title: Combined retrograde labeling and calcium imaging in spinal cord and brainstem neurons of the lamprey.
abstract: Neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord of the lamprey were retrogradely labeled with Calcium Green-dextran, an indicator dye that increases its fluorescence when intracellular calcium levels increase. Optical signals could be recorded from these labeled neurons during spinal cord stimulation, nerve stimulation, or spontaneous activity, up to 4 days after dye application and for distances of 5-14 mm away from the application site. Optical signals were enhanced by 4-AP, a potassium channel blocker, and blocked by cadmium, a calcium channel blocker. Taken together, the results suggest that the optical signals recorded from labeled neurons were due to calcium influx during electrical activity. Thus, retrograde labeling with calcium indicator dyes may provide a general purpose method for simultaneously monitoring the activity-related changes of intracellular calcium in anatomically identified groups of neurons in the lamprey nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, Unversity of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: McClellan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Donovan
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D003911:Dextrans; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007700:Kinetics; D007798:Lampreys; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D003911:Dextrans; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D002104:Cadmium; C071336:calcium green; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D002118:Calcium