Platform & Tech
Electrophysiological analysis of synaptic function of neurons
Analysis technique
Whole-cell patch clamp recording
Available disease models
Brain slice
Somatosensory thalamocortical circuit (thalamus - barrel cortex)
Cognition / Memory circuit (hippocampus; Schaffer collateral – CA1)
Cognition / Learning and memory circuit (hippocampus; dentate gyrus – CA3)
Motivation / Voluntary movement circuit
(Huntington’s disease; prefrontal cortex– striatum)
Reward circuit (mPFC - nucleus accumbens)
Spinal cord slice
Pain excitatory circuit (primary afferent - substantia gelatinosa)
Pain inhibitory circuit (GABA_A current)
Available analyses
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Analysis of evoked EPSP (excitatory post-synaptic potential) and IPSP (inhibitory post-synaptic potential) at specific neuronal circuits
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Measurement and analysis of miniature EPSP at specific types of neurons
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Analysis of synaptic plasticity by measuring LTP (long-term potentiation), LTD (long-term depression), Input-output curve and Paired pulse ratio etc
Examples
Evaluation of drug efficacy on synaptic function by measuring EPSCs at Schaffer collateral - CA1 circuit from acute hippocampal slices in Alzheimer’s disease animal model
Evaluation of drug efficacy on synaptic function by measuring minimally-stimulated EPSC and mEPSCs at primary afferent – substantial gelatinosa circuit from spinal cord slices in chronic pain model
