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Kelly AR, Glover DJ. Information Transmission through Biotic-Abiotic Interfaces to Restore or Enhance Human Function. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024. [PMID: 38729914 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Advancements in reliable information transfer across biotic-abiotic interfaces have enabled the restoration of lost human function. For example, communication between neuronal cells and electrical devices restores the ability to walk to a tetraplegic patient and vision to patients blinded by retinal disease. These impactful medical achievements are aided by tailored biotic-abiotic interfaces that maximize information transfer fidelity by considering the physical properties of the underlying biological and synthetic components. This Review develops a modular framework to define and describe the engineering of biotic and abiotic components as well as the design of interfaces to facilitate biotic-abiotic information transfer using light or electricity. Delineating the properties of the biotic, interface, and abiotic components that enable communication can serve as a guide for future research in this highly interdisciplinary field. Application of synthetic biology to engineer light-sensitive proteins has facilitated the control of neural signaling and the restoration of rudimentary vision after retinal blindness. Electrophysiological methodologies that use brain-computer interfaces and stimulating implants to bypass spinal column injuries have led to the rehabilitation of limb movement and walking ability. Cellular interfacing methodologies and on-chip learning capability have been made possible by organic transistors that mimic the information processing capacity of neurons. The collaboration of molecular biologists, material scientists, and electrical engineers in the emerging field of biotic-abiotic interfacing will lead to the development of prosthetics capable of responding to thought and experiencing touch sensation via direct integration into the human nervous system. Further interdisciplinary research will improve electrical and optical interfacing technologies for the restoration of vision, offering greater visual acuity and potentially color vision in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander R Kelly
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Dominic J Glover
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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2
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Alegria AD, Joshi AS, Mendana JB, Khosla K, Smith KT, Auch B, Donovan M, Bischof J, Gohl DM, Kodandaramaiah SB. High-throughput genetic manipulation of multicellular organisms using a machine-vision guided embryonic microinjection robot. Genetics 2024; 226:iyae025. [PMID: 38373262 PMCID: PMC10990426 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Microinjection is a technique used for transgenesis, mutagenesis, cell labeling, cryopreservation, and in vitro fertilization in multiple single and multicellular organisms. Microinjection requires specialized skills and involves rate-limiting and labor-intensive preparatory steps. Here, we constructed a machine-vision guided generalized robot that fully automates the process of microinjection in fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. The robot uses machine learning models trained to detect embryos in images of agar plates and identify specific anatomical locations within each embryo in 3D space using dual view microscopes. The robot then serially performs a microinjection in each detected embryo. We constructed and used three such robots to automatically microinject tens of thousands of Drosophila and zebrafish embryos. We systematically optimized robotic microinjection for each species and performed routine transgenesis with proficiency comparable to highly skilled human practitioners while achieving up to 4× increases in microinjection throughput in Drosophila. The robot was utilized to microinject pools of over 20,000 uniquely barcoded plasmids into 1,713 embryos in 2 days to rapidly generate more than 400 unique transgenic Drosophila lines. This experiment enabled a novel measurement of the number of independent germline integration events per successfully injected embryo. Finally, we showed that robotic microinjection of cryoprotective agents in zebrafish embryos significantly improves vitrification rates and survival of cryopreserved embryos post-thaw as compared to manual microinjection. We anticipate that the robot can be used to carry out microinjection for genome-wide manipulation and cryopreservation at scale in a wide range of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Alegria
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Amey S Joshi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jorge Blanco Mendana
- University of Minnesota Genomics Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kanav Khosla
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kieran T Smith
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Benjamin Auch
- University of Minnesota Genomics Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Margaret Donovan
- University of Minnesota Genomics Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - John Bischof
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Daryl M Gohl
- University of Minnesota Genomics Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Suhasa B Kodandaramaiah
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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3
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Huan Y, Tibbetts BN, Richie JM, Chestek CA, Chiel HJ. Intracellular neural control of an active feeding structure in Aplysia using a carbon fiber electrode array. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 404:110077. [PMID: 38336092 PMCID: PMC11136531 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To study neural control of behavior, intracellular recording and stimulation of many neurons in freely moving animals would be ideal. However, current technologies limit the number of neurons that can be monitored and manipulated. A new technology has become available for intracellular recording and stimulation which we demonstrate in the tractable nervous system of Aplysia. NEW METHOD Carbon fiber electrode arrays (whose tips are coated with platinum-iridium) were used with an in vitro feeding preparation to intracellularly record from and to control the activity of multiple neurons during feeding movements. RESULTS In an in vitro feeding preparation, the carbon fiber electrode arrays recorded action potentials and subthreshold synaptic potentials during feeding movements. Depolarizing or hyperpolarizing currents activated or inhibited identified neurons (respectively), manipulating the movements of the feeding apparatus. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) Standard glass microelectrodes that are commonly used for intracellular recording are stiff, liable to break in response to movement, and require many micromanipulators to be precisely positioned. In contrast, carbon fiber arrays are less sensitive to movement, but are capable of multiple channels of intracellular recording and stimulation. CONCLUSIONS Carbon fiber arrays are a novel technology for intracellular recording that can be used in moving preparations. They can record both action potentials and synaptic activity in multiple neurons and can be used to stimulate multiple neurons in complex patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Huan
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7080, USA
| | - Benjamin N Tibbetts
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7080, USA
| | - Julianna M Richie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Cynthia A Chestek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Hillel J Chiel
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7080, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7080, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7080, USA.
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4
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Jehasse K, Jouhanneau JS, Wetz S, Schwedt A, Poulet JFA, Neumann-Raizel P, Kampa BM. Immediate reuse of patch-clamp pipettes after ultrasonic cleaning. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1660. [PMID: 38238544 PMCID: PMC10796327 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51837-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The patch-clamp technique has revolutionized neurophysiology by allowing to study single neuronal excitability, synaptic connectivity, morphology, and the transcriptomic profile. However, the throughput in recordings is limited because of the manual replacement of patch-pipettes after each attempt which are often also unsuccessful. This has been overcome by automated cleaning the tips in detergent solutions, allowing to reuse the pipette for further recordings. Here, we developed a novel method of automated cleaning by sonicating the tips within the bath solution wherein the cells are placed, reducing the risk of contaminating the bath solution or internal solution of the recording pipette by any detergent and avoiding the necessity of a separate chamber for cleaning. We showed that the patch-pipettes can be used consecutively at least ten times and that the cleaning process does not negatively impact neither the brain slices nor other patched neurons. This method, combined with automated patch-clamp, highly improves the throughput for single and especially multiple recordings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Jehasse
- Systems Neurophysiology, Institute of Biology II, RWTH-Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Jean-Sébastien Jouhanneau
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophie Wetz
- Systems Neurophysiology, Institute of Biology II, RWTH-Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Research Training Group 2610 InnoRetVision, RWTH-Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Alexander Schwedt
- Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, RWTH-Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - James F A Poulet
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Björn M Kampa
- Systems Neurophysiology, Institute of Biology II, RWTH-Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
- JARA BRAIN, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-10), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
- Research Training Group 2610 InnoRetVision, RWTH-Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
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5
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Weiss O, Bounds HA, Adesnik H, Coen-Cagli R. Modeling the diverse effects of divisive normalization on noise correlations. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011667. [PMID: 38033166 PMCID: PMC10715670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Divisive normalization, a prominent descriptive model of neural activity, is employed by theories of neural coding across many different brain areas. Yet, the relationship between normalization and the statistics of neural responses beyond single neurons remains largely unexplored. Here we focus on noise correlations, a widely studied pairwise statistic, because its stimulus and state dependence plays a central role in neural coding. Existing models of covariability typically ignore normalization despite empirical evidence suggesting it affects correlation structure in neural populations. We therefore propose a pairwise stochastic divisive normalization model that accounts for the effects of normalization and other factors on covariability. We first show that normalization modulates noise correlations in qualitatively different ways depending on whether normalization is shared between neurons, and we discuss how to infer when normalization signals are shared. We then apply our model to calcium imaging data from mouse primary visual cortex (V1), and find that it accurately fits the data, often outperforming a popular alternative model of correlations. Our analysis indicates that normalization signals are often shared between V1 neurons in this dataset. Our model will enable quantifying the relation between normalization and covariability in a broad range of neural systems, which could provide new constraints on circuit mechanisms of normalization and their role in information transmission and representation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oren Weiss
- Department of Systems and Computational Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Hayley A. Bounds
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Hillel Adesnik
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Ruben Coen-Cagli
- Department of Systems and Computational Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
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6
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Li K, Gong H, Qiu J, Li R, Zhao Q, Zhao X, Sun M. Neuron Contact Detection Based on Pipette Precise Positioning for Robotic Brain-Slice Patch Clamps. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:8144. [PMID: 37836974 PMCID: PMC10575430 DOI: 10.3390/s23198144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
A patch clamp is the "gold standard" method for studying ion-channel biophysics and pharmacology. Due to the complexity of the operation and the heavy reliance on experimenter experience, more and more researchers are focusing on patch-clamp automation. The existing automated patch-clamp system focuses on the process of completing the experiment; the detection method in each step is relatively simple, and the robustness of the complex brain film environment is lacking, which will increase the detection error in the microscopic environment, affecting the success rate of the automated patch clamp. To address these problems, we propose a method that is suitable for the contact between pipette tips and neuronal cells in automated patch-clamp systems. It mainly includes two key steps: precise positioning of pipettes and contact judgment. First, to obtain the precise coordinates of the tip of the pipette, we use the Mixture of Gaussian (MOG) algorithm for motion detection to focus on the tip area under the microscope. We use the object detection model to eliminate the encirclement frame of the pipette tip to reduce the influence of different shaped tips, and then use the sweeping line algorithm to accurately locate the pipette tip. We also use the object detection model to obtain a three-dimensional bounding frame of neuronal cells. When the microscope focuses on the maximum plane of the cell, which is the height in the middle of the enclosing frame, we detect the focus of the tip of the pipette to determine whether the contact between the tip and the cell is successful, because the cell and the pipette will be at the same height at this time. We propose a multitasking network CU-net that can judge the focus of pipette tips in complex contexts. Finally, we design an automated contact sensing process in combination with resistance constraints and apply it to our automated patch-clamp system. The experimental results show that our method can increase the success rate of pipette contact with cells in patch-clamp experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Li
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (K.L.); (H.G.); (J.Q.); (R.L.); (Q.Z.); (X.Z.)
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Huiying Gong
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (K.L.); (H.G.); (J.Q.); (R.L.); (Q.Z.); (X.Z.)
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Jinyu Qiu
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (K.L.); (H.G.); (J.Q.); (R.L.); (Q.Z.); (X.Z.)
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Ruimin Li
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (K.L.); (H.G.); (J.Q.); (R.L.); (Q.Z.); (X.Z.)
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Qili Zhao
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (K.L.); (H.G.); (J.Q.); (R.L.); (Q.Z.); (X.Z.)
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (K.L.); (H.G.); (J.Q.); (R.L.); (Q.Z.); (X.Z.)
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Mingzhu Sun
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (K.L.); (H.G.); (J.Q.); (R.L.); (Q.Z.); (X.Z.)
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
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7
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Zhu JJ. Architectural organization of ∼1,500-neuron modular minicolumnar disinhibitory circuits in healthy and Alzheimer's cortices. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112904. [PMID: 37531251 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Acquisition of neuronal circuit architectures, central to understanding brain function and dysfunction, remains prohibitively challenging. Here I report the development of a simultaneous and sequential octuple-sexdecuple whole-cell patch-clamp recording system that enables architectural reconstruction of complex cortical circuits. The method unveils the canonical layer 1 single bouquet cell (SBC)-led disinhibitory neuronal circuits across the mouse somatosensory, motor, prefrontal, and medial entorhinal cortices. The ∼1,500-neuron modular circuits feature the translaminar, unidirectional, minicolumnar, and independent disinhibition and optimize cortical complexity, subtlety, plasticity, variation, and redundancy. Moreover, architectural reconstruction uncovers age-dependent deficits at SBC-disinhibited synapses in the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8, an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. The deficits exhibit the characteristic Alzheimer's-like cortical spread and correlation with cognitive impairments. These findings decrypt operations of the elementary processing units in healthy and Alzheimer's mouse cortices and validate the efficacy of octuple-sexdecuple patch-clamp recordings for architectural reconstruction of complex neuronal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Julius Zhu
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
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8
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Shen K, Chen O, Edmunds JL, Piech DK, Maharbiz MM. Translational opportunities and challenges of invasive electrodes for neural interfaces. Nat Biomed Eng 2023; 7:424-442. [PMID: 37081142 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-023-01021-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Invasive brain-machine interfaces can restore motor, sensory and cognitive functions. However, their clinical adoption has been hindered by the surgical risk of implantation and by suboptimal long-term reliability. In this Review, we highlight the opportunities and challenges of invasive technology for clinically relevant electrophysiology. Specifically, we discuss the characteristics of neural probes that are most likely to facilitate the clinical translation of invasive neural interfaces, describe the neural signals that can be acquired or produced by intracranial electrodes, the abiotic and biotic factors that contribute to their failure, and emerging neural-interface architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konlin Shen
- University of California, Berkeley - University of California, San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Oliver Chen
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jordan L Edmunds
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - David K Piech
- University of California, Berkeley - University of California, San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michel M Maharbiz
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
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9
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Patch Clamp: The First Four Decades of a Technique That Revolutionized Electrophysiology and Beyond. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 186:1-28. [PMID: 35471741 DOI: 10.1007/112_2022_71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Forty years ago, the introduction of a new electrophysiological technique, the patch clamp, revolutionized the fields of Cellular Physiology and Biophysics, providing for the first time the possibility of describing the behavior of a single protein, an ion-permeable channel of the cell plasma membrane, in its physiological environment. The new approach was actually much more potent and versatile than initially envisaged, and it has evolved into several different modalities that have radically changed our knowledge of how cells (not only the classical "electrically excitable "ones, such as nerves and muscles) use electrical signaling to modulate and organize their activity. This review aims at telling the history of the background from which the new technique evolved and at analyzing some of its more recent developments.
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10
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van Albada SJ, Morales-Gregorio A, Dickscheid T, Goulas A, Bakker R, Bludau S, Palm G, Hilgetag CC, Diesmann M. Bringing Anatomical Information into Neuronal Network Models. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1359:201-234. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-89439-9_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Abstract
Abstract
Purpose of review
As fields such as neurotoxicity evaluation and neuro-related drug research are increasing in popularity, there is a demand for the expansion of neurotoxicity research. Currently, neurotoxicity is assessed by measuring changes in weight and behavior. However, measurement of such changes does not allow the detection of subtle and inconspicuous neurotoxicity. In this review, methods for advancing neurotoxicity research are divided into molecule-, cell-, circuit-, and animal model-based methods, and the results of previous studies assessing neurotoxicity are provided and discussed.
Recent findings
In coming decades, cooperation between universities, national research institutes, industrial research institutes, governments, and the private sector will become necessary when identifying alternative methods for neurotoxicity evaluation, which is a current goal related to improving neurotoxicity assessment and an appropriate approach to neurotoxicity prediction. Many methods for measuring neurotoxicity in the field of neuroscience have recently been reported. This paper classifies the supplementary and complementary experimental measures for evaluating neurotoxicity.
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12
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Miranda C, Howell MR, Lusk JF, Marschall E, Eshima J, Anderson T, Smith BS. Automated microscope-independent fluorescence-guided micropipette. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 12:4689-4699. [PMID: 34513218 PMCID: PMC8407805 DOI: 10.1364/boe.431372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Glass micropipette electrodes are commonly used to provide high resolution recordings of neurons. Although it is the gold standard for single cell recordings, it is highly dependent on the skill of the electrophysiologist. Here, we demonstrate a method of guiding micropipette electrodes to neurons by collecting fluorescence at the aperture, using an intra-electrode tapered optical fiber. The use of a tapered fiber for excitation and collection of fluorescence at the micropipette tip couples the feedback mechanism directly to the distance between the target and electrode. In this study, intra-electrode tapered optical fibers provide a targeted robotic approach to labeled neurons that is independent of microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Miranda
- Arizona State University, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Tempe, AZ 85210, USA
| | - Madeleine R. Howell
- Arizona State University, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Tempe, AZ 85210, USA
| | - Joel F. Lusk
- Arizona State University, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Tempe, AZ 85210, USA
| | - Ethan Marschall
- Arizona State University, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Tempe, AZ 85210, USA
| | - Jarrett Eshima
- Arizona State University, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Tempe, AZ 85210, USA
| | - Trent Anderson
- University of Arizona, College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Barbara S. Smith
- Arizona State University, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Tempe, AZ 85210, USA
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13
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Liew YJ, Pala A, Whitmire CJ, Stoy WA, Forest CR, Stanley GB. Inferring thalamocortical monosynaptic connectivity in vivo. J Neurophysiol 2021; 125:2408-2431. [PMID: 33978507 PMCID: PMC8285656 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00591.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
As the tools to simultaneously record electrophysiological signals from large numbers of neurons within and across brain regions become increasingly available, this opens up for the first time the possibility of establishing the details of causal relationships between monosynaptically connected neurons and the patterns of neural activation that underlie perception and behavior. Although recorded activity across synaptically connected neurons has served as the cornerstone for much of what we know about synaptic transmission and plasticity, this has largely been relegated to ex vivo preparations that enable precise targeting under relatively well-controlled conditions. Analogous studies in vivo, where image-guided targeting is often not yet possible, rely on indirect, data-driven measures, and as a result such studies have been sparse and the dependence upon important experimental parameters has not been well studied. Here, using in vivo extracellular single-unit recordings in the topographically aligned rodent thalamocortical pathway, we sought to establish a general experimental and computational framework for inferring synaptic connectivity. Specifically, attacking this problem within a statistical signal detection framework utilizing experimentally recorded data in the ventral-posterior medial (VPm) region of the thalamus and the homologous region in layer 4 of primary somatosensory cortex (S1) revealed a trade-off between network activity levels needed for the data-driven inference and synchronization of nearby neurons within the population that results in masking of synaptic relationships. Here, we provide a framework for establishing connectivity in multisite, multielectrode recordings based on statistical inference, setting the stage for large-scale assessment of synaptic connectivity within and across brain structures.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Despite the fact that all brain function relies on the long-range transfer of information across different regions, the tools enabling us to measure connectivity across brain structures are lacking. Here, we provide a statistical framework for identifying and assessing potential monosynaptic connectivity across neuronal circuits from population spiking activity that generalizes to large-scale recording technologies that will help us to better understand the signaling within networks that underlies perception and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Juin Liew
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
- Joint PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology-Emory University-Peking University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Aurélie Pala
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Clarissa J Whitmire
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - William A Stoy
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Craig R Forest
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Garrett B Stanley
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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14
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Noguchi A, Ikegaya Y, Matsumoto N. In Vivo Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Methods: Recent Technical Progress and Future Perspectives. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 21:1448. [PMID: 33669656 PMCID: PMC7922023 DOI: 10.3390/s21041448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Brain functions are fundamental for the survival of organisms, and they are supported by neural circuits consisting of a variety of neurons. To investigate the function of neurons at the single-cell level, researchers often use whole-cell patch-clamp recording techniques. These techniques enable us to record membrane potentials (including action potentials) of individual neurons of not only anesthetized but also actively behaving animals. This whole-cell recording method enables us to reveal how neuronal activities support brain function at the single-cell level. In this review, we introduce previous studies using in vivo patch-clamp recording techniques and recent findings primarily regarding neuronal activities in the hippocampus for behavioral function. We further discuss how we can bridge the gap between electrophysiology and biochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asako Noguchi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; (A.N.); (Y.I.)
| | - Yuji Ikegaya
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; (A.N.); (Y.I.)
- Institute for AI and Beyond, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- Center for Information and Neural Networks, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Nobuyoshi Matsumoto
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; (A.N.); (Y.I.)
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15
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Automatic deep learning-driven label-free image-guided patch clamp system. Nat Commun 2021; 12:936. [PMID: 33568670 PMCID: PMC7875980 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21291-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Patch clamp recording of neurons is a labor-intensive and time-consuming procedure. Here, we demonstrate a tool that fully automatically performs electrophysiological recordings in label-free tissue slices. The automation covers the detection of cells in label-free images, calibration of the micropipette movement, approach to the cell with the pipette, formation of the whole-cell configuration, and recording. The cell detection is based on deep learning. The model is trained on a new image database of neurons in unlabeled brain tissue slices. The pipette tip detection and approaching phase use image analysis techniques for precise movements. High-quality measurements are performed on hundreds of human and rodent neurons. We also demonstrate that further molecular and anatomical analysis can be performed on the recorded cells. The software has a diary module that automatically logs patch clamp events. Our tool can multiply the number of daily measurements to help brain research. Patch clamp recording of neurons is slow and labor-intensive. Here the authors present a method for automated deep learning driven label-free image guided patch clamp physiology to perform measurements on hundreds of human and rodent neurons.
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16
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Alegria A, Joshi A, O'Brien J, Kodandaramaiah SB. Single neuron recording: progress towards high-throughput analysis. BIOELECTRONICS IN MEDICINE 2020; 3:33-36. [PMID: 33169092 PMCID: PMC7604670 DOI: 10.2217/bem-2020-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Alegria
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN 55455, USA
| | - Amey Joshi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jacob O'Brien
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN 55455, USA
| | - Suhasa B Kodandaramaiah
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN 55455, USA
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17
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Rynes ML, Ghanbari L, Schulman DS, Linn S, Laroque M, Dominguez J, Navabi ZS, Sherman P, Kodandaramaiah SB. Assembly and operation of an open-source, computer numerical controlled (CNC) robot for performing cranial microsurgical procedures. Nat Protoc 2020; 15:1992-2023. [PMID: 32405052 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-0318-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cranial microsurgery is an essential procedure for accessing the brain through the skull that can be used to introduce neural probes that measure and manipulate neural activity. Neuroscientists have typically used tools such as high-speed drills adapted from dentistry to perform these procedures. As the number of technologies available for neuroscientists has increased, the corresponding cranial microsurgery procedures to deploy them have become more complex. Using a robotic tool that automatically performs these procedures could standardize cranial microsurgeries across neuroscience laboratories and democratize the more challenging procedures. We have recently engineered a robotic surgery platform that utilizes principles of computer numerical control (CNC) machining to perform a wide variety of automated cranial procedures. Here, we describe how to adapt, configure and use an inexpensive desktop CNC mill equipped with a custom-built surface profiler for performing CNC-guided microsurgery on mice. Detailed instructions are provided to utilize this 'Craniobot' for performing circular craniotomies for coverslip implantation, large craniotomies for implanting transparent polymer skulls for cortex-wide imaging access and skull thinning for intact skull imaging. The Craniobot can be set up in <2 weeks using parts that cost <$1,500, and we anticipate that the Craniobot could be easily adapted for use in other small animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathew L Rynes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Leila Ghanbari
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Daniel Sousa Schulman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Samantha Linn
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Michael Laroque
- Schools of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Judith Dominguez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Zahra S Navabi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Peter Sherman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Suhasa B Kodandaramaiah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA. .,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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18
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Peng Y, Mittermaier FX, Planert H, Schneider UC, Alle H, Geiger JRP. High-throughput microcircuit analysis of individual human brains through next-generation multineuron patch-clamp. eLife 2019; 8:48178. [PMID: 31742558 PMCID: PMC6894931 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparing neuronal microcircuits across different brain regions, species and individuals can reveal common and divergent principles of network computation. Simultaneous patch-clamp recordings from multiple neurons offer the highest temporal and subthreshold resolution to analyse local synaptic connectivity. However, its establishment is technically complex and the experimental performance is limited by high failure rates, long experimental times and small sample sizes. We introduce an in vitro multipatch setup with an automated pipette pressure and cleaning system facilitating recordings of up to 10 neurons simultaneously and sequential patching of additional neurons. We present hardware and software solutions that increase the usability, speed and data throughput of multipatch experiments which allowed probing of 150 synaptic connections between 17 neurons in one human cortical slice and screening of over 600 connections in tissue from a single patient. This method will facilitate the systematic analysis of microcircuits and allow unprecedented assessment of inter-individual variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangfan Peng
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Henrike Planert
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Henrik Alle
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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19
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An J, Flores FJ, Kodandaramaiah SB, Dalla Betta I, Nikolaeva K, Boyden ES, Forest CR, Brown EN. Automated Assessment of Loss of Consciousness Using Whisker And Paw Movements During Anesthetic Dosing in Head-Fixed Rodents. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2019; 2018:730-733. [PMID: 30440500 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2018.8512377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The precise identification of loss of consciousness (LOC) is key to studying the effects of anesthetic drugs in neural systems. The standard behavioral assay for identifying LOC in rodents is the Loss of Righting Reflex (LORR), assessed by placing the animal in the supine position every minute until it fails to right itself. However, this assay cannot be used when the rodents are head-fixed, which limits the use of powerful techniques such as multi-electrode recordings, in vivo patch clamp, and neuronal imaging. In these situations, an alternative way to assess LOC is needed. We propose that loss of movement (LOM) in whiskers and paws of head-fixed animals can be used as an alternative behavioral assay in head-fixed animals. Unlike LORR, LOM in whiskers and paws is much harder to detect by visual inspection. Therefore, we developed a method to automatically assess for LOM of whiskers and paws in head fixed rodents during in vivo patch clamp recordings. Our method uses an algorithm based on optical flow and point-process filtering which can be run on images acquired on regular cameras at low frame-rates. We show that the algorithm can achieve at least comparable accuracy in detecting LOC when compared with consensus among human observers, as well as improved precision when compared with individual observers. In the future, we aim to to expand the method to detect more behavioral end-points during anesthesia such as paradoxical excitation. Eventually, we hope to enable multi-modal anesthesia studies, which incorporates behavioral and neurophysiological data.
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20
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Valero M, English DF. Head-mounted approaches for targeting single-cells in freely moving animals. J Neurosci Methods 2019; 326:108397. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.108397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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21
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Kozai TDY, Purcell EK. Pipette-integrated microelectrodes. Nat Biomed Eng 2019; 3:682-683. [PMID: 31501567 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-019-0452-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Takashi D Y Kozai
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,NeuroTech Center, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Erin K Purcell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. .,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. .,Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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22
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Shull G, Haffner C, Huttner WB, Kodandaramaiah SB, Taverna E. Robotic platform for microinjection into single cells in brain tissue. EMBO Rep 2019; 20:e47880. [PMID: 31469223 PMCID: PMC6776899 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201947880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Microinjection into single cells in brain tissue is a powerful technique to study and manipulate neural stem cells. However, such microinjection requires expertise and is a low-throughput process. We developed the "Autoinjector", a robot that utilizes images from a microscope to guide a microinjection needle into tissue to deliver femtoliter volumes of liquids into single cells. The Autoinjector enables microinjection of hundreds of cells within a single organotypic slice, resulting in an overall yield that is an order of magnitude greater than manual microinjection. The Autoinjector successfully targets both apical progenitors (APs) and newborn neurons in the embryonic mouse and human fetal telencephalon. We used the Autoinjector to systematically study gap-junctional communication between neural progenitors in the embryonic mouse telencephalon and found that apical contact is a characteristic feature of the cells that are part of a gap junction-coupled cluster. The throughput and versatility of the Autoinjector will render microinjection an accessible high-performance single-cell manipulation technique and will provide a powerful new platform for performing single-cell analyses in tissue for bioengineering and biophysics applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Shull
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Christiane Haffner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Wieland B Huttner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Suhasa B Kodandaramaiah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Elena Taverna
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
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23
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Suk HJ, Boyden ES, van Welie I. Advances in the automation of whole-cell patch clamp technology. J Neurosci Methods 2019; 326:108357. [PMID: 31336060 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.108357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Electrophysiology is the study of neural activity in the form of local field potentials, current flow through ion channels, calcium spikes, back propagating action potentials and somatic action potentials, all measurable on a millisecond timescale. Despite great progress in imaging technologies and sensor proteins, none of the currently available tools allow imaging of neural activity on a millisecond timescale and beyond the first few hundreds of microns inside the brain. The patch clamp technique has been an invaluable tool since its inception several decades ago and has generated a wealth of knowledge about the nature of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, sub-threshold and supra-threshold activity, and characteristics of action potentials related to higher order functions. Many techniques that evolve to be standardized tools in the biological sciences go through a period of transformation in which they become, at least to some degree, automated, in order to improve reproducibility, throughput and standardization. The patch clamp technique is currently undergoing this transition, and in this review, we will discuss various aspects of this transition, covering advances in automated patch clamp technology both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho-Jun Suk
- Health Sciences and Technology, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Media Lab, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; McGovern Institute, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Edward S Boyden
- Media Lab, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; McGovern Institute, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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24
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Holst GL, Stoy W, Yang B, Kolb I, Kodandaramaiah SB, Li L, Knoblich U, Zeng H, Haider B, Boyden ES, Forest CR. Autonomous patch-clamp robot for functional characterization of neurons in vivo: development and application to mouse visual cortex. J Neurophysiol 2019; 121:2341-2357. [PMID: 30969898 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00738.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Patch clamping is the gold standard measurement technique for cell-type characterization in vivo, but it has low throughput, is difficult to scale, and requires highly skilled operation. We developed an autonomous robot that can acquire multiple consecutive patch-clamp recordings in vivo. In practice, 40 pipettes loaded into a carousel are sequentially filled and inserted into the brain, localized to a cell, used for patch clamping, and disposed. Automated visual stimulation and electrophysiology software enables functional cell-type classification of whole cell-patched cells, as we show for 37 cells in the anesthetized mouse in visual cortex (V1) layer 5. We achieved 9% yield, with 5.3 min per attempt over hundreds of trials. The highly variable and low-yield nature of in vivo patch-clamp recordings will benefit from such a standardized, automated, quantitative approach, allowing development of optimal algorithms and enabling scaling required for large-scale studies and integration with complementary techniques. NEW & NOTEWORTHY In vivo patch-clamp is the gold standard for intracellular recordings, but it is a very manual and highly skilled technique. The robot in this work demonstrates the most automated in vivo patch-clamp experiment to date, by enabling production of multiple, serial intracellular recordings without human intervention. The robot automates pipette filling, wire threading, pipette positioning, neuron hunting, break-in, delivering sensory stimulus, and recording quality control, enabling in vivo cell-type characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory L Holst
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - William Stoy
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Bo Yang
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ilya Kolb
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Lu Li
- Allen Institute for Brain Science , Seattle, Washington
| | - Ulf Knoblich
- Allen Institute for Brain Science , Seattle, Washington
| | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science , Seattle, Washington
| | - Bilal Haider
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Edward S Boyden
- Media Arts and Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts.,McGovern Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Koch Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Craig R Forest
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia
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25
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Ghanbari L, Carter RE, Rynes ML, Dominguez J, Chen G, Naik A, Hu J, Sagar MAK, Haltom L, Mossazghi N, Gray MM, West SL, Eliceiri KW, Ebner TJ, Kodandaramaiah SB. Cortex-wide neural interfacing via transparent polymer skulls. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1500. [PMID: 30940809 PMCID: PMC6445105 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09488-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural computations occurring simultaneously in multiple cerebral cortical regions are critical for mediating behaviors. Progress has been made in understanding how neural activity in specific cortical regions contributes to behavior. However, there is a lack of tools that allow simultaneous monitoring and perturbing neural activity from multiple cortical regions. We engineered ‘See-Shells’—digitally designed, morphologically realistic, transparent polymer skulls that allow long-term (>300 days) optical access to 45 mm2 of the dorsal cerebral cortex in the mouse. We demonstrate the ability to perform mesoscopic imaging, as well as cellular and subcellular resolution two-photon imaging of neural structures up to 600 µm deep. See-Shells allow calcium imaging from multiple, non-contiguous regions across the cortex. Perforated See-Shells enable introducing penetrating neural probes to perturb or record neural activity simultaneously with whole cortex imaging. See-Shells are constructed using common desktop fabrication tools, providing a powerful tool for investigating brain structure and function. Imaging the mouse brain using glass cranial windows has limitations in terms of flexibility and long-term imaging. Here the authors engineer transparent polymer skulls that can fit various skull morphologies and can be implanted for over 300 days, enabling simultaneous high resolution brain imaging and electrophysiology across large cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Ghanbari
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Russell E Carter
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Mathew L Rynes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Judith Dominguez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Anant Naik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Jia Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | | | - Lenora Haltom
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Nahom Mossazghi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Madelyn M Gray
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Sarah L West
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Kevin W Eliceiri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Timothy J Ebner
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Suhasa B Kodandaramaiah
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.
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26
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Callaghan NI, Hadipour-Lakmehsari S, Lee SH, Gramolini AO, Simmons CA. Modeling cardiac complexity: Advancements in myocardial models and analytical techniques for physiological investigation and therapeutic development in vitro. APL Bioeng 2019; 3:011501. [PMID: 31069331 PMCID: PMC6481739 DOI: 10.1063/1.5055873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyopathies, heart failure, and arrhythmias or conduction blockages impact millions of patients worldwide and are associated with marked increases in sudden cardiac death, decline in the quality of life, and the induction of secondary pathologies. These pathologies stem from dysfunction in the contractile or conductive properties of the cardiomyocyte, which as a result is a focus of fundamental investigation, drug discovery and therapeutic development, and tissue engineering. All of these foci require in vitro myocardial models and experimental techniques to probe the physiological functions of the cardiomyocyte. In this review, we provide a detailed exploration of different cell models, disease modeling strategies, and tissue constructs used from basic to translational research. Furthermore, we highlight recent advancements in imaging, electrophysiology, metabolic measurements, and mechanical and contractile characterization modalities that are advancing our understanding of cardiomyocyte physiology. With this review, we aim to both provide a biological framework for engineers contributing to the field and demonstrate the technical basis and limitations underlying physiological measurement modalities for biologists attempting to take advantage of these state-of-the-art techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Craig A. Simmons
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: . Present address: Ted Rogers Centre for Heart
Research, 661 University Avenue, 14th Floor Toronto, Ontario M5G 1M1, Canada. Tel.:
416-946-0548. Fax: 416-978-7753
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27
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Ghanbari L, Rynes ML, Hu J, Schulman DS, Johnson GW, Laroque M, Shull GM, Kodandaramaiah SB. Craniobot: A computer numerical controlled robot for cranial microsurgeries. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1023. [PMID: 30705287 PMCID: PMC6355931 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37073-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last few decades, a plethora of tools has been developed for neuroscientists to interface with the brain. Implementing these tools requires precisely removing sections of the skull to access the brain. These delicate cranial microsurgical procedures need to be performed on the sub-millimeter thick bone without damaging the underlying tissue and therefore, require significant training. Automating some of these procedures would not only enable more precise microsurgical operations, but also facilitate widespread use of advanced neurotechnologies. Here, we introduce the “Craniobot”, a cranial microsurgery platform that combines automated skull surface profiling with a computer numerical controlled (CNC) milling machine to perform a variety of cranial microsurgical procedures on mice. The Craniobot utilizes a low-force contact sensor to profile the skull surface and uses this information to perform precise milling operations within minutes. We have used the Craniobot to perform intact skull thinning and open small to large craniotomies over the dorsal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Ghanbari
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mathew L Rynes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jia Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA
| | - Daniel S Schulman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gregory W Johnson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA
| | - Michael Laroque
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gabriella M Shull
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA
| | - Suhasa B Kodandaramaiah
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA.
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28
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A four-armed patch-clamping robot. Nat Methods 2018. [DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.4618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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29
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Annecchino LA, Schultz SR. Progress in automating patch clamp cellular physiology. Brain Neurosci Adv 2018; 2:2398212818776561. [PMID: 32166142 PMCID: PMC7058203 DOI: 10.1177/2398212818776561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Patch clamp electrophysiology has transformed research in the life sciences over the last few decades. Since their inception, automatic patch clamp platforms have evolved considerably, demonstrating the capability to address both voltage- and ligand-gated channels, and showing the potential to play a pivotal role in drug discovery and biomedical research. Unfortunately, the cell suspension assays to which early systems were limited cannot recreate biologically relevant cellular environments, or capture higher order aspects of synaptic physiology and network dynamics. In vivo patch clamp electrophysiology has the potential to yield more biologically complex information and be especially useful in reverse engineering the molecular and cellular mechanisms of single-cell and network neuronal computation, while capturing important aspects of human disease mechanisms and possible therapeutic strategies. Unfortunately, it is a difficult procedure with a steep learning curve, which has restricted dissemination of the technique. Luckily, in vivo patch clamp electrophysiology seems particularly amenable to robotic automation. In this review, we document the development of automated patch clamp technology, from early systems based on multi-well plates through to automated planar-array platforms, and modern robotic platforms capable of performing two-photon targeted whole-cell electrophysiological recordings in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca A. Annecchino
- Centre for Neurotechnology and Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Simon R. Schultz
- Centre for Neurotechnology and Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
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