imaging and Optical Techniques

A Technique for the Prolonged Incubation of Neuronal Tissue of the Retina

For retinal whole mount preparation, immediately enucleate the eyes from a euthanized animal. Make a small cut along the ora serrata, and place the eyes in either Ames Media or aCSF with carbogen supply at room temperature. After that, immediately remove the cornea, lens, and vitreous by cutting along the ora serrata with small scissors, and remove them with forceps. Place the tissue in the incubation system at room temperature.
To remove the inner limiting membrane, transfer the eye cup containing the retina to a small glass jar containing papain, L-cysteine, EDTA, and DNAse at 37 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes. Apply carbogen to the solution through the lid, but do not bubble. Stop the enzymatic digestion by placing the tissue in an ovomucoid and BSA solution for 10 minutes in Earl&#39;s BSS. Then, wash the tissue thoroughly with aCSF.
Subsequently, transfer the tissue to the incubation system and reduce the temperature to about 15 to 16 degrees Celsius. Following that, transfer the retinal tissue to the microscope; isolate the retina from the eye cup, and cut it into four pieces with a razor blade. If the entire retina is required, make four small cuts in the periphery of the retina to allow it to lie flat.
This tissue can now be transferred to the microscope for electrophysiology, or maintained in the Braincubator. The tissue is maintained in the main chamber containing the probes for pH and temperature measurements. A second chamber is isolated from the main chamber and is exposed to 1.1 watts UVC light in order to irradiate bacteria floating in the solution. Use a peristaltic pump to circulate aCSF through the two chambers, and a Peltier thermoelectric cold plate to either cool or heat the main chamber.