Targeted Regional Electroporation
Targeted Regional Electroporation - Related Videos
10:04
Electroporation of the Hindbrain to Trace Axonal Trajectories and Synaptic Targets in the Chick Embryo
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Cited by 9 •
2013
How neuronal networks are established in the embryonic brain is a fundamental question in developmental neurobiology. Here we combined an electroporation technique with novel genetic tools, such as Cre/Lox–plasmids and PiggyBac-mediated DNA transposition system in the avian hindbrain to label dorsal interneurons and track their axonal projections and synaptic targets at various developmental stages.
10:02
Ex Vivo Culture of Chick Cerebellar Slices and Spatially Targeted Electroporation of Granule Cell Precursors
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Cited by 4 •
2015
The cerebellar external granule layer is the site of the largest transit amplification in the developing brain. Here, we present a protocol to target genetic modification to this layer at the peak of proliferation using ex vivo electroporation and culture of cerebellar slices from embryonic Day 14 chick embryos.
08:18
Targeting Olfactory Bulb Neurons Using Combined In Vivo Electroporation and Gal4-Based Enhancer Trap Zebrafish Lines
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Cited by 8 •
2011
The temporal and spatial resolution of genetic manipulations determines the spectrum of biological phenomena that they can perturb. Here we use temporally and spatially discrete in vivo electroporation, combined with transgenic lines of zebrafish, to induce expression of a GFP transgene specifically in neurons of the developing olfactory bulb.
08:05
Murine In Utero Electroporation
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2023
In utero electroporation is an important technique for studying the molecular mechanisms that guide the proliferation, differentiation, migration, and maturation of cells during neural development. Electroporation enables the rapid and targeted delivery of material into cells by utilizing electrical pulses to create transient pores in cell membranes. Although electroporation has traditionally been used in in vitro studies, scientific advancements have now broadened its utilization to intact...
06:22
Neonatal Pial Surface Electroporation
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Cited by 6 •
2014
The pial surface is a unique progenitor zone in the CNS that is receiving increasing attention. Herein, we detail a method for rapid genetic manipulation of this progenitor zone using a modified electroporation method. This procedure can be used for cellular and molecular investigations of cell lineages and signaling pathways involved in cell differentiation and to elucidate the fate and properties of daughter cells.
FAQs
Controlled electrical pulses increase the transmembrane potential of cells in the selected region. When the electrical effect reaches a suitable level, short-lived pores form in the membranes, allowing DNA, RNA, or other compounds to enter. Because the pores are temporary, the technique supports molecular delivery without describing the membrane as permanently disrupted.
Electrodes placed around the target region shape where the applied electric field acts most strongly. Cells within that selected area experience the membrane-permeabilizing effect, while tissues outside it are less directly exposed. This arrangement gives the method greater regional control than applying electrical pulses across an entire tissue.
The main difference is the scale of electrical treatment. Whole-tissue exposure subjects a broad area to the electric field, whereas the targeted approach concentrates delivery within a selected region. This distinction can reduce effects outside the target and helps investigators associate molecular changes with a particular tissue location.
The approach can deliver DNA, RNA, and other compounds into cells within the treated region. DNA or RNA delivery enables researchers to alter or examine gene activity locally, while other compounds can support molecular investigations. Regional entry is especially useful when the biological question depends on where a signal or intervention acts.
A typical application begins by selecting the tissue region to study and positioning electrodes around that target. Researchers then apply controlled electrical pulses while introducing the intended DNA, RNA, or other compound. The electrical field promotes cellular uptake in the selected area, enabling subsequent analysis of localized gene activity or tissue responses.
Researchers may choose it when they need to examine gene activity or test an intervention in one tissue region rather than throughout the whole tissue. The method is suited to functional studies in intact tissues, where regional delivery can help connect a molecular change with localized development or physiology.
Localized gene transfer can help investigators determine how gene activity influences a particular region during development or normal tissue function. Because the treated and untreated areas can remain spatially distinct, the resulting observations can provide tissue-specific context and support evaluation of interventions while limiting effects beyond the selected region.