title: Detecting zinc release induced by mu-opioid receptor agonists in brain slices.
abstract: After iron, zinc is the second most abundant transition metal in living organisms and it is known to be a contributory factor in a series of neurological disorders. In biological systems zinc exists as either bound Zn(2+), representing the majority of the total zinc in tissues, or free (chelatable) Zn(2+). Several fluorescents dyes have been developed to detect free zinc when it is released from zinc-binding proteins, which occurs via redox mechanisms in response to the stimulation of a number of neurotransmitter receptors, including the μ opioid receptor. Here we describe a detailed protocol to detect drug stimulated intracellular zinc release in rodent brain slices using time-lapse microscopy and fluorescence imaging.
authors.affiliation: Neuropharmacology, Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Doctor Arce 37, Madrid, 28002, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Muñoz
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Blázquez
authors.forename: Concha
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bailón
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garzón
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015032:Zinc / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D015032:Zinc