Journal
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
Volume 200, Issue 2, Pages 113-120Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.06.017
Keywords
Electrophysiology; Whole-cell patch clamp; Dorsal columns; Stimulation; Calcium imaging; Spinal cord injury
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Funding
- National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia [628765, 569206]
- Hunter Medical Research Institute
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In spinal cord injury (SCI) research, axon regeneration across spinal lesions is most often assessed using anatomical methods. It would be extremely advantageous, however, to examine the functional synaptic connectivity of regenerating fibres, using high-resolution electrophysiological methods. We have therefore developed a mouse horizontal spinal cord slice preparation that permits detailed analysis of evoked dorsal column (DCol) synaptic inputs on spinal neurons, using whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology. This preparation allows us to characterise postsynaptic currents and potentials in response to electrical stimulation of DCol fibres, along with the intrinsic properties of spinal neurons. In addition, we demonstrate that low magnification calcium imaging can be used effectively to survey the spread of excitation from DCol stimulation in horizontal slices. This preparation is a potentially valuable tool for SCI research where confirmation of regenerated, functional synapses across a spinal lesion is critical. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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