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Updated: May 10, 2026
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Fluorescent Calcium Imaging and Subsequent In Situ Hybridization for Neuronal Precursor Characterization in Xenopus laevis
Published on: February 18, 2020
Imaging and manipulating calcium transients in developing Xenopus spinal neurons
Nicholas C Spitzer1, Laura N Borodinsky, Cory M Root
1Neurobiology Section and Center for Molecular Genetics, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
|July 3, 2013
Summary
This study presents a simple protocol for imaging calcium transients in developing spinal neurons. These methods help reveal the crucial roles of calcium in neuronal development and differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Calcium Signaling
Background:
- Electrical excitability in the embryonic nervous system relies on calcium influx.
- Spontaneous intracellular calcium elevations play key roles in neuronal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a protocol for imaging intracellular calcium transients in embryonic Xenopus spinal neurons.
- To enable gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments to study calcium transient functions.
Main Methods:
- Imaging intracellular calcium transients in dissociated cell cultures and intact neural tubes.
- Utilizing Xenopus embryos for studying early neuronal differentiation.
- Adaptable methods for explant and organotypic cultures.
Main Results:
- The protocol allows for imaging diverse classes of intracellular calcium transients.
- Methods facilitate functional studies of calcium transients during neuronal development.
- The protocol is adaptable to various model systems.
Conclusions:
- This protocol provides a versatile tool for investigating calcium signaling in developing neurons.
- The methods can be applied to diverse embryonic systems, including vertebrates and invertebrates.
- Understanding calcium dynamics is crucial for comprehending neuronal differentiation.
