Electrophysiological Methods for Recording Synaptic Potentials from the NMJ of Drosophila Larvae

Summary

Here we describe electrophysiological methods for measuring synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction of Drosophila larva. Evoked release is initiated artificially by stimulating the motor neuron axons, and transmission through the NMJ can be measured by the postsynaptic response evoked in the muscle.

Abstract

In this video, we describe the electrophysiological methods for recording synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of Drosophila larva. The larval neuromuscular system is a model synapse for the study of synaptic physiology and neurotransmission, and is a valuable research tool that has defined genetics and is accessible to experimental manipulation. Larvae can be dissected to expose the body wall musculature, central nervous system, and peripheral nerves. The muscles of Drosophila and their innervation pattern are well characterized and muscles are easy to access for intracellular recording. Individual muscles can be identified by their location and orientation within the 8 abdominal segments, each with 30 muscles arranged in a pattern that is repeated in segments A2 - A7. Dissected drosophila larvae are thin and individual muscles and bundles of motor neuron axons can be visualized by transillumination¹. Transgenic constructs can be used to label target cells for visual identification or for manipulating gene products in specific tissues. In larvae, excitatory junction potentials (EJP’s) are generated in response to vesicular release of glutamate from the motoneurons at the synapse. In dissected larvae, the EJP can be recorded in the muscle with an intracellular electrode. Action potentials can be artificially evoked in motor neurons that have been cut posterior to the ventral ganglion, drawn into a glass pipette by gentle suction and stimulated with an electrode. These motor neurons have distinct firing thresholds when stimulated, and when they fire simultaneously, they generate a response in the muscle. Signals transmitted across the NMJ synapse can be recorded in the muscles that the motor neurons innervate. The EJP’s and minature excitatory junction potentials (mEJP’s) are seen as changes in membrane potential. Electrophysiological responses are recorded at room temperature in modified minimal hemolymph-like solution² (HL3) that contains 5 mM Mg²⁺ and 1.5 mM Ca²⁺. Changes in the amplitude of evoked EJP’s can indicate differences in synaptic function and structure. Digitized recordings are analyzed for EJP amplitude, mEJP frequency and amplitude, and quantal content.

Protocol

Before starting prepare:

• Wandering yhird instar Drosophila larvae
• HL3.1 (Modified hemolymph-like) solution
• Sylgard (transparent silicone rubber) dissection plates prepared in small (35 x 10 mm) plastic petri dishes using methods described by Brent and McCabe (2008)³.
• Cut dissection pins short
• Stimulating electrode pipettes
• Sharp recording pipettes

HL3 Solution:

1. During dissections and electrophysiological experiments, larva are immersed in HL3.1 solution² that contains (in mM): 70 NaCl, 5 KCl, 4 MgCl₂, 10 NaHCO₃, 5 tre....

Discussion

The methods described here provide a relatively quick and broad way to detect changes in synaptic function at the NMJ. The ability to perform electrophysiological recordings using intact animals in vivo, and perform genetic or pharmacological manipulations, make Drosophila an ideal animal model for investigating the physiological and genetic aspects of neurotransmission.

Since muscle cells are very large, some might prefer to add an additional step to this protocol for two electrode voltage cl.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Small Petri dishes (35 x 10 mm)	BD Biosciences	1008
SYLGARD 182 Silicone Elastomer Kit	Dow Corning	3097366-1004
Dissecting microscope	Carl Zeiss, Inc.	475002-9902
Light for microscope	Schott AG	KLI500
Dissection pins	Fine Science Tools	26002-10
pClamp 9 software	Molecular Devices	PCLAMP 9 STANDARD
Dissection scissors: 3mm Vannas Spring Scissors	Fine Science Tools	15000-0
Dumont SS Forceps	Fine Science Tools	11200-33
Dumont #5 Forceps	Fine Science Tools	11252-20
Thin-walled borosilicate glass capillaries, with filament (1.0 mm, 4 in)	World Precision Instruments, Inc.	TW100F-4
Borosilicate glass capillaries, with filament (1.2 mm, 4 in)	World Precision Instruments, Inc.	1B120F-4
Sutter P-2000 Laser Based Micropipette Puller	Sutter Instrument Co.	Model P-2000
Pipette polisher	Narishige International	MF-83
Axon HS-2A head stage	Molecular Devices	Model HS-2A
Micromanipulators	Sutter Instrument Co.	MP-85
Axoclamp 2B amplifier	Molecular Devices	AXOCLAMP 2B
Clampex Software	Molecular Devices	v 8.2.0.235
Mini analysis software. v 6.0.3	Synaptosoft
Brownlee Precision Amplifier	Brownlee	Model 410
NaCl	Baker/VWR	4058-01
KCl	Sigma-Aldrich	p-9333
NaHCO3	Sigma-Aldrich	s6297-1kg
Trelahose	Sigma-Aldrich	TO167
Sucrose	Fisher Scientific	bp220-212
HEPES	Sigma-Aldrich	h-3375
MgCl-6H2O	Sigma-Aldrich	m2670-1kg
CaCl2	Fisher Scientific	c79-500
Master-8 Pulse Generator	A.M.P.I
Vibration table for electrophysiology set up	Technical Manufacturing Corp.
Faraday Cage