Optical induction of synaptic plasticity using a light-sensitive channel

We have combined millisecond activation of channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), a light-gated ion channel, with two-photon calcium imaging to investigate active synaptic contacts in rat hippocampal slice cultures. Calcium influx was larger during light-induced action potentials than during action potentials i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNature methods Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 139 - 141
Main Authors Oertner, Thomas G, Zhang, Yan-Ping
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Nature Publishing Group 01.02.2007
Subjects
Action Potentials
Analysis
Animals
Calcium
Calcium - metabolism
Dendrites - physiology
Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological
Electrophysiology - methods
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
Gene expression
Genetics
Hippocampus - physiology
Injection
Ions
Light
Long-Term Potentiation
Neural transmission
Neuronal Plasticity
Neuroplasticity
Optics
Plasticity
Pyramidal Cells
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Research methodology
Rodents
Sensory Rhodopsins - genetics
Synapses - physiology
Synaptic Transmission
Transfection
Switzerland
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Summary:We have combined millisecond activation of channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), a light-gated ion channel, with two-photon calcium imaging to investigate active synaptic contacts in rat hippocampal slice cultures. Calcium influx was larger during light-induced action potentials than during action potentials induced by somatic current injection, leading to highly reproducible synaptic transmission. Pairing of light stimulation with postsynaptic depolarization induced long-term potentiation, making this technique ideal for genetic and pharmacological dissection of synaptic plasticity.
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ISSN:1548-7091
1548-7105
DOI:10.1038/nmeth988