title: A novel technique for micro-dissection of neuronal processes.
abstract: A simple system for cutting dendrites of single neurons without damaging the viability of the cell is described. The system utilizes a rapidly vibrating (100 Hz) micropipette (<1 microm tip diameter), which is dragged under direct visual control across the dendrite of a selected neuron. We used this system in a thin slice preparation to dissect the apical dendrites of rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells. We then used the patch-clamp technique in the whole-cell configuration to record from the isolated somata of these cells and to inject a dye into them. Both a functional and an anatomical disconnection of the dendrites from their somata were verified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine, PO Box 12272, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Kirson
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yaari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000379:methods*; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000379:methods; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014732:Vibration