Imaging activity in neurons and glia

We use multi-photon imaging techniques

to study activity, at multiple levels of spatial and temporal resolution, in neurons and glia that express genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs). This approach allows us to record calcium events at spatial scales ranging from small subcellular compartments to large networks of cells. GECIs make it straightforward to record from well-defined cell types in isolation or combination.'

Our recent contributions to this area of research include the development of new transgenic animals that allow Cre-dependent expression of sensitive indicators (Gee et al. 2014); generation of a number of useful probes that can be introduced via in utero electroporation (Gee et al. 2015); and laser-scanning methods that allow us to record from multiple cells over long distances with excellent temporal resolution (Lillis et al. 2008).

Selected References

Gee JM, Gibbons MB, Taheri M, Palumbos S, Moris SC, Smeal RM, Flynn KF, Economo MN, Cizek CG, Capecchi M, Tvrdik P, Wilcox KS, and White JA (2015) Imaging activity in astrocytes and neurons with genetically encoded calcium indicators following in utero electroporation. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 8: 10.

Gee JM, Smith NA, Fernandez FR, Economo MN, Morris SC, Brunert D, Rothermal M, Morris SC, Talbot A, Palumbos S, Ichida J, Shepherd JD, West PJ, Wachowiak M, Capecchi MR, Wilcox KS, White JA†, and Tvrdik P† (2014) Imaging activity in neurons and glia with a new GCaMP5G reporter mouse. Neuron 83: 1058-1072. (†: co-senior authors). PMID: 25155958. PMCID: PMC4156920.

Lillis KP, Eng A, White JA, and Mertz J (2008) Two-photon imaging of spatially extended neuronal network dynamics with high temporal resolution. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 172: 178-184.

Lillis KP, Kramer MA, Mertz J, Staley KJ, and White JA (2012) Pyramidal cells accumulate chloride at seizure onset. Neurobiology of Disease 47: 358-366. PMID: 22677032. PMCID: PMC3392473.

Smeal RM, Economo MN, Lillis KP, Wilcox KS, and White JA (2012) Targeted Path Scanning: An emerging method for recording fast changing network dynamics across large distances. Journal of Bioengineering & Biomedical Science S5: 002. PMID: 22241969. PMCID: PMC3252263.

Wachowiak M, Economo MN, Diaz-Quesada M, Brunert D, Wesson DW, White JA, and Rothermal M (2013) Optical dissection of odor information processing in vivo using GCaMPs expressed in specific cell types of the olfactory bulb. Journal of Neuroscience 33: 5285-5300. PMID: 23516293. PMCID: PMC3690468.

Zhou YD, Acker CD, Netoff TI, Sen K, and White JA (2005) Increasing calcium transients by broadening postsynaptic action potentials enhances timing-dependent synaptic depression. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 102: 19121-19125.