Arnson Hannah A, Fu Xiaoyan, Holy Timothy E
Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, USA.
J Vis Exp. 2010 Mar 1(37):1845. doi: 10.3791/1845.
Understanding neural circuits requires methods to record from many neurons simultaneously. For in vitro studies, one currently available technology is planar multielectrode array (MEA) recording. Here we document the use of MEAs to study the mouse vomeronasal organ (VNO), which plays an essential role in the detection of pheromones and social cues via a diverse population of sensory neurons expressing hundreds of types of receptors. Combining MEA recording with a robotic liquid handler to deliver chemical stimuli, the sensory responses of a large and diverse population of neurons can be recorded. The preparation allows us to remove the intact neuroepithelium of the VNO from the mouse and stimulate with a battery of chemicals or potential ligands while monitoring the electrical activity of the neurons for several hours. Therefore, this technique serves as a useful method for assessing ligand activity as well as exploring the properties of receptor neurons. We present the techniques needed to prepare the vomeronasal epithelium, MEA recording, and chemical stimulation.
理解神经回路需要能够同时记录多个神经元的方法。对于体外研究，目前可用的一种技术是平面多电极阵列（MEA）记录。在此，我们记录了使用MEA来研究小鼠犁鼻器（VNO），它通过表达数百种受体的多种感觉神经元群体，在信息素和社交线索的检测中发挥着重要作用。将MEA记录与机器人液体处理器相结合以传递化学刺激，可以记录大量不同类型神经元的感觉反应。这种制备方法使我们能够从小鼠身上分离出完整的VNO神经上皮，并在监测神经元电活动数小时的同时，用一系列化学物质或潜在配体进行刺激。因此，该技术是评估配体活性以及探索受体神经元特性的有用方法。我们展示了制备犁鼻上皮、MEA记录和化学刺激所需的技术。
