Imaging high-resolution structure of GFP-expressing neurons in neocortex in vivo

Chen, B. E., Lendvai, B., Nimchinsky, E. A., Burbach, B., Fox, K., Svoboda, K. (November 2000) Imaging high-resolution structure of GFP-expressing neurons in neocortex in vivo. Learning & Memory, 7 (6). pp. 433-441. ISSN 1072-0502

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Abstract

To detect subtle changes in neuronal morphology in response to changes in experience, one must image neurons at high resolution in vivo over time scales of minutes to days. We accomplished this by infecting postmitotic neurons in rat and mouse barrel cortex with a Sindbis virus carrying the gene for enhanced green fluorescent protein. Visualized with 2-photon excitation laser scanning microscopy, infected neurons showed bright fluorescence that was distributed homogeneously throughout the cell, including axonal and dendritic arbors. Single dendritic spines could routinely be resolved and their morphological dynamics visualized. Viral infection and imaging were achieved throughout postnatal development up to early adulthood (P 8-30), although the viral efficiency of infection decreased with age. This relatively noninvasive method for fluorescent labeling and imaging of neurons allows the study of morphological dynamics of neocortical neurons and their circuits in vivo.

Item Type: Paper
Uncontrolled Keywords: GREEN FLUORESCENT PROTEIN LONG-TERM POTENTIATION HIPPOCAMPAL DENTATE GYRUS CORTICAL DENDRITIC GROWTH RAT BARREL CORTEX VISUAL-CORTEX GENE-TRANSFER SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY PYRAMIDAL NEURONS SINDBIS-VIRUS
Subjects: organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > tissues types and functions > cerebral cortex
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein types > green fluorescent protein
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > tissues types and functions > hippocampus
Investigative techniques and equipment > imaging
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Svoboda lab
Depositing User: Matt Covey
Date: November 2000
Date Deposited: 30 Jan 2014 16:36
Last Modified: 30 Jan 2014 16:36
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/29404

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