Imaging Single Photons and Intrinsic Optical Signalsfor Studies of Vesicular and Non-Vesicular ATP Release from Axons

Frontiers in Neuroanatomy

Douglas eFields¹ 

[1] National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, NIH;

关键词: neuron-glia interactions;    activity-dependent development;    ATP release;    axon volume changes;    intrinsic optical signals;    luciferase;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fnana.2011.00032

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The temporal and spatial dynamics of neurotransmitter release are fundamental to understanding activity-dependent signaling between axons and other cells, including neurons, glia, and vascular cells.A microscopic imaging technique is described that enables studying release of the neurotransmitter ATP from axons in response to action potentials.The method combines imaging single-photons, intrinsic optical signal imaging, and high magnification time-lapse microcopy to enable investigations of action potential-induced ATP release together with cell morphology and activity-dependent axon swelling. ATP released from axons catalyzes a chemiluminescent reaction between luciferin and luciferase that generates single photons that can be imaged individually.In addition to vesicular release, ATP release through membrane channels activated by axon swelling was monitored simultaneously with intrinsic optical signals.Repeated emissions of photons were observed from localized 15 m regions of axons, with a frequency distribution that differed from a normal distribution and from the frequency of emissions outside these localized regions.

【 授权许可】

Unknown