We thank Yehui Qin and Mallory Myers for technical support. We also thank Dr. Sigismund Huck for providing us the anti-&#945;4-ECD antibody. This work is supported by National Institutes of Health grant NS22061 to L. W. R.

All animal experiments were carried out in accordance with the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NIH Publications No. 80-23, revised 2012) and studies were approved by Institutional Animal Care and Use for Research Committees at Stony Brook University (#1618 and #1792).
1. vHipp-nAcc Synaptic Co-cultures
<ol>
	<li>Sacrifice mice (postnatal day 0 - 3, from wild-type (WT) or &#945;7 nAChRs transgenic mouse line) with CO2. Decapitate each pup and save the tail in a 1.5 ml centrifuge tube for post facto genotyping. Perform the following steps in a sterilized hood.</li>
	<li>Remove the top of the skull with scissors and forceps to expose the whole brain. Starting at the juncture where the cerebral cortices part from each other caudally, obtain a coronal section that contains the posterior cortices including the vHipp5,21 under a dissecting microscope.</li>
	<li>Dissect vHipp tissue strips containing the CA1-subiculum region out according to a developing mouse brain atlas22 (Figure 1A). Transfer to a 35 mm culture dish containing cold culture media (4 &#176;C), cut into small thin slices (around 100 &#181;m &#215; 100 &#181;m microslices).</li>
	<li>Pre-incubate 12 mm poly-D-lysine/laminin-coated glass coverslips inside 24 well tissue culture plates with culture media (~ 500 &#956;l) for at least 30 min in the incubator at 37 &#176;C. Remove media before plating microslices.</li>
	<li>Plate with a fire-polished Pasteur pipette at the center of the coverslip with minimal amount of media (~ 50 &#956;l, containing ~ 20 pieces of microslices) to facilitate attachment of the explants. Plate vHipp microslices originating from a single animal (either the +/+ or the -/- genotype of the transgenic &#945;7 line) on each coverslip.</li>
	<li>After the explants settle onto the coverslip, gently add additional media (~ 100 &#956;l) by the wall so that the level of the media is high enough to completely cover the explants on the periphery, but not those at the center of the coverslip.</li>
	<li>After an O/N incubation in 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2 incubator, disperse nAcc neurons from embryonic days 18 to postnatal day 1 WT mice and add to the explants.
	<ol>
		<li>Dissect out nAcc tissues according to a developing mouse brain atlas20 (Figure 1B).</li>
		<li>Cut into small pieces (around 500 &#181;m &#215; 500 &#181;m microslices) and transfer to a 15 ml tube.</li>
		<li>Treat with 0.25% trypsin (2 ml) for 15 min at 37 &#176;C. Wash tissue chunks three times with cold washing media (5 ml, 4 &#176;C) followed by one wash in cold culture media (5 ml, 4 &#176;C). Allow suspension to rest for 5 min in each wash step, and then pour off supernatant carefully.</li>
		<li>Dissociate cells by gentle trituration in 2 ml of culture media with a lightly fire-polished Pasteur pipette.</li>
		<li>Transfer cell suspension to another 15 ml tube and centrifuge at 2,000 x rpm for 5 min. Remove the supernatant and resuspend the cells in culture media at 1 ml per 6 pups. Disperse cells by gently pipetting in media several times with a fire-polished Pasteur pipette.</li>
		<li>Add 0.25 ml of dispersed nAcc cells to each coverslip with vHipp explants.</li>
		<li>Maintain the cultures in a humidified 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2 incubator. Place culture plates on dampened sterile gauze pads to mechanically stabilize and maintain humidity, facilitating synapse formation.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Immunocytochemistry
<ol>
	<li>Fix cultures (5 - 7 days in vitro) in 4% paraformaldehyde/4% sucrose/PBS (~500 &#956;l per coverslip, 20 min, RT).</li>
	<li>Permeabilize cultures with 0.25% Triton X-100/ PBS (~500 &#956;l per coverslip, 5 min, RT).</li>
	<li>Block cultures with 10% normal donkey serum in PBS (~500 &#956;l per coverslip, 30 min, RT) prior to antibody staining. Incubate with primary antibodies O/N at 4 &#176;C. Use the following primary antibodies: anti- nAChRs (&#945;4-ECD 1:500; anti-&#945;5 subunits, 1:500), anti-vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (1:250), anti-GAD65 (1:100).</li>
	<li>Wash primary antibodies out with PBS (3 times/~500 &#956;l per coverslip, 5 min) and then incubate cultures in secondary antibodies conjugated to Alexa 488 (~500 &#956;l per coverslip, 1:500) or Alexa 594 (~500 &#956;l per coverslip, 1:500) for 1 hr at 37 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Incubate cultures in &#945;BgTx conjugated to Alexa 594 (~500 &#956;l per coverslip, 1:1,000 in culture media) for 45 min at 37 &#176;C prior to fixation for labeling surface &#945;7*nAChRs.</li>
	<li>Mount and seal coverslips.</li>
	<li>Capture images with a fluorescence microscope equipped with Plan-Apochromat objectives (20X with 0.8 NA or 63X oil with 1.4 NA) and a CCD camera.</li>
</ol>
3. FM1-43 Based Vesicular Fusion
<ol>
	<li>Maintain cultures (5 - 7 days in vitro) in an imaging chamber, mount the chamber on spinning disk confocal microscope. Continuously perfuse (1 ml/min) with HBS cocktail at RT.</li>
	<li>Stop perfusion and load cultures with 10 &#181;M FM1-43 in 56 mM K+ ACSF (~500 &#956;l) for 90 sec (staining), wash external dye away for 15 min with Ca2+ free HBS containing ADVASEP-7 (0.1 mM) to scavenge membrane-bound FM1-43.</li>
	<li>Stimulate the cultures with 56 mM K+ ACSF (~500 &#956;l) without FM1-43 for 120 sec (destaining), reload cultures with FM1-43 using the same conditions, and wash again with Ca2+ free HBS containing ADVASEP-7 for 15 min.</li>
	<li>Acquire FM1-43 fluorescence images with spinning disk confocal microscope equipped with a Plan-Apochromat objective (60X water with 1.4 NA, excitation 488 nm, emission 530 nm) and capture images with a CCD camera.</li>
	<li>Collect baseline FM1-43 fluorescence images (every 2 s for 1 min) as pre-nicotine control; apply nicotine (1 &#181;M) by rapid perfusion (2 ml/min) for 1 min, and then wash nicotine out with HBS cocktail. Keep capture time-lapse images before, during, and after nicotine application every 2 sec for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Quantify FM1-43 fluorescence intensity before (Fstaining) and after (Fdestaining) nicotine application at each synaptic bouton.</li>
	<li>Calculate total amount of releasable FM1-43 fluorescence along vHipp axons by quantifying the difference of FM1-43 fluorescence intensity before and after nicotine application (&#916;F = Fstaining-Fdestaining). Analyze fraction of fluorescence intensity decrease after nicotine with the following equation: Fdecrease% = &#916;F/Fstaining.</li>
</ol>
4. Calcium Imaging
<ol>
	<li>Rinse cultures (5 - 7 days in vitro) quickly with normal HBS, then load cultures with 5 &#181;M Fluo-4 Ca2+ indicator (AM ester) and 0.02% Pluronic F-127 in HBS (2 ml) for 30 min at 37 &#176;C and 5% CO2.</li>
	<li>Wash out Fluo-4 solution with HBS (3 times/5 min). Return cultures to incubator (37 &#176;C / 5% CO2) for at least 30 min.</li>
	<li>Maintain cultures in the same imaging chamber and same conditions as described in FM1-43 based vesicular fusion section (see step 3.1).</li>
	<li>Collect Fluo-4 fluorescence images of axonal projections from the vHipp micro-slices with a Plan-Apochromat objective (60X water with 1.4 NA, excitation 488 nm, emission 530 nm) and a CCD camera.</li>
	<li>Collect baseline Fluo-4 fluorescence images (every 10 sec for 2 min) as pre-nicotine control, apply nicotine (1 &#181;M) by rapid perfusion (2 ml/min) for 1 min, and then wash nicotine out with HBS cocktail. Keep capture time-lapse images before, during, and after nicotine application every 10 sec for 30 min.</li>
	<li>Save all frames of the raw fluo-4 fluorescence images, export as a series of TIFF format images for further analyzing.</li>
	<li>Collect the integrated intensity of fluo-4 fluorescence along vHipp axons before and after nicotine application.</li>
	<li>Normalize integrated fluorescence intensity with the following equation: &#916;F/F0 =&#160; (F-F0)/F0, where F0 is the background-corrected pre-nicotine integrated fluorescence intensity and F is the integrated fluorescence intensity along vHipp axons at each time point after nicotine application. Analyze and plot normalized integrated fluorescence intensity.</li>
</ol>

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The authors have nothing to disclose.&#160;

The co-culture preparation described re-capitulates ventral hippocampal&#8211;accumbens circuits in vitro. This preparation permits relatively straightforward and reliable examination of the spatial and temporal profiles by which activation of pre-synaptic nAChRs elicit enhanced glutamatergic transmission5, 21.
Co-cultures are defined as the growth of different specific cell types in one dish which can provide physiological conditions in vitro to demonstrate in vivo-like function. Conventional neuron-neuron co-cultures have been introduced to neuroscience research for studying the synaptic interactions between different cell types. However, it is hard to identify the pre- and post-sites of synapses in these co-cultures. This microslice-dissociated neuron co-culture protocol allows easy recognition of the pre-synaptic axons and post-synaptic targets. Using microslices from different brain regions of transgenic mouse line expressing different fluorescent proteins, this protocol can also be used to study axon-axon interactions.
The critical step of this microslice-dissociated neurons co-culture protocol is providing a stable environment to allow for the attachment of the explants, the outgrowth of the projections and the formation of synapses. Plating the microslices in a minimal volume of media and maintaining the culture plates on dampened sterile gauze pads are the two key steps for microslice attachment and synapse formation. The main limitation of this co-culture protocol is that not all dispersed nAcc neurons form functional synapses with vHipp axons.
By altering the genotype of the pre- and post- synaptic components, this preparation provides an informative approach to study the pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. Three distinct features of this preparation make it ideal for these studies. Brain regions that are normally connected in vivo via fiber paths that cannot be maintained, or readily identified in acute slices, can be combined in this in vitro preparation. Pre- and post-synaptic components come from different mice make allowing independent alteration of either the pre- or post-synaptic genotype. By plating pre- and post-synaptic components at different times, it is possible to selectively express exogenous genes in either the pre- or post-synaptic neurons.
Nicotine induced Ca2+ transients (in seconds to minutes range) by activation of nAChRs have been reported in cultured neurons, astrocytes and in several cell lines that express nAChRs25-27. However, most of these studies did not detect the long-term effects (over 10 min) of short time nicotine exposure largely due to photo damage during long-term imaging. By using the culture protocol described above and rapid spinning-disc confocal image collection, nicotine induced Ca2+ signaling, synaptic vesicle fusion and glutamate release can be recorded for up to 1 hr without any apparent damage to the neurons (Supplemental Movie 1, 2).

Cholinergic modulation of circuit excitability contributes to fundamental aspects of cognition, and altered cholinergic modulation is a feature of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders including Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, Parkinson&#8217;s disease, schizophrenia and addiction1-4. An established mechanism of cholinergic facilitation of synaptic transmission in the CNS is via direct activation of nAChRs localized at pre-synaptic sites. Activation of these pre-synaptic receptors leads to increased intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in pre-synaptic terminals &#8211; both directly, due to the relatively high calcium conductance of certain nAChR subtypes, and indirectly, via intracellular signaling cascades5, thereby enhancing neurotransmitter release. In fact, the activation of pre-synaptic nAChRs has been linked with changes in release of a wide variety of neurotransmitters including glutamate, GABA, ACh, and dopamine6-10. Although this process has been studied indirectly using electrophysiological methods at various synapses, optical reporters of [Ca2+]i and synaptic vesicle recycling allow more direct and temporally precise measurement of pre-synaptic phenomena.
Pre-synaptic localization of nAChRs has been demonstrated convincingly with direct immuno-gold labeling of nAChRs at the electron microscopic (EM) level11,12. Several other techniques have also been used to address the nAChR localization indirectly, including detecting locations of nAChRs subunit- fluorescent protein chimeras in cultured neurons13,14, electrophysiological recording of nAChR currents in synaptic terminals15,16, monitoring nicotine induced changes in [Ca2+]i in synaptic nerve terminals by live cell imaging17, and indirect monitoring of neurotransmitter release at the synaptic terminal by live cell imaging techniques with fluorescent indicators, including exocytosis of synaptic vesicles viewed by styryl amphipathic FM dyes (FM1-43 and FM4-64) and/or synapto-pHluorin and by specific fluorescent neurotransmitter reporters, such as CNiFERs for ACh and iGluSnFr for glutamate18-20. Overall, these current approaches for identifying pre-synaptic localization of nAChRs are complicated, and require special systems and techniques to allow reliable identification and physiological monitoring of pre-synaptic activity.
Here we describe protocols and equipment for an in vitro co-culture system of a ventral hippocampal (vHipp) &#8211; nucleus accumbens (nAcc) circuit that provides direct access to identify and analyze both pre- and post-synaptic components of synaptic transmission. We show examples of pre-synaptic localization of nAChRs and the live cell imaging of nAChR mediated Ca2+ signaling and neurotransmitter release along vHipp axons. A natural (and straightforward) extension of the protocol presented here is the preparation of pre- and post-synaptic contacts comprised of neurons from different genotypes. In this manner the contribution of a particular gene product to the pre- and/or post-synaptic mechanisms of modulation can be assessed directly.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>1, Culture Media (50 ml)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neurobasal&#160;</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>10888022</td>
			<td>48 ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>B-27 Supplements</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>0080085-SA</td>
			<td>1 ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin-Streptomycin</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>10908-010</td>
			<td>0.5 ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GlutaMAX Supplement</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>35050-061</td>
			<td>0.5 ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>15140-122</td>
			<td>20 ng/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>2, washing media (HBSS, 100 ml)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HBSS, no calcium, no magnesium, no phenol red&#160;</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>14175-095</td>
			<td>99 ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES ( 1M)</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>15630-130</td>
			<td>1 ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>3, HEPES buffered saline&#160; (HBS)&#160;&#160; pH=7.3</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S9888&#160;</td>
			<td>135 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P9333&#160;</td>
			<td>5 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MgCl2</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M8266&#160;</td>
			<td>1 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CaCl2,</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C1016&#160;</td>
			<td>2 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>H3375&#160;</td>
			<td>10 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>G0350500&#160;</td>
			<td>10 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>4, HBS Cocktail for live imaging pH=7.3</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S9888&#160;</td>
			<td>135 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P9333&#160;</td>
			<td>5 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MgCl2</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M8266&#160;</td>
			<td>1 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CaCl2,</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C1016&#160;</td>
			<td>2 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>H3375&#160;</td>
			<td>10 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>G0350500&#160;</td>
			<td>10 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>tetrodotoxin&#160;</td>
			<td>Tocris</td>
			<td>1078</td>
			<td>2 &#181;M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>bicuculline</td>
			<td>Tocris</td>
			<td>131</td>
			<td>10 &#181;M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>D-AP-5</td>
			<td>Tocris</td>
			<td>105</td>
			<td>50 &#181;M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CNQX</td>
			<td>Tocris</td>
			<td>1045</td>
			<td>20 &#181;M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LY341495</td>
			<td>Tocris</td>
			<td>1209</td>
			<td>10 &#181;M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>5, Calcium-free&#160; HBS&#160;&#160; pH=7.3</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S9888&#160;</td>
			<td>135 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P9333&#160;</td>
			<td>5 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MgCl2</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M8266&#160;</td>
			<td>1 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>H3375&#160;</td>
			<td>10 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>G0350500&#160;</td>
			<td>10 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>6, 56 mM Potassium ACSF pH=7.4</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S9888</td>
			<td>119 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P9333</td>
			<td>56 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MgSO4.7H</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M1880</td>
			<td>1.3 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CaCl2</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C1016</td>
			<td>2.5 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaH2PO4</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S8282</td>
			<td>1 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaHCO3</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S5761</td>
			<td>26.2 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>G0350500&#160;</td>
			<td>10 mM</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

live imaging of nicotine induced calcium signaling and neurotransmitter release along ventral hippocampal axons

Sustained enhancement of axonal signaling and increased neurotransmitter release by the activation of pre-synaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) is an important mechanism for neuromodulation by acetylcholine (ACh). The difficulty with access to probing the signaling mechanisms within intact axons and at nerve terminals both in vitro and in vivo has limited progress in the study of the pre-synaptic components of synaptic plasticity. Here we introduce a gene-chimeric preparation of ventral hippocampal (vHipp)&#8211;accumbens (nAcc) circuit in vitro that allows direct live imaging to analyze both the pre- and post-synaptic components of transmission while selectively varying the genetic profile of the pre- vs post-synaptic neurons. We demonstrate that projections from vHipp microslices, as pre-synaptic axonal input, form multiple, reliable glutamatergic synapses with post-synaptic targets, the dispersed neurons from nAcc. The pre-synaptic localization of various subtypes of nAChRs are detected and the pre-synaptic nicotinic signaling mediated synaptic transmission are monitored by concurrent electrophysiological recording and live cell imaging. This preparation also provides an informative approach to study the pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms of glutamatergic synaptic plasticity in vitro.

The preparation employed consists of gene chimeric co-cultures of vHipp&#8211;nAcc circuits in vitro. Projections emanating from vHipp microslices, as pre-synaptic axonal input, can make synaptic contacts with post-synaptic targets, the dispersed neurons from nAcc. Nicotine induced a sustained (&#8805; 30 min) facilitation of glutamatergic transmission from nAcc neurons innervated by vHipp axons21 and prolonged calcium signaling along vHipp axons5 via pre-synaptic &#945;7*nAChRs.
Figure 1 demonstrates directly that the projections from the vHipp micro-slices are glutamatergic ( vGluT1 positive) and that contacts are made with dispersed GABAergic medium spiny neurons from nAcc (GAD positive, Figure 1C, D). Both &#945;7* and non-&#945;7*nAChRs (including &#945;4 and &#945;5 subunits) were found along the vHipp axons (Figure 1E-G) and specifically at sites where vHipp projections contact nAcc neurons. It should be noted that dispersed neurons from nAcc do not express &#945;7*nAChRs (Figure 1H); i.e. the receptor clusters at contacts are strictly presynaptic (Figure 1I), also see Figure 1 in Reference 5.
Once the chimeric co-cultures have been established, live imaging of [Ca2+]i and synaptic vesicles fusion along vHipp axons with and/or without nicotine can be recorded for up to 30 min without any apparent damage to the neurons.
Representative images, time-lapse movies and quantifications for nicotine-induced fluo-4 [Ca2+]i signaling along vHipp axons are shown in Figure 2 and Supplemental Movie 1 and 2. We found that activation of vHipp nAChRs by nicotine induces sustained Ca2+ influx into pre-synaptic axons (Figure 2A, D). The sustained phase of nicotine induced increases in [Ca2+]i signaling along vHipp axons was blocked by the specific &#945;7*nAChR antagonist &#945;BgTx but not by the non-&#945;7*nAChR antagonist DH&#946;E (Figure 2A-C).
Direct visualization of activity-dependent FM1-43 dye endocytosis and exocytosis has been used to monitor indirectly presynaptic neurotransmitter release23, 24. Here, representative images and quantification for nicotine-induced vesicular fusion along vHipp axons visualized by FM1-43 are shown in Figure 3 (Figure 3A, C). The presence of pre-synaptic &#945;7*nAChRs is required for maximal nicotine induced vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release (Figure 3B, C).
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/52730/52730fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1.&#160;Synaptic co-culture of vHipp with nAcc allows examination of pre-synaptic localization of nAChRs. (A-C) Schematic cartoon of genotype-specific in vitro circuits (C) prepared by separate plating of ventral hippocampus/subiculum (A).&#160; slices from an individual WT or &#945;7 -/- mouse and dispersed neurons from WT nucleus accumbens (B). Aq, aqueduct (Sylvius); DG, dentate gyrus; MM, medial mammillary nucleus; PMCo, posteromedial cortical amygdaloid nucleus; rf, rhinal fissure, fmi, forceps minor of the corpus callosum; LV, lateral ventricle; Tu, olfactory tubercle; VP, ventral pallidum. (D) vHipp microslices extend vGluT1 positive (red) axonal projections that contact GAD65 positive (green) nAcc neurons (white arrows are examples of those contact sites). Scale bar: 10 &#181;m. (E-G) Representative micrographs of WT vHipp axons (staining with vGluT1, green) are shown for &#945;4*nAChR (E), &#945;5*nAChR (F) and surface &#945;7*nAChR (G) staining in red clusters (white arrows). Scale bar: 5 &#956;m. (H) There are no surface &#945;7*nAChR clusters on dispersed GABAergic neurons (GAD65 positive) from nAcc alone. (I) Red &#8220;clusters&#8221; of surface &#945;7*nAChR (white arrows) can be seen in those dispersed neurons co-cultured with vHipp microslices . Scale bar: 5 &#956;m. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/52730/52730fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/52730/52730fig2.jpg" /> 
Figure 2. Synaptic co-culture of vHipp with nAcc allows examination of nicotine induced calcium signaling along vHipp axons. (A) Representative fluo-4 images of calcium bound fluo-4 in pseudo color scale along a WT vHipp axon before (Top), 1&#8217; (Middle), and 30&#8217; (Bottom) after nicotine application. The sustained phase (30&#8217;) of the nicotine-induced Ca2+ response is eliminated by addition of the &#945;7*nAChR selective antagonist &#945;BgTx (100 nM) (B) but not by the addition of the non-&#945;7*nAChR selective antagonist DH&#946;E (1 &#181;M) (C). Scale bar: 5 &#181;m. (D) Representative plot of normalized fluo-4 integrated fluorescence intensity from a live WT vHipp axon perfused with nicotine (1 &#181;M) for 1 min. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/52730/52730fig2large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 3" src="/files/ftp_upload/52730/52730fig3.jpg" /> 
Figure 3. Synaptic co-culture of vHipp with nAcc allows examination of nicotine induced vesicular neurotransmitter release (with FM1-43) along vHipp axons. (A)&#160; Representative images of WT vHipp axons (loaded with FM1-43, green) before (top) and after (bottom) nicotine application. (B) Representative images of WT vHipp axons (loaded with FM1-43, pretreated with &#945;7*nAChR selective antagonist &#945;BgTx for 15 min) before (top) and after (bottom) nicotine application. Scale bar: 5 &#956;m. (C) shows quantification of the changes in axonal FM1-43 fluorescence (Fdecrease) following nicotine treatment in the absence (WT) or presence (WT+&#945;BgTx) of the &#945;7*nAChR antagonist. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/52730/52730fig3large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Move 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/52730/52730mov1.jpg" /> Supplemental Movie 1: Time-lapse live imaging of basal Fluo-4/Ca2+ fluorescence along vHipp axons. 
The time-lapse images of Fluo-4/Ca2+ fluorescence along vHipp axons were acquired with a 60x objective water lens every 10 sec for 30 min with a spinning disk confocal microscope. Acquired images were indicated on pseudo color scale and played back as a movie at 2 frames per s. This movie shows the baseline of Fluo-4/Ca2+ fluorescence activity along live WT vHipp axon perfused with HBS cocktail.
<img alt="Movie 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/52730/52730mov2.jpg" /> Supplemental Movie 2: Time-lapse live imaging of nicotine induced sustained Fluo-4/Ca2+ fluorescence along vHipp axons.
The time-lapse images of Fluo-4/Ca2+ fluorescence along vHipp axons were acquired with a 60x objective water lens every 10 sec for 30 min with a spinning disk confocal microscope. Acquired images were indicated on pseudo color scale and played back as a movie at 2 frames per sec. This movie shows nicotine (1 &#181;M, perfused in at time point 43, washed out with HBS cocktail at time point 49) induced Fluo-4/Ca2+ fluorescence activity along live WT vHipp axon. Nicotine application increased the fluo-4/Ca2+ fluorescence intensity along vHipp axons.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Live Imaging of Nicotine Induced Calcium Signaling and Neurotransmitter Release Along Ventral Hippocampal Axons at JoVE.com

Live Imaging of Nicotine Induced Calcium Signaling and Neurotransmitter Release Along Ventral Hippocampal Axons

We developed a gene-chimeric preparation of ventral hippocampal &#8211; accumbens circuit in vitro that allows direct live imaging to analyze presynaptic mechanisms of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) mediated synaptic transmission. This preparation also provides an informative approach to study the pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms of synaptic plasticity.

Sustained enhancement of axonal signaling and increased neurotransmitter release by the activation of pre-synaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors ...

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Unit 1

Drugs Acting on Autonomic Nervous System: Adrenergic Agonists and Antagonists Agents

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8.9K Views.  Stony Brook University. We developed a gene-chimeric preparation of ventral hippocampal – accumbens circuit in vitro that allows direct live imaging to analyze presynaptic mechanisms of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) mediated synaptic transmission. This preparation also provides an informative approach to study the pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms of synaptic plasticity.

Video: Live Imaging of Nicotine Induced Calcium Signaling and Neurotransmitter Release Along Ventral Hippocampal Axons

Neuromodulation and Mitochondrial Transport: Live Imaging in Hippocampal Neurons over Long Durations

To understand the relationship between mitochondrial transport and neuronal function, it is critical to observe mitochondrial behavior in live cultured neurons for extended durations1-3. This is now possible through the use of vital dyes and fluorescent proteins with which cytoskeletal components, organelles, and other structures in living cells can be labeled and then visualized via dynamic fluorescence microscopy. For example, in embryonic chicken sympathetic neurons, mitochondrial movement was characterized using the vital dye rhodamine 1234. In another study, mitochondria were visualized in rat forebrain neurons by transfection of mitochondrially targeted eYFP5. However, imaging of primary neurons over minutes, hours, or even days presents a number of issues. Foremost among these are: 1) maintenance of culture conditions such as temperature, humidity, and pH during long imaging sessions; 2) a strong, stable fluorescent signal to assure both the quality of acquired images and accurate measurement of signal intensity during image analysis; and 3) limiting exposure times during image acquisition to minimize photobleaching and avoid phototoxicity.
Here, we describe a protocol that permits the observation, visualization, and analysis of mitochondrial movement in cultured hippocampal neurons with high temporal resolution and under optimal life support conditions. We have constructed an affordable stage-top incubator that provides good temperature regulation and atmospheric gas flow, and also limits the degree of media evaporation, assuring stable pH and osmolarity. This incubator is connected, via inlet and outlet hoses, to a standard tissue culture incubator, which provides constant humidity levels and an atmosphere of 5-10% CO2/air. This design offers a cost-effective alternative to significantly more expensive microscope incubators that don't necessarily assure the viability of cells over many hours or even days. To visualize mitochondria, we infect cells with a lentivirus encoding a red fluorescent protein that is targeted to the mitochondrion. This assures a strong and persistent signal, which, in conjunction with the use of a stable xenon light source, allows us to limit exposure times during image acquisition and all but precludes photobleaching and phototoxicity. Two injection ports on the top of the stage-top incubator allow the acute administration of neurotransmitters and other reagents intended to modulate mitochondrial movement. In sum, lentivirus-mediated expression of an organelle-targeted red fluorescent protein and the combination of our stage-top incubator, a conventional inverted fluorescence microscope, CCD camera, and xenon light source allow us to acquire time-lapse images of mitochondrial transport in living neurons over longer durations than those possible in studies deploying conventional vital dyes and off-the-shelf life support systems.

We describe a protocol that allows imaging of mitochondria in living neurons via fluorescence microscopy over long durations. Imaging over extended periods is accomplished through lentivirus-mediated expression of a mitochondrially targeted fluorescent protein and use of an inexpensive stage-top incubator that was designed and built in our laboratory.

To understand the relationship between mitochondrial transport and neuronal function, it is critical to observe mitochondrial behavior in live cultured ...

Live Imaging of Dorsal Root Axons after Rhizotomy

The primary sensory axons injured by spinal root injuries fail to regenerate into the spinal cord, leading to chronic pain and permanent sensory loss. Regeneration of dorsal root (DR) axons into spinal cord is prevented at the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ), the interface between the CNS and PNS. Our understanding of the molecular and cellular events that prevent regeneration at DREZ is incomplete, in part because complex changes associated with nerve injury have been deduced from postmortem analyses. Dynamic cellular processes, such as axon regeneration, are best studied with techniques that capture real-time events with multiple observations of each living animal. Our ability to monitor neurons serially in vivo has increased dramatically owing to revolutionary innovations in optics and mouse transgenics. Several lines of thy1-GFP transgenic mice, in which subsets of neurons are genetically labeled in distinct fluorescent colors, permit individual neurons to be imaged in vivo1. These mice have been used extensively for in vivo imaging of muscle2-4 and brain5-7, and have provided novel insights into physiological mechanisms that static analyses could not have resolved. Imaging studies of neurons in living spinal cord have only recently begun. Lichtman and his colleagues first demonstrated their feasibility by tracking injured dorsal column (DC) axons with wide-field microscopy8,9. Multi-photon in vivo imaging of deeply positioned DC axons, microglia and blood vessels has also been accomplished10. Over the last few years, we have pioneered in applying in vivo imaging to monitor regeneration of DR axons using wide-field microscopy and H line of thy1-YFP mice. These studies have led us to a novel hypothesis about why DR axons are prevented from regenerating within the spinal cord11.
In H line of thy1-YFP mice, distinct YFP+ axons are superficially positioned, which allows several axons to be monitored simultaneously. We have learned that DR axons arriving at DREZ are better imaged in lumbar than in cervical spinal cord. In the present report we describe several strategies that we have found useful to assure successful long-term and repeated imaging of regenerating DR axons. These include methods that eliminate repeated intubation and respiratory interruption, minimize surgery-associated stress and scar formation, and acquire stable images at high resolution without phototoxicity.

An in vivo imaging protocol to monitor primary sensory axons following dorsal root crush is described. The procedures utilize wide-field fluorescence microscopy and thy1-YFP transgenic mice, and permit repeated imaging of axon regeneration over 4 cm in the PNS and axon interactions with the interface of the CNS.

The primary sensory axons injured by spinal root injuries fail to regenerate into the spinal cord, leading to chronic pain and permanent sensory loss. ...

Preparation of Acute Subventricular Zone Slices for Calcium Imaging

The subventricular zone (SVZ) is one of the two neurogenic zones in the postnatal brain. The SVZ contains densely packed cells, including neural progenitor cells with astrocytic features (called SVZ astrocytes), neuroblasts, and intermediate progenitor cells. Neuroblasts born in the SVZ tangentially migrate a great distance to the olfactory bulb, where they differentiate into interneurons. Intercellular signaling through adhesion molecules and diffusible signals play important roles in controlling neurogenesis. Many of these signals trigger intercellular calcium activity that transmits information inside and between cells. Calcium activity is thus reflective of the activity of extracellular signals and is an optimal way to understand functional intercellular signaling among SVZ cells.
Calcium activity has been studied in many other regions and cell types, including mature astrocytes and neurons. However, the traditional method to load cells with calcium indicator dye (i.e. bath loading) was not efficient at loading all SVZ cell types. Indeed, the cellular density in the SVZ precludes dye diffusion inside the tissue. In addition, preparing sagittal slices will better preserve the three-dimensional arrangement of SVZ cells, particularly the stream of neuroblast migration on the rostral-caudal axis.
Here, we describe methods to prepare sagittal sections containing the SVZ, the loading of SVZ cells with calcium indicator dye, and the acquisition of calcium activity with time-lapse movies. We used Fluo-4 AM dye for loading SVZ astrocytes using pressure application inside the tissue. Calcium activity was recorded using a scanning confocal microscope allowing a precise resolution for distinguishing individual cells. Our approach is applicable to other neurogenic zones including the adult hippocampal subgranular zone and embryonic neurogenic zones. In addition, other types of dyes can be applied using the described method.

A method to load subventricular zone (SVZ) cells with calcium indicator dyes for recording calcium activity is described. The postnatal SVZ contains tightly packed cells including neural progenitor cells and neuroblasts. Rather than using bath loading we injected the dye by pressure inside the tissue allowing better dye diffusion.

The subventricular zone (SVZ) is one of the two neurogenic zones in the postnatal brain. The SVZ contains densely packed cells, including neural ...

Analyzing Murine Schwann Cell Development Along Growing Axons

The development of peripheral nerves is an intriguing process. Neurons send out axons to innervate specific targets, which in humans are often more than 100 cm away from the soma of the neuron. Neuronal survival during development depends on target-derived growth factors but also on the support of Schwann cells (SCs). To this end SC ensheath axons from the region of the neuronal soma (or the transition from central to peripheral nervous system) to the synapse or neuromuscular junction. Schwann cells are derivatives of the neural crest and migrate as precursors along emerging axons until the entire axon is covered with SCs. This shows the importance of SC migration for the development of the peripheral nervous system and underlines the necessity to investigate this process. In order to analyze SC development, a setup is needed which next to the SCs also includes their physiological substrate for migration, the axon. Due to intrauterine development in vivo time-lapse imaging, however, is not feasible in placental vertebrates like mouse (mus musculus). To circumvent this, we adapted the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) explant technique. Upon treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF) SCG explants extend axons, followed by SC precursors migrating along the axons from the ganglion to the periphery. The beauty of this system is that the SC are derived from a pool of endogenous SC and that they migrate along their own physiological axons which are growing at the same time. This system is especially intriguing, because the SC development along axons can be analyzed by time-lapse imaging, opening further possibilities to gain insights into SC migration.

Here we describe a Schwann cell (SC) migration assay in which SCs are able to develop along extending axons.

The  development of peripheral nerves is an intriguing process. Neurons send out  axons to innervate specific targets, which in humans are often more than ...

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 ...

Calcium Phosphate Transfection of Primary Hippocampal Neurons

Calcium phosphate precipitation is a convenient and economical method for transfection of cultured cells. With optimization, it is possible to use this method on hard-to-transfect cells like primary neurons. Here we describe our detailed protocol for calcium phosphate transfection of hippocampal neurons cocultured with astroglial cells.

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

Live Imaging of Drosophila Larval Neuroblasts

Stem cells divide asymmetrically to generate two progeny cells with unequal fate potential: a self-renewing stem cell and a differentiating cell. Given their relevance to development and disease, understanding the mechanisms that govern asymmetric stem cell division has been a robust area of study. Because they are genetically tractable and undergo successive rounds of cell division about once every hour, the stem cells of the Drosophila central nervous system, or neuroblasts, are indispensable models for the study of stem cell division. About 100 neural stem cells are located near the surface of each of the two larval brain lobes, making this model system particularly useful for live imaging microscopy studies. In this work, we review several approaches widely used to visualize stem cell divisions, and we address the relative advantages and disadvantages of those techniques that employ dissociated versus intact brain tissues. We also detail our simplified protocol used to explant whole brains from third instar larvae for live cell imaging and fixed analysis applications.

Live Imaging of Drosophila Larval Neuroblasts

This protocol details a streamlined method used to conduct live cell imaging in the context of an intact larval brain. Live cell imaging approaches are invaluable for the study of asymmetric neural stem cell divisions as well as other neurogenic and developmental processes, consistently uncovering mechanisms that were previously overlooked.

Stem cells divide asymmetrically to generate two progeny cells with unequal fate potential: a self-renewing stem cell and a differentiating cell. Given ...

Dorsal Root Ganglia Isolation and Primary Culture to Study Neurotransmitter Release

Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) contain cell bodies of sensory neurons. This type of neuron is pseudo-unipolar, with two axons that innervate peripheral tissues, such as skin, muscle and visceral organs, as well as the spinal dorsal horn of the central nervous system. Sensory neurons transmit somatic sensation, including touch, pain, thermal, and proprioceptive sensations. Therefore, DRG primary cultures are widely used to study the cellular mechanisms of nociception, physiological functions of sensory neurons, and neural development. The cultured neurons can be applied in studies involving electrophysiology, signal transduction, neurotransmitter release, or calcium imaging. With DRG primary cultures, scientists may culture dissociated DRG neurons to monitor biochemical changes in single or multiple cells, overcoming many of the limitations associated with in vivo experiments. Compared to commercially available DRG-hybridoma cell lines or immortalized DRG neuronal cell lines, the composition and properties of the primary cells are much more similar to sensory neurons in tissue. However, due to the limited number of cultured DRG primary cells that can be isolated from a single animal, it is difficult to perform high-throughput screens for drug targeting studies. In the current article, procedures for DRG collection and culture are described. In addition, we demonstrate the treatment of cultured DRG cells with an agonist of neuropeptide FF receptor type 2 (NPFFR2) to induce the release of peptide neurotransmitters (calcitonin gene-related peptide (CRGP) and substance P (SP)).

Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) primary cultures are frequently used to study physiological functions or pathology-related events in sensory neurons. Here, we demonstrate the use of lumbar DRG cultures to detect the release of neurotransmitters after neuropeptide FF receptor type 2 stimulation with a selective agonist.

Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) contain cell bodies of sensory neurons. This type of neuron is pseudo-unipolar, with two axons that innervate peripheral ...

Ex Vivo Calcium Imaging for Visualizing Brain Responses to Endocrine Signaling in Drosophila

Organ-to-organ communication by endocrine signaling, for example, from the periphery to the brain, is essential for maintaining homeostasis. As a model animal for endocrine research, Drosophila melanogaster, which has sophisticated genetic tools and genome information, is being increasingly used. This article describes a method for the calcium imaging of Drosophila brain explants. This method enables the detection of the direct signaling of a hormone to the brain. It is well known that many peptide hormones act through G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), whose activation causes an increase in the intracellular Ca2+concentration. Neural activation also elevates intracellular Ca2+ levels, from both Ca2+ influx and the release of Ca2+ stored in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). A calcium sensor, GCaMP, can monitor these Ca2+ changes. In this method, GCaMP is expressed in the neurons of interest, and the GCaMP-expressing larval brain is dissected and cultured ex vivo. The test peptide is then applied to the brain explant, and the fluorescent changes in GCaMP are detected using a spinning disc confocal microscope equipped with a CCD camera. Using this method, any water-soluble molecule can be tested, and various cellular events associated with neural activation can be imaged using the appropriate fluorescent indicators. Moreover, by modifying the imaging chamber, this method can be used to image other Drosophila organs or the organs of other animals.

Ex Vivo Calcium Imaging for Visualizing Brain Responses to Endocrine Signaling in Drosophila

This paper describes a protocol for ex vivo calcium imaging of the Drosophila brain. In this method, natural or synthetic compounds can be applied to the buffer to test their ability to activate particular neurons in the brain.

Organ-to-organ communication by endocrine signaling, for example, from the periphery to the brain, is essential for maintaining homeostasis. As a model ...

Spectral Reflectometric Microscopy on Myelinated Axons In Situ

In a mammalian nervous system, myelin provides an electrical insulation by enwrapping the axon fibers in a multilayered spiral. Inspired by its highly-organized subcellular architecture, we recently developed a new imaging modality, named spectral reflectometry (SpeRe), which enables unprecedented label-free nanoscale imaging of the live myelinated axons in situ. The underlying principle is to obtain nanostructural information by analyzing the reflectance spectrum of the multilayered subcellular structure. In this article, we describe a detailed step-by-step protocol for performing a basic SpeRe imaging of the nervous tissues using a commercial confocal microscopic system, equipped with a white-light laser and a tunable filter. We cover the procedures of sample preparation, acquisition of spectral data, and image processing for obtaining nanostructural information.

Spectral Reflectometric Microscopy on Myelinated Axons In Situ

Here, we present a step-by-step protocol for imaging myelinated axons in a fixed brain slice using a label-free nanoscale imaging technique based on spectral reflectometry.