Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA.
Nat Commun. 2011;2:306. doi: 10.1038/ncomms1304.
A reliable method for recording evoked synaptic events in identified neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans would greatly accelerate our understanding of its nervous system at the molecular, cellular and network levels. Here we describe a method for recording synaptic currents and potentials from identified neurons in nearly intact worms. Dissection and exposure of postsynaptic neurons is facilitated by microfabricated agar substrates, and ChannelRhodopsin-2 is used to stimulate presynaptic neurons. We used the method to analyse functional connectivity between a polymodal nociceptor and a command neuron that initiates a stochastic escape behaviour. We find that escape probability mirrors the time course of synaptic current in the command neuron. Moreover, synaptic input increases smoothly as stimulus strength is increased, suggesting that the overall input-output function of the connection is graded. We propose a model in which the energetic cost of escape behaviours in C. elegans is tuned to the intensity of the threat.
一种可靠的方法来记录线虫中鉴定神经元的诱发突触事件，将极大地加速我们对其神经系统在分子、细胞和网络水平上的理解。在这里，我们描述了一种从几乎完整的线虫中记录鉴定神经元的突触电流和电位的方法。通过微加工琼脂基质来促进突触后神经元的解剖和暴露，并用 ChannelRhodopsin-2 来刺激突触前神经元。我们使用该方法分析了一种多模态伤害感受器和一种发起随机逃避行为的命令神经元之间的功能连接。我们发现，逃避概率反映了命令神经元中突触电流的时程。此外，随着刺激强度的增加，突触输入平稳增加，这表明连接的整体输入-输出函数是分级的。我们提出了一个模型，其中线虫中逃避行为的能量成本与威胁的强度相匹配。
