title: A light-emitting diode light source for imaging of neural activities with voltage-sensitive dyes.
abstract: We tested the possibility of using a high-power monochromatic InGaN light-emitting diode (LED) as an excitation light source for real-time optical imaging using the voltage-sensitive dye RH-795. Driven with a custom-designed, non-feedback-controlled constant-current circuit, the LED generated stable light with rapid on/off. The LED was comparable with commonly used halogen lamps in exciting RH-795. Acoustically evoked responses in the auditory cortex recorded with the two light sources were highly similar. Our results thus suggest that a high-power LED can be successfully used as an excitation light source for voltage-sensitive dyes, without the need of optical filters and shutters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirasawa
authors.forename: Wen-Jie
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008027:Light; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*