Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026
10:31
In Vitro Wedge Slice Preparation for Mimicking In Vivo Neuronal Circuit Connectivity
Published on: August 18, 2020
6.1K
High-yield in vitro recordings from neurons functionally characterized in vivo
Simon Weiler1, Joel Bauer1, Mark Hübener1
1Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, München-Martinsried, Germany.
Nature Protocols
|May 12, 2018
Summary
This study introduces a novel workflow to link in vivo neuronal activity with in vitro cellular physiology. Researchers can now study neuronal connectivity and function by combining two-photon calcium imaging with slice electrophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cellular Biology
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- In vivo two-photon calcium imaging reveals neuronal activity but lacks cellular resolution.
- In vitro methods offer high-resolution cellular and synaptic analysis but lack in vivo context.
- Bridging these techniques is crucial for understanding neural circuits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a protocol integrating in vivo neuronal activity recording with subsequent in vitro high-resolution analysis of the same neurons.
- To enable direct correlation of experience-dependent neuronal activity with cellular physiology and connectivity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) for repeated in vivo two-photon calcium imaging in mice.
- Employed fluorescent-bead tracks and structural markers for precise re-identification of neurons in brain slices.
- Combined in vivo imaging with in vitro electrophysiology and circuit mapping for detailed cellular analysis.
Main Results:
- Established a reliable workflow to characterize in vivo neuronal responses and subsequently analyze the same neurons in vitro.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of correlating dynamic neuronal activity patterns with underlying synaptic and physiological properties.
- Enabled direct observation of experience-dependent changes in neuronal function and structure.
Conclusions:
- This integrated approach significantly advances the study of neural circuits by linking functional activity with detailed cellular and synaptic properties.
- The protocol facilitates direct correlation of experience-dependent plasticity with neuronal connectivity and physiology.
- This method opens new avenues for understanding how neuronal circuits adapt and change over time.
Related Concept Videos
01:31ATP Yield
79.1K
Cellular respiration produces 30 - 32 ATP per glucose molecule. Although most of the ATP results from oxidative phosphorylation and the electron transport chain (ETC), 4 ATP are gained beforehand (2 from glycolysis and 2 from the citric acid cycle).
The ETC is embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane and is comprised of four main protein complexes and an ATP synthase. NADH and FADH2 pass electrons to these complexes, which pump protons into the intermembrane space. This distribution of...
The ETC is embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane and is comprised of four main protein complexes and an ATP synthase. NADH and FADH2 pass electrons to these complexes, which pump protons into the intermembrane space. This distribution of...
79.1K
02:22Reaction Yield
60.2K
The theoretical yield of a reaction is the amount of product estimated to form based on the stoichiometry of the balanced chemical equation. The theoretical yield assumes the complete conversion of the limiting reactant into the desired product. The amount of product that is obtained by performing the reaction is called the actual yield, and it may be less than or (very rarely) equal to the theoretical yield.
60.2K
01:17Equivalence: In Vitro and In Vivo Bioequivalence
241
Body:Bioequivalence studies are crucial in evaluating whether new drugs can match an approved one regarding pharmacological effects and clinical performance. These studies test if drugs, despite different dosage forms, share identical plasma concentration-time profiles. Three types of equivalence are central to these studies: chemical, pharmaceutical, and therapeutic. Chemical equivalence indicates that two or more drug products contain identical active ingredients in equal amounts.
241
02:56The Fossil Record
27.5K
The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...
27.5K
01:20Drug Product Performance: In Vitro–In Vivo Correlation
285
In pharmaceutical development, it's crucial to establish a predictive in vitro–in vivo correlation (IVIVC) for two or more formulations to gain a comprehensive understanding of release properties. IVIVC reduces the need for costly in vivo studies and facilitates the establishment of meaningful dissolution specifications with significant cost savings and decreased regulatory burden. Furthermore, a meaningful IVIVC should predict Cmax and AUC within 20%, aligning with FDA guidance while...
285
01:25Yield Criteria for Ductile Materials under Plane Stress
575
In designing structural elements and machine parts using ductile materials, it is crucial to ensure that these components withstand applied stresses without yielding. Yielding is initially determined through a tensile test, which evaluates the material's response to uniaxial stress. However, tensile stress is insufficient when components face biaxial or plane stress conditions This condition requires advanced criteria to predict failure.
The Maximum Shearing Stress Criterion, also known as...
The Maximum Shearing Stress Criterion, also known as...
575