Neuroscience Techniques

Question 0

A problem with single cell preparations is…?

Answer 0

There are no synaptic connections intact

Question 1

Tissue preparations include…?

Answer 1

Single cell, brain, spinal cord, invertebrate, in vivo and implanted electrode

Question 2

Preparations including the brainstem and spinal cord are advantageous because…?

Answer 2

Synaptic connections can be stimulated and recorded

Question 3

Gathering a brain slice involves 3 main steps, what are they?

Answer 3

Brain is removed quickly, kept oxygenated, and sliced using a vibroslice

Question 4

How long can brain tissue remain alive for once removed and sliced?

Answer 4

5-10 hours

Question 5

Intacellular recordings uses what type of electrode?

Answer 5

A sharp glass electrode (30-150 MOhms)

Question 6

With regards to intracellular recordings, what is a ground?

Answer 6

The internal voltage is compared with the ground, which is outside

Question 7

What preparations can use intracellular recording?

Answer 7

Single cell, brain slices and in vivo

Question 8

What can be added via intracellular electrodes?

Answer 8

Dyes, including biocytin and neurobiotin

Question 9

What is the advantage of applying dye to the preparations?

Answer 9

The tissue can be processed and visualised using light microscopy to determine electrophysiology and neuroanatomy

Question 10

What type of electrode is used for extra cellular recordings?

Answer 10

An external low resistance electrode (<20 MOhms)

Question 11

What is intracellular recordings used to measure?

Answer 11

Resting membrane potentials, action potentials, firing rate and synaptic potentials

Question 12

What is extra cellular recordings used to measure?

Answer 12

Action potential firing rates, synaptic potentials of large neurone populations

Question 13

What preparations can use extra cellular recordings?

Answer 13

Brain slices, in vivo and intact nerve

Question 14

What type of electrode is used to apply drugs to the preparation? And what is this process called?

Answer 14

A multi-barrelled electrode via microiontophoresis

Question 15

What are the clinical implications of microiontophoresis?

Answer 15

Identifying the best treatments for epilepsy

Question 16

What recording technique uses a low resistance patch electrode (5 MOhms)?

Answer 16

Patch clamp recording

Question 17

Regarding patch clamp recording, what must for in order for recordings to be made?

Answer 17

A high resistance Gigaohm seal

Question 18

How is a Gigaohm seal formed?

Answer 18

The electrode is placed against the membrane and gentle suction is applied

Question 19

Patch clamp recordings can be done on which tissue preparations?

Answer 19

Single cell and brain slices

Question 20

What is a microscopic current?

Answer 20

The current flowing through the single isolated channel in a patch clamp recording

Question 21

Voltage clamp recordings allows for two processes, these are…?

Answer 21

Measuring the current through the ion channel, and controlling the membrane potential

Question 22

What electrodes are used in voltage clamp recordings?

Answer 22

Two sharp electrodes

Question 23

What preparations allow voltage clamp recordings?

Answer 23

Single cells, but these must be large, such as xenopus oocytes

Question 24

What is the advantage of applying mRNA sequences to oocytes via voltage clamp recordings?

Answer 24

mRNA sequences of ion channels allow the channel expression within the cell; used to understand channel function in disease, eg epilepsy