Protocol

Infrared-Guided Laser Stimulation of Neurons in Brain Slices

This protocol was adapted from "A Practical Guide: Infrared-Guided Laser Stimulation of Neurons in Brain Slices," Chapter 50, in Imaging in Neuroscience and Development (eds. Yuste and Konnerth). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA, 2005.

INTRODUCTION

This protocol describes an approach for easy and precise stimulation of single neurons in brain slices using caged neurotransmitters. The technique can be applied to neurobiological problems for which precise and rapid stimulation of neurons in brain slices is required. When a caged neurotransmitter is added to the superfusion medium, neurons in brain slices can be excited by shining light on them. This very localized application allows dendrites to be scanned for the distribution of neurotransmitter receptors. Furthermore, by the stimulation of neighboring neurons, the connectivity of neuronal networks can be investigated. As laser stimulation can be performed quickly, this technique can also be used to search for synaptic connections between distant neurons with a low probability of connectivity.