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A methodology for determining the patch-matrix compartmental location of extracellular single-unit recordings in the
B A Heidenreich1, E S Trytek, D M Schroeder
1Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405.
Abstract:
A methodology was developed to combine extracellular electrophysiological recording techniques in awake, behaving rats with immunohistochemical protocols to determine the placement of recording sites in the patch (striosome) or matrix (extrastriosome) regions of the striatum. The recording system includes a 3-barrel glass micropipette, which can be used to deposit Pontamine Sky Blue to mark a small number of neurons at the recording site. Subsequent immunostaining for calbindin allows the site to be localized within the patch-matrix organization. Other dyes or neuroanatomical probes can be ejected from other barrels of the recording pipette to label afferent and efferent structures. The methodology can be applied to many brain regions, providing for integrative studies of behavior and nervous system structure and function.