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Nanyang Technological University

Electrophysiological Recordings of Brainstem-Spinal Cord Preparations from a Newborn Rodent

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Transcript

Secure a brainstem-spinal cord preparation from a newborn rodent in a recording chamber with a flow of oxygenated aCSF. Remove the thin tissue covering the preparation.

The brainstem's neuronal network generates a rhythmic electrical activity, termed inspiratory burst, transmitted via motor neurons of the spinal cord's fourth ventral, or C4, nerve root to control breathing.

Position a recording pipette near the nerve root and use suction to draw the root inside, forming a seal.

Intrinsic properties of the brainstem neurons cause sodium influx, depolarizing the membrane and generating an action potential, followed by potassium outflow for repolarization.

Ensuing hyperpolarization prevents new action potentials until the sodium-potassium ATPase utilizes ATP to restore the membrane potential.

The action potentials propagate to the nerve root as rhythmic bursts.

Flow oxygen-deprived aCSF to disrupt ATP production and impair ATPase function, delaying action potentials and decreasing rhythmic bursts.

Switching back to oxygenated aCSF recovers the number of rhythmic bursts.

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Electrophysiological Recordings of Brainstem-Spinal Cord Preparations from a Newborn Rodent

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