Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Flash Photolysis of Caged Compounds in the Cilia of Olfactory Sensory Neurons
Published on: October 29, 2011
Photolysis of caged neurotransmitters: theory and procedures for light delivery
1Baltimore VA Medical Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Abstract:
Photolysis of "caged" compounds is a technique for releasing biologically active compounds in which the timing, rate, and spatial profile of release are controlled by light. Issues relating to the delivery of light for single-photon photolysis are presented. Specific discussions include the theories relating to how light interacts with biological tissue to produce scattering and phototoxicity, as well as the issues involved in choosing the appropriate light source. Several approaches and optical designs are presented for delivering the output of a laser to a microscopic specimen. The criteria for choosing an approach are presented. The commercial sources for the parts needed to build a photolysis system are also provided. This unit will be particularly useful for investigators interested in single-photon photolysis of caged neurotransmitters in brain slices.
Related Concept Videos
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
Channel Rhodopsins
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
Sensory organs,...

