Protocol for remapping of place cells in disease mouse models

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Computational Neuroscience
• Alzheimer's Disease Research

Background:

• Hippocampal place cells and entorhinal grid cells are crucial for spatial navigation.
• These cells exhibit environment-specific firing patterns known as remapping.
• Remapping is known to be disrupted in Alzheimer's disease models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a protocol for investigating remapping in hippocampal place cells and entorhinal grid cells.
• To provide detailed methods for constructing and implanting a custom electrophysiology device.
• To outline steps for behavioral training, recording, and data analysis in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Main Methods:

• Development and utilization of a custom-made electrophysiology device for neural recordings.
• Surgical implantation of the recording device in a mouse model.
• Behavioral training paradigms to assess spatial navigation and cell activity.
• Electrophysiological recording and subsequent data analysis of place and grid cell activity.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated disruption of place cell remapping in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
• Provided a detailed protocol for the construction and implantation of a novel electrophysiology device.
• Established a comprehensive workflow for behavioral training, neural recording, and data analysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed protocol enables the investigation of spatial remapping deficits in Alzheimer's disease.
• This methodology can advance the understanding of neural circuit dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases.
• The study offers practical guidance for researchers studying neural correlates of spatial memory.