Questo lavoro è supportato dal NIH concedere NS065183 e fondi di start-up della Facoltà di Medicina di Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson.

1. Preparazione Rat astrociti Cultura per Media condizionata e astrociti-neuroni co-colture. <ol><li> Preparare buffer di dissezione (BSS, vedi Tabella 1 per ricetta) e conservare a 4 ° C fino al momento dell&#39;uso. </li><li> Anestetizzare cuccioli di ratto neonatale (P0-P2) con isoflurano in un bicchiere da 500 ml. </li><li> Quando cuccioli sono immobili, spruzzare con il 70% di etanolo e decapitare. </li><li> Rimuovere il cervello. <ol><li> Tenere la testa saldamente con un paio di Dumont # 5 pinze e usare le forbici pregiati per fare un&#39;incisione mediana attraverso la pelle e il cranio. </li><li> Esporre il cervello, riflettendo il cranio ai lati, e rimuovere il cervello in un piatto contenente freddo BSS. </li></ol></li><li> Separare gli emisferi cerebrali dal diencefalo e il tronco cerebrale in un ambito di dissezione. Rimuovere con cura tutte le meningi stabilizzando il tessuto con un paio di pinze e tirando delicatamente le meningi con un altro paio di pinze. </li><li> Raccogliere tutti i emisferin un 60 millimetri piatto. Utilizzando piccole forbici, tessuti trita più finemente possibile. Poi trasferire il tessuto tritato in una provetta conica da 50 ml. </li><li> Aggiungere 1,5 ml di 1% DNasi I e 1,5 ml di 2,5% tripsina e 12 ml di BSS (volume totale di 15 ml) al cervello. Incubare in un bagno d&#39;acqua per 15 minuti a 37 ° C. Per garantire una buona miscelazione, il tubo viene agitato a mano ogni 5 min. </li><li> Trasferire il surnatante attraverso un filtro 70 micron cella su un nuovo tubo conico da 50 ml. Aggiungere 3 ml FBS a questo surnatante. </li><li> Per i pezzi rimanenti, aggiungere 13,5 ml di BSS e 1,5 ml 2,5% tripsina e incubare nel bagnomaria agitazione per altri 15 min. </li><li> Trasferire il supernatante residuo attraverso il filtro cella e si combinano con il supernatante dal passo 1,8. </li><li> Centrifugare a 1000 rpm per 5 minuti per far sedimentare le cellule. </li><li> Risospendere pellet in 5 ml di media gliali. Surnatante può essere nuovamente centrifugato per far sedimentare le cellule rimanenti. </li><li> Contare le cellule utilizzando un emocitometro. </li><li> Piatto cells ad una densità di 1 x 10 7 ogni 150 cm 2 matraccio. </li><li> Cambiare media per mezzi freschi gliali il giorno dopo la placcatura. Successivamente, mangimi cellule due volte alla settimana con i media gliale. </li><li> Quando le cellule hanno raggiunto&gt; 80% di confluenza (circa 10 giorni dopo placcatura), congelare le cellule dal siero di cavallo 90% e 10% DMSO e mantenere scorte in azoto liquido. Le cellule sono congelati a 2 x 10 6 per flaconcino. Circa 5 fiale possono essere congelati da ciascun flacone. </li><li> Circa 10-14 giorni prima di impostare la cultura dell&#39;ippocampo, cellule gliali sono placcati dalle scorte congelate. Noi di solito piatto di cinque piastre da 6 pozzetti, il che è sufficiente a sostenere la crescita di 90 vetrini di neuroni dell&#39;ippocampo (tre coprioggetto 15 millimetri rotondi per pozzetto). Abbiamo anche piastra ulteriori otto a dieci 60 millimetri piatti a base di cellule gliali, che viene utilizzato per i media condizionata N2.1 per la trasfezione. Il giorno prima colture neuronali, cellule dovrebbe essere alimentato con i media NB27. Gli astrociti dovrebbero idealmente essere&gt; 90% confluenti al secoloè il punto. Troviamo che il congelamento riduce notevolmente il numero di microglia nelle culture astrogliali. Dal momento che una maggiore neurotossicità si osserva quando la microglia è presente nelle culture astrogliali, usiamo sempre la cultura astrogliale preparato da scorte congelate per co-coltura con i neuroni. </li></ol> 2. Cultura neuronale <ol><li> Pulire i vetrini per primo risciacquo in acqua MilliQ 2x. Essi vengono quindi immersi in acido nitrico concentrato per 24 ore, e risciacquati con acqua milliQ per almeno cinque volte per un totale di 2 ore. Coprioggetto vengono essiccati e sterilizzati mediante cottura in un forno a 225 ° C per 6 ore. </li><li> Trasferimento coprioggetto di 60 millimetri piatti dopo la sterilizzazione. Posizionare quattro punti di paraffina sterile vicino al bordo esterno di ogni coprioggetto per mantenere separati i neuroni da cellule gliali durante co-coltura. </li><li> Coprioggetto cappotto con 1 mg / ml di poli-L-lisina in 0.1 M tampone borato pernottamento a 37 ° C incubatore. </li><li> Il giorno dopo, lavare vetrini due volte in m sterileilliQ acqua per almeno 15 minuti ciascuno. Essi vengono poi incubate durante la notte nei media placcatura in 37 ° C incubatore. </li><li> Euthanize ratto gravide (E18) da anestesia isoflurano seguita da pneumotorace, e eutanasia topi embrionali per decapitazione. Rimuovere il cervello e sezionare i emisferi cerebrali come descritto sopra. </li><li> Sezionare il ippocampi dall&#39;emisfero cerebrale. Mettere tutti ippocampi in una provetta conica da 15 ml, e digerire con tripsina 0,25% (0,5 ml 2,5% tripsina, 4,5 ml BSS) a 37 ℃ per 15 min. </li><li> Ippocampi digeriti vengono risciacquati in BSS 3x per 5 minuti ciascuno. Vengono poi triturato con una pipetta Pasteur di vetro, e la densità cellulare è determinato utilizzando un emocitometro. I neuroni sono poi seminate ad una densità di 2 x 10 5 cellule ogni 60 mm senza coperchio. </li><li> Circa 2-4 ore dopo la placcatura, il trasferimento coprioggetto con i neuroni collegati ai piatti contenenti cellule astrogliali, con i neuroni rivolto verso la glia. A DIV3, aggiungere citosina arabinoside alcellule ad una concentrazione finale di 5 mM per fermare glia proliferazione. </li></ol> 3. Calcio Transfezione <ol><li> Supporti Condizione N2.1 sulla glia il giorno prima trasfezione. </li><li> Il giorno della trasfezione, adottare mezzi N2.1 condizionata fuori della glia e trasferire in un nuovo piatto. Trasferimento coprioggetto con i neuroni nel supporto N2.1 condizionato. Lasciare equilibrare in incubatrice per 10-30 min. </li><li> Per una serie di provette sterili, combinare 1-4 mg di DNA, 12,5 ml di 2 M CaCl 2 e H 2 O sterile per un volume totale di 100 microlitri. Per un secondo gruppo di tubi, aggiungere 100 ml di 2x HBS. </li><li> Aggiungere ⅛ volume di 2x HBS (12,5 mL) alla volta alla provetta contenente la miscela CaCl 2 / DNA, vortex per pochi secondi ogni volta. Lasciare le provette a sedere per 15 min. </li><li> Dopo 15 minuti di incubazione, aggiungere goccia a goccia la miscela di trasfezione per le cellule. Incubare per 1-1,5 ore. Uno strato di precipitati sabbia come dovrebbe essere visibilesotto il microscopio usando un obiettivo 10X. </li><li> Dopo l&#39;incubazione, lavare vetrini due volte con caldo tampone di lavaggio HBS. </li><li> Coprioggetti Ritorno a piatti originali con glia, aggiungere acido kynurenic ad una concentrazione finale di 0,5 mm. </li><li> Neuroni trasfettati possono essere esposte in diretta o trattati per immunocitochimica già a partire dal giorno successivo. I neuroni possono sopravvivere fino a tre settimane dopo la trasfezione. </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Karra, D., Dahm, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transfection+techniques+for+neuronal+cells.">Transfection techniques for neuronal cells.</a> J. Neurosci. 30, 6171-6177 (2010).</li><li>Zeitelhofer, M., 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=High-efficiency+transfection+of+mammalian+neurons+via+nucleofection.">High-efficiency transfection of mammalian neurons via nucleofection.</a> Nat. Protoc. 2, 1692-1704 (2007).</li><li>Janas, J., Skowronski, J., Van Aelst, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lentiviral+delivery+of+RNAi+in+hippocampal+neurons.">Lentiviral delivery of RNAi in hippocampal neurons.</a> Method Enzymol. 406, 593-605 (2006).</li><li>Graham, F. L., vander Eb, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+new+technique+for+the+assay+of+infectivity+of+human+adenovirus+5+DNA.">A new technique for the assay of infectivity of human adenovirus 5 DNA.</a> Virology. 52, 456-467 (1973).</li><li>Craig, A. M., Banker, G. a. G. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transfecting+cultured+neurons.">Transfecting cultured neurons.</a> Culturing Nerve Cells. , (1998).</li><li>Alavian, K. N., 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=Bcl-xL+regulates+metabolic+efficiency+of+neurons+through+interaction+with+the+mitochondrial+F1FO+ATP+synthase.">Bcl-xL regulates metabolic efficiency of neurons through interaction with the mitochondrial F1FO ATP synthase.</a> Nat. Cell Biol. 13, 1224-1233 (2011).</li><li>Zhang, Y., 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=Modulation+of+synaptic+function+by+VAC14,+a+protein+that+regulates+the+phosphoinositides+PI(3,5)P(2)+and+PI(5)P.">Modulation of synaptic function by VAC14, a protein that regulates the phosphoinositides PI(3,5)P(2) and PI(5)P.</a> EMBO J. 31, 3442-3456 (2012).</li><li>Dudek, H., Ghosh, A., Greenberg, M. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium+phosphate+transfection+of+DNA+into+neurons+in+primary+culture.">Calcium phosphate transfection of DNA into neurons in primary culture.</a> Curr. Protoc. Neurosci. Chapter 3, Unit 3 11 (2001).</li><li>Goslin, K. A. H., Banker, G., Banker, G. a. G. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rat+Hippocampal+Neurons+in+Low-Density+Culture.">Rat Hippocampal Neurons in Low-Density Culture.</a> Culturing Nerve Cells. , (1998).</li><li>Kohrmann, M., 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=Fast,+convenient,+and+effective+method+to+transiently+transfect+primary+hippocampal+neurons.">Fast, convenient, and effective method to transiently transfect primary hippocampal neurons.</a> J. Neurosci. Res. 58, 831-835 (1999).</li><li>Jiang, M., Chen, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+Ca2+-phosphate+transfection+efficiency+in+low-density+neuronal+cultures.">High Ca2+-phosphate transfection efficiency in low-density neuronal cultures.</a> Nat. Protoc. 1, 695-700 (2006).</li><li>Goetze, B., Grunewald, B., Baldassa, S., Kiebler, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chemically+controlled+formation+of+a+DNA/calcium+phosphate+coprecipitate:+application+for+transfection+of+mature+hippocampal+neurons.">Chemically controlled formation of a DNA/calcium phosphate coprecipitate: application for transfection of mature hippocampal neurons.</a> J. Neurobiol. 60, 517-525 (2004).</li></ol>

Nessun conflitto di interesse dichiarati.

Ci sono diversi parametri chiave che devono essere attentamente controllata per trasfezioni costantemente successo 10,11. Il parametro più critico per il fosfato di calcio trasfezione è il valore di pH 2x HBS, che nelle nostre mani solito varia tra 7,10-7,15. Si consiglia di fare tre lotti di titoli con valori di pH in 0.05 incrementi per spiegare la differenza tra pH-metri. In alternativa, il kit di transfezione mammiferi Clontech fornisce 2x HBS che produce costantemente buona efficienza. Tenere presente che il pH della soluzione cambia nel tempo, anche se conservato in freezer. In genere teniamo aliquote di 2x HBS a 4 ° C per un massimo di un mese e a -20 ° C per un massimo di un anno. Il secondo parametro è il pH del terreno di coltura. Per mantenere questo, mezzo N2.1 coerente sono regolarmente condizione culture astrogliali durante la notte ma non superiore a 24 ore. Inoltre, cerchiamo di usare culture astrogliali °a sono simili a confluenza. L&#39;uso di media-glia condizionata aiuta anche a ridurre la tossicità ai neuroni durante la trasfezione. Mezzi condizionati sono equilibrati in incubatrice prima della transfezione per mantenere il pH costante. La dimensione e la densità dei precipitati di fosfato di calcio è la chiave per trasfezione di successo. Piccoli precipitati porterebbe a bassa efficienza di trasfezione, mentre le grandi, precipitati clumpy di solito portano a citotossicità 10. Per garantire la formazione coerente fosfato di calcio precipitato, usiamo vortex intermittente durante la miscelazione del DNA / CaCl 2 e 2x HBS 11. Un altro metodo comunemente utilizzato per la miscelazione tramite soffiando bolle d&#39;aria con una pipetta Pasteur 12. Abbiamo trovato il vortex intermittente per produrre la formazione di precipitati più coerente, soprattutto per i piccoli volumi di miscela di trasfezione. Altre variabili da considerare sono la qualità del DNA, e l&#39;età della neurons. Troviamo che la trasfezione iniziare a lavorare costantemente quando i neuroni raggiungono DIV2, tuttavia, l&#39;efficienza comincia a diminuire quando i neuroni sono al di là DIV10. Infine, la salute delle colture neuronali stessi rappresenta un altro importante parametro. Troviamo l&#39;utilizzo del sistema di co-coltura di essere il modo migliore per generare colture ippocampali primario sani. Se i neuroni non sono sani, essi non sopravvivono a lungo dopo trasfezione. Con il sistema di co-coltura, neuroni bassa densità possono sopravvivere per 3 settimane dopo la trasfezione, che facilita studi a lungo termine.

Neuroni primari sono uno dei tipi di cellule più difficili da trasfettare come sono postmitotico e sono molto sensibili alle variazioni microambientali. Ci sono quattro tipi comunemente usati di metodi per l&#39;espressione di geni esogeni e RNA breve tornante (shRNAs) in queste cellule 1. Ognuno ha i suoi vantaggi e svantaggi. Ad esempio, elettroporazione viene di solito effettuata su neuroni appena isolate 2, come le cellule devono essere trasferiti in cuvette per trasfezione. Infezione da virus di solito può raggiungere un grado elevato di efficienza 3, ma è sempre rischiosa per gli operatori-intensità di lavoro. Molti reagenti di transfezione lipidi mediata sono disponibili in commercio, con vari gradi di successo nei neuroni e diversi livelli di citotossicità. Fosfato di calcio trasfezione rappresenta un metodo conveniente ed economico per l&#39;introduzione di geni estranei in neuroni. Il metodo è stato usato per la prima a introdurre adenovirus DNA in cel mammiferiLS di Graham e Van Der Eb (1973) 4. La trasfezione è stata eseguita miscelando cloruro di calcio con il DNA ricombinante in un tampone fosfato. Questo permette la formazione di fosfato di DNA / calcio precipitati che, quando gradualmente lasciato cadere su un monostrato di cellule, aderire alla superficie cellulare, sono assorbite per endocitosi e finalmente entrare nel nucleo 5. Questo processo porterebbe alla espressione di geni estranei introdotti nella cellula bersaglio. Tipiche efficienze di fosfato di calcio serie trasfezione tra il 0.5-5% 6-8. Tuttavia, con un&#39;attenta ottimizzazione e coerente attuazione del protocollo sperimentale, è possibile raggiungere una efficienza di trasfezione di quasi il 50%. Qui descriviamo il nostro protocollo dettagliato per fosfato di calcio trasfezione di neuroni primari, che sono co-coltivate con le cellule astrogliali in un formato panino 9.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="879">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;width:284px;">Dumont #5 forceps</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11251-20</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Fine scissors</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14090-09</td>
			<td>straight / sharp 8.5 cm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Vannas-Tubinger spring scissors</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15008-08</td>
			<td>angled / sharp / 8.5 cm / 5 mm cutting edge</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Standard pattern forceps</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11000-16</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Student surgical scissors</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">91401-14</td>
			<td>blunt / 14.5 cm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Spring scissors</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15006-09</td>
			<td>angled to side / 9 cm / 10 mm cutting edge</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Isoflurane</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Webster Veterinary</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14043-225-06</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Poly-L-lysine</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P2636</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">MEM</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M2279</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">100 mM Sodium pyruvate</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S8636</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Glucose</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G8270</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">10x HBSS</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>H4385</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">1 M HEPES, pH 7.3</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td>15630-080</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">GlutaMAX</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td>35050-061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Neurobasal Media</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td>21130-049</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">B27 Supplement (50x)</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td>17504-044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">N2 Supplement</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td>17502-048</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ovalbumin</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A5503</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Penicillin/Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15070-063</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">2.5% Trypsin</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15090-046</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">DNase I</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">DN-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:284px;">Cytosine arabinoside</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Calbiochem/EMD Millipore</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">251010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Kynurenic acid</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">K3375</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

calcium phosphate transfection of primary hippocampal neurons

Precipitazione di fosfato di calcio è un metodo conveniente ed economico per la trasfezione di cellule in coltura. Con ottimizzazione, è possibile usare questo metodo su cellule di difficile trasfezione come neuroni primari. Qui descriviamo il nostro protocollo dettagliato per fosfato di calcio trasfezione di neuroni dell&#39;ippocampo co-coltivate con le cellule astrogliali.

Quando i diversi parametri della trasfezione sono ottimizzati e accuratamente controllati da esperimento per sperimentare, è possibile avere efficienze di trasfezione fino al 50%. Figura 1 mostra un campo di neuroni che sono trasfettate con GFP su DIV4. Il campo contiene un totale di 28 neuroni, tra cui 16 sono state trasfettate. Ciò rappresenta un rendimento di oltre il 50%. Un campione di altri campi sullo stesso vetrino mostra l&#39;efficienza complessiva è di circa il 50% (dati non mostrati). Con il sistema di co-coltura astrogliale, neuroni rimangono sani e sviluppano normalmente dopo trasfezione. Figura 2 mostra un neurone dell&#39;ippocampo a DIV15, 10 giorni dopo la transfezione con un costrutto PSD-95-GFP. Il neurone ha sviluppato numerose spine dendritiche mature a forma di fungo, che indica i neuroni sono sani. L&#39;alta efficienza di trasfezione e la minima tossicità di questo protocollo lo rende uno strumento prezioso per studiare le funzioni del gene in hippo primarianeuroni Campal. Infine, questo protocollo può potenzialmente essere adattato per trasfettare culture di altri tipi di neuroni nel cervello, così come altri tipi di cellule di difficile trasfezione. <img alt="Figura 1" fo:content-width="6in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/50808/50808fig1highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/50808/50808fig1.jpg" width="600px" /> Figura 1. Neuroni dell&#39;ippocampo trasfettate con GFP a DIV4, mostrando ad alta efficienza di trasfezione. 16 su 28 neuroni nel settore sono positivi. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/50808/50808fig1highres.jpg" target="_blank">Clicca qui per vedere l&#39;immagine ingrandita</a> . <img alt="Figura 2" fo:content-width="6in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/50808/50808fig2highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/50808/50808fig2.jpg" width="600px" /> Figura 2. Neurone dell&#39;ippocampo trasfettate con PSD-95-GFP a DIV15, mostrando numerose spine dendritiche mature a forma di fungo. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/50808/50808fig2highres.jpg" target="_blank">Clicca qui per vedere l&#39;immagine ingrandita</a> . Tabella 1. Buffer / Media Ricette. <table border="1"><tbody><tr><td> Reagente </td><td> Componenti </td></tr><tr><td> Glial media </td><td> 425 ml di MEM 5 ml GlutaMAX 5 ml di sodio piruvato, 100 mM 15 ml 20% glucosio 25 ml FBS (finale 5%) Siero 25 ml di vitello (finale 5%) 5 ml penicillina / streptomicina </td></tr><tr><td> 0.1M borato Buffer </td><td> 2.48 g di acido borico 3.9 g di tetraborato di sodio (borace) 800 ml milliQ H2O pH con NaOH a 8,5 filtro sterilizzare </td></tr><tr><td> Placcatura media </td><td> 425 ml di MEM 5 ml GlutaMAX 5 ml di sodio piruvato, 100 mM 15 ml 20% glucose 50 ml FBS </td></tr><tr><td> NB27 media </td><td> 485 ml Neurobasal media 5 ml GlutaMAX 2 Supplemento ml B27 (50x) </td></tr><tr><td> Dissection Buffer (BSS) </td><td> 50 ml 10x HBSS 5 ml 1 M HEPES, pH 7.3 5 ml penicillina / streptomicina 440 ml H 2 O </td></tr><tr><td> N2.1 media </td><td> 425 ml di MEM 5 ml GlutaMAX 5 ml di sodio piruvato, 100 mM 15 ml 20% glucosio 50 ml ovoalbumina, 1% in MEM 5 ml integratore N2 </td></tr><tr><td> 2x HEPES Buffered Saline (HBS), sterile </td><td> 274 mM NaCl 9.5 mM KCl 15 mM glucosio 42 mM HEPES 1.4 mM Na 2 HPO 4 Preparare lotti di 3 diversi pH (7.05, 7.10, 7.15) </td></tr><tr><td> Tampone di lavaggio (HEPES Buffered Saline) </td><td> 50 ml 10x HBSS 5 ml 1 M HEPES, pH 7.3 445 ml H 2 O</td></tr><tr><td> 50 mM Kynurenic acido </td><td> Sciogliere 0,473 g di acido kynurenic in 1x PBS. Aggiungere gocce di NaOH per arrivare in soluzione. Quindi utilizzare HCl per aggiustare il pH torna a 7,0 </td></tr></tbody></table> Tabella 2. Linea di tempo per la preparazione culturale. <table border="1"><tbody><tr><td> Giorno </td><td> Azione </td></tr><tr><td> Prima di iniziare </td><td> Preparare la cultura astrociti e congelare cellule giù. Una partita di cultura astrociti di solito può supportare diversi mesi di culture dell&#39;ippocampo. </td></tr><tr><td> Settimana 1 Lunedi </td><td> Scongelare astrociti. </td></tr><tr><td> Settimana 1 Martedì </td><td> Concime astrociti. </td></tr><tr><td> Settimana 1 Venerdì </td><td> Concime astrociti. </td></tr><tr><td> Settimana 2 Lunedi </td><td> Concime astrociti. Sciacquare coprioggetto in H 2 O, poi immergere in acido nitrico per 24 ore. </td></tr><tr><td> Settimana 2 Martedì </td><td> Rinse coprioggetto 5x. Dry sterilizzare lamelle. </td></tr><tr><td> Settimana 2 Mercoledì </td><td> Mettere i puntini di paraffina su vetrini. Coat coprioggetto con poli-L-lisina. </td></tr><tr><td> Settimana 2 Giovedi </td><td> Sciacquare coprioggetto rivestiti in H2O sterile, poi incubare vetrini in placcatura dei media durante la notte a 37 ° C. Cambiare media su astrociti a NB27. </td></tr><tr><td> Settimana 2 Venerdì </td><td> Dissezione ippocampale e placcatura. </td></tr></tbody></table>

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Calcium Phosphate Transfection of Primary Hippocampal Neurons at JoVE.com

Calcium Phosphate Transfection of Primary Hippocampal Neurons

Fosfato di calcio trasfezione di primaria neuroni dell&#39;ippocampo

Calcium phosphate precipitation is a convenient and economical method for transfection of cultured cells. With optimization, it is possible to use this ...

calcium-phosphate-transfection-of-primary-hippocampal-neurons

Nanyang Technological University

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

25.1K Views.  Rutgers University.  Precipitazione di fosfato di calcio è un metodo conveniente ed economico per la trasfezione di cellule in coltura. Con ottimizzazione, è possibile usare questo metodo su cellule di difficile trasfezione come neuroni primari. Qui descriviamo il nostro protocollo dettagliato per fosfato di calcio trasfezione di neuroni dell'ippocampo co-coltivate con le cellule astrogliali. 

Video: Calcium Phosphate Transfection of Primary Hippocampal Neurons

Nucleofection and Primary Culture of Embryonic Mouse Hippocampal and Cortical Neurons

Hippocampal and cortical neurons have been used extensively to study central nervous system (CNS) neuronal polarization, axon/dendrite outgrowth, and synapse formation and function. An advantage of culturing these neurons is that they readily polarize, forming distinctive axons and dendrites, on a two dimensional substrate at very low densities. This property has made them extremely useful for determining many aspects of neuronal development. Furthermore, by providing glial conditioning for these neurons they will continue to develop, forming functional synaptic connections and surviving for several months in culture. In this protocol we outline a technique to dissect, culture and transfect embryonic mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons. Transfection is accomplished by electroporating DNA into the neurons before plating via nucleofection. This protocol has the advantage of expressing fluorescently-tagged fusion proteins early in development (~4-8hrs after plating) to study the dynamics and function of proteins during polarization, axon outgrowth and branching. We have also discovered that this single transfection before plating maintains fluorescently-tagged fusion protein expression at levels appropriate for imaging throughout the lifetime of the neuron (&gt; 2 months in culture). Thus, this methodology is useful for studying protein localization and function throughout CNS development with little or no disruption of neuronal function.

This protocol outlines the steps required to dissect, transfect via electroporation and culture mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons. Short-term cultures may be used for studies of axon outgrowth and guidance, while long-term cultures can be used for studies of synaptogenesis and dendritic spine analysis.

Nucleofection e cultura primaria di neuroni embrionali di topo ippocampale e corticale

Hippocampal and cortical neurons have been used extensively to study central nervous system (CNS) neuronal polarization, axon/dendrite outgrowth, and ...

Ricerca

Neuroscienze

Isolation and Culture of Hippocampal Neurons from Prenatal Mice

Primary cultures of rat and murine hippocampal neurons are widely used to reveal cellular mechanisms in neurobiology. By isolating and growing individual neurons, researchers are able to analyze properties related to cellular trafficking, cellular structure and individual protein localization using a variety of biochemical techniques. Results from such experiments are critical for testing theories addressing the neural basis of memory and learning. However, unambiguous results from these forms of experiments are predicated on the ability to grow neuronal cultures with minimum contamination by other brain cell types. In this protocol, we use specific media designed for neuron growth and careful dissection of embryonic hippocampal tissue to optimize growth of healthy neurons while minimizing contaminating cell types (i.e. astrocytes). Embryonic mouse hippocampal tissue can be more difficult to isolate than similar rodent tissue due to the size of the sample for dissection. We show detailed dissection techniques of hippocampus from embryonic day 19 (E19) mouse pups. Once hippocampal tissue is isolated, gentle dissociation of neuronal cells is achieved with a dilute concentration of trypsin and mechanical disruption designed to separate cells from connective tissue while providing minimum damage to individual cells. A detailed description of how to prepare pipettes to be used in the disruption is included. Optimal plating densities are provided for immuno-fluorescence protocols to maximize successful cell culture. The protocol provides a fast (approximately 2 hr) and efficient technique for the culture of neuronal cells from mouse hippocampal tissue.

We provide a protocol for the culture of highly purified hippocampal neurons from prenatal mouse brains without the use of a feeder glial cell layer.

Isolamento e la coltura di neuroni ippocampali da topi prenatali

Primary cultures of rat and murine hippocampal neurons are widely used to reveal cellular mechanisms in neurobiology. By isolating and growing individual ...

Antibody Transfection into Neurons as a Tool to Study Disease Pathogenesis

Antibodies provide the ability to gain novel insight into various events taking place in living systems. The ability to produce highly specific antibodies to target proteins has allowed for very precise biological questions to be addressed. Importantly, antibodies have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of human diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), paraneoplastic syndromes, multiple sclerosis (MS) and human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) 1-9. How antibodies cause disease is an area of ongoing investigation, and data suggests that interactions between antibodies and various intracellular molecules results in inflammation, altered cellular messaging, and apoptosis 10. It has been shown that patients with MS and HAM/TSP produce autoantibodies to the intracellular RNA binding protein heterogeneous ribonuclear protein A1 (hnRNP A1) 3, 5-7, 9, 11. Recent data indicate that antibodies to both intra-neuronal and surface antigens are pathogenic 3, 5-9, 11. Thus, a procedure that allows for the study of intracellular antibody:protein interactions would lend great insight into disease pathogenesis.
Genes are commonly transfected into primary cells and cell lines in culture, however transfection of antibodies into cells has been hindered by alteration of antibody structure or poor transfection efficiency 12. Other methods of transfection include antibody transfection based on cationic liposomes (consisting of DOTAP/DOPE) and polyethylenimines (PEI); both of which resulted in a ten-fold decrease in antibody transfection compared to controls 12. The method performed in our study is similar to cationic lipid-mediated methods and uses a lipid-based mechanism to form non-covalent complexes with the antibodies through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions 13. We utilized Ab-DeliverIN reagent, which is a lipid formulation capable of capturing antibodies through non-covalent electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions and delivering them inside cells. Thus chemical and genetic couplings are not necessary for delivery of functional antibodies into living cells. This method has enabled us to perform various antibody tracing and protein localization experiments, as well as the analyses of the molecular consequences of intracellular antibody:protein interactions 9.
In this protocol, we will show how to transfect antibodies into neurons rapidly, reproducibly and with a high degree of transfection efficiency. As an example, we will use anti-hnRNP A1 and anti-IgG antibodies. For easy quantification of transfection efficiency we used anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies labelled with Atto-550-NHS and FITC-labeled IgG. Atto550 NHS is a new label with high molecular absorbtion and quantum yield. Excitation source and fluorescent filters for Atto550 are similar to Cy3 (Ex. 556 Em. 578). In addition, Atto550 has high photostability. FITC-labeled IgG were used as a control to show that this method is versatile and not dye dependent. This approach and the data that is generated will assist in understanding of the role that antibodies to intracellular target antigens might play in the pathogenesis of human diseases.

A rapid approach to investigate interactions and effects on molecular mechanisms related to the presence of antibodies in an intracellular environment is described. The method involves transfection of antibodies into live cells using a non-covalent complex formation based on a lipid formulation. The technique is adaptable to immortalized cell lines and primary cells.

Trasfezione anticorpo in neuroni come strumento per studiare patogenesi della malattia

Antibodies provide the ability to gain novel insight into various events taking place in living systems.  The ability to produce highly specific ...

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 ...

Imaging Dendritic Spines of Rat Primary Hippocampal Neurons using Structured Illumination Microscopy

Dendritic spines are protrusions emerging from the dendrite of a neuron and represent the primary postsynaptic targets of excitatory inputs in the brain. Technological advances have identified these structures as key elements in neuron connectivity and synaptic plasticity. The quantitative analysis of spine morphology using light microscopy remains an essential problem due to technical limitations associated with light's intrinsic refraction limit. Dendritic spines can be readily identified by confocal laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy. However, measuring subtle changes in the shape and size of spines is difficult because spine dimensions other than length are usually smaller than conventional optical resolution fixed by light microscopy's theoretical resolution limit of 200 nm.
Several recently developed super resolution techniques have been used to image cellular structures smaller than the 200 nm, including dendritic spines. These techniques are based on classical far-field operations and therefore allow the use of existing sample preparation methods and to image beyond the surface of a specimen. Described here is a working protocol to apply super resolution structured illumination microscopy (SIM) to the imaging of dendritic spines in primary hippocampal neuron cultures. Possible applications of SIM overlap with those of confocal microscopy. However, the two techniques present different applicability. SIM offers higher effective lateral resolution, while confocal microscopy, due to the usage of a physical pinhole, achieves resolution improvement at the expense of removal of out of focus light. In this protocol, primary neurons are cultured on glass coverslips using a standard protocol, transfected with DNA plasmids encoding fluorescent proteins and imaged using SIM. The whole protocol described herein takes approximately 2 weeks, because dendritic spines are imaged after 16-17 days in vitro, when dendritic development is optimal. After completion of the protocol, dendritic spines can be reconstructed in 3D from series of SIM image stacks using specialized software.

This article describes a working protocol to image dendritic spines from hippocampal neurons in vitro using Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM). Super-resolution microscopy using SIM provides image resolution significantly beyond the light diffraction limit in all three spatial dimensions, allowing the imaging of individual dendritic spines with improved detail.

Imaging spine dendritiche di Rat Primaria neuroni dell&#39;ippocampo utilizzando Structured Illumination Microscopy

Dendritic spines are protrusions emerging from the dendrite of a neuron and represent the primary postsynaptic targets of excitatory inputs in the brain. ...

Primary Culture of Mouse Dopaminergic Neurons

Dopaminergic neurons represent less than 1% of the total number of neurons in the brain. This low amount of neurons regulates important brain functions such as motor control, motivation, and working memory. Nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons selectively degenerate in Parkinson&#39;s disease (PD). This progressive neuronal loss is unequivocally associated with the motors symptoms of the pathology (bradykinesia, resting tremor, and muscular rigidity). The main agent responsible of dopaminergic neuron degeneration is still unknown. However, these neurons appear to be extremely vulnerable in diverse conditions. Primary cultures constitute one of the most relevant models to investigate properties and characteristics of dopaminergic neurons. These cultures can be submitted to various stress agents that mimic PD pathology and to neuroprotective compounds in order to stop or slow down neuronal degeneration. The numerous transgenic mouse models of PD that have been generated during the last decade further increased the interest of researchers for dopaminergic neuron cultures. Here, the video protocol focuses on the delicate dissection of embryonic mouse brains. Precise excision of ventral mesencephalon is crucial to obtain neuronal cultures sufficiently rich in dopaminergic cells to allow subsequent studies. This protocol can be realized with embryonic transgenic mice and is suitable for immunofluorescence staining, quantitative PCR, second messenger quantification, or neuronal death/survival assessment.

Dopaminergic neurons play a vital regulatory role in the brain. Their loss is associated with Parkinson's disease. In this video, we show how to generate primary cultures of central dopaminergic neurons from embryonic mouse mesencephalon. Such cultures are useful to study the extreme vulnerability of these neurons to various stresses.

Cultura primario di topo neuroni dopaminergici

Dopaminergic neurons represent less than 1% of the total number of neurons in the brain. This low amount of neurons regulates important brain functions ...

Fluorescence and Bioluminescence Imaging of Subcellular Ca2+ in Aged Hippocampal Neurons

Susceptibility to neuron cell death associated to neurodegeneration and ischemia are exceedingly increased in the aged brain but mechanisms responsible are badly known. Excitotoxicity, a process believed to contribute to neuron damage induced by both insults, is mediated by activation of glutamate receptors that promotes Ca2+ influx and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. A substantial change in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis or remodeling of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis may favor neuron damage in old neurons. For investigating Ca2+ remodeling in aging we have used live cell imaging in long-term cultures of rat hippocampal neurons that resemble in some aspects aged neurons in vivo. For this end, hippocampal cells are, in first place, freshly dispersed from new born rat hippocampi and plated on poli-D-lysine coated, glass coverslips. Then cultures are kept in controlled media for several days or several weeks for investigating young and old neurons, respectively. Second, cultured neurons are loaded with fura2 and subjected to measurements of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration using digital fluorescence ratio imaging. Third, cultured neurons are transfected with plasmids expressing a tandem of low-affinity aequorin and GFP targeted to mitochondria. After 24 hr, aequorin inside cells is reconstituted with coelenterazine and neurons are subjected to bioluminescence imaging for monitoring of mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration. This three-step procedure allows the monitoring of cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ responses to relevant stimuli as for example the glutamate receptor agonist NMDA and compare whether these and other responses are influenced by aging. This procedure may yield new insights as to how aging influence cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ responses to selected stimuli as well as the testing of selected drugs aimed at preventing neuron cell death in age-related diseases.

Fluorescence and Bioluminescence Imaging of Subcellular Ca2+ in Aged Hippocampal Neurons

Intracellular Ca2+ remodeling in aging may contribute to excitotoxicity and neuron damage, processes mediated by Ca2+ overload. We aimed at investigating Ca2+ remodeling in the aging brain using fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging of cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ in long-term cultures of rat hippocampal neurons, a model of neuronal aging.

Fluorescenza e bioluminescenza di subcellulare Ca<sup&gt; 2+</sup&gt; In Aged neuroni dell&#39;ippocampo

Susceptibility to neuron cell death associated to neurodegeneration and ischemia are exceedingly increased in the aged brain but mechanisms responsible ...

Low-Density Primary Hippocampal Neuron Culture

The ability to probe the structure and physiology of individual nerve cells in culture is crucial to the study of neurobiology, and allows for flexibility in genetic and chemical manipulation of individual cells or defined networks. Such ease of manipulation is simpler in the reduced culture system when compared to the intact brain tissue. While many methods for the isolation and growth of these primary neurons exist, each has its own limitations. This protocol describes a method for culturing low-density and high-purity rodent embryonic hippocampal neurons on glass coverslips, which are then suspended over a monolayer of glial cells. This &#39;sandwich culture&#39; allows for exclusive long-term growth of a population of neurons while allowing for trophic support from the underlying glial monolayer. When neurons are of sufficient age or maturity level, the neuron coverslips can be flipped-out of the glial dish and used in imaging or functional assays. Neurons grown by this method typically survive for several weeks and develop extensive arbors, synaptic connections, and network properties.

This article describes the protocol for culturing low-density primary hippocampal neurons growing on glass coverslips inverted over a glial monolayer. The neuron and glial layers are separated by paraffin wax beads. The neurons grown by this method are suitable for high-resolution optical imaging and functional assays.

A bassa densità primaria ippocampale Cultura Neuron

The ability to probe the structure and physiology of individual nerve cells in culture is crucial to the study of neurobiology, and allows for flexibility ...

Measuring Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

During endocytosis, fused synaptic vesicles are retrieved at nerve terminals, allowing for vesicle recycling and thus the maintenance of synaptic transmission during repetitive nerve firing. Impaired endocytosis in pathological conditions leads to decreases in synaptic strength and brain functions. Here, we describe methods used to measure synaptic vesicle endocytosis at the mammalian hippocampal synapse in neuronal culture. We monitored synaptic vesicle protein endocytosis by fusing a synaptic vesicular membrane protein, including synaptophysin and VAMP2/synaptobrevin, at the vesicular lumenal side, with pHluorin, a pH-sensitive green fluorescent protein that increases its fluorescence intensity as the pH increases. During exocytosis, vesicular lumen pH increases, whereas during endocytosis vesicular lumen pH is re-acidified. Thus, an increase of pHluorin fluorescence intensity indicates fusion, whereas a decrease indicates endocytosis of the labelled synaptic vesicle protein. In addition to using the pHluorin imaging method to record endocytosis, we monitored vesicular membrane endocytosis by electron microscopy (EM) measurements of Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) uptake by vesicles. Finally, we monitored the formation of nerve terminal membrane pits at various times after high potassium-induced depolarization. The time course of HRP uptake and membrane pit formation indicates the time course of endocytosis.

Synaptic vesicle endocytosis is detected by light microscopy of pHluorin fused with synaptic vesicle protein and by electron microscopy of vesicle uptake.

Endocitosi delle vescicole sinaptiche in colture di neuroni ippocampali di misura

During endocytosis, fused synaptic vesicles are retrieved at nerve terminals, allowing for vesicle recycling and thus the maintenance of synaptic ...

Ratiometric Calcium Imaging of Individual Neurons in Behaving Caenorhabditis Elegans

It has become increasingly clear that neural circuit activity in behaving animals differs substantially from that seen in anesthetized or immobilized animals. Highly sensitive, genetically encoded fluorescent reporters of Ca2+ have revolutionized the recording of cell and synaptic activity using non-invasive optical approaches in behaving animals. When combined with genetic and optogenetic techniques, the molecular mechanisms that modulate cell and circuit activity during different behavior states can be identified.
Here we describe methods for ratiometric Ca2+ imaging of single neurons in freely behaving Caenorhabditis elegans worms. We demonstrate a simple mounting technique that gently overlays worms growing on a standard Nematode Growth Media (NGM) agar block with a glass coverslip, permitting animals to be recorded at high-resolution during unrestricted movement and behavior. With this technique, we use the sensitive Ca2+ reporter GCaMP5 to record changes in intracellular Ca2+ in the serotonergic Hermaphrodite Specific Neurons (HSNs) as they drive egg-laying behavior. By co-expressing mCherry, a Ca2+-insensitive fluorescent protein, we can track the position of the HSN within ~ 1 &#181;m and correct for fluctuations in fluorescence caused by changes in focus or movement. Simultaneous, infrared brightfield imaging allows for behavior recording and animal tracking using a motorized stage. By integrating these microscopic techniques and data streams, we can record Ca2+ activity in the C. elegans egg-laying circuit as it progresses between inactive and active behavior states over tens of minutes.

Ratiometric Calcium Imaging of Individual Neurons in Behaving Caenorhabditis Elegans

This protocol describes the use of genetically encoded Ca2+ reporters to record changes in neural activity in behaving Caenorhabditis elegans worms. &#8195;

Raziometrici calcio Imaging di singoli neuroni nel comportarsi Caenorhabditis Elegans

It has become increasingly clear that neural circuit activity in behaving animals differs substantially from that seen in anesthetized or immobilized ...