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Method Article

Recording of Local Field Potential in Mouse Hippocampal-Entorhinal Cortex Slices

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July 8th, 2025

In This Article

Abstract

Source: Whitebirch, A. C. Acute Mouse Brain Slicing to Investigate Spontaneous Hippocampal Network Activity. J. Vis. Exp. (2020)

The video demonstrates a procedure to record the local field potential (LFP) in mouse hippocampal-entorhinal cortex slices. Electrical stimulation is provided at the CA3 stratum radiatum of the hippocampus, which causes changes in the postsynaptic potential at the CA1 stratum pyramidale. The combined change in the membrane potential of CA1 neurons, termed the local field potential, is recorded.

Protocol

All procedures involving sample collection have been performed in accordance with the institute's IRB guidelines.

1. Transcardial perfusion

  1. Suspend a 60 mL capacity syringe as a reservoir for sucrose cutting solution approximately 18 inches above the benchtop (e.g., using a three-pronged swivel clamp on a vertical post). Attach tubing to the bottom of the reservoir, run the tubing through a roller clamp, and connect the other end of the tube to a clean 20 G needle.
  2. Fill the 60 mL reservoir with approximately 30 mL of chilled sucrose solution and direct a carbogen line into the sucrose reservoir to cont....

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Results

Horizontal hippocampal-entorhinal cortex slices diagram and DAPI staining; recovery chamber setup.
Figure 1: Preparation of horizontal angled hippocampal-entorhinal cortex (HEC) slices. (A)(i) After extracting the brain, perform two coronal cuts with a razor blade to remove the posterior and anterior portions of the br.......

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Disclosures

No conflicts of interest declared.

Materials

List of materials used in this article
NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
Acute brain slice incubation holderNIH 3D Print Exchange3DPX-001623Designed by ChiaMing Lee, available at https://3dprint.nih.gov/discover/3dpx-001623
Adenosine 5′-triphosphate magnesium saltSigma AldrichA9187-500MG
Ag-Cl ground pelletsWarner64-1309, (E205)
agarBecton, Dickinson214530-500g
ascorbic acidAlfa Aesar36237
beaker (250 mL)Kimax14000-250
beaker (400 mL)Kimax14000-400
biocytinSigma AldrichB4261
blenderOsterBRLY07-B00-NP0
Bonn scissors, smallbecton, Dickinson14184-09
borosilicate glass capillaries with filament (O.D. 1.5 mm, I.D. 0.86 mm, length 10 cm)Sutter InstrumentsBF150-86-10HPFire polished capillaries are preferable.
calcium chloride solution (1 M)G-BiosciencesR040
cameraOlympusOLY-150
compressed carbogen gas (95% oxygen / 5% carbon dioxide)AirgasX02OX95C2003102
compressed oxygenAirgasOX 200
constant voltage isolated stimulatorDigitimer Ltd.DS2A-Mk.II
coverslips (22x50 mm)VWR16004-314
cyanoacrylate adhesiveKrazy GlueKG925Ideally use the brush-on form for precision
data acquisition softwareAxographN/AAny equivalent software (e.g. pClamp) would work.
Dell Precision T1500 Tower Workstation DesktopDellN/ACatalog number will depend on specific computer - any computer will work as long as it can run electrophysiology acquisition software.
Digidata 1440AMolecular Devices1-2950-0367
digital timerVWR62344-6414-channel Traceable timer
disposable absorbant padsVWR56616-018
dissector scissorsFine Science Tools14082-09
double-edge razor bladesPersonnaBP9020
dual automatic temperature controllerWarner Instrument CorporationTC-344B
dual-surface or laminar-flow optimized recording chamberN/AN/AThe chamber presented in this protocol is custom made. A commercial equivalent would be the RC-27L from Warner Instruments.
equipment rackAutomate ScientificFR-EQ70"A rack is not strictly necessary but useful for organizing electrophysiology
Ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethyiether)- N,N,N',N'-teetraacetic acid (EGTA)Sigma Aldrich324626-25GM
filter paperWhatman1004 070
fine scaleMettler ToledoXS204DR
Flaming/Brown micropipette pullerSutter InstrumentsP-97
glass petri dish (100 x 15 mm)Corning3160-101
glucoseFisher ScientificD16-1
Guanosine 5′-triphosphate sodium salt hydrateSigma AldrichG8877-250MG
ice bucketsSigma AldrichBAM168072002-1EA
isoflurane vaporizerGeneral Anesthetic ServicesTec 3
lab tapeFisher Scientific15-901-10R
lens paperFisher Scientific11-996
light sourceOlympusTH4-100
magnesium chloride solution (1 M)Quality Biological351-033-721EA
magnetic stir barsFisher Scientific14-513-56Catalog number will be dependent on the size of the stir bar.
micromanipulatorLuigs & NeumannSM-5
micromanipulator (manual)ScientificaLBM-2000-00
microscopeOlympusBX51WI
microspatulaFine Science Tools10089-11
monitorDell2007FPb
MultiClamp 700B Microelectrode AmplifierMolecular DevicesMULTICLAMP 700BThe MultiClamp 700B should include headstages, pipette holders, and a model cell.
N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N′-(2-ethanesulfonic acid), (HEPES)Sigma AldrichH3375-25G
needle (20 gauge, 1.5 in length)Becton, Dickinson305176
nylon filamentYLI Wonder Invisible Thread212-15-004size 0.004. This cat. # is from Amazon.com
nylon meshWarner Instruments Corporation64-0198
perstaltic pumpHarvard Apparatus70-2027
Phosphocreatine di(tris) saltSigma AldrichP1937-1G
pipette holdersMolecular Devices1-HL-U
platinum wireWorld PrecisionPT0203
polylactic acid (PLA) filamentUltimakerRAL 9010
potassium chlorideSigma AldrichP3911-500G
potassium gluconateSigma Aldrich1550001-200MG
potassium hydroxideSigma Aldrich60377-1KG
razor bladesVWR55411-050
roller clampWorld Precision Instruments14041
scaleMettler ToledoPM2000
scalpel handleFine Science Tools10004-13
slice harpWarnerSHD-26GH/2
sodium bicarbonateFisher ChemicalS233-500
sodium chlorideSigma AldrichS9888-1KG
sodium phosphate monobasic anhydrousFisher ChemicalS369-500
sodium pyruvateFisher ChemicalBP356-100
spatulaVWR82027-520
spatula/spoon, largeVWR470149-442
sterile scalpel bladesFeather72044-10
stirrer / hot plateCorning6795-220
stopcock valves, 1-wayWorld Precision Instruments14054
stopcock valves, 3-wayWorld Precision Instruments14036
sucroseAcros OrganicsAC177142500
support for swivel clampsFisher Scientific14-679Q
surgical scissors, sharp/bluntFine Science Tools14001-12
syringe (1 mL)Becton, Dickinson309659
syringe (60 mL with Luer-Lok tip)Becton, Dickinson309653
three-pronged clampFisher Scientific05-769-8Q
tissue forceps, largeFine Science Tools11021-15
tissue forceps, smallFine Science Tools11023-10
transfer pipettesFisher Scientific13-711-7M
tubingTygonE-3603ID 1/16 inch, OD 3/16 inch
tubingTygonR-3603ID 1/8 inch, OD 1/4 inch
vacuum greaseDow Corning14-635-5D
vibrating blade microtomeLeicaVT 1200S
vibration-dampening table with faraday cageMicro-G / TMC-ametek2536-516-4-30PE
volumetric flask (1 L)KimaxKIM-28014-1000
volumetric flask (2 L)PYREX65640-2000
warm water bathVWR1209

Tags

Mouse Hippocampal SliceElectrical StimulationCA3 Stratum RadiatumCA1 Stratum PyramidalePeristaltic PumpMicromanipulatorACSF SolutionBrain Tissue Slice