Name: 作者聚焦：揭示上丘的神经编码和视觉处理机制
Uploaded: 2023-04-21T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Unveiling Neural Coding and Mechanisms of Visual Processing in the Superior Colliculus at JoVE.com

这项工作得到了中国国家自然科学基金（32271060）的支持。Y.-t.L.设计了研究，进行了实验，分析了数据，并撰写了手稿。Z.L.和R.W.进行了实验。

所有实验程序均按照动物福利指南进行，并得到北京中国脑科学研究院IACUC的批准。
注意：该协议的时间表如下：1）制作吸盘;2）注射病毒;3）植入头板;4）3周后，植入塞子;5） 在跑步机上恢复和适应 ~3 天后，进行双光子/宽视场成像。
1.吸盘的准备（图1A）
<ol><li>将一滴磷酸盐缓冲盐水（PBS，1x）放入丙烯...

上丘的双光子和宽场钙成像

<ol>
	<li>May, P. 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+mammalian+superior+colliculus:+laminar+structure+and+connections.">The mammalian superior colliculus: laminar structure and connections.</a> Progress in Brain Research. 151, 321-378 (2006).</li><li>Denk, W., Strickler, J. H., Webb, W. 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-photon+laser+scanning+fluorescence+microscopy.">Two-photon laser scanning fluorescence microscopy.</a> Science. 248 (4951), 73-76 (1990).</li><li>Ohki, K., Chung, S., Ch'ng, Y. H., Kara, P., Reid, R. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+imaging+with+cellular+resolution+reveals+precise+micro-architecture+in+visual+cortex.">Functional imaging with cellular resolution reveals precise micro-architecture in visual cortex.</a> Nature. 433 (7026), 597-603 (2005).</li><li>Ratzlaff, E. H., Grinvald, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+tandem-lens+epifluorescence+macroscope:+Hundred-fold+brightness+advantage+for+wide-field+imaging.">A tandem-lens epifluorescence macroscope: Hundred-fold brightness advantage for wide-field imaging.</a> Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 36 (2-3), 127-137 (1991).</li><li>de Vries, S. E. J., 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=A+large-scale+standardized+physiological+survey+reveals+functional+organization+of+the+mouse+visual+cortex.">A large-scale standardized physiological survey reveals functional organization of the mouse visual cortex.</a> Nature Neuroscience. 23 (1), 138-151 (2020).</li><li>Mrsic-Flogel, T. D., 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=Altered+map+of+visual+space+in+the+superior+colliculus+of+mice+lacking+early+retinal+waves.">Altered map of visual space in the superior colliculus of mice lacking early retinal waves.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 25 (29), 6921-6928 (2005).</li><li>Cang, J., Wang, L., Stryker, M. P., Feldheim, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Roles+of+ephrin-as+and+structured+activity+in+the+development+of+functional+maps+in+the+superior+colliculus.">Roles of ephrin-as and structured activity in the development of functional maps in the superior colliculus.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 28 (43), 11015-11023 (2008).</li><li>Feinberg, E. H., Meister, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Orientation+columns+in+the+mouse+superior+colliculus.">Orientation columns in the mouse superior colliculus.</a> Nature. 519 (7542), 229-232 (2015).</li><li>Ahmadlou, M., Heimel, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preference+for+concentric+orientations+in+the+mouse+superior+colliculus.">Preference for concentric orientations in the mouse superior colliculus.</a> Nature Communications. 6, 6773 (2015).</li><li>de Malmazet, D., K&#252;hn, N. K., Farrow, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Retinotopic+separation+of+nasal+and+temporal+motion+selectivity+in+the+mouse+superior+colliculus.">Retinotopic separation of nasal and temporal motion selectivity in the mouse superior colliculus.</a> Current Biology. 28 (18), 2961-2969 (2018).</li><li>Li, Y. T., Turan, Z., Meister, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+architecture+of+motion+direction+in+the+mouse+superior+colliculus.">Functional architecture of motion direction in the mouse superior colliculus.</a> Current Biology. 30 (17), 3304-3315 (2020).</li><li>Gribizis, 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=Visual+cortex+gains+independence+from+peripheral+drive+before+eye+opening.">Visual cortex gains independence from peripheral drive before eye opening.</a> Neuron. 104 (4), 711-723 (2019).</li><li>Inayat, S., 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=Neurons+in+the+most+superficial+lamina+of+the+mouse+superior+colliculus+are+highly+selective+for+stimulus+direction.">Neurons in the most superficial lamina of the mouse superior colliculus are highly selective for stimulus direction.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 35 (20), 7992-8003 (2015).</li><li>Barchini, J., Shi, X., Chen, H., Cang, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bidirectional+encoding+of+motion+contrast+in+the+mouse+superior+colliculus.">Bidirectional encoding of motion contrast in the mouse superior colliculus.</a> eLife. 7, 35261 (2018).</li><li>Savier, E. L., Chen, H., Cang, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+locomotion+on+visual+responses+in+the+mouse+superior+colliculus.">Effects of locomotion on visual responses in the mouse superior colliculus.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 39 (47), 9360-9368 (2019).</li><li>Schr&#246;der, S., 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=Arousal+modulates+retinal+output.">Arousal modulates retinal output.</a> Neuron. 107 (3), 487-495 (2020).</li><li>Ge, X., 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=Retinal+waves+prime+visual+motion+detection+by+simulating+future+optic+flow.">Retinal waves prime visual motion detection by simulating future optic flow.</a> Science. 373 (6553), (2021).</li><li>Chen, H., Savier, E. L., DePiero, V. J., Cang, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lack+of+evidence+for+stereotypical+direction+columns+in+the+mouse+superior+colliculus.">Lack of evidence for stereotypical direction columns in the mouse superior colliculus.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 41 (3), 461-473 (2021).</li><li>Kasai, M., Isa, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+light+isoflurane+anesthesia+on+organization+of+direction+and+orientation+selectivity+in+the+superficial+layer+of+the+mouse+superior+colliculus.">Effects of light isoflurane anesthesia on organization of direction and orientation selectivity in the superficial layer of the mouse superior colliculus.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 42 (4), 619-630 (2022).</li><li>Kim, S., 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=The+apical+complex+couples+cell+fate+and+cell+survival+to+cerebral+cortical+development.">The apical complex couples cell fate and cell survival to cerebral cortical development.</a> Neuron. 66 (1), 69-84 (2010).</li><li>Kaifosh, P., Zaremba, J. D., Danielson, N. B., Losonczy, A. S. I. M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Python+software+for+analysis+of+dynamic+fluorescence+imaging+data.">Python software for analysis of dynamic fluorescence imaging data.</a> Frontiers in Neuroinformatics. 8, 80 (2014).</li><li>Pnevmatikakis, E. A., Giovannucci, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=NoRMCorre:+An+online+algorithm+for+piecewise+rigid+motion+correction+of+calcium+imaging+data.">NoRMCorre: An online algorithm for piecewise rigid motion correction of calcium imaging data.</a> Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 291, 83-94 (2017).</li><li>Kerlin, A. M., Andermann, M. L., Berezovskii, V. K., Reid, R. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Broadly+tuned+response+properties+of+diverse+inhibitory+neuron+subtypes+in+mouse+visual+cortex.">Broadly tuned response properties of diverse inhibitory neuron subtypes in mouse visual cortex.</a> Neuron. 67 (5), 858-871 (2010).</li><li>G&#246;bel, W., Helmchen, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+calcium+imaging+of+neural+network+function.">In vivo calcium imaging of neural network function.</a> Physiology. 22 (6), 358-365 (2007).</li><li>Dombeck, D. A., Khabbaz, A. N., Collman, F., Adelman, T. L., Tank, D. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+large-scale+neural+activity+with+cellular+resolution+in+awake,+mobile+mice.">Imaging large-scale neural activity with cellular resolution in awake, mobile mice.</a> Neuron. 56 (1), 43-57 (2007).</li><li>Evans, D. 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=A+synaptic+threshold+mechanism+for+computing+escape+decisions.">A synaptic threshold mechanism for computing escape decisions.</a> Nature. 558 (7711), 590-594 (2018).</li></ol>

协议中的关键步骤 最关键的一步是步骤 5.2 和 5.3 中的开颅手术。首先，λ后方 0.5 毫米处的骨头很厚，里面有血管，在钻孔过程中会导致出血。应准备足够的凝胶泡沫来止血。其次，切除横窦上方的骨头时，很有可能发生血管出血。对于故障排除，另一种方法是将椭圆形内的骨头变薄并一块一块地移除。另一个技巧是在提升前浸泡骨头，使硬脑膜更容易从骨头上分离并防止出血。</...

上丘（SC）是所有脊椎动物的重要视觉中枢。在哺乳动物中，它接收来自视网膜和视觉皮层的直接输入1。虽然光学记录已广泛应用于皮层 2,3,4,5，但其在 SC 中的应用受到不良光学访问的阻碍 6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 ，18,19.该协议的目标是提供有关用于光学记录SC中神经活动的两种互补方法的详细信息。
SC 位于皮层和横窦下方，这限制了对胶状神经元的光学接触。克服这一限制的一种方法是吸出覆盖的皮层并暴露前外侧 SC 7,9,10,13,14,19。然而，由于 SC 接收皮层输入，这样的操作可能会影响 SC 神经元对视觉刺激的反应。为了克服这一限制，我们在这里详细介绍了一种替代方案，即用硅塞对后内侧 SC 的浅层进行成像，同时保持皮层完整 8,11。具体来说，为了实现单细胞分辨率，我们应用双光子显微镜对野生型小鼠后内侧SC的钙反应进行成像。此外，为了实现广泛的覆盖范围，我们应用宽视野显微镜对后皮层尚未发育的突变小鼠的整个SC进行成像20。
该协议中描述的两种方法是相互补充的。不消融皮层的双光子钙成像适用于以单细胞分辨率记录具有完整皮层输入的神经活动。宽视场钙成像适用于记录整个SC的神经活动，同时牺牲空间分辨率。

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>16x objective</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50-mm lens</td>
			<td>Computar</td>
			<td>M5018-MP2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5-mm coverslip</td>
			<td>Warner instruments</td>
			<td>CS-5R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>bandpass filter</td>
			<td>Chroma Technology</td>
			<td>HQ575/250 m-2p</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>butyl cyanoacrylate</td>
			<td>Vetbond, World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>camera for monitoring pupil</td>
			<td>FLIR</td>
			<td>BFS-U3-04S2M-CS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>camera for widefield imaging</td>
			<td>Basler</td>
			<td>acA2000-165&#181;m</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>corona treater</td>
			<td>Electro-Technic Products</td>
			<td>BD-20AC</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>dichroic</td>
			<td>Chroma Technology</td>
			<td>T600/200dcrb&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>galvanometers</td>
			<td>Cambridge Technology</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>glass bead sterilizer</td>
			<td>RWD</td>
			<td>RS1502</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>microdrill</td>
			<td>RWD</td>
			<td>78001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>micromanipulator</td>
			<td>Sutter Instruments</td>
			<td>QUAD</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>photomultiplier tube</td>
			<td>Hamamatsu</td>
			<td>R3896</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>rotory encoder</td>
			<td>USdigital</td>
			<td>MA3-A10-125-N</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>self-curing dental adhesive resin cement&#160;</td>
			<td>SuperBond C&#38;B, Sun Medical Co, Ltd. Moriyama, Japan</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>thermostatic heating pad&#160;</td>
			<td>RWD</td>
			<td>69020</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ti:Sapphire laser</td>
			<td>Spectra-Physics</td>
			<td>Mai Tai HP DeepSee</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>translucent silicone adhesive&#160;</td>
			<td>Kwik-Sil, World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>treadmill</td>
			<td>Xinglin Biology</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Virus Strains</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>rAAV2/9-hsyn-Gcamp6m</td>
			<td>Vector Core at Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Animals</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>C57BL/6J wild type</td>
			<td>Laboratory Animal Resource Center at Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Emx1-Cre</td>
			<td>The Jackson Laboratory&#160;</td>
			<td>5628</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pals1flox/wt</td>
			<td>Christopher A. Walsh Lab</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Software</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ImageJ</td>
			<td>NIH Image</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Labview</td>
			<td>National Instruments</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MATLAB</td>
			<td>Mathworks</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

calcium imaging in mouse superior colliculus

上丘（SC）是所有脊椎动物进化上保守的中脑结构，是大脑皮层出现之前最复杂的视觉中心。它接收来自 ~30 种视网膜神经节细胞 （RGC） 的直接输入，每种细胞编码特定的视觉特征。SC 是否只是继承视网膜特征，或者 SC 中是否发生了额外的和潜在的 从头 处理，仍然难以捉摸。为了揭示SC中视觉信息的神经编码，我们在这里提供了一个详细的协议，以在清醒小鼠中使用两种互补方法光学记录视觉反应。一种方法使用双光子显微镜以单细胞分辨率对钙活性进行成像，而不消融覆盖的皮层，而另一种方法使用宽视场显微镜对皮层基本未发育的突变小鼠的整个SC进行成像。该协议详细介绍了这两种方法，包括动物制备、病毒注射、头板植入、栓子植入、数据采集和数据分析。代表性结果表明，双光子钙成像揭示了单细胞分辨率下的视觉诱发神经元反应，而宽视野钙成像揭示了整个SC的神经活动。通过结合这两种方法，人们可以揭示SC中不同尺度的神经编码，并且这种组合也可以应用于其他大脑区域。

The superior colliculus (SC) is an important visual center in all vertebrates. In mammals, it receives direct inputs from the retina and the visual cortex1. While optical recording has been widely applied to the cortex2,3,4,5, its application in the SC is hindered by poor optical accesss6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19. The goal of this protocol is to provide details about two complementary methods for optical recording of the neural activity in the SC.
The SC is located beneath the cortex and transverse sinus, which limits optical access to the collicular neurons. One approach to overcome this limitation is to aspirate the overlaying cortex and expose the anterior-lateral SC7,9,10,13,14,19. However, because the SC receives cortical inputs, such an operation might affect how the SC neurons respond to visual stimuli. To overcome this limitation, we detail here an alternative protocol to image the superficial layer of the posterior-medial SC with a silicon plug, while leaving the cortex intact8,11. Specifically, to achieve single-cell resolution, we applied two-photon microscopy to image calcium responses in the posterior-medial SC of wild-type mice. In addition, to achieve broad coverage, we applied wide-field microscopy to image the entire SC of a mutant mouse whose posterior cortex has not developed20.
The two methods described in this protocol are complementary to each other. The two-photon calcium imaging without ablating the cortex is appropriate for recording neural activity at&#160;single-cell resolution with intact cortical inputs. The wide-field calcium imaging is appropriate for recording neural activity in the entire SC while sacrificing spatial resolution.

作者聚焦：揭示上丘的神经编码和视觉处理机制 

小鼠上丘的钙成像

My research focuses on neural coding and mechanisms for visual processing. We are trying to answer how various information is encoded in the brain, especially in the superior colliculus under the underlying neuro-mechanisms. To understand visual processing, scientists combine various approaches, including neuronal morphology, antegrade and retrograde tracing, IL sequencing, neuro modeling, machine learning, is understood well.The challenge is to remove the skull over the SSA, cutting and left in the bone in one larger piece, is likely to fail because the bone is attached to the dura. By combining two photo on a wide field calcium image, our recent work revealed the function architecture of motion direction in the mouse SC at both single cell resolution and a global scale. We found that neurons with similar preference form patches up to 500 micrometer under global to the upward on the nasal motion.With our protocol, we are addressing two research gaps. First, researchers can perform long-term cast imaging in mouse SC at a single cell resolution without breaking the cortex. Secondly, researchers can record the neuroactivity across the entire SC using widefield microscoping.Our protocol provides a measure to image the posterior medial SC at single cell resolution with a intact cortex in mice. Also, we use a biocompatible plug to expose the SC, which reduces infection for chronic imaging. Our results provide a way to study the neural coding of visual information across a large visual field.Combined with optogenetics, one can study half inputs from different brain regions modulating the neuroactivity in SC.

图 1A、B 分别显示了如何制作吸盘和塞子。图 2 显示了如何成功植入插头。植入塞子后，后内侧SC暴露在外，如图2D所示。图 3 显示了使用双光子显微镜成像的野生型小鼠示例的 SC 神经元的钙反应。在显微镜下很容易捕捉到的三棱柱可用于定位成像部位（图3B）。视觉反应?...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Unveiling Neural Coding and Mechanisms of Visual Processing in the Superior Colliculus at JoVE.com

该方案详细介绍了在清醒小鼠的上丘（SC）中对钙反应进行成像的过程，包括用双光子显微镜成像单神经元活动，同时在野生型小鼠中保持皮层完整，以及在部分皮层突变小鼠中用宽场显微镜对整个SC进行成像。

The superior colliculus (SC), an evolutionarily conserved midbrain structure in all vertebrates, is the most sophisticated visual center before the ...

我的研究重点是神经编码和视觉处理机制。我们正试图回答各种信息是如何在大脑中编码的，特别是在潜在神经机制下的上丘中。为了理解视觉处理，科学家们结合了各种方法，包括神经元形态学、顺行和逆行追踪、IL测序、神经建模、机器学习，都很好理解。挑战在于移除SSA上方的头骨，切开并留在骨头中，因为骨头附着在硬脑膜上，因此可能会失败。通过在宽视场钙图像上结合两张照片，我们最近的工作揭示了小鼠SC在单细胞分辨率和全局尺度上运动方向的功能结构。我们发现，具有相似偏好的神经元在鼻腔运动中形成高达500微米的斑块。通过我们的协议，我们正在解决两个研究差距。首先，研究人员可以在不破坏皮层的情况下以单细胞分辨率对小鼠SC进行长期铸造成像。其次，研究人员可以使用宽场显微镜记录整个SC的神经活动。我们的方案提供了一种以单细胞分辨率对小鼠皮层完整的后内侧SC进行成像的措施。此外，我们使用生物相容性塞子暴露皮状细胞瘤，从而减少慢性成像的感染。我们的研究结果提供了一种在大视野中研究视觉信息的神经编码的方法。结合光遗传学，人们可以研究来自不同大脑区域调节 SC 神经活动的一半输入。

calcium-imaging-in-mouse-superior-colliculus

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Calcium Imaging in Mouse Superior Colliculus

The superior colliculus (SC), an evolutionarily conserved midbrain structure in all vertebrates, is the most sophisticated visual center before the emergence of the cerebral cortex. It receives direct inputs from ~30 types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), with each encoding a specific visual feature. It remains elusive whether the SC simply inherits retinal features or if additional and potentially de novo processing occurs in the SC. To reveal the neural coding of visual information in the SC, we provide here a detailed protocol to optically record visual responses with two complementary methods in awake mice. One method uses two-photon microscopy to image calcium activity at single-cell resolution without ablating the overlaying cortex, while the other uses wide-field microscopy to image the whole SC of a mutant mouse whose cortex is largely undeveloped. This protocol details these two methods, including animal preparation, viral injection, headplate implantation, plug implantation, data acquisition, and data analysis. The representative results show that the two-photon calcium imaging reveals visually evoked neuronal responses at single-cell resolution, and the wide-field calcium imaging reveals&#160;neural activity across the entire SC. By combining these two methods, one can reveal the neural coding in the SC at different scales, and such combination can also be applied to other brain regions.

This protocol details the procedure for imaging calcium responses in the superior colliculus (SC) of awake mice, including imaging single-neuron activity with two-photon microscopy while leaving the cortex intact in wild-type mice, and imaging the entire SC with wide-field microscopy in partial-cortex mutant mice.

科研

神经科学

Preparation of a Suction Cup and Plugs for Calcium Imaging in Mouse

Begin the process of creating a suction cup by depositing a drop of PBS in an acrylic dish. Use a 21 gauge flat needle to fill the tip of the needle with PBS by capillarity. Cover the tip of the needle with a translucent silicone adhesive, and set it for approximately 10 minutes.Cut the silicone adhesive with scissors to a disc with a two millimeter diameter. To prepare the plugs, take a 0.75 millimeter thick plastic shim stock and cut out a one by one centimeter square in the center. Clean the shim stock and two acrylic blocks with alcohol, and wipe them with lens paper.Place the shim stock on one acrylic block, and deposit silicone adhesive into the center to fill 90%of the opening. Add another acrylic block. Apply approximately one kilogram of force, and wait 20 minutes.Under a surgical microscope, cut the silicone adhesive with a scalpel into one by 1.5 millimeter triangular prisms. Remove any dust from the triangular prisms with sticky plastic tape, and place them on a glass cover slip. Place the cover slip with the triangular prisms under a corona treater and turn it on.Bring the corona treater closer to the cover slip until lightning appears, and hold it in that position for a few minutes until the prisms and cover slip are attached. After placing the plugs in a Petri dish, incubate at 70 degrees Celsius overnight.

用于小鼠钙成像的吸盘和吸盘的制备

Viral Construct (AAV) Injection in Mouse Superior Colliculus for Calcium Imaging

Begin by securing the anesthetized mouse onto a stereotaxic frame with ear bars. Apply ophthalmic ointment on the mouse's eyes to prevent drying, and maintain the body temperature of the mouse at 37 degrees Celsius with a thermostatic heating pad. After shaving the fur and sterilizing the surgical site, inject lidocaine, tilidine, and meloxicam.Once the skin over the SC is removed, clean the skull with a cotton swab. Adjust the stereotaxic frame until the skull surface is flat. Using a drill, create a whole 0.5 millimeter lateral, and 0.42 millimeter anterior to the lambda, until the dura is exposed.Inject an adeno-associated virus, or AAV, expressing GCaMP6m, at depths of one millimeter and 1.6 millimeters from the Lambda using a beveled glass micro-pipette. After the injection, slowly withdraw the injector and proceed with the implantation of the head plate.

在小鼠上丘细胞中注射病毒构建体 （AAV） 用于钙成像

Implantation of the Headplate in Mouse for Calcium Imaging 

After injecting the viral construct into the mouse brain, clean the muscles and tissues over the skull, and scratch the skull with a blade. Prepare the dental adhesive resin cement by mixing 3/4 spoonful of polymer, three drops of monomer, and one drop of catalyst in a ceramic bowl on ice. Apply the mixture to the head plate and the skull.Attach them and wait for the adhesive to set for five minutes. Finally, inject antibiotics to prevent infections. After removing the mouse from the stereotaxic frame, place it on a heating pad for recovery, and return it to the home cage after recovering from anesthesia.

在小鼠体内植入头板进行钙成像 

Implanting the Plug in the Mouse for Calcium Imaging

Three weeks after the viral infection, anesthetize and fix the mouse with a head plate on a stereotaxic frame. Soak a gel foam in saline to stop potential bleeding. Use a micro-drill to create a three by two millimeter oval, centered at 0.5 millimeter posterior to the lambda.Thin the boundary of the oval until it cracks, then thin the skull before the oval recording window to close the cover slip to the SC.Using fine forceps, take off the bone flaps. Make a cut down the dura, posterior to the transverse sinus and remove the piece of dura. Dry the skull and the recording window with gel foam and cotton swabs.Then deposit a drop of silicone adhesive into the recording window. Use the suction cup to hold the plug with negative pressure, and use a motorized micro-manipulator to move the suction cup and lower the plug into the silicone adhesive until the cover slip touches the skull. Once the head plate is cleaned, apply butyl cyanoacrylate and resin cement around the boundary of the plug to fix it to the head plate and proceed with imaging.

将塞子植入鼠标进行钙成像

Two-Photon Calcium Imaging of Mouse Superior Colliculus Neurons

After implanting the head plate and plug, secure the animal on a rotating treadmill with its head plate. Place the treadmill beneath the two-photon microscope and adjust the height to an appropriate position. Place a black aluminum cone between the objective and the head plate to prevent light contamination from the monitor for visual stimulation.To perform two-photon imaging, adjust the laser power at the sample plane between 20 and 80 milliwatts. Scan a 600-by-600 micrometer field of view at 4.8 hertz with a spatial resolution of 2.4 micrometers per pixel and image neural activity up to 350 micrometers in depth. Using a rotary encoder, record the mouse's locomotion on the treadmill.Use a camera with a 50 millimeter lens to record its pupil size and position. Lastly, synchronize these recordings, and image acquisitions to visual stimulation by recording triggers sent by the stimulation computer. The calcium responses of SC neurons from a wild type mouse and the standard deviation projection of the fluorescence across images are presented.

小鼠上丘神经元的双光子钙成像

Wide-Field Calcium Imaging of Mouse Superior Colliculus Neurons

To begin, inject 100 nanoliters of AAV expressing GCaMP6m at a depth of 200 micrometers at the center of each side of the SC to the mutant mouse whose posterior cortex has failed to develop. After approximately three weeks, implant a five millimeter diameter cover slip over the SC.After fixing the cover slip, acquire images using a CMOA camera after passing an emission filter at 10 hertz. The calcium responses of SC neurons from a partial cortex mutant mouse were imaged using wide-field microscopy.The acquired image was down sampled to one quarter of the original size, and visually evoked calcium responses are shown.