Brain Slice Perfusion
Brain Slice Perfusion - Related Videos
27:58
Brain Slice Stimulation Using a Microfluidic Network and Standard Perfusion Chamber
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Cited by 8 •
2007
We demonstrate fabrication of a simple microfluidic device that can be integrated with standard electrophysiology setups to expose microscale surfaces of a brain slice in a well controlled manner to different neurotransmitters.
11:13
Ex Vivo Optogenetic Dissection of Fear Circuits in Brain Slices
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Cited by 8 •
2016
Optogenetic approaches are widely used to manipulate neural activity and assess the consequences for brain function. Here, a technique is outlined that upon in vivo expression of the optical activator Channelrhodopsin, allows for ex vivo analysis of synaptic properties of specific long range and local neural connections in fear-related circuits.
04:08
Simultaneous Optical and Electrophysiological Monitoring of Neuronal Cells in Brain Slices
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2025
This video outlines a method for simultaneously imaging and recording electrical activity from transgenic brain slices that contain neuron-specific fluorescent proteins. The procedure involves maintaining the brain slice in a perfusion chamber with aerated artificial cerebrospinal fluid, using a light source to excite fluorescent-labeled cells, and recording the electrical signals with a multichannel probe and patch clamp.
04:18
Visualization and Mapping of Neuronal Pathways in an Amygdala Brain Slice
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2025
This video demonstrates a procedure for analyzing synaptic connectivity between medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and amygdala neurons using acute amygdala brain slices from mice. The mPFC neurons in these mice express channelrhodopsin fused to a fluorescent protein. The channelrhodopsins facilitate ion influx and action potential generation in the mPFC neurons upon light activation. Consequently, mPFC neurons release neurotransmitters that bind to postsynaptic amygdala neurons, triggering...
03:10
Generation of Spontaneous and On-Demand Ictal Events in Mouse Brain Cortical Slices
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2025
This video demonstrates the induction of ictal events in coronal cortical slices from a transgenic mouse expressing light-activated cation channels in cortical excitatory pyramidal neurons. The slice is placed in a recording chamber, and a recording electrode is inserted into the superficial cortical layer. Upon perfusion with a seizure-inducing drug that blocks potassium channels, the neurons become hyperexcitable and generate spontaneous ictal events. To generate on-demand ictal events, a...
FAQs
Oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid supplies the slice with nutrients while helping remove metabolic waste. Maintaining appropriate temperature and ionic conditions further supports physiological tissue function. Continuous delivery is important because the isolated section no longer receives these supplies through the intact circulation. Together, these conditions help preserve cellular activity long enough for controlled measurements and experimental manipulation.
Preserving local cellular connections allows researchers to examine neural activity within a partially intact circuit rather than studying isolated cells alone. These connections support investigations of synaptic transmission and circuit responses, making it possible to relate individual neuronal behavior to interactions among nearby cells. This organization is especially useful when evaluating how experimental manipulations influence coordinated neural function.
The preparation depends on maintaining oxygen delivery, nutrient availability, waste removal, temperature, and ionic conditions within physiological ranges. Changes in any of these environmental factors can affect whether the tissue remains functionally useful for recording. Researchers therefore control the perfusion environment so that measured neuronal activity, synaptic transmission, or circuit responses more directly reflect the experimental treatment.
A typical workflow places thin brain sections in a recording chamber and continuously supplies them with oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid. The chamber maintains the environmental conditions required for tissue function while researchers apply electrophysiological recording, imaging, or pharmacological manipulation. This sequence creates a controlled preparation in which neural responses can be measured under defined laboratory conditions.
The central equipment is a recording chamber that holds the tissue while perfusion delivers oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Researchers can then select electrophysiology to measure neuronal or synaptic activity, imaging to observe responses, or pharmacological manipulation to test how specific experimental treatments affect the preparation. Combining these approaches provides complementary information about neural function.
Researchers use this preparation to investigate mechanisms of brain function, disease-related changes, and responses to potential therapeutics. Because the tissue remains organized enough to preserve local connections while conditions can be controlled experimentally, investigators can measure neuronal activity, synaptic transmission, and circuit responses directly. The resulting data help connect cellular or circuit behavior with broader biological questions.