PMID: 7546036May 1, 1995Paper

Periodic current injection (PCI)--a new method to image steady-state membrane potential of single neurons in situ using extracellular voltage-sensitive dyes

Zeitschrift Für Naturforschung. C, a Journal of Biosciences
A Borst

Abstract

A new method is described which allows to image the steady-state distribution of membrane potential of single neurons in situ. The method consists of staining the tissue with an extracellular voltage-sensitive dye (Di-4-ANEPPS) and impaling a single neuron with a microelectrode. After focusing the imaging system onto the cell a large series of images are taken with a CCD camera at the appropriate excitation wavelength of the voltage-sensitive dye while the neuron's membrane potential is shifted by a periodic current injection (PCI). Afterwards two groups of images are averaged separately: those images while the cell was at rest and those images while the cell was hyperpolarized. After subtraction of these averaged images, the resulting difference image shows only the membrane potential of the cell which was altered periodically. The success of the method is demonstrated on leech cells in intact ganglia. If applied to cells with a basically two-dimensional arborization pattern, the decrease of activity in the difference image in areas further away from the injection site should relate to a decrease in membrane potential according to the passive electrotonic properties of the cell under study.

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.