Imaging postsynaptic activities of teleost thalamic neurons at single cell resolution using a voltage-sensitive dye

Neurosci Lett. 2001 Oct 12;312(1):17-20. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(01)02177-2.

Abstract

Optical recording of neuronal activities using voltage-sensitive dyes (VSDs) is a useful method for simultaneous multi-site recording. However, it has been rather difficult to distinguish optical signals from individual, identified cells. We applied the optical recording technique using a high-speed charge coupled device (CCD) imaging system to a teleost thalamic nucleus, corpus glomerulosum (CG) which has a well-defined histological organization and large postsynaptic dendrites. Patch-like dye (di-4-ANEPPS) signals were observed in the dendritic layer of the CG in response to afferent nerve stimulations. These responses were completely blocked by an alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-proprionate (AMPA) receptor antagonist, did not propagate, and the size of the patches were close to that of a single dendritic tip of the 'large cell'. Thus, we found that these patch-like VSD signals most likely represent postsynaptic potentials at individual dendritic tips of the large cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dendrites / drug effects
  • Dendrites / physiology*
  • Dendrites / ultrastructure
  • Electronic Data Processing / instrumentation
  • Electronic Data Processing / methods
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Fishes / anatomy & histology
  • Fishes / physiology*
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Membrane Potentials / physiology
  • Pyridinium Compounds
  • Quinoxalines / pharmacology
  • Receptors, AMPA / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, AMPA / metabolism
  • Synaptic Membranes / drug effects
  • Synaptic Membranes / physiology*
  • Synaptic Membranes / ultrastructure
  • Thalamus / cytology
  • Thalamus / drug effects
  • Thalamus / physiology*

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Pyridinium Compounds
  • Quinoxalines
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • 2,3-dioxo-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline
  • 1-(3-sulfonatopropyl)-4-(beta)(2-(di-n-butylamino)-6-naphthylvinyl)pyridinium betaine