Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from identified spinal neurons in the zebrafish embryo.
We describe a preparation for obtaining patch-clamp recordings from identified embryonic spinal cord interneurons, motoneurons and sensory neurons in an in vivo zebrafish preparation. This preparation is used to study the spatial and temporal patterns of spontaneous and touch-evoked electrical activity during the initial development of circuitry in the spinal cord. The combination of these physiological techniques with the powerful genetic and molecular tools available in the zebrafish has the potential to increase our understanding of the complex interactions between genes and electrical activity during the development of the vertebrate nervous system.
Saint-Amant
Louis
L
Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048, USA. louiss@umich.edu
Drapeau
Pierre
P
D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*