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An Isolated Semi-intact Preparation of the Mouse Vestibular Sensory Epithelium for Electrophysiology and High-resolution Two-photon Microscopy
Published on: June 13, 2013
Dye coupling in developing vestibular nuclei
M Shao1, A Gottesman-Davis, A Popratiloff
1Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
Journal of Neuroscience Research
|October 18, 2007
Summary
Transient neuron-neuron and neuron-glia coupling in the chick tangential nucleus are developmentally regulated. This coupling is present before, but not after, the onset of mature signal processing in vestibular nucleus neurons.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Cellular Electrophysiology
Background:
- The chick tangential nucleus is crucial for vestibular reflexes.
- Mature vestibular nucleus neurons require repetitive firing and spontaneous activity for signal processing.
- Neuronal excitability development is influenced by gap junction-mediated cell coupling.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the presence and developmental regulation of neuron-neuron and neuron-glia coupling in the chick tangential nucleus.
- Determine the role of this coupling in establishing neuronal excitability during development.
Main Methods:
- Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and biocytin injections in brain slices of chick tangential nucleus.
- Confocal imaging to visualize dye coupling between principal cells and other neurons or glia.
- Analysis of coupling incidence and extent at embryonic day 13 (E13), embryonic day 16 (E16), and post-hatch day 7 (H7).
Main Results:
- Dye coupling between principal cells and neurons increased from 42% at E13 to 75% at E16, then decreased to 7% at H7.
- Dye coupling with glia was 100% at E13 and E16, decreasing to 27% by H7.
- The number of coupled neurons and glia per injected cell was highest at E16 and diminished significantly by H7.
Conclusions:
- Neuron-neuron and neuron-glia coupling in the tangential nucleus are developmentally regulated.
- This transient coupling occurs before the onset of mature signal processing in vestibular nucleus neurons.
- Transient coupling likely plays a significant role in establishing neuronal excitability during development.
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