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Efficient Method for Whole-Cell Recording in Freely Moving Rodents Using Ultraviolet-Cured Collar-Based Pipette
1Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; leedoyun@ibs.re.kr leea@janelia.hhmi.org.
Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
|April 5, 2017
Summary
Whole-cell recording in freely moving animals is now feasible. This new technique enables high-success-rate intracellular recordings in drug-free animals during natural behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cellular Biology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Whole-cell recording is crucial for studying brain function.
- Mechanical disturbances challenge whole-cell recording in freely moving animals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a technique for high-success-rate whole-cell recording in freely moving animals.
Main Methods:
- Whole-cell recording from awake, head-fixed animals.
- Stabilization of recording pipettes using a UV-transparent collar and UV-cured adhesive.
- Rapid release from head fixation without compromising recordings.
Main Results:
- Successfully obtained intracellular recordings from the hippocampus of freely moving rats and mice.
- Demonstrated high success rate in obtaining recordings from freely moving, drug-free animals.
Conclusions:
- The described technique overcomes challenges of mechanical instability in whole-cell recording.
- This method is applicable to various brain areas and natural behaviors in freely moving animals.